As Ben McCollum and the program ramp up their efforts to add talent to the roster through the transfer portal, the status of one of their top players from last season just got way more complicated.
Iowa has only lost three players from last season, including Bennett Stirtz (graduation), Brendan Hausen (graduation), and Alvaro Folgueiras (transfer portal), and is poised to make a run next season if it can add more pieces to complement what they already have.
There is even a slight possibility that Tavion Banks returns to the squad next season if he is granted another year of eligibility by the NCAA...unless he decides to go elsewhere.
Banks' future became even cloudier after a recent announcement
Banks revealed at the end of March that if he was granted another year of eligibility, he wants to return to Iowa City.
That was great news for the program and Hawkeye fans, until he completely muddied the waters with his most recent statement.
Iowa forward Tavion Banks shares via Iowa Hoops that he will enter the NBA Draft, while also entering the transfer portal. Adds that if he's granted a fifth year of eligibity, he wants to be a Hawkeye. So, his future remains a big ole' TBD.
— Eliot Clough (@EliotClough) April 15, 2026
Banks finished as Iowa's… pic.twitter.com/v1oSIYwxR8
In a very confusing statement, Banks announced he is entering the NBA Draft while also entering the transfer portal if he is granted a fifth year of eligibility.
He followed that statement by saying if he does get a fifth year, he wants "to be a Hawkeye." If you are confused, don't worry, so are we.
Banks finished last season as Iowa's second-leading scorer and rebounder, and called the 2025-2026 season with the program one of the best years of his life.
For now, Banks' future is a giant question mark, and we have have to wait and see if the NCAA grants him another year.
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