Uthoff headed to Iowa
It’ll cost him more money.
And it’ll mean facing his former team at least once per season under unusual circumstances.
Jarrod Uthoff is willing to accept that in order to play basketball at the University of Iowa.
The 6-foot-8 Uthoff ended a near two-month search for a new school by confirming that he will transfer to Iowa from Wisconsin where he was redshirted as a freshman this past season.
“I like their system, and I think they can utilize my versatility,” Uthoff said of Iowa Wednesday night. “Iowa was the best fit for me.”
Uthoff picked Iowa over Iowa State even though he can’t be on scholarship at Iowa during his first season because the Big Ten schools were put on a restricted list by Wisconsin officials. The restricted list once had as many as 26 schools on it, including Iowa State, until Uthoff appealed it down to just the Big Ten schools.
Uthoff also picked Iowa despite being prohibited from having any contact with the Iowa coaches because of the restrictions.
Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan was widely criticized for his handling of the Uthoff case, which was finally settled when Uthoff met with Wisconsin Athletics Director Barry Alvarez and a compromise was reached.
Uthoff said in May that knowing some of the Iowa players might factor in his decision. He and Iowa shooting guard Josh Oglesby played on the same AAU team and they both attended high schools in Cedar Rapids.
Uthoff also grew to like Iowa’s up-tempo system under coach Fran McCaffery after running it with the Wisconsin scout team in practice this past season.
But Uthoff also had a connection to Iowa State, with his cousin, Dean Uthoff, played center for the Cyclones in the 1970s.
Jarrod Uthoff will have to sit out next season under NCAA transfer rules, which means he’ll play for the scout team in practice again.
Uthoff will be eligible for a scholarship at Iowa by the start of the 2013-14 season.
He was named Iowa Mr. Basketball as a senior at Cedar Rapids Jefferson and picked the Badgers after giving serious consideration to Iowa.
Uthoff is expected to compete in the Prime Time League, which starts June 19 and will play games at the North Liberty Community Center.
Category: Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball
