Iowa is set to host one of the biggest names in the 2028 class this fall.
Five-star power forward Bentley Lusakueno will take an official visit to Iowa on Sept. 25, according to 247Sports’ Dushawn London. The 6-foot-10, 205-pound prospect has a packed official visit schedule, with Tennessee lined up for Sept.
5, Vanderbilt for Sept. 12 and Illinois for Sept. 19.
The Hawkeyes extended an offer to Lusakueno in early July after evaluating him on the Nike EYBL circuit with Team CP3. It’s another sign of the momentum Ben McCollum is building in Iowa City, with the program now in the mix for one of the elite prospects in the country.
Lusakueno’s rankings underline just how high the ceiling is here. Per 247Sports, he’s the No. 6 player nationally, the No. 3 power forward and the third-best player in the Sunshine State. ESPN also has him pegged as a five-star, while Rivals lists him as a four-star prospect and the No. 10 player nationally.
Lusakueno recently announced his transfer to IMG Academy.
As a sophomore at Woodward Academy, he averaged 15.1 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.9 blocks per game, while shooting 49% from the field, 39% from 3-point range and 76% from the free-throw line, according to MaxPreps.
He also brings a national-team resume, having been a member of the 2025 USA Men’s U16 National Team and recently named a finalist for the 2026 USA Men’s U17 National Team.
In Other News...
Trevor Laucks Mindset Should Fire Up Iowa Fans
Trevor Lauck heads into the season with plenty of buzz around him, and for good reason. After earning a starting role last year, the Iowa offensive lineman has already picked up preseason recognition as a First-Team All-Big Ten selection and a spot on the Outland Trophy watch list, which says plenty about how he is viewed heading into the fall. Off the field, he has also linked up with Caseys in an NIL deal, adding another layer to a profile that is growing fast.
For Iowa, what stands out most is the mindset. Lauck is not treating the attention like an endpoint, and the work he has emphasized is the sort Hawkeyes fans tend to appreciate: sharpening fundamentals, staying consistent, and building on what he showed a year ago. If he carries that approach into the season, he could become one of the defining pieces up front for a team that always puts a premium on line play. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Faces Extra Opener Uncertainty Thanks To NIU's Quarterback Battle
The opener on the calendar already carries the usual first-week uncertainty, and now Iowa has a little more of it on the Northern Illinois side of the equation. The Huskies are still sorting through their quarterback competition, with senior Jalen Macon, junior Taron Dickens and sophomore Brady Davidson all in the mix, which means the Hawkeyes are preparing for more than one possible look when the two teams line up.
Interim coach Rob Harley said the choice will come down to what the quarterbacks show in practice, while also noting the group has handled the battle with a positive attitude. For Iowa, that means the scouting report for week one remains a moving target, with Hank Brown or Jeremy Hecklinski set to start at quarterback on the other sideline and the final shape of Northern Illinois offense still not fully settled. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa's Offensive Line May Have Found The Boost Fans Needed
Iowa has made a notable tweak up front as it tries to get the offensive line settled for the upcoming season, moving former walk-on Cael Winter into the starting center role while preseason All-American Kade Pieper shifts over to guard. It is the kind of adjustment that can matter a great deal in Iowa City, where line play is often the foundation of everything the offense wants to do.
Kirk Ferentz has pointed to Winters growth, consistency and maturity as reasons for the change, and he said the lineman looks more comfortable working at center. The move gives Iowa a chance to maximize the five-man groups effectiveness, but the real test will come once the season starts and the reshuffled unit has to prove it can turn those practice reps into steady production. [Read more 🡒]