The Hawkeyes have started hot under new Head Coach Ben McCollum, and that continued on Saturday with a 55-point destruction of Bucknell at home.
After the win over Bucknell, the Hawkeyes own a 10-2 (1-1 Big Ten) record, with losses to No. 7 Michigan State and No. 4 Iowa State.
McCollum has his team humming on both ends of the floor, and fans are taking notice.
His hard-nose, gritty approach has resonated with the players and fans, and everyone has bought into the new style.
Future prospects are also taking notice, and are buying what McCollum is selling.
Four-star forward prospect Trey Thompson was initially part of the 2026 recruiting class, but he re-classified to the 2025 class so he could get into the program a year sooner.
The program does not currently have anyone committed in the 2026 or 2027 recruiting classes, but McCollum and his staff have not been shy about reaching out to some of the top prospects in the class.
Impressive performance today from 2027 Top-20 prospect Cayden Daughtry in the win over Owasso (OK).
— Sam Kayser (@KayserHoops) December 19, 2025
Daughtry went for 28 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals helping lead his team to a comeback victory in the first round at @CityOfPalmsBKB.
He told @LeagueRDY that… pic.twitter.com/gNSdiCiEID
According to Sam Kayser, 2027 top-20 prospect Cayden Daughtry told him that the Iowa program has been one of the few programs that have been constantly reaching out.
Daughtry, a Fort Lauderdale, Florida, prospect, has been tearing it up at the City of Palms Classic Basketball Tournament in Fort Myers, Florida.
Daughtry put up 28 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and three steals in a comeback win in the first round of the tournament.
Rankings for the 2027 recruiting class are sparse at this point, but most ranking outlets have Daughty as a top prospect in the class.
Rivals has ranked Daughtry as a four-star prospect, Florida's No. 5 overall prospect, the No. 4 point guard prospect, and the No. 21 overall prospect in the 2027 recruiting class.
247Sports has ranked Daughtry as a four-star prospect, Florida's No. 6 overall prospect, the No. 2 point guard prospect, and the No. 14 overall prospect in the 2027 recruiting class.
If Daughtry commits to the Hawkeyes, it would give Iowa a jumpstart in the 2027 class and would give the program it's point guard of the future.