The Iowa Hawkeyes have some real holes to fill after last season’s Elite 8 run, and two freshmen may have a fast track to minutes if they can grab the openings in front of them.
With Bennett Stirtz now in the NBA, Iowa has to replace both his production and his presence on the floor. That job is expected to fall largely to Kael Combs and transfer portal addition Ty'Reek Coleman.
But Stirtz isn’t the only departure the Hawkeyes have to account for. March Madness hero Alvaro Folgueiras and Tavion Banks are also gone, leaving more production on the table and more chances for someone new to step in.
That’s where Jaidyn Coon and Ethan Harris come into the picture.
Coon arrives in Iowa City with plenty of buzz. The 2026 Iowa Mr.
Basketball, a four-star guard from Storm Lake, Iowa, originally committed to Creighton before decommitting and then landing with Iowa just days later in April. At 6-foot-6, he brings size the Hawkeyes didn’t always have last season, when they were forced to play small at times.
His path to early minutes could come through a role similar to the one Folgueiras filled. Folgueiras bounced between the wing and forward spots depending on the matchup, and Coon is listed by Iowa as a guard/forward, which gives him the same kind of flexibility.
He’s also a nearly 34% three-point shooter, so he can stretch the floor or hold his own against smaller lineups. That kind of versatility gives him a real shot to crack the rotation quickly.
Harris brings a different kind of intrigue. The four-star prospect from Washington checks in at 6-foot-9, giving Iowa an immediate boost in size. Though he played high school ball as a power forward, Iowa lists him as a guard, which says plenty about the way Ben McCollum wants to use his wings and forwards.
Harris could be the kind of player who steps into the space Tavion Banks left behind. The size is comparable, and McCollum leaned on Banks’ athleticism heavily last season.
Harris has that same kind of bounce, and he also handles the ball better than you’d expect for a player his size. That combination could create matchup problems for smaller teams and give Harris a clear path into the Hawkeyes’ rotation early in his Iowa career.
In Other News...
A Familiar Big Ten Villain Is Back And Iowa Fans Know It
Shawn Eichorst is heading back to the Big Ten after a long run away from it, and that alone is enough to catch the attention of Iowa fans who remember his name from the old Nebraska days. Eichorst has spent the past several years as deputy athletic director at Texas, but his rsum in this league still carries the kind of baggage that tends to linger in the rivalry neighborhoods, especially when Nebraska and Wisconsin are part of the conversation.
The move also adds another wrinkle to a conference relationship that already feels personal for Hawkeye fans, with Wisconsin and Iowa set to meet again next season in a series that has stayed tight over the years. Wisconsin has held the edge overall, but Iowa has had the better of the recent stretch, and Eichorsts return gives the league one more familiar figure whose past decisions still ripple through the Big Ten landscape. [Read more 🡒]
Luka Garza Just Earned Another Huge Chance To Prove He Belongs
Luka Garza is getting another meaningful stage to show he still has something to offer at the highest levels of basketball. The former Iowa star is set to represent Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup qualifiers, a chance that gives him international reps as he continues building on the momentum he found with Boston last season.
Garzas run with the Celtics was a reminder that he can still carve out a useful role, and the timing matters with a contract year ahead. For a player trying to keep his name in the mix, these qualifiers offer more than just national-team pride - they provide another opportunity to stay sharp, stay visible and keep pushing for the next deal. [Read more 🡒]
EA Just Reignited Iowas Biggest Respect Debate
EA Sports College Football 27 has handed Iowa an 80 overall rating, putting the Hawkeyes in a familiar middle ground that will probably fuel as much debate as it settles. The number ties them with Arkansas, Boise State, Maryland, TCU and Michigan State, and it also slots Iowa in as the 12th-highest-rated team in the game, which feels like the kind of ranking that invites a second look from anyone who has watched this program over the years.
The offense is easy enough to understand if EA is leaning on Iowas offensive line and running game, along with a healthy dose of tight end DJ Vonnahme. The defense is where the eyebrow-raising starts, because rating that side of the ball lower than the offense runs against the reputation Phil Parker has built in Iowa City. For a team that has long made its name through defense and discipline, that part of the rating is the one most likely to keep Hawkeye fans talking. [Read more 🡒]