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Recruiting: Andrew Fleming Will Stretch the Floor for Iowa

Andrew Fleming will give Iowa basketball not just another wing, but a wing who can shoot. How does he project at the next level?

By Brian Sonnenberg
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

So far Iowa's class has been mainly athletic wings who can defend multiple positions and attack the basket.  Andrew Fleming, from Nashville, TN., is a perfect complement to what's already coming in 2015. Fleming committed to Iowa in May 2014, after an official visit.  He spent three years playing Tennessee high school basketball and was the state's Division II-AA Mr. Basketball his junior season. Fleming transferred to Oak Hill Academy in Virginia for his senior season, which means Coach McCaffery is bringing in talent from another top high school program. As of now, there are currently five Oak Hill Academy recruits set to be playing Division I basketball next season.

Iowa and UNLV offered him scholarships and Vanderbilt showed interested, but ultimately the 6'5" 205-pound, 3-star shooting guard chose Iowa. How does he project at the next level?

Scouting Report
Andrew Fleming can shoot. That's something that is immediately apparent when watching his clips and he seemingly continued to improve his consistency as a senior. ESPN recruiting calls him "a solid but streaky shooter with range to 22-feet." Fleming will take and make shots from very deep, occasionally well beyond NBA range. His balance on his shot is nearly perfect and he doesn't seem to drift or take many poor shots off balance. Fleming also catches and sets his feet well.

Shooting off the dribble is also something of which he is capable. If he can get to his spot, he'll set his feet and elevate into the shot. Fleming will command hard close outs, which should help open up driving lanes. He's a shooter first, but is capable of blowing by defenders when they challenge his shot. According to ESPN, he really worked on that area of his game this last season. If and when he plays, he'll need to take those opportunities as Big Ten defenders will close out aggressively to move him away from the three point line.

It's pretty evident that Fleming plays with a lot of confidence, a nice quality to have as a shooter. He won't be intimidated by the stage, or the competition, and that bodes well for his transition and development.

Areas for Improvement
Defense is mainly about effort and understanding team concepts as all-world athletic ability is not necessary to be a great defender. But, according to ESPN, he's shown a commitment to develop in that area and needs to continue down that path. If he plays early on he'll be surrounded by great athletes and if he follows defensive assignments he doesn't need to make an all-defense team.

Because he can draw attention either on the perimeter, or on the drive, he'll also need to continue to look for open teammates. He's a very capable passer, but he should get more opportunities to thrive in that area. Making others better will help him get on the floor and earn more minutes.

Player Outlook
It'll be interesting to see how much Andrew Fleming plays this season. He's not really the best athlete in Iowa's 2015 class, but he's may be the best overall shooter. If he's consistent from beyond the arc, and not a liability defensively, he should see playing time this season.

I've always thought that if a guy can shoot, they'll find a spot for him on the floor because of the attention he commands. If Fleming can stretch the floor, it'll open up driving lanes for himself and others and it'll afford interior players more room to work. Whether he plays this year, or in two years, he's a great complement to Iowa's incoming talent. He adds another dimension with his shooting, something that fits well with the other pieces at hand.

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