Iowa Men's Basketball continues to retool its roster after the 2024-2025 season. The Hawkeyes had 11 players enter the transfer portal (one player returned), and three recruits decommit from the program.
The mass exodus from the Iowa program began after Head Coach Fran McCaffery was fired. McCaffery was the head coach for the Hawkeyes for 15 seasons.
McCaffery was fired after the Hawkeyes struggled during the 2024-2025 season, finishing with a 17-16 (7-13 Big Ten) record and missing the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season. Former Drake Head Coach Ben McCollum was hired to turn the program around.
McCollum is known for his roster-building skills, and he picked up another big transfer on Friday.
BREAKING:
— Eliot Clough (@EliotClough) April 5, 2025
I can confirm that Drake transfer forward Tavion Banks has signed with Iowa. One of the top athletes at the mid-major level, Banks averaged 10.1 points and 5 rebounds per game this season, winning the MVC 6th Man of the Year award
Details here: https://t.co/jbLEDG13Wd pic.twitter.com/CndFdDbuWN
Former Drake Bulldogs forward Tavion Banks decided to make the two-hour journey east and commit to the Iowa Hawkeyes. After rumors surfaced about Banks leaving Des Moines for Iowa City, Banks officially committed to the Hawkeyes.
Banks began his college career at Northwest Florida State Junior College (2023-2024). He averaged 10.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game for the Raiders.
Banks transferred to Drake before the 2024-2025 season. During his lone season at Drake, Banks averaged 10.0 points on 52 percent shooting and 5.0 rebounds per game. After the season, Banks was named the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Sixth Man of the Year.
He was also named to the MVC Tournament All-Tournament Team after averaging 11.6 points and 7.0 rebounds en route to Drake winning the tournament title.
After committing to the Hawkeyes, Banks spoke to Eliot Clough, the lead analyst for Hawkeye Beacon, about his decision. Banks stated you cannot win games without defense, and he loves playing defense.
Banks is a solid addition to the Hawkeyes. He will bring his length and defensive versatility to a program that desperately needs to improve on the defensive end.
Banks is the fifth Drake player to transfer to the Hawkeyes. He follows Bennett Stirtz, Kael Combs, Cam Manyawu, and Isaia Howard to Iowa City after Ben McCollum was hired as the new head coach.
After five transfer portal additions and the return of Cooper Koch, the 2025-2026 Hawkeyes roster is starting to take shape.