Iowa looks to add more firepower as 2027 recruiting gets underway

Every year June 15^th marks an important date for Iowa – and by extension – collegiate athletics.

That’s because for many NCAA sports June 15^th annually serves as the beginning of the recruiting contact period between college coaches and high school athletes entering their junior year.

Suddenly, coaching staffs can do more than provide prospects things like “non-recruiting questionnaires, camp brochures, non-athletic institutional publications and NCAA educational materials.”

They can contact athletes directly about their recruitment in hopes of landing an eventual commitment.

That makes June 15^th a major milestone in each new recruiting cycle. And for Iowa, the 2027 class will be of vital importance as the Hawkeyes seek to reach the mountaintop of men’s college wrestling once again.

The Penn State juggernaut isn’t going anywhere, and a revitalized Oklahoma State is rapidly ascending. And while Iowa continues to hit the transfer portal hard (and to great effect) each offseason I firmly believe that the historic program’s foundation for future NCAA titles must be built on high school recruiting to an even greater extent.

Iowa already has three prospects committed in its ongoing 2026 class – including U17 World champions Bo Bassett and Michael Mocco. However large the 2027 class winds up being in due time, the objective should be to exceed the quantity of high-end talent of its predecessor.

The first official step of that journey begins on June 15^th.

Projected needs

By delving into the transfer portal with such regularity it’s tough to pinpoint exactly what Iowa’s needs will be in the 2027 class.

The Hawkeyes could graduate as many as six senior starters following next season and another pair after 2026-27.

We’re also talking about a high school junior class – many of whom could be at vastly different weights by the time they reach the college level.

What does feel like a safe bet, however, is that Iowa will be attacking the lower/middleweights first.

Gabe Arnold (174) and Ben Kueter (285) each have three years of eligibility remaining. Angelo Ferrari (184) has four. And at 197 pounds Iowa brings in several highly sought after 2025 prospects – including top-ranked Harvey Ludington.

Not to mention, Kueter’s successor at heavyweight is on the way thanks to the aforementioned Mocco.

If top-ranked 2025 signee Leo DeLuca is the 125-pounder of the future as most expect and Bassett steps in somewhere in the 141/149-pound range when he arrives next fall that still leaves four other spots in the lineup without an obvious solution come 2027-28.

But again, a lot of this will be fluid going forward. For now, the primary objective for Iowa should be to collect as much top-end, high-character talent as it can muster.

And there’s no better place to start than the #1 overall prospect in the class – who just so happens to have a pretty close connection to the program already.

Magnificent Melvin

To clear things up for boxing fans, no, the above heading is not in reference to hall of fame fighter “Marvelous Marvin” Hagler.

Rather, it’s my own cheap alliteration imitation regarding a different (much younger) combat sports athlete altogether.

I’m talking, of course, about Pennsylvania prep Melvin Miller.

*all rankings courtesy of FloWrestling*

Melvin Miller (Pennsylvania – Bishop McCort HS)

• #1 overall, #3 at 157 pounds
• #14 pound-for-pound (regardless of grade/weight class)
• Two-time PIAA state champion (2024-25)
• U20 US Open/U20 World Team Trials Challenge Tournament runner up (2025)
• U17 World Team member (2024) *finished fifth*
• Two-time Fargo Freestyle champion (2023-24)

For the sake of brevity, I’ve condensed Miller’s accolades down to just those listed above. But rest assured, he’s won nearly everything at the high school level – including Super 32 and Powerade titles. And as evidenced by his #1 overall ranking in the 2027 class, on the rare instances in which he does lose it’s typically against elite/older competition.

He’s long, athletic, technical, and has also shown a penchant for winning matches under dire circumstances.

He’s just about everything you could want in a high school prospect…and he’s also Bo Bassett’s adopted brother.

Yes, the very same Bo Bassett who headlines Iowa’s 2026 class. It’s also the same Bassett family of 2028 prospect Keegan – who just made a U17 World team of his own.

Look, I don’t have to connect the dots for you guys.

These family ties figure to give Iowa a leg up on the competition in Miller’s recruitment. But that doesn’t mean it should be taken for granted.

Make him the same priority you would have if he ‘only’ had his top-ranked status going for him.

Simply put, there’s no better linchpin for Iowa’s 2027 class – if they can land him.

(More) Pennsylvania Power

Just as Iowa built its most recent championship backbone with talent from the Keystone State, it remains a pretty good strategy today. And after having zero Pennsylvanians on last year’s (or next year’s) roster, the Hawkeyes could be returning to that proven approach once again.

Bo Bassett/Melvin Miller would bring the tally to two. Add in their high school teammate – Iowa’s first 2026 commit Owen McMullen – and you’ve really got something brewing.

But how about more?

Landon Sidun (Pennsylvania – Norwin HS)

• #2 overall, #2 at 120 pounds
• 2024 PIAA state champion
• Powerade champion (2023-24)
• 2024 Beast of the East champion
• 2023 Fargo Freestyle champ (16U)

Shamus Regan (Pennsylvania – Bishop McCort HS)

• #22 overall, #4 at 120 pounds
• Two-time 16U Fargo Freestyle champion (2023-24)
• 2023 Ironman runner up

Per IA Wrestle’s Ross Bartachek (an excellent source of Iowa wrestling coverage for those who aren’t aware), both Landon Sidun and Shamus Regan were on campus in April as part of a Pennsylvania contingent (including Bassett/Miller/McMullen) prepping for the US Open.

And while Iowa may have its long-term solution at 125 pounds in Leo DeLuca, if either of these lightweights grows into the 133/141 range they could help form the next elite leadoff tandem/trio that Hawkeye fans have grown so accustomed to at the top of the lineup.

Ranked second overall in the 2027 class behind Miller, Sidun has been a consistent high placer at major events and was in arguably his best form to date when a broken hand ended his sophomore season early.

Meanwhile, Regan – a talented wrestler in his own right – will be moving from one prep powerhouse (Wyoming Seminary) to another next season. And his new school (Bishop McCort) happens to house Bassett/Miller/McMullen already.

Hmm…

The ties that bind

Speaking of points of connection (and high-level wrestling), these next three prospects all have varying ties to the Iowa program.

Lucas Boe (Florida – Lake Highland Prep)

• #10 overall, #16 at 157 pounds
• 2024 double (16U) Fargo finalist – Freestyle champ, Greco-Roman runner up

Rocco Cassioppi (Illinois – Hononegah HS)

• #48 overall, 132 pounds
• Four-time 16U Fargo top-four placer – Freestyle/Greco (2023-24)
• Ironman = 5^th in 2023
• IHSA state finals = 2^nd in 2024 (106), 1^st in 2025 (132)

Bruno Cassioppi (Illinois – Hononegah HS)

• Not ranked, 150 pounds
• Three-time 16U Fargo runner up – Freestyle (2023-24), Greco (2024)
• IHSA state finals = 3^rd in 2024 (113), DNP in 2025 (150)

Lucas Boe cracks the top 10 in Flo’s latest 2027 rankings – again, more than reason enough to recruit him. And after Fargo finals appearances in both freestyle and Greco last summer he’s continued to place at just about every premier tournament since, including Ironman, Powerade, Beast of the East and U17 World Team Trials.

16U MFS 157: Lucas Boe (IN) dec. Gabriel Logan (NJ) 8-0

Second title of the night for Indiana and 21st all-time for the state in 16U men's freestyle #Fargo2024 pic.twitter.com/Uer9EOCh5k

— USA Wrestling (@USAWrestling) July 18, 2024

But he’s also the high school teammate of Iowa’s latest 2025 commitment, CJ Torres.

Time will tell if the Hawkeyes can pull another high-caliber prospect out of central Florida.

Conversely, it’s a far shorter trek to Hononegah High School if the Iowa staff wants to add a familiar name (or two) to the fold in 2027.

I’m referring, of course, to twins Rocco and Bruno Cassioppi – the younger brothers of four-time Iowa All-American (and U23 World champion) Tony Cassioppi, as well as recent Iowa women’s wrestler Rose, who’s currently in the transfer portal following the 2024-25 season.

Lightweight prospects entering high school, the twins have quickly/continuously added size. By the time they enroll in college somewhere they may be far closer to Tony’s heavyweight class than anyone could’ve imagined just 12 months ago.

One more to watch

Full credit for this last national prospect goes to Ross Bartachek once again.

It wasn’t someone I originally had on my radar as I continue to try and bolster my recruiting rolodex, but after digging some more it makes plenty of sense.

Sonny Amato (New Jersey – Rumson Fair Haven)

• #30 overall, 144 pounds
• Beast of the East = 4^th in 2023, 2^nd in 2024
• NJSIAA state championships = 1^st in 2024 (144), 3^rd in 2025 (144)

Ranked 30^th overall in the Class of 2027 by Flo, Sonny Amato sits as high as third in another prominent publication (MatScouts).

That’s undoubtedly in part because winning a single-class New Jersey state title as a freshman is no small feat – especially higher up the weight class ladder at 144 pounds.

Per Bartachek’s reporting, Amato also has some early interest in the Hawkeyes. And if he were to ultimately head Iowa’s way it would be a continuation of sorts of the Jersey pipeline established in the 2025 class – in which both of Iowa’s top recruits hail from the Garden State.

In-state talent

With its 2027 crop the state of Iowa could have one of its deeper classes in recent memory. However, with pending roster limits set to take hold the Hawkeyes may be even more selective with whom they pursue going forward.

So, while the group below has amassed plenty of accolades (both in and out of state) there may not be room for very many of them.

Hayden Schwab (Don Bosco)

• #23 overall, #13 at 120 pounds
• U17 Freestyle World Team Trials runner up (2025)
• Three-time 16U Fargo champ – Freestyle (2024), Greco (2023-24)
• Super 32 = 3^rd in 2024
• IHSAA state championships = 2^nd in 2024 (106), 1^st in 2025 (120)

Dawson Youngblut (Don Bosco)

• #29 overall, 132 pounds
• 2024 double 16U Fargo placer – Freestyle (fifth), Greco (second)
• IHSAA state championships = 1^st in 2024 (132), 1^st in 2025 (138)

Nico DeSalvo (Southeast Polk)

• #39 overall, 113 pounds
• 16U Fargo Freestyle third place (2023)
• IHSAA state championships = 1^st in 2024 (106), 1^st in 2025 (113)

Brayden Koester (Bettendorf)

• #41 overall, 175 pounds
• 2024 double 16U Fargo finalist – Freestyle (first), Greco (second)
• IHSAA state championships = 3^rd in 2024 (190), 3^rd in 2025 (190)

Maximus Dhabolt (Ankeny Centennial)

• #49 overall, 150 pounds
• 16U Fargo Freestyle runner up (2024)
• U17 Greco World Team Trials = 4^th in 2025
• IHSAA state championships = 3^rd in 2024 (144), 1^st in 2025 (157)

Gavin Landers (Denver)

• #55 overall, 126 pounds
• Three-time 16U Fargo Freestyle/Greco All-American (2023-24)
• U17 Freestyle World Team Trials = 7^th in 2024
• IHSAA state championships = 1^st in 2024 (113), 1^st in 2025 (126)

Mac Crosson (Indianola)

• #86 overall, #18 at 144 pounds
• 2023 16U Fargo Freestyle All-American (fourth)
• U17 Freestyle World Team Trials = 7^th in 2023
• IHSAA state championships = 3^rd in 2024 (113), 1^st in 2025 (138)

The top two on this list (Hayden Schwab/Dawson Youngblut) could be tough pulls out of a powerhouse Don Bosco program.

Why? Because Don Bosco sits just 18.4 miles from the Northern Iowa campus – where Panthers head coach Doug Schwab resides. Schwab – a 1999 NCAA champion for the Hawkeyes – also happens to be the father of top-ranked Hayden Schwab.

Of the other five in-state prospects ranked in the top 100 nationally (including four in the top 55) none have ever finished lower than third at the Iowa state tournament. In fact, a pair of them still have hopes of joining Iowa’s illustrious four-timer club at the conclusion of their high school careers.

The Hawkeyes did not sign an in-state recruit in their 2025 class – a first for the program since at least 2017 – and have yet to do so in 2026 either.

Things will likely revert to form in that regard come 2027 given the talent coming through the pipeline.

Short time

As I intimated many words ago, there’s still plenty of time for names (and weights) to change from those I’ve included on this initial list of possible targets for Iowa.

Having said that, the recruiting timeline on the men’s side tends to move far more quickly than the women’s – which I covered in an article earlier this week.

In the 2026 class (seniors to be) only seven of the top 50 prospects remain uncommitted as of today.

That figure ticks up to 30 when you expand things out to the top 100, but the point is most of the elite 2027 talent will have found a college home sometime within the next 10-12 months.

And that’s why every moment from June 15^th onward is so critical for the Hawkeyes.

We’ll see if they can make them count.