2025-26 Roster - Update Tracker

[GunnerHawk]

Tought a great thread would be to track rebuilding the roster. I will update as new players are confirmed

New Roster:
PG - Ben Stirtz (Sr)
PF - Cooper Koch (RSFr)
G - Kael Combs (Jr)
F - Cam Manyawu (Jr)
SG - Isaia Howard (So)
F - Tavian Banks (Sr)

Portal Targets:
- Honor Huff
- Duke Brennan - visit April 18-19
- Tayshawn Comer
- Brendan Hausen
- Wes Enis

2025 Recruits:
- Trevin Jirak from UNI, maybe
- Nyk Lewis
- Tate Sage

 

[mstrub]

*Carter Kingsbury. Jacob Koch and Trey Buchanan are still on the roster and count against the 15 man limit, as well. No idea whether McCollum will keep them or urge them to move on.

 

[GunnerHawk]

*Carter Kingsbury. Jacob Koch and Trey Buchanan are still on the roster and count against the 15 man limit, as well. No idea whether McCollum will keep them or urge them to move on.

Thought all three were walk-ons. Probably have to count in the 15, if Coach Ben keeps them.

 

[mstrub]

Thought all three were walk-ons. Probably have to count in the 15, if Coach Ben keeps them.

Kingsbury was put on scholarship last year, but walk on status doesn't matter anymore. You can have up to 15 players max, regardless of scholarship status.

How nice would this 15 be?
Guards - Stirtz, Dix, Traore, Isaia Howard, Conor Enright, Combs
Forwards - Sandfort, Koch, Tadjo, Johnson-Arigu, Tavion Banks
Bigs - Manyawu, Diakite, Jirak, Simm Marten-Saadi

I could get behind that team

 

[DougFHawkeye]

Kingsbury was put on scholarship last year, but walk on status doesn't matter anymore. You can have up to 15 players max, regardless of scholarship status.

How nice would this 15 be?
Guards - Stirtz, Dix, Traore, Isaia Howard, Conor Enright, Combs
Forwards - Sandfort, Koch, Tadjo, Johnson-Arigu, Tavion Banks
Bigs - Manyawu, Diakite, Jirak, Simm Marten-Saadi

I could get behind that team

Traore definitely a forward. Good luck keeping that many solid players happy with their minutes.

 

[GunnerHawk]

Kingsbury was put on scholarship last year, but walk on status doesn't matter anymore. You can have up to 15 players max, regardless of scholarship status.

How nice would this 15 be?
Guards - Stirtz, Dix, Traore, Isaia Howard, Conor Enright, Combs
Forwards - Sandfort, Koch, Tadjo, Johnson-Arigu, Tavion Banks
Bigs - Manyawu, Diakite, Jirak, Simm Marten-Saadi

I could get behind that team

We could lose Dix and I'd still get behind that team. You know they will play tougher defense, be more athletic and have a lot of good shooters. I'll update as the roster builds.

 

[mstrub]

Traore definitely a forward. Good luck keeping that many solid players happy with their minutes.

Meh, he is a wing. Guard, forward, whatever. He's not a combo forward (but then again neither is Tavion Banks, so my groupings certainly aren't that strict).

And yes, instead of shooting for depth, let's make sure that a few spots are happily held by losers that don't want minutes.

As McCollum said in his press conference, you want your 12th-15th guys preparing to be your 1st-5th guys in a year or two.

 

[icwesthawk]

Traore definitely a forward. Good luck keeping that many solid players happy with their minutes.

Especially when one guy, pg, plays the whole game for McCollum

 

[the24fan]

I sure hope we can get Lewis back on board.

 

[Hawky4361]

*Carter Kingsbury. Jacob Koch and Trey Buchanan are still on the roster and count against the 15 man limit, as well. No idea whether McCollum will keep them or urge them to move on.

Carter Kingbury might be a big surprise in McCollum system, who knows....big body, not afraid of contact....

 

[RagnarLothbrok]

Remaining Roster: (Will Ben keep all of them)?
- Seydou Traore
- Chris Tadjo
- Isaiah Johnson-Arigu
Chris Kingsbury

I know I am a smart ass, but I’m not sure Chris Kingsbury has the stamina for college basketball anymore, even if he had eligibility left. 😀

In all seriousness, thanks for this thread. It will be easier to figure out what’s going on .

 

[Terrykohawk]

If we are looking at a big to transfer I think I prefer J T Rock from the Cyclones instrad of Jirek. Just based on comments from folks who have seen both. I think Rock moves better

 

[Birky]

If we are looking at a big to transfer I think I prefer J T Rock from the Cyclones instrad of Jirek. Just based on comments from folks who have seen both. I think Rock moves better

I can tell you this.

McCollum really wanted Jirak at Drake and Jirak really liked McCollum, but Trev’s recruitment was pretty much wrapped up at UNI by the time McCollum got to Drake.

 

[QChawks]

walk on

 

[DougFHawkeye]

And yes, instead of shooting for depth, let's make sure that a few spots are happily held by losers that don't want minutes.

Damn, I was hoping for losers that don't want minutes.

 

[Terrykohawk]

I can tell you this.

McCollum really wanted Jirak at Drake and Jirak really liked McCollum, but Trev’s recruitment was pretty much wrapped up at UNI by the time McCollum got to Drake.

Well then heck, get both! 🏀😉

 

[GunnerHawk]

Carter Kingbury might be a big surprise in McCollum system, who knows....big body, not afraid of contact....

I corrected, thanks

 

[Hawk_4shur]

247 has Briscoe as a decommit, but still saying 100% to the Hawks in their crystal ball.

Any truth to that? Or just 247 not updating quickly enough? (I can forgive them! Crazy times.)

 

[SCHawkFan]

Traore definitely a forward. Good luck keeping that many solid players happy with their minutes.

No need to worry about minutes. If that’s a problem for someone, then they should leave. As it is, Iowa is bringing in a point guard who averaged over 39 minutes a game this past season. Hopefully, he doesn’t need to play that much next season, but he might.

 

[CRWash63]

Kingsbury was put on scholarship last year, but walk on status doesn't matter anymore. You can have up to 15 players max, regardless of scholarship status.

How nice would this 15 be?
Guards - Stirtz, Dix, Traore, Isaia Howard, Conor Enright, Combs
Forwards - Sandfort, Koch, Tadjo, Johnson-Arigu, Tavion Banks
Bigs - Manyawu, Diakite, Jirak, Simm Marten-Saadi

I could get behind that team

Tadjo is simply NOT a basketball player - he might be a nice guy - but i hope he doesn't stay.

 

[Georgia_Hawk]

Pryce has apparently pulled his name out of the portal ... or did I dream that?

 

[StormHawk42]

walk on

View embedded media

Seems like he’s been here for 7 years

 

[Rambler Hawk]

Pryce has apparently pulled his name out of the portal ... or did I dream that?

Yeah, just reported via FB. Doesn’t excite me, but I trust in Ben.

 

[hawkeyeinmo]

Carter Kingbury might be a big surprise in McCollum system, who knows....big body, not afraid of contact....

Yes, I would be surprised. Might have fit well into his system at NWMO.

 

[BigOHawk]

Pryce has apparently pulled his name out of the portal ... or did I dream that?

Swear I saw that too..

 

[Rambler Hawk]

Swear I saw that too..

Yeah, but the same folks who said DD was coming to Iowa though…🤷‍♂️

 

[HawksRule73]

Ben typically only plays 7-8 guys. He’s not a big fan of a lot of depth. His comment on that was something like “Why would I want to disrupt the rhythm of my best 5?”

 

[Gogetr]

Thanks for this thread!

Tadjo & Traore can go. Glad Pryce is staying. Very curious to see which portal players come in.

 

[HawkLogic]

Ben typically only plays 7-8 guys. He’s not a big fan of a lot of depth. His comment on that was something like “Why would I want to disrupt the rhythm of my best 5?”

McCollum is the opposite of Fran in a lot of ways.

 

[TampaHawkfan]

McCollum is the opposite of Fran in a lot of ways.

Tough defense, rebounding and guard play.. I also noticed against Texas Tech that BM doesn't hesitate to call timeouts when he sees something he doesn't like.. Yep, definitely the anti Fran. I look forward to it.

 

[BirdistheWord]

Tadjo is simply NOT a basketball player - he might be a nice guy - but i hope he doesn't stay.

I disagree. Guy has strong upside.

 

[HawksRule73]

Tough defense, rebounding and guard play.. I also noticed against Texas Tech that BM doesn't hesitate to call timeouts when he sees something he doesn't like.. Yep, definitely the anti Fran. I look forward to it.

Honestly, that’s the thing that stuck out the most related to his in game style. Anytime there was a semblance of a run or if he saw something (particularly related to defense) he immediately called timeout. Will be a very welcome change.

 

[GunnerHawk]

Swear I saw that too..

I will add his name once reported. Transfer portal sites still show him in the portal.

 

[Rambler Hawk]

McCollum is the opposite of Fran in a lot of ways.

And Dr. Tom…😉

 

[GunnerHawk]

Updated the top. Showed existing players on new roster. If Dix, Koch or Pryce return I'll move them up.

 

[BigOHawk]

Tough defense, rebounding and guard play.. I also noticed against Texas Tech that BM doesn't hesitate to call timeouts when he sees something he doesn't like.. Yep, definitely the anti Fran. I look forward to it.

Million dollar question is...does he have the silly Fran '2 foul rule?'

 

[Heathen Raider]

I disagree. Guy has strong upside.

I watched Tadjo play 3 times in the Canadian equivelent of AAU tourneys Out East in Ontario and He ran the comp off the court all 3 times , Was easily the best Player on the court, very athletic, With a real Coach who puts polish on His game You got a really good Player , He played above the rim and was really quick and finished hard in the paint.

 

[EagleHawk]

Seems like he’s been here for 7 years

'Famous' for getting reamed by Fran for the late 3 against NW in the B1G tournament.

 

[NI hawk]

'Famous' for getting reamed by Fran for the late 3 against NW in the B1G tournament.

BS move by Fran.
But probably laughed about in locker room.

 

[RocknRollface]

I watched Tadjo play 3 times in the Canadian equivelent of AAU tourneys Out East in Ontario and He ran the comp off the court all 3 times , Was easily the best Player on the court, very athletic, With a real Coach who puts polish on His game You got a really good Player , He played above the rim and was really quick and finished hard in the paint.

Anyone who doesn't want Tadjo to stay is insane.

Yes he's unpolished offensively, so are a lot of other college bigs.

Dude has potential to be a monster defender, rebounder and finisher around the rim and that's really all I care about from the 5 spot.