Iowa Basketball's Alvaro Folgueiras Enters Transfer Portal

Folgueiras, a March Madness hero for the Hawkeyes, departs after one season in Iowa City.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 1:35pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the fragmented movements and actions of a basketball player, rendered in bold, contrasting colors that capture the dynamic energy of the sport.The departure of Iowa's March Madness hero Alvaro Folgueiras leaves the Hawkeyes with a void to fill as they look to build on their tournament success.Iowa City Today

Alvaro Folgueiras, a transfer addition to the Iowa basketball team last season, has decided to enter the NCAA transfer portal after one year with the Hawkeyes. Folgueiras, who was named Horizon League Player of the Year at Robert Morris the previous season, had an up-and-down campaign at Iowa, but made a major impact in the NCAA Tournament, hitting a game-winning 3-pointer to knock off 1-seed Florida and scoring timely buckets to help Iowa reach the Elite Eight.

Why it matters

Folgueiras' departure is a significant loss for the Iowa basketball program, as he was one of their top scorers and rebounders last season. His clutch performances in the NCAA Tournament helped the Hawkeyes make a deep tournament run in head coach Ben McCollum's first year, but his inconsistent play during the regular season was a concern. Iowa will now have to replace at least two of its top three scorers from last season, putting added pressure on the team to find frontcourt reinforcements in the offseason.

The details

Folgueiras, a 6-foot-8 forward, averaged 8.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game while shooting 33.3% from 3-point range in his lone season at Iowa. He came off the bench in all but one of his 37 appearances, but still ranked third on the team in both scoring and rebounding. Despite his up-and-down regular season, Folgueiras etched his name in Iowa history with his heroics in the NCAA Tournament. He hit a game-winning 3-pointer to knock off 1-seed Florida in the opening round, then scored timely buckets in the Sweet 16 win over Nebraska to help the Hawkeyes advance to their first Elite Eight since 1987. However, Folgueiras was held scoreless in Iowa's loss to Illinois in the Elite Eight, illustrating his inconsistency.

  • Folgueiras entered the transfer portal on April 10, 2026.
  • He played one season at Iowa in the 2025-26 campaign.

The players

Alvaro Folgueiras

A 6-foot-8 forward who transferred to Iowa after being named Horizon League Player of the Year at Robert Morris the previous season.

Ben McCollum

The head coach of the Iowa basketball team, who just completed his first season at the helm.

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What they’re saying

“Folgueiras' regular season at Iowa did not live up to what some hoped. But his clutch plays in the NCAA Tournament helped the Hawkeyes to a thrilling run in McCollum's first season at the helm.”

— Tyler Tachman, Reporter

What’s next

With Folgueiras' departure, Iowa will need to find ways to replace his production and add more size to the roster ahead of the 2026-27 season. The Hawkeyes have several returning players who could step up, as well as two four-star recruits joining the program.

The takeaway

Folgueiras' transfer represents a significant loss for the Iowa basketball team, as he was a key contributor during their NCAA Tournament run last season. While his regular season performance was inconsistent, his clutch plays in March helped validate head coach Ben McCollum's first year and inject belief back into the Hawkeyes' program. Iowa will now have to find ways to replace Folgueiras' production and continue building momentum heading into next season.