New Iowa Men's Basketball Head Coach Ben McCollum is rebuilding the roster after multiple players entered the transfer portal. Nine players entered the portal after long-time head coach Fran McCaffery was dismissed on March 14.
McCollum convinced Cooper Koch to return to the Hawkeyes, leaving eight Hawkeyes in the transfer portal. Iowa also lost three recruits after they decommitted from the program.
The Hawkeyes have dipped into the transfer portal to fill some holes in their roster. Since McCollum arrived in Iowa City, Iowa has picked up three transfers from the portal. The transfers include Bennett Stirtz, Kael Combs, and Cam Manyawu (all from Drake University).
Iowa still has a long way to go to rebuild their depleted roster. Two transfer portal targets with links to Iowa can aid their rebuild.
Austin Rapp, forward (University of Portland)
Source: Portland transfer forward Austin Rapp is down to five schools (in no order):
— Joe Tipton (@TiptonEdits) April 1, 2025
Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Clemson, Oregon
The 6-10 freshman averaged 13.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Knocked down 83 threes this season, at a 35% clip. https://t.co/Fq9bRZCPqd pic.twitter.com/r9otRy7Kug
.
On3 Sports reported that a highly-coveted transfer portal target Austin Rapp narrowed his list of destinations to five schools. Iowa is reportedly one of the destinations Rapp is considering.
The six-foot-ten freshman forward from Melbourne, Australia, had a stellar first season for the University of Portland Pilots. Rapp averaged 13.8 points and 6.5 rebounds per game for the Pilots. The sharp-shooting big man also knocked down 83 three-point baskets on 35 percent shooting.
Rapp is a modern stretch forward who can knock down three-point field goals at a high rate. He can also protect the paint on the defensive end, averaging 1.5 blocks per game.
Rapp was unranked as an international prospect from Australia, but is ranked as a four-star prospect in the transfer portal.
Rapp is also currently ranked as the No. 165 prospect in the transfer portal by 247 Sports.
Tavion Banks, guard (Drake University)
Drake guard Tavion Banks has entered the transfer portal with a do not contact tag, @On3sports has learned.
— Pete Nakos (@PeteNakos_) April 1, 2025
He averaged 10.1 points and 5 boards per game this season. https://t.co/uOWMfDRMry pic.twitter.com/t8Z15Y5EUE
Transfer portal target Tavion Banks, not to be confused with Iowa Hawkeyes legend Tavian Banks, is a reported target for Iowa Men's Basketball. Banks would join three other former Drake Bulldogs who followed Ben McCollum to Iowa City.
The six-foot-seven forward averaged 10.1 points and 5.0 rebounds on 52 percent shooting last season. Banks was also named the Missouri Valley Conference Sixth Man of the Year.
Before joining Drake Men's Basketball, Banks averaged 10.8 points and 7.3 rebounds per game for Northwest Florida State Junior College during the 2023-2024 season.
Banks was an unranked prospect out of high school and is not currently ranked in the transfer portal rankings.
Head Coach Ben McCollum must continue to dip into the transfer portal to fill out the depleted Iowa Men's Basketball roster for 2025.