The Iowa women’s basketball team has secured a verbal commitment from Khalia Hartwell, a 6-foot-4 center from Westside High School in Anderson, South Carolina. Hartwell made her announcement on social media on October 3, 2026, choosing Iowa over finalists Georgia and Virginia Tech.
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Hartwell is highly regarded, ranked as the No. 16 player nationally and the No. 2 center by 247Sports, and also recognized as the top player in South Carolina. Rivals places her as the No. 25 player overall, the No. 3 center, and similarly ranks her as South Carolina's best.
Her recent visit to Iowa City coincided with the Iowa-Iowa State football game at Kinnick Stadium. Hartwell received the South Carolina Gatorade Player of the Year honor during her junior season, boasting averages of 12.4 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game, which helped her team reach the 4A state championship.
Over the summer, she averaged 15.1 points, 12.5 rebounds, 3.6 blocks, and 2.3 assists in 16 games with AEBL 17. Iowa head coach Jan Jensen, who earned the nickname “Post Whisperer” for her expertise in developing post players, looks forward to integrating Hartwell into the program. Currently, the Hawkeyes also feature third-year player Ava Heiden, one of the top centers in the Big Ten.