Coleman: Hawks developing in 2009-10

Van Coleman sees 2009 as the last year for Iowa basketball to tread water before taking a leap up the basketball charts.

Coleman publishes Hoopsmasters, one of the nation's top recruiting services, and has watched Iowa's basketball recruiting classes develop under third-year coach Todd Lickliter.

He sees the upcoming season as one of development before Lickliter's best recruiting class comes to Iowa in 2010.

“Nobody's going to set the world on fire,” Coleman said of Iowa's incoming freshman class. “I think that (point guard) Cully Payne has been better since he got in (the Prime Time League) than they thought. I think Eric May has done the same. They've been surprises as far as how well they've played.

Editor's note: This the first in a two-part series, looking at the University of Iowa men's basketball program through the eyes of recruiting expert Van Coleman. Today's story looks at the 2009 prospects and Wednesday's will examine the class of 2010.“I think when you lose two starters (Jake Kelly and Jeff Peterson) to transfer who accumulated 25 points a game, if this group can add 25 points back in, it's going to be a big positive, but that doesn't move them up the ladder. It's going to have to be somebody in the program already like an (guard) Anthony Tucker or a (post) Jarryd Cole or somebody who really comes back a better player than he was a year ago.“I don't see early (the newcomers) having that kind of success. I think that comes once the newcomers get meshed in. Maybe in the Big Ten they have a chance to be better. But right now it's going to be the same status quo.”Iowa finished 15-17 last year and was 5-13 in Big Ten play. The Hawkeyes have lost 11 straight road games, tying a single-season record. Iowa is one road loss from tying the school's all-time mark.Four players with eligibility left Iowa following the season. Kelly, who twice was named the Big Ten's player of the week, left for Indiana State to be closer with his family. Peterson (who signed with Arkansas), Jermain Davis (Minnesota State) and David Palmer (Northern Kentucky) were unhappy with the program.Iowa's 2009 recruiting class ranks among the nation's top 60 classes, Coleman said. Iowa signed two posts - 6-foot-9 Brennan Cougill and 6-8 Devon Archie - which Coleman said should provide immediate help.“I think Devon Archie is going to be a kid who gives them some athleticism, a shot blocker who can score around the basket,” Coleman said. “Something definitely they haven't had was anybody who could really intimidate anybody coming to the hoop in the last year or two. I think he will be able to make people think about their shot. That's going to be a plus for them.“Brennan Cougill, I think down the road can be very, very good. He's got an excellent set of hands. Nobody is going to be Cyrus Tate before the injury, I don't think this season, but maybe a year from now we'll get that kind of production.”Payne, a 6-foot point guard, and May, a 6-5 guard, will try to help fill voids left by Kelly and Peterson.“I don't know how you fill a dual loss at the same position, especially when you're talking about a guy (Kelly) who down the stretch averaged 20 points and seven assists,” Coleman said. “I don't see that happening.“I think Cully Payne is an adequate replacement who could end up being a four-year starter for them. He's somewhere between Jeff Peterson and Jake Kelly, I think as far his abilities. But he's still a freshman. I think that's a tough spot too put any freshman into.“I think, all in all, when you look at it, they have to feel like it was a good, solid class,” Coleman said. “But it didn't fill all the holes.”

“I think when you lose two starters (Jake Kelly and Jeff Peterson) to transfer who accumulated 25 points a game, if this group can add 25 points back in, it's going to be a big positive, but that doesn't move them up the ladder. It's going to have to be somebody in the program already like an (guard) Anthony Tucker or a (post) Jarryd Cole or somebody who really comes back a better player than he was a year ago.

“I don't see early (the newcomers) having that kind of success. I think that comes once the newcomers get meshed in. Maybe in the Big Ten they have a chance to be better. But right now it's going to be the same status quo.”

Iowa finished 15-17 last year and was 5-13 in Big Ten play. The Hawkeyes have lost 11 straight road games, tying a single-season record. Iowa is one road loss from tying the school's all-time mark.

Four players with eligibility left Iowa following the season. Kelly, who twice was named the Big Ten's player of the week, left for Indiana State to be closer with his family. Peterson (who signed with Arkansas), Jermain Davis (Minnesota State) and David Palmer (Northern Kentucky) were unhappy with the program.

Iowa's 2009 recruiting class ranks among the nation's top 60 classes, Coleman said. Iowa signed two posts - 6-foot-9 Brennan Cougill and 6-8 Devon Archie - which Coleman said should provide immediate help.

“I think Devon Archie is going to be a kid who gives them some athleticism, a shot blocker who can score around the basket,” Coleman said. “Something definitely they haven't had was anybody who could really intimidate anybody coming to the hoop in the last year or two. I think he will be able to make people think about their shot. That's going to be a plus for them.

“Brennan Cougill, I think down the road can be very, very good. He's got an excellent set of hands. Nobody is going to be Cyrus Tate before the injury, I don't think this season, but maybe a year from now we'll get that kind of production.”

Payne, a 6-foot point guard, and May, a 6-5 guard, will try to help fill voids left by Kelly and Peterson.

“I don't know how you fill a dual loss at the same position, especially when you're talking about a guy (Kelly) who down the stretch averaged 20 points and seven assists,” Coleman said. “I don't see that happening.

“I think Cully Payne is an adequate replacement who could end up being a four-year starter for them. He's somewhere between Jeff Peterson and Jake Kelly, I think as far his abilities. But he's still a freshman. I think that's a tough spot too put any freshman into.

“I think, all in all, when you look at it, they have to feel like it was a good, solid class,” Coleman said. “But it didn't fill all the holes.”

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