Forward minutes up for grabs

NORTH LIBERTY - These are the first steps of a new basketball season, and in the case for Iowa's incoming recruiting class, it's the first steps of careers.

So, let's talk about minutes, namely at forward where Aaron White left a whole bunch of minutes and a legacy.

Thursday night at the North Liberty Recreation Center, some of the contestants were on display.

Dom Uhl, the 6-9 sophomore who saw some timely minutes last season, returns a bit bigger and stronger. He pumped in 27 points on the first night of the Primetime League.

'People have to step up this year, I'm definitely looking forward to the season,” Uhl said. 'I'm trying to come in and bring energy. I feel a lot stronger and gained weight.”

This Thursday night in PTL, a summer basketball league that includes Hawkeyes and Northern Iowa players, pitted Uhl's team against senior center Adam Woodbury's. Woodbury is a great way for a hungry player to test strength and weight gains. Or maybe not, with Woodbury being one of the team's strongest players.

'I'm definitely stronger, but I have go get up there to challenge him,” Uhl said with a laugh. 'He's definitely stronger.”

Another possibility at forward for Iowa is freshman Ahmad Wagner. Sure, he comes in at 6-7, 216 pounds, so you wonder about how he might stand up at a power forward spot. But then you talk to him and football comes up. Wagner played two seasons of prep football at Wayne High School in Huber Heights, Ohio, but it was enough to gain football offers, including Kentucky and interest from Ohio State. Yes, Ohio State and Urban Meyer and all that comes with it.

In the end, Wagner said the football attention was flattering, but basketball is his first love and his commitment to Iowa never wavered.

'It was something I had to consider and had to think about,” Wagner said. 'It was something that I had to think about, especially being from Ohio, but I wanted to play basketball and I wanted to stick with my love.”

Now, Ohio State never offered a football scholarship to Wagner, who played wide receiver and helped Wayne to the state championship game. But 'they told me if I wanted to get serious about football, they would offer me. but I said I was going to focus on basketball and sign with Iowa.”

What could Wagner's role be in 2015-16 with Iowa basketball?

'Coach (Fran) McCaffery has talked to me a lot,” Wagner said. 'He told me we need a rebounder, someone who can drive and stretch the floor and someone who can guard their position. That's where I'm looking to fit in.”

Brandon Hutton, another incoming freshman, could be in the forward mix, at 6-6, 195 pounds. He's very specific on what he would bring to the position and his goals.

'My goal is to be the best defensive player on the team,” Hutton said. 'Lockdown defensive player, the best in the Big Ten, as a matter of fact. If I can show coach I have lockdown defense, that would get me out on the floor. Everything else would be a bonus for me,”

Dale Jones, a 6-8, 220-pound junior-college transfer, is also in this mix. On Thursday night, he showed confidence as a shooter with 14 points.

Uthoff sits with ankle sprain

- Senior forward Jarrod Uthoff sat out Thursday night's PTL action with an ankle sprain. He said it's not serious and that he's in a day-to-day situation. Also, Uthoff wants to be in his best condition for the upcoming Nike Basketball Academy coming up June 26-30 in Santa Monica, Calif. This academy will bring together some of top NBA talent, including LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and Anthony Davis, to help the college athletes enhance their skills.

'I think it will be great for my game, playing with the best players in the world,” Uthoff said. 'Playing with the best college players in the country, learning new things. It will be great.”

A new Uthoff will be on display. He ended last season at 205 pounds. He's now up to 220 and says he feels great.

'I finished high school at 175 or 180,” Uthoff said. 'I gained quite a bit of weight before my first year. The last couple of seasons, I've been playing 202 to 205 and now I'm 220.”

Does he feel good with it?

'Yeah, absolutely,” Uthoff said.

l Comments: (319) 398-8256; marc.morehouse@thegazette.com