Scott Dochterman, CR Gazette –
IOWA CITY — Jarrod Uthoff has cut his college list to in-state rivals Iowa and Iowa State and will make his choice within the next few days, he told The Gazette on Saturday.
“I’ll make a decision pretty soon,” he said.
When asked what separates Iowa from Iowa State, Uthoff said, “I’m still trying to decide that.”
Uthoff, a 6-foot-8 forward and a Cedar Rapids Jefferson graduate, red-shirted last season at Wisconsin. He requested his scholarship release in April and immediately was restricted by Wisconsin Coach Bo Ryan from contacting both Iowa State and Iowa, plus the rest of the Big Ten, all ACC schools, Marquette and Florida. Uthoff appealed those restrictions after the situation ignited publicly, and Wisconsin Athletics Director Barry Alvarez rescinded all restrictions except for the Badgers’ Big Ten rivals.
Uthoff, a Marengo native, since has taken official visits Creighton and Iowa State. He planned to visit both Marquette and Florida but did not. He said he wanted to narrow the choices to Iowa and Iowa State. He called the re-recruitment process “a pretty crazy experience.”
Uthoff can earn a basketball scholarship at Iowa State immediately but must sit out for one season, per NCAA rules. He’s not allowed to have contact with any Iowa athletics officials unless he enrolls and attends classes. Because Wisconsin restricted Uthoff from contacting Iowa, Uthoff would have to pay his own way and sit out for one season before earning a scholarship. A source familiar with Uthoff’s recruitment said Iowa plans to give Uthoff a scholarship starting in 2013-14.
“That’s what I’m hoping for,” said Uthoff, if he picks Iowa.
Uthoff’s family has a history with Iowa State. His cousin, Dean, was first team all-Big Eight at Iowa State in 1978 and ranks as the Cyclones’ all-time leader in rebounds with 1,234.
At Cedar Rapids Jefferson, Uthoff earned Iowa’s 2011 Mr. Basketball award after averaging a state-high 26.1 points. In July 2010, Uthoff picked Wisconsin over Iowa, Iowa State, Illinois, Indiana and several other schools.
