NORTH LIBERTY, Iowa (AP) — Wisconsin transfer Jarrod Uthoff spent the past season working anonymously toward his long-awaited Division I debut.

Uthoff will get his chance this winter when he’s finally eligible to play for the Hawkeyes.

Uthoff, whose contentious transfer from Wisconsin and coach Bo Ryan sparked a national debate last spring, is playing summer league ball in preparation for his first season with the Hawkeyes.

The versatile Uthoff is expected to play significant minutes for Iowa next season. Uthoff says the thought of playing in a real game after two years away is what has kept him going. He adds that he “couldn’t be happier” to be playing for the Hawkeyes.