Fantasy Basketball: Iowa Reapers

[RoughRiders99]

Hello folks!

Now with the baseball season being over, I've decided to dive into the OTHER fantasy world that is basketball. For years I've struggled to come up with an identity for an Iowa-based team, which is where I am from. MBurmy posted in a thread saying that I should name the team the IOWA REPEARS because of Iowa's strong ties to the farming culture, and at the same time, it's not so obvious (such as Cropdusters, Cornhuskers, Tractors, Cow Men, whatever).

So I I went with the Reapers and gave it a death-y themed for the logos with black, sliver and white.

First off, I should let you know that... YES, I did base it off the Providence Friars logo, but that's why I'm posting it here. This project is JUST for fun, that's all. I wanted to hear your feedbacks and maybe if you could help me evolve this logo into something that's on its own. And also throw some uniforms ideas here and there for me. Maybe add a color or something? Shoehorn a basketball in the logo? This is my first basketball concept that I've done, so I'm not 100% sure of the "rules" or "unwritten rules" a basketball jersey/logo should be like. I want to try to make it NBA-style, not high school type or something like that.

Thank you! Appreciate your insights and feedbacks!

[Roadrunner8ball]

That's a pretty darn good logo. It's like the Milwaukee admirals logo and the pc Friars logo combined.

[Burmy]

LOVE seeing what you did with my name idea! Only thing is I think that skull looks a TAD bit too much like some kind of animal's skull...then again, those who see the Reaper don't live to tell about it, so what do I know?

[Turtle64]

Cool logo! I like how you trimmed the Friars logo at the bottom. Makes it look more like a scythe than a highlight! In my opinion, the logo with the script would look killer if one could see the scythe more. Great job. Reminds me of an AC-130 gunship logo.

[Raleigh Panther]

love the logo and name, don't like the color scheme, just an idea would be black, red, and gold to represent iowa and iowa state universities?

[RoughRiders99]

love the logo and name, don't like the color scheme, just an idea would be black, red, and gold to represent iowa and iowa state universities?

That is something I've thought about! I'm more of a Cyclones fan, so I might use a little more red in it instead, but I'll have to play around with it!

[woodshackzac]

Almost exactly the same as providence friars

[hettinger_rl]

Almost exactly the same as providence friars

Yes, he went over that in the first post.

[derschwigg]

Almost exactly the same as providence friars

Yes, he went over that in the first post.

I think that's my biggest issue with it: it's almost identical to it, not just based on it. Yes, it's a good logo, but it's not an original one. The type-treatment is pretty nice, but the logo? There's so much room for originality here, and you've ironically opted for basing your Reaper image off of a profile shot of a member of a clergy.

Crossed scythes. A menacing skull from under a cowl with underlighting. A skull with cracks that resemble a basketball. You could do a lot with bones themselves here.

It's good, but you can do better.

[Dan O'Mac]

I feel that with the Iowa Reapers, you have a double meaning. Obviously, the death connotation. But I think the farming is a huge tie in. I'd rather see the scythe featured in the logo, and not death itself.

[RoughRiders99]

I think you guys are right (above two posters). While I like the original one that I did, it's still.... off so I think it's back to the drawing boards for me. I might try to feature the scythe a little more in the next version.

I'll keep the wordmarks though.

Do you have any color scheme suggestions? I wouldn't mind paying homage to the big 4 schools of Iowa somehow (Iowa State, Drake, Northern Iowa and Iowa). Maybe just the Cyclones and Hawkeyes.

For what it's worth, the other schemes in my "Iowa/Des Moines Fantasy World" are the following:

MLB - Iowa Oaks - Navy blue, Gold, Sky blue, White

NFL - Iowa Barnstormers - Black, Old Gold, Cardinal Red, White

NHL - Des Moines Raccoons - Navy Blue, Silver, White

Thanks!!

[derschwigg]

I think you guys are right (above two posters). While I like the original one that I did, it's still.... off so I think it's back to the drawing boards for me. I might try to feature the scythe a little more in the next version.

I'll keep the wordmarks though.

Do you have any color scheme suggestions? I wouldn't mind paying homage to the big 4 schools of Iowa somehow (Iowa State, Drake, Northern Iowa and Iowa). Maybe just the Cyclones and Hawkeyes.

For what it's worth, the other schemes in my "Iowa/Des Moines Fantasy World" are the following:

MLB - Iowa Oaks - Navy blue, Gold, Sky blue, White

NFL - Iowa Barnstormers - Black, Old Gold, Cardinal Red, White

NHL - Des Moines Raccoons - Navy Blue, Silver, White

Thanks!!

I think your color scheme ideas are great - the homage idea is great. Iowa doesn't have that much to cheer for, so maybe something familiar to them would be more encouragement to do so. It makes sense. I just wouldn't go exact with the colors.

Also, your names are fantastic. I'm looking forward to seeing what you come up with.

[RoughRiders99]

Went back to the drawing boards and cranked out this new logo set. The wordmarks are largely the same, but there's an all new skull, now menacing, along with few alternative logos (some may stay, some may go).

If this is a go, then I'll try to work on the uniforms next.

Thanks!!

[Burmy]

It IS a go..that is a PERFECT look to balance out both aspects.

[RoughRiders99]

Thanks MBurmy! I appreciate your help! Let's go IOWA REAPERS!

[Burmy]

Thanks MBurmy! I appreciate your help! Let's go IOWA REAPERS!

Looking forward to seeing the uni sets and maybe a court template? (Who knows, you might want to apply to join one of the CCSLC fantasy leagues next season)

[RoughRiders99]

I'll post the uniforms a little bit later! Hope this court looks good to you guys. This is probably my first time I've "designed" a court, so I hope I abided to the "unwritten rules." I wouldn't mind making it a little erratic, like putting the Des Moines Skyline in there or something like that, but I'm not sure yet! Any suggestions would be appreciated :-)

[Burmy]

I'll post the uniforms a little bit later! Hope this court looks good to you guys. This is probably my first time I've "designed" a court, so I hope I abided to the "unwritten rules." I wouldn't mind making it a little erratic, like putting the Des Moines Skyline in there or something like that, but I'm not sure yet! Any suggestions would be appreciated :-)

Got a few:

1. Switch the "Iowa" and "Reapers"' behind the boards ("Iowa" on the left, "Reapers" on the right)

2. Have the center-court logo be the "skull-hood" logo on its own (no scythes or wordmark)

3. Have the in-the-arc logo be the crossed scythes.

4. Try to have the court arena name as "Wells Fargo Arena" (because that's the arena's name...you could have the logo or just the plain wordmark say it like you have)

Other than that, you've got a basically solid court going! (LOVE the #ChooseDeath hashtag)

[RoughRiders99]

Got a few:

1. Switch the "Iowa" and "Reapers"' behind the boards ("Iowa" on the left, "Reapers" on the right)

2. Have the center-court logo be the "skull-hood" logo on its own (no scythes or wordmark)

3. Have the in-the-arc logo be the crossed scythes.

4. Try to have the court arena name as "Wells Fargo Arena" (because that's the arena's name...you could have the logo or just the plain wordmark say it like you have)

Other than that, you've got a basically solid court going! (LOVE the #ChooseDeath hashtag)

Thanks for the feedbacks! I'd like to reply to each of the points that you've brought up:

1. I will do that, no problem. But is there a reason why I need to do this? Just wondering if there's an NBA rule about it or just simple etiquette or something like that?

2. I actually am planning on modifying the hood-skull logo a little bit (the bottom part is too "flat" for my taste), and then I'll place it there!

3. Sounds great! I'll do that.

4. The actual court at Wells Fargo Arena actually has "IOWA EVENTS CENTER" on the court, but I'll also add the Wells Fargo Arena logo on the court as well, probably in the empty space in the lower left and upper right. Or maybe on the baseline.

Thanks!!

[Burmy]

Got a few:

1. Switch the "Iowa" and "Reapers"' behind the boards ("Iowa" on the left, "Reapers" on the right)

2. Have the center-court logo be the "skull-hood" logo on its own (no scythes or wordmark)

3. Have the in-the-arc logo be the crossed scythes.

4. Try to have the court arena name as "Wells Fargo Arena" (because that's the arena's name...you could have the logo or just the plain wordmark say it like you have)

Other than that, you've got a basically solid court going! (LOVE the #ChooseDeath hashtag)

Thanks for the feedbacks! I'd like to reply to each of the points that you've brought up:

1. I will do that, no problem. But is there a reason why I need to do this? Just wondering if there's an NBA rule about it or just simple etiquette or something like that?

2. I actually am planning on modifying the hood-skull logo a little bit (the bottom part is too "flat" for my taste), and then I'll place it there!

3. Sounds great! I'll do that.

4. The actual court at Wells Fargo Arena actually has "IOWA EVENTS CENTER" on the court, but I'll also add the Wells Fargo Arena logo on the court as well, probably in the empty space in the lower left and upper right. Or maybe on the baseline.

Thanks!!

1. No rule...it just gives it a better look...kinda like the city name on the road uniforms and the team nickname on the home ones.

2. Sounds awesome...many center courts in the NBA nowadays use elements of the primary (or sometimes a secondary or wordmark) rather than the full primary.

3. Awesome...the scythes would fit PERFECTLY with the alternate logo sets.

4. Give it a little trial-and-error...see what works best for you as far as the arena naming goes.