The Iowa Men's Wrestling program took a massive hit to its 2026 recruiting class and beyond after a top recruit, Bo Bassett, decommitted from the Iowa program and reopened his recruitment process.
After initially committing to the Iowa Hawkeyes five months ago, Bassett has reversed course and is back on the open market.
Bo Bassett has decommitted from Iowa pic.twitter.com/odfooC4QH9
— Ross Bartachek (@rossbchek) June 22, 2025
Bassett, the No. 2 overall prospect in the 2026 recruiting class is a star wrestler for Bishop McCort Catholic Academy in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. He used an unconventional method to announce his recruitment process.
He used a picture with multiple schools pictured and would cross out programs every week until he was down to his last four, including Iowa, Oklahoma State, Penn State, and Virginia Tech.
After announcing his commitment to the Iowa program in February, Bassett was immediately a fan favorite.
Hawkeye fans traveled to a FloWrestling Night in America event at the Xtreme Arena in Coralville, Iowa, to meet the future Hawkeye as he participated in a meet-and-greet.
Over the past few weeks, rumors have surrounded Bassett's commitment to the Hawkeyes and how he might look for greener pastures elsewhere. After decommitting over the weekend, the rumors have not stopped.
On the Baschamania Podcast, they discussed Bassett's decommittment from the program and what could have led to the top prospect moving on from the Hawkeye program.
The Baschamania crew stated that the Iowa program said the Basset family was asking Tom Brands and the program to pay for flights and accommodations for the family, so Bo and his brother, Melvin Miller (2027 No. 1 overall prospect), could train in Iowa City.
Brands was unhappy and did not want the Bassetts to determine how he runs his program. He told them no, and Bo promptly decommitted from the program.
The Bassetts did not mention that aspect, stating it was more about the fit with the Iowa program.
Bassett has reopened his recruitment in a wild turn of events, with Penn State and Oklahoma State projected as the front-runners to land the ultra-talented 2026 prospect.