Iowa Basketball: Former Hawkeye Cordell Pemsl Transfers to Virginia Tech

All the talk thus far in the offseason has been about the coronavirus-shortened season and the tremendous prospects for next year with all the Iowa Hawkeyes are slated to return. On the other aide of the coin, however, Iowa is losing a few pieces from this year’s roster. Grad transfer Bakari Evelyn and senior Ryan Kriener are both gone to graduation. Iowa also lost a pair role players with remaining eligibility to transfer this offseason when Riley Till and Cordell Pemsl announced intentions to grad transfer with immediate eligibility.

We learned last week that former walk-on turned scholarship player Riley Till is headed to Cal-Poly for his senior season. Today we learned where Cordell Pemsl is headed as the redshirt senior announced his commitment to Virgina Tech via Instagram.

Pemsl, who dealt with several injuries during his four years in Iowa City, leaves the Hawkeyes after averaging 2.8 points and 3.2 rebounds in 12.7 minutes per game this season. The Dubuque native missed all but two games a season ago after averaging 8.9 points and 5 rebounds in 19.3 minutes per game as a freshman and 5.7 points and 4.5 rebounds in 16.4 minutes per game as a sophomore.

While Pemsl’s stats don’t jump off the page, he brought a toughness to this Iowa roster that was often needed. His presence was perhaps never felt more than in a 98-84 win over Iowa State in 2018 wherein words and more were exchanged between the Hawkeyes and Cyclones. It was one of only two appearances for Pemsl in a redshirt year, but he ended with 8 points and 6 boards off the bench while providing some much needed fire and muscle in a matchup where the Cyclones let frustrations over the loss overcome them multiple times.

Best of luck to Cordell Pemsl. He’s a true Hawkeye and his presence will be missed on the court and in the locker room. The Hokies are getting a good one, even if not someone who is likely to fill the stat sheet.