Iowa women’s basketball came up short in one of its most closely watched recruiting battles, as highly regarded forward Destiny Manyawu has officially announced her commitment to the Oklahoma Sooners.
Manyawu made her decision Sunday morning, choosing Oklahoma over a group of major programs that included Iowa, Michigan and Duke. Her commitment gives Oklahoma another significant piece for its future while leaving Iowa to move forward without one of the most talented prospects it had been pursuing.
The decision carries an added layer of interest for Hawkeye fans because of Manyawu’s family connection to Iowa basketball. She is the sister of Cam Manyawu, the Iowa men’s basketball forward, making her recruitment particularly familiar to supporters in Iowa City.
For Iowa, the possibility of having both siblings connected to the Hawkeye basketball programs had created an intriguing storyline throughout the recruiting process. Manyawu even had an official visit to Iowa scheduled for Oct. 10, but she ultimately decided that Oklahoma was the destination she wanted for the next stage of her basketball career.
Manyawu comes from Staley High School in Kansas City and has established herself as one of the most sought-after young players in the country. At 6-foot-3, she brings size, versatility and significant upside to the forward position, qualities that helped make her a priority for several nationally recognized programs.
Her national recruiting rankings also demonstrate the level of talent Oklahoma is adding. One major recruiting service has Manyawu listed among the top 25 players in the country, ranking her as a top-10 power forward and the No. 1 player in Missouri.
Another national ranking places her among the top 40 players overall while also identifying her as one of the nation’s leading power forwards and the highest-ranked player from Missouri.
Those numbers help explain why the recruitment became such an important storyline for Iowa and its supporters. Securing a player with Manyawu’s national standing would have represented a major addition to the Hawkeyes’ future plans.
Instead, Oklahoma head coach Jennie Baranczyk and the Sooners won the battle.
Manyawu’s decision also highlights how competitive recruiting has become at the highest level of women’s college basketball. With Iowa, Oklahoma, Michigan and Duke all involved, the forward had no shortage of prominent options. Each program could offer a different basketball environment, making the final decision a significant one for the young star.
For Iowa, the focus now shifts toward its remaining recruiting targets and the continued development of the players already in the program. Missing on Manyawu does not erase the work that went into pursuing her, but it does mean the Hawkeyes will have to look elsewhere for the size and talent she could have brought to the roster.
The family connection will likely keep Manyawu’s name familiar around Iowa City, particularly because her brother remains part of the Iowa men’s basketball picture. But on the women’s side, her future will now be tied to Oklahoma.
The Sooners can celebrate a major recruiting victory, while Iowa faces the disappointment of seeing one of its targets select another program.
For Hawkeye fans who had been watching the recruitment closely, the news is certainly not the outcome they were hoping for. Manyawu will not be making her way to Iowa City, and the planned October visit will no longer be part of her recruiting journey.
Now, the attention turns to what comes next for both sides. Oklahoma has landed a highly ranked forward with considerable expectations surrounding her future, while Iowa will continue searching for the next player capable of making a major impact in the Hawkeyes’ program.
One thing is already clear: Destiny Manyawu’s recruitment generated plenty of attention, and her decision to join Oklahoma will be remembered as one of the notable recruiting developments surrounding Iowa women’s basketball.
