Iowa
Quick Commitment From Three-Star Player Fills Massive Need for Iowa State Cyclones
As the Iowa State Cyclones prepare for a massive matchup against the BYU Cougars, the team is still trying to fill some needs for their 2026 recruiting class. Finding and developing talent is key for the program, and Matt Campbell has done an excellent job of getting the most out of his recruits.
The Cyclones got off to a great start to the season with a 5-0 record, but have recently fallen on some hard times, losing two straight games. This is a team that is hoping to compete for a Big 12 title this year, but that is going to become increasingly difficult.
While the team is trying to do what they can on the field, the program is also trying to have a Top 50 recruiting class. Unfortunately, despite being a bit late in the process, the Cyclones saw a couple of recruits recently decommit, which hurt the class.
I’m 100% COMMITTED to Iowa State University 🟡🔴!! @RitterPrep @BrennanSpain @AllenTrieu @CycloneFB @CoachRasheed @ISUMattCampbell @Coach_Broom pic.twitter.com/f6D0uBOjAT
— Jocques Felix (@jocques01) October 19, 2025
Fortunately, the team recently saw three-star defensive lineman Jocques Felix commit to the program. This was a swift decision by Felix, who has yet to visit the campus. The plan appears to be for him to make a trip sometime in November but adding him is an excellent get for coach Campbell and company.
Due to the recent loss of Brysen Wessell to the Missouri Tigers, adding Felix fills a need for the program. At 6’4”, 280 pounds already, there is a lot to like about how the young recruit could develop. Felix has the size to continue to add to his already big frame.
There is certainly reason to believe that he will be able to develop into a starting-caliber player for the program in the near future. This is a program that has been able to recently develop Domonique Orange into one of the best defensive tackles in the country.
The coaching staff will certainly be trying to help Felix get to that level as well in the coming years. Winning in the trenches is always an important thing and the Cyclones will now have Felix joining Daniel Howard in the 2026 class.
After some bad breaks in recruiting, seeing the quick commitment from Felix should help increase their overall class ranking. Iowa State has a chance to be a Top 50 class in 2026, and that would be a nice accomplishment for the program and highlight the improvements that they are making.
Iowa
Iowa Girls State Basketball Tournament Fields Set In 5A, 4A
While defending champion Johnston secured a return trip to the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union State Basketball Tournament, Cedar Rapids Xavier did not.
The Dragons claimed another regional title in Class 5A Tuesday night with a dominating 91-53 victory over Indianola. Johnston, led by Notre Dame signee Jenica Lewis, will open its quest for a three-peat on Monday, March 2 vs. Ankeny Centennial in Des Moines, Iowa from the Casey’s Center.
Joining the Dragons and Jaguars in 5A will be Cedar Rapids Washington, Ankeny, Dowling Catholic, West Des Moines Valley, Waukee Northwest and Iowa City West.
Johnston bested Dowling Catholic last year in the finals.
The defending 4A state champions were forced to go on the road in the regional final, as Cedar Rapids Xavier lost to Waverly-Shell Rock, 63-45.
With the win, the Go-Hawks advance and will play Dallas Center-Grimes in the state quarterfinals on Tuesday, March 3. The remaining 2A quarterfinal games feature Norwalk vs. Central DeWitt, Sioux City Bishop Heelan vs. North Polk and Clear Creek-Amana vs. Carlisle.
Here are the fields for the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union State Basketball Tournament. The 3A field has also been set while the 1A and 2A regional finals take place Wednesday night.
Quarterfinals
Monday, March 2
Semifinals
Thursday, March 5
Championship
Friday, March 6
Quarterfinals
Tuesday, March 3
Semifinals
Thursday, March 5
Championship
Saturday, March 7
Iowa
AP College Basketball Players of the Week: Arkansas’ Acuff, Iowa’s Heiden
The Associated Press announced its national players of the week in men’s and women’s basketball for Week 16 of the season. On the men’s basketball side:
The 6-foot-3 freshman guard and high-end NBA prospect had an all-timer of a performance in a 117-115 double-overtime loss at then-No. 25 Alabama, scoring 49 points to set an Arkansas single-game freshman record as well as the No. 2 total in program history by any player.
Acuff made 16 of 27 shots, 6 of 10 3-pointers and 11 of 12 free throws to go with five rebounds and five assists. He also committed just one turnover while playing all 50 minutes. The 49 points were the No. 2 output in Division I all year and broke Todd Day’s 1992 program record for most points in a Southeastern Conference game, as well as standing as the most points by a John Calipari-coached player.
Acuff followed with 20 points, four rebounds and five assists in a win against Missouri.
Runner-up
AJ Dybantsa, No. 19 BYU. The 6-9 freshman swept the Big 12 player of the week and rookie of the week honors after two big outings against top-flight opponents. First he had 35 points and seven rebounds in a loss at then-No. 4 Arizona. Then he had a near triple-double with 29 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists with a block and a steal in a home win against then-No. 6 Iowa State. The nation’s scoring leader (24.9) made 23 of 45 shots (.511), 4 of 10 3-pointers (.400) and 14 of 17 free throws (.824) in the two games.
Honorable mention
Cameron Boozer, No. 1 Duke; Donovan Dent, UCLA.
Keep an eye on
Moustapha Thiam, Cincinnati. The 7-2 sophomore had a huge game in the Bearcats’ surprise 16-point win at then-No. 8 Kansas, scoring a career-high 28 points to go with eight rebounds and two assists. He went 11 for 17 from the field and had two 3-pointers while committing zero turnovers in 30 minutes. That win marked Cincinnati’s first on the road against a top-10 opponent since beating Louisville in January 1990. Thiam is averaging 19.3 points and 8.3 rebounds on 59% shooting in his last three games.
And for women’s basketball:
The sophomore center led No. 9 Iowa to wins over Nebraska, Purdue and Michigan last week, recording a double-double in each of the games. She had 24 points, 10 rebounds and two blocks in a win over then-No. 6 Michigan. She shot 75% from the field in the three games while averaging 24 points and 11.3 rebounds.
Runner-up
Madina Okot, No. 3 South Carolina. The senior center averaged 16.5 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks while helping the Gamecocks to a pair of Top 25 wins over Alabama and Ole Miss. She also hit five 3-pointers, hitting all of her attempts from behind the arc. In the win over Alabama, Okot had a double-double by halftime with 13 points and 10 rebounds in just 16 minutes.
Honorable mention
Hannah Hidalgo, Notre Dame; Olivia Miles, No. 11 TCU; Sarah Strong, No. 1 UConn.
Keep an eye on
Rice redshirt junior guard Hailey Adams averaged 12 points, 16 rebounds and 2.5 blocks while shooting 60% from the field to help the Owls beat East Carolina and South Florida last week. The Owls have won 19 straight games and are one victory away from the top seed in the American Conference.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Iowa
Iowa High School Girls Basketball Player Of The Year Finalists
The regular season for Iowa high school girls basketball is in the books, and with it a historic chapter in the history of the sport.
Several players in each of the five classifications of Iowa high school girls basketball were worthy nominees for the player of the year award from High School on SI, but we have cut the list down to five in each class.
The High School on SI Iowa Girls Basketball Player of the Year in Class 5A, 4A, 3A, 2A and 1A will be announced in March alongside all-state teams in each class.
Here are the nominees for the player of the year award in Iowa high school girls basketball for the 2025-26 season. Stats are based off those uploaded to the Bound website by Monday, February 23, 2026.
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