Jarrod Uthoff has a big decision to make.

Should he play for Fred Hoiberg and the Iowa State Cyclones? Or should he play for Fran McCaffery and the Iowa Hawkeyes?

Uthoff told The Gazette on Saturday that he'll pick either the Cyclones or Hawkeyes, most likely in the next few days.

If he picks Iowa State, he'll join a program on the rise that finished 23-11 last season and 12-6 in the Big 12, reached the second round of the NCAA tournament and averaged 13,015 fans at Hilton Coliseum.

If he picks Iowa, he'll join a program on the rise that finished 18-17 last season and 8-10 in the Big Ten, reached the second round of the NIT and averaged 11,908 fans at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

Either way, the 6-foot-8 forward from Cedar Rapids Jefferson will play for a popular in-state team that could use his considerable talent. And either way, his family and friends will be able to attend his games and closely watch his college career.

Either way, he'll disappoint one fan base and delight the other.

If he picks the Cyclones, he'll be eligible for a scholarship this season and won't have to worry about money. If he picks the Hawkeyes, he won't be eligible for a scholarship until the 2013-14 campaign because Wisconsin Coach Bo Ryan put all Big Ten schools on the "restricted" list when Uthoff bolted the Badgers after one year.

If money is an issue, it's the Cyclones. If money is not an issue, it could go either way. And either way, he won't be able to play until the 2013-14 campaign due to NCAA transfer rules.

If he joins the Cyclones, he can be fairly certain Hoiberg will be his coach for the next four years. If he joins the Hawkeyes, he might have to wonder if McCaffery could be lured someday to Notre Dame, where he spent 11 years as an assistant coach.

If he joins the Cyclones, he'll be joining a program that's proven to be a friendly new home for college transfers. If he joins the Hawkeyes, he'll get to play most of his career with 7-foot center Adam Woodbury by his side.

Either way, Uthoff will be joining a program that plays a fast-paced offense and gives players the freedom to create their own shots. That's what he wants, after experiencing the rigid system that Ryan employs at Wisconsin.

Uthoff has a big decision to make. It's two good programs, two good coaches, two good fan bases and two good prospects for the future.

Cyclones or Hawkeyes?

Hawkeyes or Cyclones?

We'll know soon.