A lot of Power Four programs are kicking themseleves for not offering Bennett Stirtz immediately out of high school.
Before carving up Big Ten courts for the Hawkeyes, Stirtz was a little-known, underrecruited prospect from Liberty High School in Liberty, Missouri.
Ben McCollum was at Northwest Missouri State at that time and recruited Stirtz early on. Stirtz did not commit to McCollum right away, instead opting to wait for an offer from a bigger school.
That offer never came, and an extremely beneficial relationship was formed between McCollum and Stirtz.
From Division II to mid-major Division I to Power Four Division I college basketball, Stirtz has had quite the journey and is now expected to be a top-20 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
A recent NBA Draft prediction has an interesting spot and location for Stirtz
Stirtz's meteoric rise is no surprise to Hawkeye fans who had the pleasure of watching him throughout the 2025-2026 season.
He put in the work to become one of the best players in Division II before doing the same with Drake, and now he is projected to be selected within the first 20 picks of the Draft.
According to our friends in the NBA division of Fansided, Stirtz will be a top-20 pick, heading to the Toronto Raptors with the No. 19 overall pick.
They liked Stirtz's durability, ball control and the fact he never turns the ball over, and believe he would be an ideal fit for the Raptors, who were recently bounced in the first round of the NBA Playoffs by the San Antonio Spurs.
Why Stirtz is a perfect fit in Toronto
Stirtz is a master in the pick-and-roll game, and with his high basketball IQ and shooting ability, he can easily help the Raptors next season.
The Raptors had a solid season, making it back to the playoffs, but their lack of a true floor general and court spacer ultimately cost them against the Spurs.
Adding Stirtz to the mix allows the talented wings on the roster, including Scottie Barnes, Gradey Dick, Brandon Ingram, and RJ Barrett, to play off the ball and let Stirtz create.
Stirtz is an older prospect, but he brings a wealth of knowledge, and his elite passing and pick-and-roll ability will make any team give him a hard look.
Stirtz is not only an excellent floor general but a great floor spacer with his three-point shooting ability.
Stirtz shot 35.8 percent from beyond the arc last season and 39.3 percent for the Drake Bulldogs in 2024-2025, proving he can fill it up from deep.
As a team last season, the Raptors shot a respectable 35.4 percent from beyond the arc, and adding Stirtz easily gives them a boost in that department.
We are just over a month away from the 2026 NBA Draft, and regardless of where Stirtz goes, he will provide an immediate boost.
The 2026 NBA Draft is a two-day event from June 23 through 24, with both rounds starting at 7:00 p.m. Central Time on ESPN.
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