Advice from the Bulldogs’ sophomore was among the reasons that 6-foot-4 Devan Bawinkel of Highland Community College committed to the Iowa basketball program.
“I’ve known Willie since I was in grade school, and he said I’d be a good fit for coach (Todd) Lickliter’s system,” Bawinkel said.
Veasley, a former Freeport, Ill., prep, speaks from experience. He played in 35 games as a freshman on a Lickliter-coached Butler team a year ago.
At that point, Bawinkel had started his college career at West Virginia.
He averaged 9 minutes and 1.9 points per game as a freshman for the Mountaineers, but the three-time all-state selection who led Winnebago High School to a pair of Illinois Class A runner-up finishes transferred to the Freeport, Ill., junior college last summer after Bob Huggins replaced John Beilein.
While playing for Highland, Bawinkel averaged 14.3 points and was selected the most valuable player in the Arrowhead Conference this season.
Playing on a team that finished 28-5 and won all 12 of its conference games, he averaged 13 points in two games against Moline’s Black Hawk College.
“He’s a kid who you always have to be aware of no matter where he’s at on the floor. He can really shoot it and he makes good decisions with the basketball,’’ Black Hawk coach Darren Bizarri said.
“From what I’ve seen of (Iowa’s) system, I think he’ll be a really good fit, and he’ll add a more mature guard to the mix.’’
Iowa signed four players in November for the 2008-09 class and has two commitments for the spring signing period.
He selected the Hawkeyes over offers from Michigan, where Beilein now coaches, and Utah State. Bawinkel’s parents both attended Iowa.
Steve Batterson can be contacted at (563) 383-2290 or sbatterson@qctimes.com. Comment on this story at qctimes.com.
