The NBA is filling up with former Hawkeyes as another player under Ben McCollum found a new home.
Bennett Stirtz was McCollum's first Iowa draft pick, going No. 16 overall to the Memphis Grizzlies before immediately being shipped to OKC for the No. 17 pick and multiple second-round picks. Stirtz has been destined for the NBA since breaking out as a junior for Drake in McCollum's first and only season in Des Moines. Stirtz isn't the only former Hawkeye who is headed to the NBA.
Former Hawkeye Josh Dix is also heading to the Oklahoma City Thunder on a two-way contract, and a former undrafted sharpshooter is getting a shot with the Memphis Grizzlies.
Brendan Hausen is joining the Memphis Grizzlies for the summer league
Brendan Hausen was a highly ranked transfer from Kansas State, and the program had high hopes he would replicate the success he had with the Wildcats. Sadly, it didn't go the way anyone expected, but he is now getting a chance to show what he can do in the NBA Summer League.
NEWS: Iowa’s Brendan Hausen will join the Memphis Grizzlies for NBA Summer League, sources tell DraftExpress.
— Jon Chepkevich (@JonChep) June 25, 2026
The 6’4” long-range shooter hit 200 threes in his NCAA career while maintaining a 38.3 3P% and 84.6 FT%.
Left a lasting impression at his pre-draft workout in Memphis. pic.twitter.com/BhcACSkWRR
According to DraftExpress.com's Jon Chepkevich, Hausen earned a spot on Memphis' summer league roster after making a "last impression" during his pre-draft workout. Hausen's biggest asset is his shooting ability, and he knocked down 200 three-pointers during his college career at Villanova, Kansas State, and Iowa. He also shot a career 38.3 percent from beyond the arc.
Hausen didn't live up to the high expectations he had when he joined the Iowa program, but his talent was never in question. He can shoot from anywhere on the court and is the definition of a three-point specialist, but in McCollum's system, you have to play defense. In spurts, Hausen showed that he is a capable defender, but he will struggle to guard players at the next level.
He impressed Memphis enough to earn a chance to play in the NBA, even though it will be an uphill battle to make a roster as a summer league invite. If he plays well, it wouldn't be surprising if a team gave him a two-way contract, and his shooting alone warrants a chance. Hopefully, Hausen can show out in the summer league and keep pushing to make his NBA dreams a reality.
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