Iowa Hawkeyes Seek Transfers to Fill Key Roster Holes

New head coach Ben McCollum looks to add a point guard and a big man in the transfer portal

Mar. 31, 2026 at 6:51pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a fragmented, geometric basketball game, with the vibrant colors of the Iowa Hawkeyes and their opponents overlapping in an abstract composition.Iowa's roster overhaul aims to build on their Elite Eight run with new talent from the transfer portal.Houston Today

After a successful season that ended in the Elite Eight, the Iowa Hawkeyes are looking to bolster their roster through the transfer portal. Head coach Ben McCollum has identified two key needs - adding a point guard to replace the departing Bennett Stirtz and Brendan Hausen, as well as finding a reliable starting big man to complement Alvaro Folgueiras in the frontcourt.

Why it matters

Iowa's lack of size was a weakness this past season, and replacing their top guards will be crucial to maintaining their level of play. McCollum is looking to build on the Hawkeyes' tournament run by bringing in experienced transfers who can step in and contribute immediately.

The details

The Hawkeyes are losing three senior guards - Stirtz, Hausen, and Tavion Banks. While they have some young talent like Kael Combs and Isaia Howard, McCollum wants to add an experienced point guard to run the offense. On the frontline, the 6'10" Folgueiras returns, but the team needs a true starting center to pair with him after the departure of the 6'7" Banks. The Hawkeyes' lone 2026 recruit, 6'9" Ethan Harris, is more of a forward and not the interior presence they seek.

  • Iowa was eliminated from the 2026 NCAA Tournament in the Elite Eight in March.
  • The transfer portal window opened in April 2026.

The players

Ben McCollum

First-year head coach of the Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team.

Bennett Stirtz

Departing senior guard for the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Tavion Banks

Departing senior forward for the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Brendan Hausen

Departing senior guard for the Iowa Hawkeyes.

Alvaro Folgueiras

6'10" junior forward who returns for the Iowa Hawkeyes.

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What they’re saying

“Stirtz had nothing but great things to say about playing at Iowa, and he knew exactly what he was doing when he praised the coaching staff after their tournament loss.”

— Ben McCollum, Head Coach

What’s next

McCollum and his staff will be scouring the transfer portal in the coming weeks to identify their top point guard and big man targets to fill the roster holes left by the departing seniors.

The takeaway

Iowa's run to the Elite Eight this past season showed they are close to breaking through, but the Hawkeyes need to find the right transfers to replace their key departures and take the next step as a program under new head coach Ben McCollum.