By Tyler Devine

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Julian Roper did not have any scholarship offers before visiting Iowa last weekend.

That changed when head coach Fran McCaffery and his staffed extended an offer to the 2021 point guard.

“It feels great,” Roper said. “Especially my first offer being a Big Ten school.”

Roper, a native of Franklin, Mich., is impressed by the amount of support Iowa receives from its fans.

“It gives me a second home feeling,” Roper said. “And the fact that the Iowa sports are the only sports that the fans have so everyone comes out and shows love.”

The 6-foot-2 Roper also came away impressed by the way that McCaffery runs the program.

“The coaching staff was phenomenal,” Roper said. “They consistently talked about life after basketball and preached that throughout the visit.

“As far as basketball, the coaches were really consistent with the style of play that I like to play. Coach McCaffery does a lot of teaching. He doesn’t seem to yell and scream too much but has a way of getting you to learn.”

Bowman also nets offer: Following the theme of Michigan point guards receiving scholarship offers from Iowa, 2020 prospect Lorne Bowman found himself with one after his visit to campus.

“It feels great to get the offer,” Bowman said. “Iowa has a great tradition and it’s a blessing to get it.”

The 6-foot-2, 180-pound Bowman also came away impressed by Iowa’s coaching staff.

“What stood out to me when I visited was how great the coaching staff, the players and the fans really are,” Bowman said.

Bowman, a native of Detroit, Mich., feels like his ability to make plays around the rim and on the perimeter matches Iowa’s style of play.

“I feel like I fit really into their scheme,” Bowman said. “My ability to shoot and get to the rim and make plays for others (fits well).”

Bowman also has offers from Buffalo, Nebraska, Oakland, Toledo and Valparaiso.

Ross hopeful for offer: Merrillville, Ind. forward Kyle Ross also got a chance to take a look at Iowa last weekend.

The 6-foot-6, 215-pound Ross is hopeful that his growing relationship with the Iowa coaching staff will turn into a scholarship offer.

“I would absolutely love it,” Ross said. “Iowa has been one of the best school I’ve ever been to. Just the overall atmosphere is amazing. Great people, great fans and a great basketball staff.”

Ross, a 2021 prospect, also is a fan of McCaffery’s up-tempo style of play.

“I love the coaches style of playing and I think I would fit in well,” Ross said.