Ben McCollum’s first season at the helm of Iowa basketball is off to a strong start. The Hawkeyes are sitting at 14-5, showing early signs that the program is buying into McCollum’s system on the court. But the real momentum might be building behind the scenes - in recruiting - where McCollum is starting to make his long-term vision felt.
When McCollum made the move from Drake to Iowa, he wasted no time hitting the transfer portal, bringing in several familiar faces to help jumpstart his first year in Iowa City. Because of the timing of his hire, there wasn’t much runway to build a high school recruiting class for this season. But he’s been quick to shift gears, laying the groundwork for Iowa’s future - and that groundwork is starting to take shape.
The Hawkeyes already have a commitment from four-star forward Ethan Harris in the 2026 class. That’s a solid building block, and McCollum isn’t slowing down.
Iowa is in the mix for several other top-tier prospects in that class and has already extended a number of offers for 2027. And now, McCollum is even looking ahead to 2028 - a clear sign that he’s thinking long-term.
On Sunday, 2028 prospect Joey Kohnen announced via social media that he’s received an offer from Iowa. Kohnen, a 6-foot-5, 195-pound forward from Slinger High School in Wisconsin, is starting to turn heads with his play as a sophomore.
He’s averaging 16.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.7 steals per game this season, shooting 51.9% from the field. While his three-point shot is still coming along (29.2% from deep), there’s no question he’s making an impact - and helping lead Slinger to a 12-3 record in the process.
It’s early in Kohnen’s recruitment, but Iowa becomes the fourth program to offer him, joining Iowa State, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. That list is likely to grow, especially as he continues to develop and gain exposure.
For McCollum and the Hawkeyes, this is all part of a bigger picture. The more Iowa wins, the more attractive the program becomes to recruits - and the more talent McCollum can bring in, the better chance he has of sustaining that success. It’s a cycle every program wants to create, and Iowa’s starting to get it spinning.
The early returns under McCollum are promising. He’s already building a roster that reflects his style of play, and now he’s laying the foundation for the future with a recruiting strategy that’s aggressive, forward-thinking, and clearly resonating with young talent. If the on-court results keep trending upward, don’t be surprised if Iowa becomes a serious player in Midwest recruiting circles in the years to come.