*****Bennett Stirtz & Isaia Howard will follow Ben McCollum to Iowa City. Who else will be? 8 of 15 Roster spots filled*****

[Franisdaman]

April 11, 2025 Update:

When looking at the current roster, there's a maximum of 15 roster spots and 7 spots currently remain open.

Based on reliable media reports and other announcements, this is where the 15 man roster currently stands:

Current 7 man 2025-2026 Scholarship Roster:
Bennett Stirtz...............6'4" guard, 1 year left
Isaia Howard..................6'5" guard, 3 years left
Kael Combs....................6'4" guard, 2 years left
Tavion Banks..................6'7" G/F, 1 year left

Cam Manyawu..............6'9" forward, 2 years left
Cooper Koch.................6'8" forward, 4 years left
Trevin Jirak.....................6'9" F/C, 4 years left

1 Walk on:
Jacob Koch......................6'1" guard, 3 years left



ORIGINAL POST (March 24, 2025):

Bennett & Isaia are going to be Hawkeyes!!! Who else do we want from the Drake roster?

Pryce and Cooper, please come back, too!

GO HAWKS!!!

 

[IllQChawk]

Yes please! Will be expensive......

 

[SDHawkDoc]

Manyawu- rebounder and defender first. Scoring secondary. Got to have players like that to make up a balanced roster.
Banks- can do a lot of little things. Again, knows his role.

Unless Dix has a complete change of heart, I want to see 80-90 percent of minutes for next year's team going to Ben's guys that he brings with him from Drake + whoever he gets in the portal(excluding former Iowa players deciding to come back).

 

[Franisdaman]

Yes please! Will be expensive......

won't he come, either way?

 

[iowahawkeyes1982]

won't he come, either way?

He had a good showing in the tournament and probably opened a lot of eyes. If he’s looking to make top dollar, he won’t be a Hawkeye next season.

I like our chances, but these aren’t the old days of “star player follows coach to the new school.”

 

[AckHawk80]

Manyawu- rebounder and defender first. Scoring secondary. Got to have players like that to make up a balanced roster.
Banks- can do a lot of little things. Again, knows his role.

Unless Dix has a complete change of heart, I want to see 80-90 percent of minutes for next year's team going to Ben's guys that he brings with him from Drake + whoever he gets in the portal(excluding former Iowa players deciding to come back).

Tavion Banks will be a Hawkeye right? I mean the name alone.

 

[eyesofhawk]

Who else do we want from the Drake roster?

Pryce and Cooper, please come back, too!

GO HAWKS!!!

View embedded media

Just Pryce and Cooper, huh? Just ridiculous

 

[RagnarLothbrok]

I really hope we can get Ben some NIL support. I believe he will do less with more, but this guy has potential to take Iowa to that ever elusive “next level” if he can add 1-2 stars to a roster of his type of players.

 

[GOHOX69]

We need more caucasians.

 

[RagnarLothbrok]

Just Pryce and Cooper, huh? Just ridiculous

Relax, eyes.

If he thought it was realistic for Dix and Freeman to come back, he probably would have mentioned them too.

 

[RagnarLothbrok]

We need more caucasians.

If they are putting a new Cracker Barrel in CHA, then perhaps.

Otherwise, @curtisj157 and I will revolt. 😝

 

[Franisdaman]

He had a good showing in the tournament and probably opened a lot of eyes. If he’s looking to make top dollar, he won’t be a Hawkeye next season.

I like our chances, but these aren’t the old days of “star player follows coach to the new school.”

yeah, the highest bidder days are here, unfortunately.

NIL, my ass. We all know this is pay to play and nothing more.

 

[iowahawkeyes1982]

I really hope we can get Ben some NIL support. I believe he will do less with more, but this guy has potential to take Iowa to that ever elusive “next level” if he can add 1-2 stars to a roster of his type of players.

It’s fair to assume McCollum doesn’t accept the job without some assurance of a healthy NIL pool.

He’s smart enough to know without those funds, it’s impossible to compete nationally and he’d be out of a job in a few years.

We can tell ourselves the hometown kid picked Iowa because it’s his dream job, but it’s a combination of that and the financial resources that Iowa can offer.

 

[iowahawkeyes1982]

yeah, the highest bidder days are here, unfortunately.

NIL, my ass. We all know this is pay to play and nothing more.

For the record, I don’t blame the kids at all. For many this is their only chance to make money playing a sport.

 

[Franisdaman]

I really hope we can get Ben some NIL support. I believe he will do less with more, but this guy has potential to take Iowa to that ever elusive “next level” if he can add 1-2 stars to a roster of his type of players.

Ben is smart. He knows he needs to build a roster that can compete in the B1G.

And look at the Sweet 16 teams. Damn, the size, talent & athleticism is off the charts. I hope it gets leaked what the payrolls are for each of the 16 remaining teams.

 

[TampaHawkfan]

It’s fair to assume McCollum doesn’t accept the job without some assurance of a healthy NIL pool.

He’s smart enough to know without those funds, it’s impossible to compete nationally and he’d be out of a job in a few years.

We can tell ourselves the hometown kid picked Iowa because it’s his dream job, but it’s a combination of that and the financial resources that Iowa can offer.

I hope so! I know Ben is a terrific coach, but he still needs some players that can hoop it up.

 

[Ad-Hawk]

Manyawu- rebounder and defender first. Scoring secondary. Got to have players like that to make up a balanced roster.
Banks- can do a lot of little things. Again, knows his role.

Unless Dix has a complete change of heart, I want to see 80-90 percent of minutes for next year's team going to Ben's guys that he brings with him from Drake + whoever he gets in the portal(excluding former Iowa players deciding to come back).

Along with Stirtz I'd take those two and Howard. Think Howard's gonna be really good. He's got good tools, was productive in his minutes this year, and was a monster high school player. Already a very good defender with a lot of positional versatility too.

 

[Hawkaholic18]

It’s fair to assume McCollum doesn’t accept the job without some assurance of a healthy NIL pool.

He’s smart enough to know without those funds, it’s impossible to compete nationally and he’d be out of a job in a few years.

We can tell ourselves the hometown kid picked Iowa because it’s his dream job, but it’s a combination of that and the financial resources that Iowa can offer.

Just asking- how do you assure a healthy NIL pool?

 

[Franisdaman]

It’s fair to assume McCollum doesn’t accept the job without some assurance of a healthy NIL pool.

He’s smart enough to know without those funds, it’s impossible to compete nationally and he’d be out of a job in a few years.

We can tell ourselves the hometown kid picked Iowa because it’s his dream job, but it’s a combination of that and the financial resources that Iowa can offer.

Great post. He knows fans want a Sweet 16 and he knows what it will take to make that happen.

$1.5M, which is what Iowa's payroll was last year, will not cut it.

And he's great at X's and O'x and defense but you still need the players to get past the Round of 32.

 

[Franisdaman]

Just asking- how do you assure a healthy NIL pool?

Boosters must have come forward with some guarantees.

I really hope revenue sharing is the $3.5M standard and NOT $2.5M, which some have been saying.

Isn't pay to play fun?

 

[joelbc1]

I hope so! I know Ben is a terrific coach, but he still needs some players that can hoop it up.

I think some of the “delay” in announcing this hire was due to his insistence of a more robust NIL so he can compete in procuring players. Coaching can only take one so far in today’s college basketball world.

 

[BlIIlken2]

Just so we are clear, no one wants freeman back right? Dude was locker room cancer.

 

[iowahawkeyes1982]

Boosters must have come forward with some guarantees.

I really hope revenue sharing is the $3.5M standard and NOT $2.5M, which some have been saying.

Isn't pay to play fun?

This. Beth will get the credit for the hire (which she should), but it wouldn’t be possible without some deep pocket donors.

 

[HawkLogic]

Boosters must have come forward with some guarantees.

I really hope revenue sharing is the $3.5M standard and NOT $2.5M, which some have been saying.

Isn't pay to play fun?

That would be insane if the revenue sharing NIL is less than typical for B1G. Some bigger boosters must have stepped forward. I can't imagine Beth telling them she is going to shortchange MBB and they have to come up with extra money. Iowa Athletic Department gets a lot of Iowa foundation money through I-club to tune of $17 million year that depends on long run on healthy MBB and Football. The Football attendance is going to be a sell out no matter how bad the team because it is a Saturday Event In Iowa. The MBB attendance is much more correlated with team W/L success.

 

[83Hawk]

I think some of the “delay” in announcing this hire was due to his insistence of a more robust NIL so he can compete in procuring players. Coaching can only take one so far in today’s college basketball world.

Drake was also making a big push to keep him.

 

[Franisdaman]

I think some of the “delay” in announcing this hire was due to his insistence of a more robust NIL so he can compete in procuring players. Coaching can only take one so far in today’s college basketball world.

the delay might have also involved the dreaded buy out negotiation.... both sides want to be protected, of course

 

[mr12182]

Will announcing today cut into/ detract the women’s game focus? Maybe wait until tomorrow so the talking heads don’t divert attention to the men’s program.

 

[BondHawk]

Will announcing today cut into/ detract the women’s game focus? Maybe wait until tomorrow so the talking heads don’t divert attention to the men’s program.

Somehow I don't think it will have an impact on the performance of the women today.

 

[HawkLogic]

Just so we are clear, no one wants freeman back right? Dude was locker room cancer.

Freeman looks like a bad NIL Value to me. Undesized when playing against 7fters and foul prone and bad FT shooter. Then there is the issue he quit on his team---maybe his Papa told him to do it, who knows if it was his own choice to shut down.

Freeman will give his next team 16 ppg on a normal pace squad. He won't get all those run out baskets going the other direction after giving up a score. That was mainly a FRAN thing to give up an easy baskets and then hope to get one back.

Sounds like Freeman might be a $2 million/yr type NIL guy...that is getting into Coleman Hawkins regime. At KState Coleman was crying about his contract getting outed and then gong through the season being heckled as a Bust. Dickerson from MIchigan also getting called out for being overpaid non-winner at Kansas. Freeman might be wise to stay out of Kansas.

 

[Franisdaman]

Manyawu- rebounder and defender first. Scoring secondary. Got to have players like that to make up a balanced roster.

Cam Manyawu (6'8" Forward), in 35 games, averaged 19 minutes, 7.1 pts, 5.3 rebs. .90 assists and 57.8% FGs. He shot 49.5% from the FT line.

 

[coorsoriginal02]

Will announcing today cut into/ detract the women’s game focus? Maybe wait until tomorrow so the talking heads don’t divert attention to the men’s program.

L.O.L.

I don't even know how this could possibly happen.

 

[BrotherHawkeye]

Will announcing today cut into/ detract the women’s game focus? Maybe wait until tomorrow so the talking heads don’t divert attention to the men’s program.

Simply couldn't keep the lid on it, my guess. To the point of not talking about it may have been more distracting. Announce it today, get it out there. Women play this afternoon, then have the press conference tomorrow or Wednesday. Then we'll watch the women play UCONN.

 

[Franisdaman]

Bennett Stirtz (6'4 Guard), in 35 games, averaged 39.3 minutes, 19.2 pts, 4.3 rebs, 2.1 steals, 5.7 assists, 2 turnovers and 49.8% FGs

He shot 39.5% from three and 79.4% from the FT line.

 

[BlameIt]

Yes please! Will be expensive......

not as expensive as your boy Sellout Freeman, evidently.

 

[pistachio1999]

Iowa State paid a lot of money for what we saw last night.

 

[Franisdaman]

Tavion Banks (6'7 Guard???), in 34 games, averaged 20.1 minutes, 10.1 pts, 5.0 rebs, .70 steals, 1.0 assists, 1.4 turnovers and 52.0% FGs

He shot 9.1% from three (2-22!!!!) and 70.5% from the FT line.

 

[Franisdaman]

Kael Combs (6'4 Guard), in 31 games, averaged 12.9 minutes, 3.8 pts, 2.0 rebs, .40 steals, .90 assists, .90 turnovers and 51.1% FGs

He shot 20% (3-15!!!) from three and 80% from the FT line.

 

[MeetTheFerentzes]

This. Beth will get the credit for the hire

I don't know. There are plenty on dolts on this board alone claiming that she's a DEI hire who is a puppet of the UI Prez and BOR and makes no important decisions. And even if they do concede that the BMac hire was all her, they call it a "layup" that was easy and obvious. Don't you just love fans?

 

[Beattheohiostate]

He had a good showing in the tournament and probably opened a lot of eyes. If he’s looking to make top dollar, he won’t be a Hawkeye next season.

I like our chances, but these aren’t the old days of “star player follows coach to the new school.”

Maybe not in general, but McCollom and his guys are not the usual story. Stirtz is who he is for two reasons: his own talent and work ethic and Ben McCollom. Stirtz gets its, and I think his teammates do too. They were D-II players that no one wanted, and McCollom led them to a 31-3 record in D-1, including MVC tourney and regular season titles and Drakes first round of 64 NCAA win in over half a century.

Loyalty isn't common these days, but the Drake story isn't either.

In any event, when you have a coach like McCollom, the Jimmys and Joes are less important than in most cases. The evidence makes that clear.

 

[iowahawkeyes1982]

I don't know. There are plenty on dolts on this board alone claiming that she's a DEI hire who is a puppet of the UI Prez and BOR and makes no important decisions. And even if they do concede that the BMac hire was all her, they call it a "layup" that was easy and obvious. Don't you just love fans?

For sure. But I’m on board with someone that gets the Brad Steven’s stamp of approval.