Iowa State adds five-star Madison Wise to its 2017 recruiting class

Head coach Bill Fennelly and associate head coach Jodi Steyer watch the Iowa State Cyclones 76-68 win against the UNI Panthers on Nov. 15. Credit: Lani Tons

The Iowa State women’s basketball team’s 2017 recruiting class just got better.

Before today, the Cyclones’ 2017 class included two talented athletes: guard Rae Johnson and forward Kristin Scott, who are the top-2 prospects in the state of Minnesota. But the class just added the No. 45 overall prospect in the nation, Greenfield, Indiana forward, Madison Wise.

Wise is a dynamic athlete who knows how to put the ball in the bucket. As a junior last season, the 6-foot-1 forward averaged 22.7 points and 10.4 rebounds. So far during the 2016-17 season, Wise is averaging 29 points and 10.7 rebounds. Wise also earned IBCA player of the week after recording a school record, 42 points in a game.

“It’s a big one for us,” ISU head coach Bill Fennelly said on picking up Wise. “Especially losing Seanna [Johnson] at that spot.”

When asked about landing Wise, Fennelly wasn’t sure if Iowa State was going to get her to sign early. But when he was driving to Iowa State’s lettermen jacket ceremony last night, Fennelly received the phone call from Wise to tell him she was signing with the Cyclones. Fennelly joked about almost driving off the road because of that call.

Before the addition of the five-star forward, Iowa State’s recruiting class was ranked No. 27. But with her being apart of the trio, the Cyclones’ 2017 class should move into the top-25.