AH TV: Meets Iowa’s 6 Newcomers
IOWA CITY, Iowa – The Iowa basketball team held its annual media day on Wednesday. One of the hot topics of conversation was which of the six newcomers would find their way into a rotation already featuring four returning starters, two more with experience and a pair that red shirted last year.
Hawkeye Head Coach Fran McCaffery said he sought versatility from the fresh faces. They all claimed to offer that and displayed high levels of confidence.
Get to know Iowa’s newcomers in these All Hawkeyes Interviews from media day accompanied by their bios produced by the program:
ANDREW FLEMING
High School – Boasted a 47-1 team record and finished as national runners-up at Dick’s Nationals in Madison Square Garden playing for Oak Hill Academy (Virginia) his senior season… ranks in the top 25 in 3-pointers made in a single-season at Oak Hill, draining 72 while shooting at a 38 percent clip from behind the 3-point arc… made most 3-pointers in a game (8) by any Oak Hill player in 2014-15… helped lead Ensworth High School in Nashville, Tennessee, to three-straight state titles, earning all-tournament laurels on each championship team… a two-time All-State honoree, earning first team recognition as a junior and third team distinction his sophomore campaign… as a junior, was named Tennessee’s Division II-AA Mr. Basketball and was tabbed the state championship Most Valuable Player… led the Region in scoring his sophomore (20.5 ppg) and junior (19.3 ppg) seasons… scored 1,117 points in three seasons at Ensworth… holds the Ensworth record for points (49) and 3-pointers (9) in a single-game… played AAU basketball for M33M Let it Fly in 2013-14… McDonald’s All-American nominee… made the All-Star Game festivities at the Pangos All-American Camp in 2014, which invites the top 100 preps in the country… invited to represent Latin America at the 2014 Adidas Nations Global Experience in Long Beach, California… was honored on MaxPreps Sophomore All-American Team and was invited to the Nike Elite 100 Camp… participated in USA Basketball’s U16 Developmental National Team Mini Camp.
Personal – Born 4/27/96 in Jacksonville, Florida… pre-business major… parents are Howard and Lilyan Fleming… two siblings, an older brother Sean and younger sister Jessica… Oak Hill Academy coach was Steve Smith… Ensworth High School coach was Ricky Bowers… AAU Coach was Ernie Kuiper… four year participant in Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
BRANDON HUTTON
High School – Second-team all-state honoree after averaging 15 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks his senior season… averaged 12 points, eight rebounds, four assists and two blocks while earning Chicago Catholic League All-Conference accolades as a junior… recognized on the 2014 Illinois Basketball Coaches Association third team all-state squad… a two-time team captain and three-year varsity player… 2015 McDonald’s All-American nominee… also a leader off the court, being recognized on the honor roll and participating in a number of student groups… also competed on the Illinois Stars AAU squad.
Personal – Born 4/19/97… open major… parents Ronnie Doss and Nina Hutton… has one sibling, sister Briana… high school coach was Tom White… AAU coach was Troy Johnson.
DALE JONES
Junior College (2012-15) – Averaged 9.2 points and 6.1 rebounds his freshman campaign in 2013 before being sidelined with an injury in 2014… as a sophomore team captain in 2015, averaged 16.9 points, while shooting 45 percent (99-of-218) from 3-point range and 84 percent from the foul line (99-of-118), and 8.3 rebounds on a team that won the Region XIV championship and advanced to the second round of the NJCAA Men’s Basketball Championship… an NJCAA honorable mention All-American, and earned first-team all-region and all-regional tournament accolades in 2015.
High School (2008-12) – Second-team and third-team all-state honoree by the Iowa Newspaper Association and Des Moines Register, respectively, while also earning all-conference laurels as a senior at Waterloo West High School in 2012.
Personal – Born 12/13/93… interdepartmental studies major… parents are Dale and LaShaun Jones… three siblings, brother DaShawn Richardson, and sisters Aviance and Adausia… High School coach was Justin Little.
ISAIAH MOSS
High School – Averaged 10 points, two rebounds, two assists and one steal his junior year at Simeon High School… averaged 16 points, six rebounds, three assists and two steals for the Mac Irvin Fire AAU team… was instrumental in leading Mac Irvin Fire to the 2014 Big Foot Classic championship in Las Vegas… also played for the Playground Elite AAU squad, averaging 17 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Personal – Born 10/8/96… open major… parents are Mike and Angie Moss… has one brother and three sisters… high school coach was Rob Smith… AAU coach was Mike Irvin.
AHMAD WAGNER
High School – Led Wayne High School to the Ohio Division I state championship as a senior… averaged 15 points and 11 rebounds while earning all-state, and first-team all-conference and all-division distinction as a senior… as a junior, averaged 15 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks, earning conference Player of the Year and honorable mention all-state laurels, as well as being recognized on the first team all-conference and all-division teams… named team’s co-Most Valuable Player in 2014… four-time team captain… excelled in the classroom by maintaining a GPA above 3.5… also played on the All-Ohio Red AAU squad.. played overseas in Italy his sophomore year… also played wide receiver for one season as a senior, helping lead Wayne High School’s football team to the state title game… earned first-team all-conference, all-state, and all-division accolades while hauling in 58 receptions for 1,028 yards and scoring 17 touchdowns as a receiver his senior season… ran anchor leg of 4×100 relay that placed fourth at the 2015 Ohio state track meet.
Personal – Born 12/21/96… pre-business major… parents are Lee and Teresa Bondurant Wagner… three siblings, brothers AJ and Aamil, and sister Amari… High School coach was Travis Trice, father of former MSU basketball player Travis Trice (2011-14)… AAU coaches were Logan Brogden and Marcus Gill.
CHRISTIAN WILLIAMS
High School – Prepped at St. Teresa High School in Illinois where he became the school’s all-time leading scorer and ranks in the top-20 in scoring in Macon County with 1,587 points… a two-time all-state and three-time first-team all-league selection… posted 20 career double-doubles and helped the Bulldogs win 20 games all four years on varsity… tabbed first-team all-state by the Associated Press and Illinois Basketball Coaches Association (IBCA) after averaging 18.7 points, 8.6 rebounds, 3.3 steals, and three assists as a senior… recognized as the Macon County Player of the Year by the Herald & Review and WCIA, and was an all-conference honoree… helped lead St. Teresa (27-5) to an undefeated conference record and unprecedented success in postseason play… the Bulldogs captured regional, sectional, and super sectional championships, and finished runner-up at the state tournament… averaged 18.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 2.8 steals while earning all-state accolades by the Associated Press and IBCA as a junior… Williams and the Bulldogs captured their second straight conference championship, while posting a 25-4 overall record in 2014… netted a personal-best 41 points during his junior season against Monticello on Jan. 22, 2014… averaged 15.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 1.5 blocks on St. Teresa’s 22-6 conference champion team in 2013… averaged 9.1 points and 5.5 rebounds his freshman season on a 20-9 squad… played in the Illinois-Missouri All-Star Classic and the IBCA All-Star Game… also competed for the Peoria Irish on the AAU circuit.
Personal – Born 8/13/96… pre-business major… mother is Marla Williams… two siblings, Ciara Willies and Darius Warren High School coach was Tom Noonan… AAU Coach was Gavin Sullivan.