As we approach summer practices and workouts, Ben McCollum and his staff have been diligently recruiting talented prospects during the offseason.
After taking over the program in March 2025 following the firing of Fran McCaffery, McCollum did not have much time to rebuild the roster before last season, but still put together an extremely competitive team.
Now entering his second season at the helm, he has way more time to build on the foundation they have set. The program has already offered 16 prospects in the 2027 class, and although none have committed yet, it is not for lack of effort. The recruiting strategy is very clear, focusing on prolific lead guards and athletic off-guards, but we have the top three areas the program must focus on moving forward.
No. 1: Point guard depth
If last season showed us anything, it is that McCollum's offensive system heavily relies on a talented point guard to lead the show. Star point guard Bennett Stirtz was at the helm of the offense last season, and he had the ball in his hands on almost every possession. He orchestrated the offense and was the key to making everything flow.
With Stirtz headed to the NBA, the squad has Ty'reek Coleman, Kael Combs, and Isaia Howard as the three primary point guards on the roster, which doesn't strike much fear into opponents. Coleman was a huge pickup, and while Combs showed flashes last season, he is better suited to a reserve role.
The coaching staff has been aggressively pursuing point guard depth for the squad on the recruiting trail, with seven of the current 16 offers handed out to point guards. This is Iowa's biggest need heading into 2027 and beyond, and it has to be addressed.
No. 2: Size on the interior
The current roster has a ton of athletic forwards, but when it comes to size on the interior, the program truly has only three players.
Last season's starting center Cam Manyawu (six-foot-nine) was Iowa's second-tallest player behind reserve freshman center Trevin Jirak (six-foot-eleven), and the program added massive seven-foot-three center Andrew McKeever from the transfer portal. With Manyawu done after this season and Jirak still developing, McCollum has to address the size issue.
After Manyawu graduates, and if Jirak develops into a solid player, the program will still have only two players over six-foot-eight, which is a necessity in the Big Ten Conference. There is no doubt that Iowa will be very athletic on the wing with players like Jaidyn Coon, Ethan Harris, Trey Thompson, and Tate Sage, but they desperately need more size.
Part of the reason Iowa went out and signed McKeever is that they were exposed on the interior during the 2025-2026 season, and if they don't address that need in future recruiting classes, they will have to rely too heavily on the volatile transfer portal for more size.
No. 3: Shooting depth
Iowa shot a respectable 35.7 percent from beyond the arc last season, but four of its best long-range shooters from last season are no longer with the program.
Tavio Banks (44.2 percent), Bennett Stirtz (35.8 percent), Alvaro Folgueiras (33.3 percent), and Brendan Hausen (32.8 percent) are all no longer with the program, presenting a clear need for the Hawkeyes.
Luckily, Cooper Koch (40.2 percent) and Tate Sage (38.9 percent) are returning next season, and Ty'Reek Coleman was efficient in limited attempts (41.2 percent on 2.5 attempts per game), but that won't be near enough. It will be interesting to see how Ethan Harris, Jaidyn Coon, and Trey Thompson factor into the offense next season, but they are all unproven at the college level.
Three-point shooting is at a premium in all levels of basketball, and it is a pressing need for the program in the 2027 class and beyond.
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