Jan Jensen's feverish push to add more talent from the recruiting trail is ever so close to paying off.
Amid the program's recent push to add talent in the 2028 class, multiple recruiting wins have occurred in the 2027 class. In three massive recruiting wins, Nation Williams (No. 10 overall), Destiny Manyawu (No. 25 overall), and Sienna Williams (No. 64 overall), all put Iowa on their final choices list, and we can chalk up one more after another astonishing announcement.
2027 No. 2 center prospect Khalia Hartwell has Iowa in her final three
The Hawkeyes recently missed out on Mya Wilson, the No. 44 overall prospect in the 2027 class, after she recently committed to Ohio State, but that hasn't deterred them from pursuing the top talent in the class. The program has been in the mix for a lot of high-caliber talent, and got some more good news after South Carolina's top prospect not only recently locked in an official visit, but put Iowa in her final three.
NEWS: Khalia Hartwell, a four-star center in the class of 2027, is down to three schools, @247Sports is told.
— Dushawn London (@DushawnLondon1) August 9, 2026
She has also set official visits to each of her finalists.
Story: https://t.co/aWSONW11Fx pic.twitter.com/QIA37bJISU
After scheduling an official visit for September 11 this fall, Khalia Hartwell, the No. 4 overall center in the 2027 class, released her final three choices. Georgia, Iowa, and Virginia Tech made the final cut, and it's surprising that Dawn Staley and South Carolina missed out. 247Sports not only ranks Hartwell as the No. 2 overall center in the class, but also South Carolina's No. 1 overall prospect, which is a big miss for Staley and the Gamecocks' program. It is big news for the Hawkeyes, who desperately need some size after losing one of their premier post players last season.
Hannah Stuelke is headed to Italy to start her professional basketball career, leaving Ava Heiden (six-foot-five) and Layla Hays (six-foot-five) as the only remaining post players. The Hawkeyes also brought in McKenna Woliczko (six-foot-two) via the 2026 recruiting class and Jocelyn Faison (six-foot-one) via the transfer portal, but they are best suited to play forward and don't have the size of the other two players. Hartwell is a six-foot-four, pure center prospect who dominates in the paint, something Iowa could use more of.
With sharpshooting 2027 prospect Jada Seubert already committed in the class, the Hawkeyes could definitely use some size and rebounding down low, both things Hartwell has. She has tremendous length that she uses very effectively to score down low, rebound, and block shots, which would give Iowa something they don't have. Hartwell has a somewhat limited offensive game, but has made a name for herself with her ability to block shots at a high rate without fouling. Having a trio of her, Hays, and Heiden would be a nightmare in the paint for opposing teams and would give Iowa an elite rim protector on the defensive end.
Jan Jensen has received the reputation of being an elite post developer, and she could do wonders with Hartwell's immense potential. If the Hawkeyes can close the deal, all the talk about Iowa needing more size will quickly evaporate.
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