:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61249259/92DFD50D_E810_4D3D_8400_7466F6FB3801.0.jpeg)
What a weekend for the Hawkeyes. The football team, of course, reminded us all it remains a Hawkeye state with their fourth consecutive victory over Iowa State. They did so in front of nearly 40 visiting recruits.
But it wasn’t just the football team with a big recruiting weekend. The Iowa hoops team had some major visitors as well. On the list was 4-star 2019 commit Pat McCaffery. He was joined by 5-star 2019 prospect Trayce Jackson-Davis of Indiana making his official visit, as well as 5-star 2020 center prospect Xavier Foster of Oskaloosa, who became Iowa’s first junior to take an official visit.
In addition to the big men, Iowa also hosted the first of three planned point guard visitors. The other two visits won’t be necessary now as Joe Toussaint announced his commitment to the Hawkeyes today via Instagram.
Toussaint is a major addition for Iowa. A 3-star guy by the recruiting services, he’s just what the doctor ordered in Iowa City. The Bronx-native is gritty with a knack for getting to the rim. He plays very good on-ball defense and has the kind of lateral quickness the Hawkeyes have been lacking.
The one question mark in Toussaint’s game has been his outside shot, but from his video it appears serviceable. And frankly, given his ball handling and quickness, the shot just needs to be good enough to keep defenders honest. It is.
He’s a perfect compliment to the guards already on the roster.
In an interview with HawkCentral, Toussaint’s high school coach told Matthew Bain the following:
“He’s a bulldog of a guard. He can shoot the ball. He’s got terrific handle. You can’t stay in front of him. He’s so tough. When big guys are coming down the lane, he steps in and takes a charge. He’s got so much heart. He’s just such a winning player. He makes the extra pass. He’s a quiet kid. He’s just a worker. There’s never any BS in him. He has a goal, and he’s trying to get there.”
Again, just what the doctor ordered.
Toussaint held 8 total offers, but ultimately chose Iowa over his final 4 of Dayton, Wichita State, UNLV and of course the Hawkeyes. He joins Pat McCaffery as the two lone commits in the class of 2019.
While the two commits theoretically makes the Hawkeyes full in the class, the scholarship flexibility of Fran having two sons on the team presents an opportunity of a guy like the aforementioned Jackson-Davis wanted to join them. The staff will continue to big game hunt in the class of 2019 and look to begin filling what should be a big 2020 class.
Welcome aboard Joe Toussaint!