It’s a new era of hoops in Iowa City. Literally and stylistically. With Ben McCollum taking over the reins, the Hawkeyes have been among the more active -- and intriguing -- teams in this year’s transfer portal cycle after practically losing their entire team this offseason amidst the firing of former HC Fran McCaffery.
Currently, Iowa has landed seven transfer portal commits, many spilling over from Drake. It ranks fifth nationally in the 24/7 Sports transfer portal class team rankings. While McCollum & Co. may still be looking to put the finishing pieces on its 2025-26 roster, it has begun to take shape as the transfer portal window closes on April 22.
Here, we will break down each and every transfer currently committed to the Iowa Hawkeyes (hint: there are lots of Drake Bulldogs!) but the first order of business is to provide a deeper look into Ben McCollum’s masterful system.
Understanding Ben McCollum’s system
The common misconception for a Ben McCollum-coached team is that they are offensively inefficient. After all, that would make sense for a team that averaged under 70 PPG, placing near the bottom 20% nationally in scoring.
But that’s where tempo comes into play. Last season, the Bulldogs ranked dead last in tempo, averaging a mere 62 possessions per game. A stark contrast from an Iowa team that averaged nearly 73 possessions per game under Fran McCaffery in 2024-25.
The goal in McCollum’soffense is simple: quality over quantity. While the Bulldogs are dead last in possessions per game, they ranked inside the top 75 in offensive efficiency thanks to a pick-and-roll, pick-and-pop-heavy offense. This offense wasn’t just a one-hit wonder in Des Moines, either. It was McCollum’s identity at NCAA Division 2 Northwest Missouri State in which he won four national titles.
Now, let's check out all seven transfers.
Brendan Hausen (Kansas State)
Brendan Hausen arrives in Iowa City after a strong year at Kansas State, averaging 10.9 PPG and 2.5 RPG while shooting nearly 40% from three under Jerome Tang. The fact of the matter is simple: Hausen is a three-point sharpshooter who can beautifully weave through ball screens to find an open look. He averaged 8.4 FGA. Seven of those came behind the arc.
Hausen has a knack for getting to his spot off catch-and-shoot or even in spot-up situations. He’s comfortable shooting anywhere from three -- no spot is a bad spot for him, even if he’s 25 feet from the basket. While Hausen won’t be your crafty, dime-disher off-ball guard, that won’t be expected of him in 2025-26.
Tavion Banks (Drake)
You’re going to notice a trend here. We’re going to be breaking down lots of former Drake Bulldogs. First up is Tavion Banks. Banks started his collegiate career at Northwest Florida State before transferring to Drake last season as a junior. The true sixth-man on the roster, Banks averaged 10.1 PPG and five boards per game, earning 2025 MVC Sixth Man of the Year honors.
At 6-foot-7, Banks brings a nice blend of physicality at the rim, rebounding prowess and defensive upside. That was evident in Drake’s win over Missouri in the Round of 64 where Banks had 15 points, nine rebounds, three steals and three blocks. While Banks may not be the biggest big man on the floor, he can certainly play like one. Because of his size, he’s versatile enough to score in a variety of situations: post-up, pick-and-roll, and baseline cuts.
Bennett Stirtz (Drake)
The prized transfer portal piece is a not-so-hidden gem anymore. Bennett Stirtz skyrocketed into the college basketball scene last season, averaging 19.4 PPG, 4.3 RPG and 5.7 APG for the Bulldogs. Stirtz is the perfect prototype of a do-it-all, three-level scoring point guard. According to Hoop Math, Stirtz shot 66.7% at the rim and shot at a nearly 40% clip from three.
As an excellent passer, Stirtz causes havoc for opposing defenses because a.) he can create for himself driving downhill off of ball screens and dribble handoffs or b.) beautifully dish a dunk to the roller. But sometimes, Ben McCollum kept it simple by putting the ball in your best player's hand and simply letting him go to work in isolation situations. Pairing Stirtz with Hausen feels like a perfect backcourt marriage.
Kael Combs (Drake)
Kael Combs played a reserve role on Drake last season after spending his freshman year at Wyoming under former HC Jeff Linder. The former three-star recruit brings a bit of size and physicality at the rim into the backcourt and had a nice outing against Texas Tech in the Round of 32, scoring 13 points, five rebounds and three assists. In a 12-game stretch midway through the season, Combs played his best basketball, averaging 6.6 PPG. While it's unlikely Combs will work his way into the starting five in 2025-26, he’s an excellent backup backcourt option for McCollum.
Isaia Howard (Drake)
Just a freshman last season, Isaia Howard averaged 4.5 PPG and 2.5 RPG, shooting 43.5% from the field. While the stats may not initially jump off the page, the upside certainty does. At 6-foot-5, Howard is a blend of a guard/wing. In the MVC Quarterfinals, Howard had 21 points on 4-of-9 shooting from three. While Howard’s minutes weren't necessarily consistent last season, he’s proven he can be a versatile offensive threat in Iowa’s offense.
Cam Manyawu (Drake)
After spending one season at Wyoming, Cam Manyawu started in all 35 games last season, averaging 7.1 PPG and 5.3 RPG for the Bulldogs last season. Offensively, Manyawu does almost all of his scoring damage at the rim. According to College Basketball Scouting, 95% of Manyawu’s FGA came at the rim. While Manyawu may only score at the rim, he’s a slashing forward who can find the open man when driving from the top of the key. He was used a lot in pick-and-roll actions with Stirtz. That sense of familiarity within the duo can only help as both transition into the Big Ten.
Alvaro Folgueiras (Robert Morris)
Now this is a big-time splash. The Hawkeyes got much-needed additional size, landing the highly-coveted 6-foot-9 forward in Robert Morris transfer Alvaro Folgueiras. Folgueiras averaged 14.1 PPG and 9.1 RPG, shooting a whopping 41.3% from three. He earned 2024-25 Horizon League POY honors.
Folguerias makes an impact on the game in many ways. He can stretch the floor. He's a menace on the glass. For his size, he’s an extraordinarily nifty passer, averaging 3.2 APG on a Robert Morris squad that not only won 26 games but went to the NCAA Tournament this season and put up a fight against the mighty Alabama Crimson Tide. Defensively, Folguerias can hold his own, averaging over a block and steal per game. With his size and length, that should translate well at the Big Ten level.