Ben McCollum's Missouri connection stays strong after pulling an under-the-radar recruit from his former home state.
McCollum spent 15 seasons in Maryville, Missouri, as the head basketball coach at Northwest Missouri State, and his Missouri pipeline has remained strong during his time in the Hawkeye state. Four players on Iowa's current roster are from Missouri, as McCollum continues finding solid players from the state.
As summer workouts begin, McCollum dipped into his Missouri connection yet again to pull a versatile big man with guard skills from Lee's Summit High School.
2027 prospect Keller Daugherty knew Iowa was the perfect fit right away
Missouri product Keller Daugherty's recruitment has been under the radar largely thanks to his late development. He did receive his first Power Four offer until June, and was receiving more attention from mid-majors Drake, Iona, and Colorado State.
After making a recent visit to Iowa City, Daugherty knew Iowa was the perfect fit.
Go Hawks!!🟡⚫️ #committed pic.twitter.com/tcxX6rOT94
— Keller Daugherty (@KellerDaugherty) June 13, 2026
Daugherty told 247Sports that he knew Iowa was the right place for him from the moment he stepped on campus, and the program checked every box for him. He called it a surreal feeling, and he was extremely appreciative of how McCollum values his versatility.
Daugherty is a perfect fit in the modern game because he is a versatile six-foot-ten forward who can shoot from anywhere on the court and dribble and distribute like a guard. Blake Little, his high school coach, told the Des Moines Register that he can shoot it from anywhere, and has developed a solid post game, which he didn't have in the past. Little also stated that Daugherty truly fits in positionless basketball because of his skill set.
Little also stated that they use him in multiple ways on offense. They put him on the wing, in ball screens, in transition, or as the lead ball handler to run him off screens. That kind of versatility is something the Hawkeyes can use right away.
Daugherty's versatility makes him a perfect player for McCollum's system
Versatility on both ends of the court is extremely important in McCollum's program, as showcased by Alvaro Folgueiras last season. Folgueiras was the trigger man for some offensive sets thanks to his passing and shooting ability, and Daugherty brings a lot of the same skills to the table.
McCollum's loves bigs that can do a little bit of everything, and Daugherty perfectly fits that profile. He can shoot, pass, dribble, run the floor, and play solid defense, another thing McCollum highly values. His positional flexibility allows McCollum to play him on the wing or in the post, and he can use him in all kinds of offensive actions, especially in the pick-and-roll.
If he continues developing his outside shot, Daugherty has the potential to be truly unguardable as a three-level scorer. He can also guard any position on the court, allowing McCollum to play him at almost every spot on both ends. Alongside versatile athletes Ethan Harris, Tate Sage, Jaidyn Coon, and Trey Thompson, McCollum has a lot of weapons at his disposal.
Even though 247Sports ranked Daugherty as a three-star prospect and just outside the top-150 at No. 153 overall, Daugherty has all the skills to move up in the rankings, and he can easily outplay his ranking. It wouldn't be a surprise if Daugherty made an immediate impact in 2027 in his first season on campus.
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