Ben McCollum has no doubt become a rising star in college basketball.
After rising through the ranks at Division II Northwest Missouri State, McCollum spent one season with the Drake Bulldogs before leaving Des Moines for Iowa City.
In such a short time, McCollum has guided Iowa to the NCAA Tournament, won two games in the Big Dance, and has Iowa in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1999.
All of his success has turned heads, but would he actually leave Iowa City for a bigger market team? One analyst does not think it's a stretch.
McCollum has been mentioned for the vacant UNC head coach position
McCollum is, and has always been, a loyalty guy, and the thought of him bringing Iowa to the level he has and then immediately leaving is not something anyone has considered.
That does not mean that top programs won't try to pry him away from Iowa City.
What’s next at UNC. Latest here from ESPN on Hubert Davis’ firing and who the Tar Heels will target as next coach. With @kevconnorsespn. pic.twitter.com/sKDuI7g2Ks
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) March 25, 2026
According to ESPN's Pete Thamel, McCollum has started to generate a lot of buzz for what he's been able to do at Iowa, and while nothing is guaranteed, North Carolina is going to give him a hard look for the new vacancy.
UNC recently fired head coach Hubert Davis, and Thamel believes they will look externally for their next head coach.
He also mentioned that McCollum has been a guy "that has surged into the spotlight," and could easily be on UNC's radar.
There have been no indications that McCollum will receive a call from North Carolina or could be convinced to leave, but after all his success, he is going to generate a lot of interest from bigger men's basketball programs.