Hawkeyes In the Pros

Unlike professional football, the list of former Iowa Hawkeyes in professional basketball is brief. Here’s a rundown of some former Hawks that have taken their game to the next level. Some, like Andre Woolridge, have made a lengthy career of wallowing in professional basketball in Europe. Recent Hawkeyes Greg Brunner, Adam Haluska and Jeff Horner are still fighting to get noticed and make it in the NBA.

(Image courtesy of NBA.com)

NBA

Ryan Bowen, New Orleans Hornets:
-This Season: 10 Games, 2.7 PPG, 1.5 RPG, 59.1 FG%, 33.3 FT%
-NBA Experience: 8 years
-Salary: $797,581

Ricky Davis, Los Angeles Clippers:
-This Season: 29 Games, 21.6 MPG, 6.3 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 2.2 APG, 34.2 FG%, 84.0 FT%
-NBA Experience: 10 years
-Salary: $2.3 million

Reggie Evans, Philadelphia 76ers:
-This Season: 48 Games, 12.5 MPG, 2.5 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 38.6 FG%, 61.5 FT%
-NBA Experience: 6 years
-Salary: $4.64 million

Notables Overseas

Greg Brunner:
-Currently with Angelico Biella in Italy.
-Averaging 9.1 PPG and 4.0 RPG in 11 games.

Adam Haluska:
-Currently with Hapoel Jerusalem in Isreal.
-Was briefly with the New Orleans Hornets and the Houston Rockets of the NBA; also played for short time with the Iowa Energy last season.

Jeff Horner:
-Currently with Olympique Antibes of France; played for the Iowa Energy last season.

Dean Oliver:
-Currently with Eiffel Towers Den Bosch in Belgium.
-Averaging 10.2 PPG and 6.0 APG in 13 games.

Luke Recker:
-Currently with Iurbentia Bilbao Basket of Spain.

Jared Reiner:
-Currently with Eisbaeren Bremerhaven of Germany.
-Saw NBA action with the Chicago Bulls in 2004-05 and with the Milwaukee Bucks in 2006-07.

Doug Thomas:
-Currently a starter for the Sundsvall Dragons of Sweden; played for the Iowa Energy last season.

Andre Woolridge:
-Currently with Oyak Renault in Turkey.

What Does It Mean?

Iowa has trouble producing NBA caliber players. It’s doubtful this will change under Todd Lickliter. The biggest question is probably whether it even matters. Iowa does not need to gather a large collection of future pros to win games. Sure, it’s nice when guys like Fred Brown, B.J. Armstrong, Roy Marble, Ron Lester and Bob Hansen come along. But it’s just not going to happen all that often in cold, wintry Iowa City. It’s a location with a small surrounding population with low-level high school basketball.

A nucleus of Matt Gatens, Jake Kelly, Jeff Peterson, Jarryd Cole and Anthony Tucker may be sufficient to get Iowa to an NCAA Tournament, and that’s enough to satisfy most Hawkeye fans. None will likely be on an NBA roster, but who cares? There’s a long list of stud college basketball players that never get to the NBA.