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Linn-Mar's Darius Stokes, here shooting against Pleasant Valley in a substate game, will walk on at the University of Iowa. (Jim Slosiarek/The Gazette)
(From Iowa men’s basketball writer Scott Dochtermann)
MARION – Two of Iowa’s three most prolific scorers in school history will boast sons on next year’s men’s basketball team.
Darius Stokes, a 6-foot-8 forward from Linn-Mar, will join the Hawkeyes as a walk-on this fall. Stokes’ father, Greg Stokes, ranks third all-time in scoring at Iowa with 1,768 career points. Darius Stokes will join Devyn Marble, son of Iowa’s all-time leading scorer Roy Marble, on next year’s team.
The thought of following his dad’s Iowa legacy was pivotal for Darius Stokes in deciding to walk on at Iowa.
“I’ve always wanted to follow in his footsteps. He’s always wanted me to be a Hawkeye,” Darius Stokes said. “I was thinking about Kirkwood for one or two years to develop my game and hopefully go D-I.”
Stokes, who stands nearly 6 feet, 8 inches, met with McCaffery on Tuesday, and Iowa’s new coach offered him the chance to play right away.
“He seems like a really good guy and he seems like he he’ll get the program turned around,” Darius Stokes said. “I’ve always been a Hawkeye so when he gave me that opportunity, I couldn’t turn him down.
“He said he’s not going to treat me like a walk-on, he’s going to treat me like everyone else on the team. If I put the work in and I get on the weights, I might have a chance to play next year. He said after a year if I show what I can do and if I can improve on my game, I’ll have a chance to earn a scholarship.”
Stokes, 18, averaged 5.6 points and 3 rebounds a game for the Lions last year. He primarily plays at forward but could grow into a center.
“I think my dad said he was 6-7 when he got to Iowa. He grew a couple more inches,” Darius Stokes said. “I think I still have got a couple of inches left.”
Darius Stokes said he’ll play in the Prime Time League this summer and could take a couple of summer classes before playing in the fall.
“I’ve always dreamed of wearing the black and gold,” he said. “I’m just excited for the opportunity.”
Darius also is the older brother of Kiah Stokes, one of the top junior girls’ players in the nation.
How will this affect Kiah’s recruiting process?
“Good question,” said her mother, Julie Saddler in an e-mail Wednesday morning. “She just smiled and laughed when I asked her Tuesday night.
“I really don’t think it will influence her one way or the other.”
Darius said, “Although my sister and I are close, she’s going to make that decision on her own.”
18 Responses to Stokes to Iowa … Darius, that is
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Darius Stokes, Fran McCaffery, Greg Stokes, Iowa men's basketball, kiah stokes, Linn-Mar
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I think it’s awesome! Dj knows that he needs to develop his game and get stronger and the facilities at Iowa, the nutritionists, strength coaches, physiotherapist there will put him in the best possible position to succeed. The key to the whole puzzle is how bad does “he want it”. He is a great kid and I wish him only the best. Go get em’ DJ !!!!!
Just when you thought Iowa’s men’s basketball program couldn’t get any worse. If Darius Stokes is given the opportunity to walk on, then every player in the MVC should get the chance as well. To ever make Iowa competitive again, McCaffery’s going to need to learn to recruit kids with far more proven talent and set aside his over reliance on family history and size.
A Comment to ‘A BAD SIGN’ … I think McCaffery made a very good move. Kiah was not that good in middle school basketball and now look at her. If Darius grows a few more inches, his confidence will pick up and watch out. Iowa is not out anything with the ‘walk-on’ offer. BTW … not every player in the MVC knows how demanding DI sports can be. Otherwise a lot more of them would be playing in the Prime Time league and elite club teams year around.
To “A Bad Sign”: Are you kidding me? Giving Darius Stokes a opportunity to walk on was a great move by a great coach. I think that Coach McCaffery has proven that he knows how to recruit, this isn’t his first rodeo.
Darius seems to be a very respectful and humble kid who is very coachable and willing to work hard. Some weight and a little confidence will bring him a long way. Darius if you’re reading this (and I sure hope you’re not) good luck to you. Bring back #41 and bring on Little Stokes, he’s sure to be a fan favorite just like his dad was!!!!
In what way does Darius Stokes’ level of play in the MVC remind you of Matt Gatens and Eric May’s dominance in that conference? That said, the latter two will be solid, but no where near spectacular, players in the Big Ten. Darius Stokes isn’t as talented as Little Lick, and he was a complete joke that only got a shot because his daddy was the coach. This is the same type of nonsense all over again, except this time his daddy is an ex-Hawk.
I think you should change your name from “A Bad Sign” to “I’m A Hater”.
I couldn’t agree with you more “GOHAWKS”. I think somebodys just mad because his MVC son is 5’4″ and on the cheerleading squad. Coach McCaffery knows how to recruit good kids with lots of talent. Hey “A Bad Sign” do you have something against the Stokes guys or just winners in general.
I would have to guess that 90% of walk ons across the country have some sort of ties or are “in the know”. This is not surprising by any means. This is not a declaration that DJ is a D1 player. During the high school season on several Friday evening chats it was mentioned that DJ might have lower level D1 potential after a few years of JUCO. SO getting a chance to walk on (because of his connections)makes perfect sense. It costs the Hawks program nothing. This is not a recruiting move by McCaffrey. Now if Coach McC goes and gets someone like Devon Badwinkle, then that won’t be a “Bad Sign” but a “Bad Move”. By the way, I agree that Matt and Eric aren’t premier Big 10 players, but rather nice players to have on your team. Still Big 10 caliber, just not “the guy” if you want to be in the upper tier. And never did anyone say the DJ was as good as MG or EM. But without a doubt he has a better upside than Lil’ Lick. And in his defense, the only reason he ever played was because the team lost so many players for whatever reason. I’m happy for DJ and hope he makes the team, incase you missed it, he still has to earn that. I haven’t read where that was given to him.
A Bad Sign- you will eat those words! 2 years from now Stokes & Marble will be the “Dynamic Duo” just like Stokes and Payne were the “Twin Towers” of the early 80′s !
Hawkeyes will be back on top and all you haters will have to eat crow!
You heard it here first…..dumb@ss!
Bad Sign how is it a bad move to pick up Darius? I think your just dumb. Darius is walking on, that means he doesn’t have a scholarship so it’s not like were losing a scholarship.
Additionally, there is a basic concept referred to as “fairness”. If Stokes’ dad hadn’t played at Iowa, his kid would have zero chance to walk on there. The number of kids that are allowed to walk on is not infinite, and one of those few opportunities was just handed to a kid with obviously inferior talent simply because of who his dad is. That might be the definition of unfair.
Darius might not have been the best player in high school, but coaches see potential and he has a lot of that. Look at this, Iowa mens program has had a lot of players transfer so they need to get bodies to replace the one’s they lost and almost every senior already knew where he was going. Darius was different and he was giving the opportunity not just because his dad played at Iowa, but because he has potential to be great in college and it isn’t right that that you think this just happened because his father played there.
So you honestly think just because Greg Stokes played at Iowa 25 years ago that Coach McCaffery is letting Darius walk on? That’s insane.
Hoeveel kan ik lenen? (hypotheek). Wat worden mijn maandlasten? (hypotheek) … Hoeveel hypotheek heb ik nodig? Hoe hoog is de boete die ik nu zou moeten
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