Iowa contacts JUCO guard

With the prep point guard ranks thinning out, Iowa could potentially look to the junior college ranks in the Class of 2014 to fill what they see as a need in the backcourt. Last night, the Iowa coaches reached out to Iakeem Alston, a 6-foot guard from Sheridan Junior College in Wyoming.

"I got a call from Coach Francis last night and he basically said they want to get a point guard in this class and that they are interested in me," Alston said Friday afternoon. "He said they talked to my coach and they are going to get more game film on me and he said he hopes that he can get out to visit here in a few weeks."

Alston, who is originally from Baltimore, said he doesn't know a whole lot about the Iowa program at this point, but he likes what he heard from Coach Francis.

"Right now I basically know what Coach Francis told me and he said they like to run and push the ball and that's the style I like to play," he said.

Alston is one of the top sophomore junior college point guards in the country and many strong D1 programs are showing interest and offering him already.

"I'm hearing from schools like Southern Mississippi, Seton Hall, Pitt, St. Bonaventure, and North Texas State. I think I have about ten offers right now," he said. "I'm going to sit down with my coach this afternoon and talk about official visits. I think right now one of the official visits I have scheduled is to Southern Mississippi on October 4th and we have been talking to the Pitt coaches about a visit, but I haven't heard back from them on a date."

One aspect that could create a sense of urgency for Iowa and other schools recruiting Alston is he says he would like to sign during the November signing period.

"I would like to sign early and then focus on my season," he said.

In his first year at Sheridan College, Alston averaged 9 points, 3 assists and 2.6 rebounds per game.