I worked with a woman who's nephew was a 4* recruit from a crap town about 40 mins from IA City. Could have gone anywhere. He committed to IA as a Fr in HS and didn't even talk to anyone else.

If for no other reason, go on visits, see the world outside of crap hole Muscatine IA.

The other thing to keep in mind is that a close second to IA/IA State here is the Big 10. The midwest is a brainwashed bunch when it comes to college sports.