IOWA CITY - Iowa men’s basketball didn’t spend the summer acting like last year’s Elite Eight run was the finish line. Under Ben McCollum, it’s the baseline now.
That message came through clearly during the team’s summer workout availability on July 8, when the Hawkeyes offered the first look at what the 2026-27 group is starting to become. McCollum’s debut regular season ended with Iowa ninth in Big Ten play, but with 10 returners back in the fold, the roster already looks deeper and more comfortable in year two of the system.
The biggest takeaway was how naturally the group moved together. Because Iowa had the unusual chance to scrimmage right after last season ended, the returners kept building chemistry through open gyms, official practices and now summer workouts.
That continuity showed. The passing was sharp, the movement was constant and the overall energy in the scrimmage felt connected from one possession to the next.
There’s a noticeable difference from this point a year ago. Iowa is moving more on and off the ball, which matters even more now that Bennett Stirtz is gone. The team’s cohesion was obvious, and so was the willingness to play for one another.
A few returning players also sounded and looked more assertive. Tate Sage and Cam Manyawu were more vocal than they’ve been in the past, and both appeared to carry more confidence after last season.
Among the newcomers, the freshmen made a strong first impression. Jaidyn Coon and Ethan Harris both flashed their own style in the open practice, and they fit the look of a more athletic Iowa roster that should create more options in the rotation.
Coon, who grew up a “die-hard Hawkeye fan,” said it felt surreal to finally be wearing an Iowa jersey after moving in earlier this summer. At 6-foot-7 and 200 pounds, he has the frame of a Big Ten guard and showed the kind of hustle plays that can earn trust quickly.
Harris stood out on the defensive end right away. He jumped passing lanes, picked off teammates a few times and looked eager to turn any turnover into a fast break.
His fiery red hair makes him easy to spot, but so does the way he communicates on defense. He looks like a freshman who won’t shy away from contact, and he already has the length and build to make plays.
Like most first-year players, he’ll likely keep adding muscle.
Iowa also got the size it wanted in Andrew McKeever. At 7-foot-3, he gives McCollum the true center the roster was missing, and he has the kind of upside that could change games. At the same time, he’s still adjusting to a faster, more athletic style after growing into his body during a major growth spurt in the COVID-19 pandemic.
McKeever is more comfortable playing with his back to the basket, but McCollum wants his big men active, especially on offense. That learning curve is real, but so is the excitement. He was all smiles while scrimmaging in black and gold, and that alone says plenty about where he is in the process.
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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
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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
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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 🡒]