Jocelyn Faison came to Iowa with a clear message: don’t box me in.
The transfer forward spent her first college season at Georgia, where she arrived as a four-star prospect out of Langston Hughes High School but never found much room to grow. She played just 7.8 minutes per game for the Bulldogs, and the limited role left her looking for a better fit. Iowa’s connection to Georgia helped make that move happen, with assistant coach LaSondra Barrett and Chit-Chat Wright, a Georgia Tech transfer, helping steer her toward Iowa City.
Now with the Hawkeyes, Faison wants a bigger stage and a bigger offensive voice.
Last season at Georgia, she was used mostly as a defensive piece, and she’s fine owning that part of her game. But she’s also determined to move beyond the “defensive specialist” tag and show she can put the ball in the basket, too. During recent media availability after practice, posted by 247Sports, Faison said she loves defense, hates when opponents score on her, and is “ready to show offensively” what she can do.
That fits with what Jan Jensen already saw from her. Before summer workouts even got rolling, Jensen said she was extremely excited about Faison because of her length and versatility. Iowa believes those traits can translate on both ends, not just one.
The opportunity is there, too. Iowa lost nine players to graduation and the transfer portal after last season, which opens the door for a larger role. Faison’s defense should help get her on the floor, but if she can become a reliable scorer as well, she could give Iowa’s bench a real boost.
She may not have been one of the flashiest names in the transfer portal, but the upside is obvious. If the offense catches up to the defense, Iowa may have landed a player with plenty of room to rise.
In Other News...
Savannah Bananas Were Moved By What The Hawkeye Wave Means
The Savannah Bananas brought their brand of Banana Ball to Kinnick Stadium over the weekend, but the most memorable part of the event had nothing to do with hits, outs or the usual circus around the game. Before the action settled in, children connected to Iowa Health Stead Family Children's Hospital were honored in a tribute centered on the Hawkeye Wave, the stadium tradition that has become one of college sports most moving scenes.
For players and fans alike, the moment carried a weight that went well beyond the novelty of the matchup with the Firefighters. Bananas pitcher Trystan Levesque was among those visibly affected, and team founder Jesse Cole said the crowd and players felt the emotion in the building. It was the kind of scene that reminded everyone why the Wave resonates so deeply, even in a weekend built around entertainment. [Read more 🡒]
Iowa Suddenly Has A Real Debate Over Replacing Bennett Stirtz
With Bennett Stirtz gone, Iowa suddenly has a very real question at the top of its scoring chart for 2026-27. Ben McCollums roster is still taking shape after the departures of Stirtz and other key pieces, and the conversation now turns to which Hawkeye can step forward as the go-to option. The most obvious names are already emerging, with Kael Combs, Cooper Koch and a few others all having a case based on what they showed last season and what McCollum has seen in practice.
Combs looks like the kind of player who could make the biggest leap if his expanded role translates into consistent production, while Koch enters as the top returning scorer and the guy who seemed to find another gear late in the year and into March. Iowa also has to sort through a transfer class that could alter the pecking order, which is why this feels less like a settled depth-chart exercise and more like an open competition. The Hawkeyes know they need a new offensive face, but the answer may not be obvious until the season starts to unfold. [Read more 🡒]
Former Hawkeyes Just Delivered A Summer League Reality Check
The Salt Lake City NBA Summer League wrapped with a mixed showing for a handful of former Iowa basketball standouts, and the final numbers offered a little of everything for Hawkeye fans tracking their pro progress. Brendan Hausen gave Memphis a scoring lift with 21 points in a loss, while Josh Dix added 16 for Oklahoma City in a defeat, giving both guards something to build on as the summer schedule rolls on.
Payton Sandfort, meanwhile, had a far rougher night and Bennett Stirtz did not get on the floor, a reminder that Summer League can change quickly from one game to the next. All four former Hawkeyes are expected to be back in action in Las Vegas, where the next chance to make an impression will come fast and the competition for minutes figures to be even tighter. [Read more 🡒]