Iowa Hawkeyes’ Luke Garza Keen on Bringing Back Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s Iconic Skyhook Shot

Every college player aims to make it to the NBA, but for Luke Garza, there were some unfinished things before leaving for the big leagues. The Iowa Hawkeyes start withdrew from the 2020 Draft, in order to help the team win their first-ever NCAA championship.

During a recent interview with ESPN’s Myron Medcalf, the power forward talked about how he has been practicing to replicate Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Naturally, Medcalf asked him if he was going to bring back the skyhook.

“That would make my dad really happy,” Garza said. “We’ve been working on it my whole life. It’s kinda hard when you’re getting double-teamed all the time. You don’t really have the space to get it off. But I’m going to try to use it when I can, and it’s such an effective move that if I can get it down, it really can help me.”

The skyhook has been extinct in the NBA for a long time now. Garza is already an excellent post-player, so it would be special if he is able to master the move.

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Can Luke Garza lead Iowa state to their maiden championship?

Following Obi Toppin’s departure to the NBA, Garza is arguably the best player in the country. So he will be focused on leading Iowa to glory.

The team last appeared in the Final Four of the NCAA tournament back in 1980. It has been four decades since that feat and they haven’t even come close to that since then.

With Garza on the team, the Hawkeyes are ranked in the top 10 heading into the 2020-21 season. So there is some pressure on Garza to help them to fulfill the expectations. But Garza is not bothered about rankings.

“I think our main focus is just trying to improve day to day and not worrying about the ranking,” he said. “I think later in life that’s going to mean something more. But right now, we’re just focused on improving as much as we can every single day to reach our potential as a team.”

During the 2019-20 season, Garza averaged 23.9 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 1.8 blocks per game, while shooting 36% from three. He will be expected to repeat these performances, as the Hawkeyes begin their season with a home game against North Carolina Central on November 25.