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Seydou Traore, Chris Tadjo and more

VaselineJuly 11, 2024

0 4 minutes read

IOWA CITY — Seydou Traore got a lot of attention during the Iowa men’s basketball team’s summer practice Monday, which included an acrobatic finish during a 2-on-1 fast break.

Traore handled the ball on the wing as Brock Harding, who was playing defense in this scenario, backed into the paint. Traore exploded toward the rim and was knocked slightly off his line in the air as he navigated Harding’s play.

Despite the small obstacle, Traore managed to keep control of the ball and fired in a layup with his left hand.

Despite having a huge height advantage, Traore showed his athleticism, body control and finishing ability in a flash.

On Monday, the media was allowed to watch part of an Iowa basketball summer practice, which offered a chance to see the new roster up close. This type of setting provides a better feel than just watching video of how players, especially those new to the program, operate on the court.

This story is meant to share some observations from Monday, but it’s important to note a few things. Media was only allowed to attend a limited portion of practice, which didn’t even include 5-on-5 action. So take these thoughts with a grain of salt, as it’s still July and a few good plays don’t guarantee anyone will have a breakout season.

That being said, here are a few things that stood out:

More about Seydou Traore

When Iowa was still looking for a transfer this offseason, assistant coach Sherman Dillard described what the Hawkeyes were looking for as a “versatile forward.”

It appears Iowa has achieved just that in Traore.

Traore is 2 meters tall and weighs 97 kilos, and is built like a brick wall. A brick wall that can also move like a guard.

Traore is an explosive athlete, something that was evident during his lone season at Manhattan College. But it was another thing to see it up close on Monday, when he threw down a series of dunks.

Additionally, his ball handling and jump shot also reflect the fluidity a guard would have. His efficiency last season — 43.3% from the field and 25.6% from deep — suggests his consistency still needs to improve. But in terms of the mechanics of his shot, he seems quite comfortable.

Traore fits the mold of what you might call a “big guard” in the modern game. While he is technically listed as a forward, that line is pretty blurry because he has the versatile skill set of someone who can contribute in a variety of ways. This also gives Iowa some flexibility with different lineup combinations.

“He plays like he’s been playing in college for five years,” teammate Payton Sandfort said of Traore, who is actually heading into his sophomore season. “He knows how to get to his spots. Knows how to be physical, play his game, use his body. It’s been really fun to watch. He’s really impressed me in the first couple weeks.”

Cooper Koch

Koch was known for his shooting ability right out of high school, but when I saw him play on Monday, what struck me most was how quickly he retreated.

Koch can get his shot up quickly and it’s not like his mechanics suffer. The shot is pure. Combine the quick release with the fact that he stands at 6-foot-8, and blocking any of his perimeter shots becomes very difficult.

While he’s not the athlete Traore is, Koch moves with ease. It may look different against more explosive Big Ten-level competition. But at least on Monday, Koch didn’t seem clumsy in his movements the way a freshman can sometimes be. The fact that he can control his long arms may play a role in that.

It’s striking how similarly built he is — both in stature and skill set — to rising sophomore Pryce Sandfort. Physically, Koch still has room to fill out his frame, which could make for a learning curve next season. But as far as Iowa’s rotation goes, it will be interesting to see how two players who are so similar fit together.

Speaking of Pryce Sandfort, he finished nicely on a 2-on-1 fastbreak.

Chris Tadjo

Tadjo is a rising freshman coming out of the NBA Academy Latin America, and in Midwest circles, Tadjo’s game isn’t as well-known as someone like Koch. That’s one reason why it was more enticing to see him on Monday.

Tadjo hasn’t played a college game yet, but he looks like a man. At 6-foot-8 and 220 pounds, he’s big and physically ready to play in the Big Ten. Like Traore, Tadjo showed off his athleticism with dunks on Monday.

“He’s a natural,” Josh Dix said of Tadjo. “…Really good on defense.”

What also became clear: His perimeter game is still pretty rough. His shooting mechanics are not the most orthodox. He shot a few times on Monday, but it was clear that he still needs some work.

He’s still young in his development, so there’s plenty of time to iron that out. He probably won’t be a huge threat on the perimeter right away; think of him more as a traditional four or small-ball five, and less as a wing or stretch four. But as a freshman, his physical attributes give him a chance to provide real value as a defender, rebounder and slasher.

Trey Buchanan

Buchanan, one of the favorite players in Iowa’s 2024 recruiting class, impressed on Monday.

Buchanan, a product of Westfield High School in Indiana (like Braden Smith of Purdue), comes to Iowa with a basketball background. His father, Chad Buchanan, is the general manager of the Indiana Pacers, a franchise that advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals this year.

Buchanan had other options to play at a level other than Division I, but decided to join the Hawkeyes without a scholarship.

More: Meet Trey Buchanan, a favored walk-on in the 2024 recruiting class of the Iowa men’s basketball team

Buchanan’s calling card is shooting, and he made that clear on Monday with a silky smooth form. In an impressive series, Buchanan made a layup and then, after a defensive stop, a 3-pointer from the top of the key.

At 6’5″, Buchanan is undersized for his height, but he does have a strong frame. How he fits into the equation in the short and long term remains to be seen. But given what he’s shown early on, Buchanan could perhaps play a limited role in the rotation or be trusted to use in emergency situations.

“I don’t know how we got him as a walk-on,” Payton Sandfort said of Buchanan. “He’s a really good, really smart player.”

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