Iowa’s wing group is already crowded, but assistant coach Bryston Williams tossed another name into the mix at men’s basketball media day: Joey Matteoni.
That matters because Williams doesn’t hand out praise lightly. He’s been around Ben McCollum’s program for years, first as a player in McCollum’s inaugural recruiting class at Northwest Missouri State in 2009, then later as an assistant after NBA stops with the Memphis Grizzlies from 2016-2018 and the Detroit Pistons from 2018-2021. Since joining McCollum’s staff at Drake in 2024-2025, Williams has remained close to the coach’s recruiting identity - and Matteoni sounds like exactly the kind of player that fits it.
“One that we even haven't talked about is Joey Matteoni. Very, very high IQ kid.
Understands ball-screen coverage. Understands offensively how to keep the flow of the offense.
The reason…
Williams expanded on that view by describing Matteoni as a "very high IQ kid" who does useful work on both ends. He highlighted Matteoni’s ability to handle pick-and-roll situations on defense and said he helps keep the offense moving without disrupting what the team is trying to get done.
With Bennett Stirtz having carried so much of that responsibility last season, Williams said Matteoni is the kind of player who can help preserve offensive rhythm while still understanding his place in the system. He also called him elite at "knowing his role," and said he’ll get more chances this year.
Matteoni’s production last season was limited. In his first full season, he appeared in only 11 games and averaged 1.5 points in 3.5 minutes per game. Even so, McCollum saw enough to offer him while he was at Drake, and Matteoni followed him to Iowa City for what is now his third collegiate season.
There were signs earlier that Matteoni could be more than a background piece. As a senior in high school, he earned First-Team All-State honors after putting up 19.1 points and 8.9 rebounds per game. Now, after mostly flying under the radar, he looks like a player who has clearly made a case in offseason work.
That’s part of what made Williams’ comments stand out. Matteoni was the name most people weren’t circling, but his skill set lines up neatly with what McCollum and his staff value. And with Alvaro Folgueiras gone to Louisville and Brendan Hausen gone to graduation, there are minutes available for someone to grab.
Iowa still has plenty of bodies on the wing, with Tate Sage and Cooper Koch expected to take on larger roles and Jaidyn Coon, Ethan Harris, Trey Thompson, and Matteoni all pushing for time. The depth is real, and so is the competition. Williams made clear he likes what Matteoni brings into that mix, and the rotation picture should get a lot more interesting when Iowa visits Purdue on December 1.
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