The Iowa Hawkeyes have some real holes to fill after last season’s Elite 8 run, and two freshmen may have the cleanest path to early minutes.
With Bennett Stirtz now in the NBA, Iowa is staring at the challenge of replacing his production and presence on the floor. That responsibility will fall heavily on Kael Combs and transfer addition Ty'Reek Coleman.
But they are not the only departures the Hawkeyes have to account for. March Madness hero Alvaro Folgueiras and Tavion Banks are also gone, leaving more openings for someone to grab.
That is where Jaidyn Coon enters the picture.
The 2026 Iowa Mr. Basketball landed in Iowa City after backing off his commitment to Creighton, then choosing Iowa just days later in April.
The four-star guard from Storm Lake, Iowa, brings the kind of size that could help Ben McCollum right away. At 6-foot-6, Coon gives Iowa a bigger option than it had at times last season, when the team was forced to play small.
His clearest early opening may come in a role similar to the one Folgueiras filled. Folgueiras moved between the wing and the forward spots depending on the matchup, and Coon has that same kind of flexibility.
Iowa lists him as a guard/forward, and he can stretch the floor as a nearly 34% three-point shooter or hold his own against a smaller lineup. That versatility gives him a real shot to crack the rotation early.
Ethan Harris gives Iowa another freshman with a chance to matter quickly.
The Hawkeyes landed a four-star prospect from Washington who checks in at 6-foot-9, adding a much-needed dose of size. Harris played high school ball as a power forward, though Iowa lists him as a guard, which says plenty about the kind of multi-position players McCollum wants in the program. The fit is obvious.
Harris could be the closest thing to Tavion Banks from a role standpoint. The size lines up, and McCollum leaned on Banks’ athleticism last season.
Harris brings that same kind of pop, and his ability to handle the ball better than expected for his frame only adds to the appeal. That skill set could help Iowa create mismatches against smaller teams and give Harris a real path into the rotation early.
In Other News...
Gophers Just Landed A Visit That Could Shape Medveds Rebuild
Niko Medveds rebuild at Minnesota is already taking shape on the recruiting trail, and Isaiah Santos is the kind of name that can give it an early jolt. The 2027 four-star wing-forward from Texas has become a priority target for the Gophers, with a growing list of high-major offers and a reputation that extends well beyond one state line. He has also shown he can hold his own on the international stage with Brazil, which only adds to the appeal for a staff looking to identify impact talent early.
The timing of Santos July official visits makes this one worth tracking closely for Minnesota, especially with Vanderbilt and Texas Tech also in the mix. The Gophers are still trying to establish traction in the 2027 class, and landing a player of Santos caliber would matter not just for the roster eventually, but for the message it sends about Medveds reach and the kind of frontcourt-wing versatility he wants to build around. Even with the competition, Minnesota has put itself in position to make a real impression before the decision point arrives. [Read more 🡒]