McCaffery touts incoming class

IOWA CITY - Ahmad Wagner became a coveted wide receiver for many top-tier football programs during a stellar senior season at Wayne High School in Huber Heights, Ohio.

But the 6-foot-7 power forward committed to Iowa for basketball earlier this fall, and Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery had no concerns that Wagner wouldn't stick with his squad.

'He's a man of his word,” McCaffery said. 'Why should I be?”

Wagner was among the first players to send in his letter of intent Wednesday to play college basketball at Iowa in 2015. He was joined by shooting guard Andrew Fleming and forwards Brandon Hutton and Isaiah Moss. The Hawkeyes have one open scholarship for the 2015 class, and McCaffery said he plans to hold it for use in the spring.

Wagner has the size at a position of need for Iowa moving forward. The Hawkeyes lost power forwards Melsahn Basabe and Zach McCabe after last season, and this year's starting power forward (Aaron White) is a senior. In three seasons at Wayne - the alma mater of Michigan State point guard Travis Trice and Ohio State QB Braxton Miller - Wagner scored 686 points (shooting 61 percent from the field), 526 rebounds and 138 blocks. Last year as a junior, Wagner averaged 15 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks and was named his conference player of the year.

'(Wagner has) got a lot of versatility, a great motor, tremendous athlete, great character,” McCaffery said. 'We felt like he was a great fit for what we did need and our style of play. We went after him hard, and we're thrilled that he's coming. No question he's going to make an immediate impact. He's a terrific player.”

Fleming, is a 6-4 guard at renowned Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va. Last year at Ensworth High School in Nashville, Tenn., Fleming was named Tennessee's Division II-AA Mr. Basketball and earned MVP honors in the state title game. He led Ensworth to three consecutive titles and led his region in scoring his sophomore (20.5 ppg) and junior (19.3 ppg) seasons.

When asked if Fleming's toughness compares favorably to that of former Iowa guard Matt Gatens, McCaffery said, 'I do think he has some of those qualities.”

'He's versatile, can put on the deck, can make plays for other people,” McCaffery said. 'Athletic enough to play the small forward position, scores the ball well. He's a really good player. We're excited about him.”

Hutton, a 6-foot-6 forward from Chicago De La Salle, is considered an ascending player with toughness. He's also defensive-minded, which is helpful in the Big Ten. Hutton averaged 12 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two blocks and picked up Chicago Catholic League All-Conference honors last season.

'We are thrilled that Brandon is going to be a Hawkeye,” said McCaffery. 'He's a tremendous athlete, a fierce competitor and is extremely versatile. As good as he is now, I believe with his work ethic and determination, he's going to continue to improve. He'll become someone who can be a lockdown defender, a great transition player, as well as a quality scorer.”

Moss, who stands 6-foot-5, 10 points, two rebounds, two assists and one steal his junior year at Chicago Simeon High School. High school teammates D.J. Williams (Illinois) and Ed Morrow (Nebraska) also signed letters of intent to Big Ten schools.

'Isaiah is an athletic wing who can dribble, pass, and shoot,” said McCaffery. 'He's big enough to guard guys in the post and quick enough to guard guys on the perimeter. Isaiah is a big-time play maker, who can create his own shot and score at a high-rate. He's also going to make an immediate impact on this team.”

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