Kriener is a Hawkeye

After receiving a lot of new recruiting interest this summer, in-state big man Ryan Kriener finally got the offer that he was looking for. That came from the Iowa Hawkeyes on Wednesday night and the 6-foot-9, 240-pound Kriener quickly accepted. We caught up with him to talk about his commitment, his future at Iowa, and much more.

Q: Have you made your college decision?

KRIENER: I committed to the University of Iowa today.

Q: Why did you pick Iowa?

KRIENER: I have always been a Hawkeye fan.  It just seemed right.  It is always where I wanted to go.  The offer was finally here so I took it.

Q: When did the offer come?

KRIENER: They offered me tonight.  Fran called me.

 

Q: What were your first thoughts on the offer?

KRIENER: The first thoughts were that my hard work and everything has really paid off now.  I have always wanted to go to Iowa and have always been a Hawkeye fan.  That is where I wanted to go and I've been busting my tail to get there.  Now that I have the offer it was a big thing for me.

Q: Did they say what prompted the offer?

KRIENER: It was from me playing well in July.

Q: In picking Iowa, what sold you on the school?

KRIENER: Really just everything.  I really like their guys and their coach.  I like the system I'll be in.  I've been a fan and I can't wait to be a Hawkeye.

Q: How does it feel to be able to live that dream?

KRIENER: It hasn't really fully set in yet.  I feel like if I give it a day or two it'll set in more.  Right now I am just enjoying it.

Q: What have they said about your role there?

KRIENER: Fran wants me to come in and he said he needs me to play right away.  That is big because that was one of the things I was looking for in a school.  He sees me playing the four or the five and would be a matchup nightmare.  He thinks I am much quicker than most fives and bigger than most fours so I can play them on the block.

Q: What schools have recently offered?

KRIENER: Minnesota did and Clemson told me they were going to offer.  Wichita State and Missouri have been some of the other biggest ones.  There have been a bunch of other mid-major offers throughout July.

Q: How did the AAU season go with Martin Bros?

KRIENER: Overall everything went great.  It couldn't have finished any better.  Personally I played really well all summer and really blew up.

As a junior, Kriener averaged 19.8 points and 8.5 rebounds per game in leading Spirit Lake High School to a 20-4 record.

The 6-foot-9, 240-pound power forward picked Iowa over scholarship offers from Minnesota, Missouri, Wichita State, Northern Iowa, DePaul, Fordham, George Mason, Indiana State, Lehigh, James Madison, Wisconsin-Green Bay, Winthrop, North Dakota, South Dakota State, Western Illinois, Pepperdine, William & Mary, and Miami of Ohio, among others.

Kriener is commitment No. 2 for the Iowa Hawkeyes in the Class of 2016, joining Dubuque Wahlert power forward Cordell Pemsl.

See video of Kriener in action below.