Iowa Dominates Western Michigan as 2028 Four-Star Prospect Cole Kelly Watches From Courtside
Carver-Hawkeye Arena had a little extra buzz on Dec. 14-not just because Iowa basketball put on a clinic in a 91-51 dismantling of Western Michigan, but because one of the program’s top 2028 recruiting targets, Cole Kelly, was in the building.
Kelly, a 6-foot-7 forward out of Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville, Illinois, is already making serious noise on the national scene. He’s a four-star prospect across major recruiting services, with Rivals ranking him No. 44 overall and the No. 12 small forward in the country.
247Sports has him slightly higher at No. 38 nationally, and both services agree he’s the No. 2 player in Illinois for the 2028 class. PrepHoops slots him at No. 14 overall.
No matter which outlet you’re looking at, Kelly’s name is climbing.
And he’s earning that recognition with his play. Kelly has been on a tear to start his sophomore season, averaging 31 points per game over his last four contests.
That stretch includes a 43-point explosion on Dec. 12, a performance that turned heads and reaffirmed why high-major programs are lining up to offer him. Even with a quieter 12-point night mixed in, his recent scoring run has been nothing short of elite.
Iowa officially entered the mix with a scholarship offer back on Oct. 18, joining a growing list that already includes DePaul, Drake, Missouri, and Big Ten rivals Illinois and Nebraska. And with Kelly still early in his high school career, that list is almost certain to expand.
For the Hawkeyes, the timing of Kelly’s visit couldn’t have been better. Iowa didn’t just win-they dominated.
Offensively, they shared the ball, shot it well, and imposed their will in transition. Defensively, they locked in and smothered a Western Michigan team that never found a rhythm.
It was the kind of all-around performance that any recruit would take notice of, especially one with Kelly’s scoring instincts and positional versatility.
While it’s far too early to predict where Kelly will land, nights like this-where a program flexes both its on-court identity and recruiting presence-can leave a lasting impression. For now, Iowa fans can take comfort in knowing that one of the Midwest’s rising stars got a front-row seat to what Hawkeye basketball is all about.