Ben McCollum keeps widening the board at Iowa, and the latest recruiting buzz gives the Hawkeyes two more serious names to watch in the 2028 class.
The bigger splash comes from Bentley Lusakueno, a five-star big man who has scheduled an official visit to Iowa for September 25, according to 247Sports national basketball recruiting analyst Dushawn London. Lusakueno, ranked by 247Sports as the No. 6 overall prospect in the 2028 class, is also listed as Florida’s No. 3 overall prospect and the No. 3 power forward in the country.
Lusakueno brings the kind of profile McCollum has been chasing early and often. He’s described as an extremely skilled big who gets to the rim with ease and runs the floor well, and his 41.3 percent three-point shooting last season makes him an appealing fit for Iowa’s offense. Add in his ability to defend multiple spots and rebound, and it’s easy to see why he would be a major get for the Hawkeyes.
Iowa also picked up another visit from a player with plenty of Big Ten interest. Cole Kelly, a 6-foot-6, 215-pound small forward from Naperville, Illinois, has lined up an unofficial visit with Iowa along with stops at Ohio State, Nebraska, Indiana and Wisconsin, per London. Kelly is ranked by 247Sports as the No. 34 overall prospect in the 2028 class, the No. 10 small forward and Illinois’ No. 2 overall player.
Kelly fits the mold of the versatile wings McCollum likes. Iowa’s roster already features several players in that 6-foot-6-or-taller range, including Tate Sage, Ethan Harris, Trey Thompson and Jaidyn Coon, and Kelly’s game lines up with that group. He can attack the basket and finish through contact, and he’s dangerous from the perimeter when left alone.
The Hawkeyes have been busy building early momentum in the 2028 cycle, and these two visits only add to that push. McCollum already landed Ethan Harris, Washington’s No. 1 overall prospect in the 2026 class, and 2026 Iowa Mr.
Basketball Jaidyn Coon this offseason, while also staying in the mix for 2027 guards Cayden Daughtry and Jalen Davis. Now Iowa has two more top-50 2028 prospects coming through campus, and both are the kind of players McCollum clearly wants in his program.
In Other News...
Iowa Just Sent A Telling Message Before The Cy-Hawk Game
Iowa heads into the Cy-Hawk game with a depth chart that says plenty about how the Hawkeyes are approaching Week 2. The most notable detail is the quarterback spot, where Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski are both listed with an OR designation, a sign the staff is keeping the door open to shared playing time as it sorts through the position. At running back, the backfield will be thinner than expected with L.J. Phillips Jr. out because of a high-ankle sprain, leaving Nathan McNeil and Xavier Williams as the main options behind him.
There was also a small wrinkle on special teams that stood out after Week 1. Evan James, who had the kind of punt return performance that usually earns a bigger role, is still listed behind Reece Vander Zee on the depth chart. For a rivalry game that often turns on field position and a few timely snaps, those decisions suggest Iowa is still calibrating key spots even as the rivalry week pressure ramps up. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Keeps One Big Week 2 Decision Alive Before Iowa State
Iowas official Week 2 depth chart keeps the most interesting quarterback question intact heading into the Iowa State game. Hank Brown and Jeremy Hecklinski are still both listed as starters, which means the Hawkeyes are carrying the competition forward for at least another week while leaving the rest of the offense largely unchanged. Theres also continuity up front on both the offensive and defensive lines, a sign the staff is comfortable with the foundation even as one of the teams biggest decisions remains open.
Elsewhere on the chart, Kamari Moulton sits atop the running back spot with backups behind him, while L.J. Phillips Jr. is absent because of a lower-body injury. Tight end is listed with four players in starter or backup roles, giving Iowa some flexibility there, and Evan James shows up as the backup punt returner behind Reece Vander Zee. But all the attention still circles back to quarterback, where Iowa has made clear it is not ready to close the book before facing its in-state rival. [Read more 🡒]
Iowas Backfield Suddenly Faces Pressure Before A Huge Iowa State Test
Iowas win over Northern Illinois came with a cost that could shape the next week of preparation, especially in the backfield. Offensive linemen Cael Winter and Kade Pieper both dealt with heat-related issues during the game, and running back L.J. Phillips Jr. came away with a high-ankle sprain that is expected to keep him out against Iowa State.
The Hawkeyes have built enough depth at running back to absorb the loss, but the timing is still less than ideal with a rivalry test looming. Any reshuffling behind the line will only add to the challenge of getting the offense settled before a matchup that already carries plenty of pressure for both sides. [Read more 🡒]