Big Ten Media Days have come and gone, signaling that college basketball is right around the corner.
Iowa's three representatives, head coach Ben McCollum, and players Cooper Koch and Kael Combs attended the 2026 Big Ten Basketball Media Days in Rosemont, Illinois, providing some insight into the program before the start of next season. McCollum was the focal point after a stellar finish last season and spoke at length about why the program isn't shying away from pursuing top prospects on the recruiting trail.
McCollum stated that their objective is to get 'first place' players
McCollum hasn't shyed away from going after multiple top prospects, evidenced by the 2026 recruiting class. The program earned commitments from Iowa's No. 1 overall prospect and 2025 Iowa Mr. Basketball Jaidyn Coon, and Washington's No.1 overall prospect Ethan Harris, but McCollum isn't stopping there. The players he's brought in are laying the foundation for success and McCollum is making it clear that there is one objective in mind: to finish first.
Ben McCollum on not shying away from recruiting high-level talent to Iowa: “I guess maybe some people want to finish whatever place. Our objective is to eventually finish first. That’s the objective. To finish first, you’ve got to get first place players.” pic.twitter.com/VRsXML4z5J
— Tyler Tachman (@Tyler_T15) October 8, 2026
During his media availability at Big Ten Basketball Media Days, McCollum had a straightforward answer when asked about not shying away from recruiting high-level talent to Iowa City. He said that while some people are fine with finishing wherever, the program's objective is to finish first. To do that, they have to recruit "first place players." Coon and Harris were a good start, but McCollum and his staff have been actively recruiting top prospects in the 2027 class and beyond.
The first player that immediately comes to mind is top-five 2027 prospect Cayden Daughtry, who is still very much on the table for the Hawkeyes. Daughtry has gotten a massive bump in the rankings since McCollum first started recruiting him in the summer of 2025, moving from just outside the top 20 to the top 3. As he narrows his choices, Iowa remains a prominent factor. Daughtry is just one of many examples of Iowa recruiting top talent as McCollum continues building the Hawkeyes into a Big Ten and national powerhouse.
McCollum is practicing what he preaches on the recruiting trail
McCollum and the program have received only one commitment, but it was a big signing. Iowa stayed active in Keller Daugherty's recruitment, and it paid off. Daugherty jumped from a three-star to a four-star prospect and is currently ranked as the No. 97 prospect in the 2027 class. That was a big jump for Daugherty, who was unranked for most of last summer, and was a great under-the-radar signing for the program.
The program is also still in the running for top-20 guard prospect Jalen Davis and hasn't offered anyone in the 2027 class ranked outside of the top five in their state. Iowa has missed out on some of the class's most elite prospects, but being a preferred destination for them proves that McCollum has the program moving in the right direction. It is not always about signing every single top prospect in the class, but about taking big swings and getting the prospects that best fit your system. Iowa's Elite Eight run has greatly improved the program's image on the national stage, and recruits are noticing.
2028 five-star prospect Bentley Lusakqueno has locked in an unofficial visit to the program this fall. If Iowa can lure one of the top prospects they are pursuing, it signals a clear change in the program's philosophy. Under former head coach Fran McCaffrey, the program rarely recruited top prospects outside the state and was focused only on attracting good offensive players. McCollum has shifted that narrative and is focusing not only on signing players who fit his system, but also on swinging for top prospects. It will be interesting to see whether the program lands one or more of the elite prospects they have been pursuing. If the program continues its upward trajectory, it will do so soon.
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