We are just hours away from tipoff in Iowa's first NCAA Tournament game since the 2022-2023 season, and for Bennett Stirtz, this game couldn't be bigger.
The senior star is out of eligibility after this season, and he will want to prolong his and Iowa's NCAA Tournament run for as long as possible.
Stirtz has been everything for the Hawkeyes this season after transferring from Drake last spring.
Before transferring, Stirtz generated a ton of NBA Draft buzz after his MVP season, but he decided to follow Ben McCollum to Iowa to play one more year. If Stirtz plays well in the Tournament, don't be surprised if his draft stock soars.
Stirtz draft stock can climb with a solid NCAA Tournament performance
Earlier in the season, ESPN projected Stirtz to go No. 20 overall in the upcoming NBA Draft, and as recently as March 11, they still firmly believe he is a top-20 pick.
Everything is pure speculation at this point, pending draft night trades and teams shifting positions in the draft, but Stirtz could vault into the top 15 and push for the top 10 with a solid performance.
Stirtz has done everything for the Hawkeyes this year on both ends of the floor, leading the team in points (20.0), assists (4.5), and steals (1.5) per game, and he is an iron man.
He rarely comes out of games, and his availability will be crucial at the next level.
As it currently stands, ESPN has projected him to go No. 20 overall to the Miami Heat, but there are some teams before that that need guard help.
The Milwaukee Bucks, Memphis Grizzlies, Golden State Warriors, Dallas Mavericks, and Toronto Raptors all pick in the top 15 and could draft a guard.
It might be a stretch for the Mavericks at No. 7 or Grizzlies at No. 8 to take Stirtz that high, but a solid run can vault him into the top-15.
Stirtz's primary focus is on the NCAA Tournament, but a climb in the NBA Draft is not out of the question if he plays out of his mind in March.