Finally we get to the headliner in the class. Tyler Cook.
Cook is a four star recruit rated by Scout and is 98th overall in their rankings. He stands 6’8″ and weighs about 240 pounds. His body is ready for the Big Ten grind right now and he may start next season when you consider that Iowa lost so much to graduation.
He’s a high flyer that could bring down the roof inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena with his dunks. He’s a big time athlete that is going to fit perfectly into Fran McCaffery’s system. He has the perfect body type to press and get up and down the court with ease. He’s a high energy kid that is tough down low in the paint.
His mid-range jumper may need some work, but you can deal with that being one of the only things he needs to work on. His back-to-the-basket game may need some more work also, but his athleticism is going to impact this team next season. He gets up and down the floor, blocks shots, and gives Iowa a player that dunks anything possible.
The St. Louis, MO product chose Iowa over schools like Florida, Kansas, Kansas State, and others. He was a very sought after recruit, but after recruiting him for quite some time, Iowa landed a commitment from him back on September 23rd, 2015.
Cook should be a guy that impacts the team right away as I can see him starting at either the four or the five based on what McCaffery thinks is best. He’ll be there right along side of Uhl and Wagner on the back line. When you pair Cook and Wagner on the floor together, you get a lot of athleticism, but also a lot of youth.
He’s still pretty raw, but his athleticism is what is going to set him aside from the other freshman in this class. Expect Cook to be in the starting lineup next fall.