Iowa Basketball Eyes Key Additions to 2026 Class Around Four-Star Wing Ethan Harris
The Iowa Hawkeyes have their first building block in place for the 2026 recruiting class - and it’s a strong one. Ethan Harris, a versatile 6-foot-9 wing out of Camas, Washington, is the lone signee so far, but Iowa isn’t done. Head coach Ben McCollum and his staff are actively searching for more talent, whether it comes from the high school ranks, the transfer portal, or even international waters.
Harris, a four-star prospect according to the 247Sports Composite, chose Iowa over Gonzaga, Washington, and Boise State - a significant recruiting win for the Hawkeyes. And it’s not hard to see why McCollum is excited about what Harris brings to the table.
“Ethan's got an elite amount of energy,” McCollum said earlier this season. “We saw him at an 8 a.m. game, and he was lit.
He was hype, ready to go, fiery, all that stuff.” That kind of motor is hard to coach, and when you pair it with Harris’ skill set - shooting touch, ball-handling ability, and defensive versatility - it’s clear Iowa landed a dynamic piece for the future.
“He can shoot, he's got guard skills, he can handle, he can do so many different things on the floor,” McCollum added. “And on top of that, he can guard guards, which is a big deal for us.”
That last part is especially noteworthy. In today’s game, where positionless basketball is more than just a buzzword, having a 6-9 wing who can switch onto guards and hold his own is a major asset.
As for the rest of the roster, Iowa is preparing for some turnover. Two players - Bennett Stirtz and Brendan Hausen - will definitely be moving on after this season due to exhausted eligibility.
Stirtz, in particular, will be a tough loss. Meanwhile, Tavion Banks’ situation remains a bit murky.
He’s in his fourth year of college basketball, but with two of those seasons spent at the junior college level, his eligibility status is still being clarified.
That leaves Iowa with some clear needs for the 2026-27 roster - and McCollum isn’t shy about what he’s looking for.
“Yeah, we need a point guard and then we probably need a big guy,” McCollum said on Dec. 18.
“We’ve got some really good kind of hybrids if you will. The six-eight guys that can shoot.
We've got some really good ones there. So I think we’re good there.
We’ve just got to now maybe get some size and then a point guard on top of that.”
It’s a practical approach. Iowa has built a solid foundation of versatile forwards who can stretch the floor and guard multiple positions. Now, it’s about rounding out the roster with a floor general and a true interior presence - two pieces that could elevate the Hawkeyes’ ceiling in the seasons to come.
McCollum and his staff are exploring all avenues to fill those gaps, including international prospects - a growing trend in college basketball recruiting. But as McCollum pointed out, evaluating overseas talent comes with its own set of challenges.
“I think the hardest part with overseas is trying to figure out what kind of competition they're going against,” he said. “We’ve tried to acclimate ourselves to that.
I do think overseas big guys are really good. Because they understand flow, they understand rhythm of the game, they understand how to pass, all those different things.”
Bigs from abroad often bring a high basketball IQ and a polished feel for the game - traits that can be tough to find in young American post players. But when it comes to guards, McCollum is a bit more cautious.
“I think guards are a little bit trickier,” he explained. “There are some good guards from overseas, but I think they’re tricky because the physicality from a guard perspective over here, that you’re allowed to do, is different.
It’s just more physical. The athleticism from the guards is a little bit different.
So you kind of get used to that playing the American style, whereas over there, those are fouls.”
That adjustment period can be steep, especially for guards who are used to a different level of contact and pace. Still, McCollum isn’t ruling anything out. Whether it’s a high school standout, a seasoned transfer, or a hidden gem from overseas, Iowa is casting a wide net in its search to complete the 2026 class.
With Harris already in the fold, the Hawkeyes have a high-upside piece to build around. Now it’s about finding the right complementary talent to elevate the program’s trajectory. The blueprint is there - and the next few months will be key in determining how the rest of it comes together.