Jan Jensen’s hunt for frontcourt help just got a whole lot more interesting.
Iowa has been stacking up recruiting momentum in the 2027 class, and the latest buzz centers on one of the biggest prizes left on the board: Khalia Hartwell. The four-star center has trimmed her list to Georgia, Iowa, and Virginia Tech, and the Hawkeyes are firmly in the mix for a player who could address an obvious need.
Hartwell, the No. 4 overall center in the 2027 class, has also scheduled official visits to all three finalists. She is set to visit Iowa on September 11 this fall, a major development for a program that has been active with top-tier talent lately. 247Sports ranks her as the No. 2 center in the class and South Carolina’s No. 1 overall prospect, which makes her final three all the more notable after the Gamecocks were left out.
The news lands at a time when Iowa could use help inside. Hannah Stuelke is headed to Italy to start her professional basketball career, and that leaves Ava Heiden and Layla Hays, both six-foot-five, as the only remaining post players. The Hawkeyes have added McKenna Woliczko, a six-foot-two recruit in the 2026 class, and transfer Jocelyn Faison, who stands six-foot-one, but both are better suited to the forward spot and do not bring the same size as the other two.
That is where Hartwell fits. At six-foot-four, she is a true center who works the paint, rebounds and blocks shots.
Her offensive game is still developing, but her length gives her real value around the rim, especially as a shot blocker who can do the job without piling up fouls. Pairing her with Hays and Heiden would give Iowa a formidable interior rotation and a defensive anchor in the lane.
The Hawkeyes have already picked up commitments from Nation Williams, Destiny Manyawu and Sienna Williams, and sharpshooting 2027 prospect Jada Seubert is also in the class. Add Hartwell, and Iowa’s recruiting haul would look even stronger, especially with Jensen’s track record as a post developer. If the Hawkeyes can finish the job, the conversation about their lack of size changes fast.
In Other News...
South Carolinas Early Read On Neff Giwa Could Surprise Gamecocks Fans
Neff Giwas arrival in South Carolina football has already added a different kind of intrigue to the preseason mix. A former rugby player from Ireland, Giwa is working through his early practices with the Gamecocks and drawing notice for the athletic traits that helped get him here, while teammate Nolan Hay has been helping him learn the basics of the game as he settles into a new sport and a new system.
For a roster looking to find useful pieces wherever they can, Giwas development is worth watching even if his path is still in the early stages. Shane Beamer has pointed to his potential value, and the most immediate opening may come away from the offensive line rather than in a starting role, which makes the next few weeks a test of how quickly he can translate raw ability into something South Carolina can actually use. [Read more 🡒]
Gamecocks Defense Is Setting A Tone Fans Will Want To See
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Offensive lineman Nolan Hay and tight ends Maurice Brown and Brady Hunt have each pointed to several defensive teammates who have stood out for their play and intensity. For a Gamecocks roster still sorting itself out in camp, that kind of internal pressure can be a good sign, especially if the defense keeps forcing the offense to match its level once the action moves into a more game-like setting. [Read more 🡒]
South Carolina May Have An Under The Radar Answer At Safety
David Bucey has been one of the quieter names in South Carolinas preseason camp, but his rise has been hard to miss inside the program. Head coach Shane Beamer and defensive backs coach Torrian Gray have both pointed to Buceys toughness and steady development, and thats helped his standing as he pushes for a bigger defensive role. After spending the last two seasons mostly on special teams, he has already appeared in every game the Gamecocks have played over that stretch, which has made him a familiar and trusted piece in the lineup.
What makes Bucey worth watching now is how much more there appears to be on the table for him. His responsibilities have grown on both defense and special teams, and that broader workload suggests South Carolina sees a player ready for more than the niche role he has filled so far. With camp still sorting out the back end of the defense, Bucey has positioned himself as a legitimate option in the mix, and the coming weeks will show just how far that climb can go. [Read more 🡒]