As the Iowa Men's Basketball program continues taking shape under new Head Coach Ben McCollum, they are searching for specific players who fit the culture they are trying to establish.
McCollum and his staff had made it a point to recruit good players first, and teach them their style of basketball later.
During Big Ten Media Days in Chicago, McCollum stated he always tries to recruit good players, but their character is more important.
He had high praise for the current squad because they have come together well, and want each other to succeed.
McCollum is also adamant that he tells players in recruiting that their actions speak louder than words. When McCollum took over the program, he brought six players with him, indicating that the coaching staff and players have good relationships.
McCollum recruits players who fit his system, which focuses on quick movement and pick-and-pop big men. If you are six-foot-six to six-foot-ten, you can shoot, and you can pass the basketball, you will do well at Iowa.
Trey Thompson (six-foot-eight), Alvaro Folgueiras (six-foot-ten), and Tate Sage (six-foot-seven) are perfect examples of the type of player McCollum likes to recruit.
This week, the Hawkeyes extended an offer to a similar player in the 2028 recruiting class.
After a great visit and conversation with Coach McCollum I am excited and grateful to announce I have received a D1 offer from the University of Iowa!! @BreakawayBball @NVHS_Basketball @IowaHoops pic.twitter.com/mmCwaIyj5b
— Cole Kelly (@colekelly_14) October 19, 2025
2028 forward prospect Cole Kelly announced that he received an offer from the Hawkeyes after he made an unofficial visit to Iowa City last weekend.
Kelly, a six-foot-six forward prospect from Naperville, Illinois, is widely considered to be one of the best prospects in the Midwest and in the country in the 2028 recruiting class.
According to 247Sports' Sean Bock, as a freshman at Neuqua Valley High School last season, Kelly averaged 19 points, 10 rebounds, and three assists per game.
The rankings are sparse for the 2028 recruiting class, but Rivals has currently ranked Kelly as a four-star prospect, Illinois' No. 2 overall prospect, the No. 12 small forward prospect, and the No. 44 overall prospect in the 2028 recruiting class.