Talented Iowa guard/forward Tate Sage went from an afterthought to a key performer in Ben McCollum's first season in Iowa City.
Sage, a 2025 prospect, initially committed to McCollum in September 2024 when he was the head coach at Drake, and when McCollum was named as the next head coach of Iowa men's basketball, Sage followed. With Bennett Stirtz, Tavion Banks, Brendan Hausen, and Alvaro Folgueiras already joining McCollum in Iowa City, Sage slipped under the radar. Luckily for the Hawkeyes, he quickly developed into a key reserve and was often McCollum's first man off the bench.
Now in year two, he is projected to take the next step, something McCollum desperately needs.
CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein tabbed Sage as a breakout player in the Big Ten next season
Sage appeared in all 37 games for the Hawkeyes last season, averaging 6.1 points on 49.3 percent shooting from the field and 38.9 percent from beyond the arc, to go along with 2.1 rebounds in 16.2 minutes per game. He was a pleasant surprise for McCollum's squad, but he won't be able to hide from the spotlight again next season.
5 Big Ten Breakout Players. pic.twitter.com/yVzexQf5GM
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) July 15, 2026
Jon Rothstein named Sage as one of his breakout players in the Big Ten next season, proving he will be a key part of Iowa's plan next season. With summer workouts in full swing, Sage and the rest of the Hawkeyes are ramping up preparation for next season, and Sage should play an even bigger role. With Folgueiras, Hausen, and Stirtz out, there are multiple minutes to go around, and Sage should easily slide into the off-guard or forward roles.
While no official announcement has been made and probably won't be for some time, the projected starting lineup could easily be Ty'Reek Coleman, Kael Combs, Tate Sage, Cooper Koch, and Andrew McKeever. With Stirtz gone, someone has to step into a bigger offensive role, and Sage is poised to take over that role. No one is asking Sage to take on the bulk of the scoring load without Stirtz next season, but they will need him to do more on both ends of the court.
Sage's versatility will be massive for the Hawkeyes next season
Before Sage flipped his commitment to the Hawkeyes, he was ranked as the No. 2 Oklahoma prospect thanks to his size (six-foot-seven) and versatility on both ends, and he showed that last season. He had some highlight reel dunks and showcased his shooting ability, knocking down nearly 40 percent of his three-point attempts last season. Without Stirtz's 19.8 points per game in the lineup, it could easily be more of a scoring-by-committee approach, with Sage leading the way.
He has the size and skill to be an effective scorer, and he displayed that throughout the season and in the NCAA Tournament during Iowa's miraculous run to the Elite Eight. It will be interesting to see who steps up for the Hawkeyes next season, and it wouldn't be shocking if either Sage or Koch takes on a bigger role next season. Defenses will key into Sage next season, and he will see more intense pressure as a starter than as a reserve. Sage's versatility will be a major factor next season, and he could easily be matched up against the best opposing player due to his length.
Any way you slice it, Sage's development and ability to make the jump to the next level are critical for the squad next season, and he has the potential to be one of Iowa's top players on both ends.
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