After a dynamic 2025-2026 season in Ben McCollum's first year in charge, the Iowa men's basketball program is hoping to capitalize.
McCollum has already received a new six-year extension with an annual salary boost of around $1 million. The athletic department upgraded the court at Carver-Hawkeye Arena by purchasing the floor from Iowa's Elite Eight game against Illinois in March.
With the program's future not in question, it has to capitalize on the momentum McCollum created. During Iowa's magical run to the Elite Eight, McCollum gave a brutal but honest assessment of the prospects he wants, and a 2029 legacy prospect fits that profile.
RJ Evans toughness is exactly what McCollum is looking for
McCollum stated a few months ago that if you're "a tough dude," Iowa is a good spot for you, and the most recent offer stays in line with that philosophy.
Iowa has offered 2029 forward RJ Evans, son of former Hawkeye @ReggieEvans30 pic.twitter.com/YB1M5j3Vte
— HawkeyeReport.com (@HawkeyeReport) May 18, 2026
2029 prospect RJ Evans announced he received an offer from the Hawkeyes, and if his name sounds familiar, it should. Evans' dad, Reggie Evans, played for the Hawkeyes for two seasons and was an immediate fan favorite thanks to his energy and hard work.
Even though he went undrafted, Reggie carved out a nice 13-year NBA career, and now his alma mater has offered his son a chance to follow in his footsteps.
RJ has already started to earn attention from scouts with his play for the Tampa SLAM in addition to the Southeast Elite on the Adidas 3ssb circuit. 247Sports' Travis Branham released his scouting report on RJ, saying that he has great size and length and is extremely athletic.
However, what sets RJ apart is the toughness, competitiveness, and confidence he brings to both sides of the court. RJ is EXACTLY the type of player McCollum likes to recruit.
Brining in Evans is great on multiple levels
Bringing in legacy players is always important for every program, especially when they are as talented as RJ Evans. Evans' athleticism and ability to play above the rim are big selling points, but the fact that his dad was a member of the program is even better.
These are the type of prospects you want, and his versatility on both ends is a cherry on top for the Iowa program.
McCollum has to capitalize on his recent momentum, and with Athletic Director Beth Goetz and the University of Iowa throwing massive support behind him, the time is now for Iowa men's basketball.
Reggie Evans was a fan favorite for a reason, and with his son showcasing a lot of the same skills and work ethic, the program must bring him to Iowa City. We are still multiple years from Evans' commitment, but the program is already convinced that he is their guy.
McCollum doesn't just hand out free scholarships, and for the program to make an offer so early in the process speaks volumes about how highly they value RJ at this stage.
Having one solid year is fine, but the program has to prove it can be a long-term contender by convincing top prospects to come to Iowa City. Evans is one of those prospects.
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