As the summer continues, Ben McCollum and his staff have slightly shifted their recruiting focus to the 2028 class.
The program earned a massive win on the recruiting trail after four-star prospect Keller Daughtry announced his commitment, and almost immediately saw a rankings boost. The talented Missouri forward prospect went from a three-star prospect and the No. 153 overall prospect in the 2027 class to a four-star prospect and the No.109 prospect after committing. With Daugherty already signed and the program in hot pursuit of top-three prospect Cayden Daughtry, they shifted their focus to another player they have been keeping tabs on.
Iowa offered 2028 combo guard prospect Parker McDaniel
McCollum's aggressive, but calculated recruiting strategy is starting to pay off, as the program remains in the mix for multiple talented prospects. The program hasn't shyed away from taking big swings to land some top prospects, and while it is still too early in the 2028 recruiting cycle, Iowa has been a constant presence in CG Parker McDaniel's recruitment.
Blessed to receive an offer from the University of Iowa!!! Thank you to Coach Wheeler and Coach Mac for believing in me!!! #gohawkeyes🖤💛@_Connor_Wheeler @CoachMcCollum @IowaHoops pic.twitter.com/TrKOYPV13C
— Parker_McDaniel (@ParkerMcDaniel0) July 22, 2026
McDaniel announced on X that he received an offer from the Hawkeyes, adding to a growing list of programs vying for his services. McDaniel made an unofficial visit to the program last season when the Hawkeyes upset the Nebraska Cornhuskers 57-52 in February. McDaniel admitted that since his visit, the program has been in constant contact with him. There was at least one staff member at all of his games in the spring, and they have been at multiple games over the summer as well.
McDaniel's biggest asset is his elite long-range shooting, but he wants to be known for more than that. He told On3 Sports that he is extremely competitive on both ends of the court, normally guarding the other team's best player. Rivals currently ranks him as a four-star prospect and the No. 78 overall prospect in the class, and it's easy to see why. McDaniel has a smooth shooting stroke, and he gets to his spots with ease thanks to his stellar ball-handling.
The Hawkeyes' aggressive recruitment of McDaniel isn't a surprise, and his elite shooting would give the program something they don't currently have. The squad is filled with talented, athletic wings who can knock down long-range shots and get to the basket, but excluding Cooper Koch and potentially Tate Sage, they don't have an elite shooter capable of consistently filling it up from long range. With star point guard Bennett Stirtz now in the NBA, the program is searching for a similar player who can effectively shoot from distance. McDaniel gives them that, and if he proves his defense translates at the next level, he could be a solid addition to the 2028 recruiting class.
McCollum has been successful with his aggressive recruiting approach, and hopefully for the program, McDaniel doesn't get away.
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