Latest news with #Stirtz
USA Today
02-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
ESPN tabs Iowa basketball star as 2026 NBA draft 1st-round prospect
ESPN tabs Iowa basketball star as 2026 NBA draft 1st-round prospect Iowa basketball has been busy in the transfer portal, adding six transfers to the program this offseason. The Hawkeyes made waves early during the transfer portal cycle, bringing in arguably the top player in former Drake point guard Bennett Stirtz. The 6-foot-4 guard chose to follow first-year head coach Ben McCollum to Iowa. Stirtz's arrival brought immediate star power to the black and gold. The Liberty, Missouri, native was the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year last season after averaging 19.2 points, 5.7 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game on 49.8% field goal shooting, 39.5% 3-point accuracy and 79.4% from the free throw line. Stirtz was named a first-team All-American by The Field of 68. ESPN thinks Iowa is welcoming a superstar. ESPN NBA draft analyst Jonathan Givony chose Stirtz as his prospect that could be a 2026 NBA draft first-rounder after opting to return to college. Bennett Stirtz, a 6-foot-4 point guard who played for Drake last season, was one of the breakout stars of the NCAA tournament, posting 42 points and 12 assists in two strong performances against Missouri and Texas, showing his game more than translates against elite-level competition after a dominant season in the Horizon League. Stirtz was ranked No. 35 in the ESPN Top 100 when he announced he would enter the transfer portal and follow his coach, Ben McCollum, from Drake to Iowa, not even bothering to test the NBA draft waters along the way. NBA scouts won't complain about having a full season to evaluate Stirtz in the Big Ten, where they'll get a better feel for how his impressive ballhandling, ability to change speeds, touch and creativity finishing around the basket translate for a full season. Stirtz is a dynamic perimeter shooter who is one of the best passers and decision-makers in college basketball but getting a better gauge for his defense and how he handles coaches planning against him on a nightly basis will surely shed light on how high he should be selected next June. - Jonathan Givony, ESPN. If Stirtz replicates what he accomplished at Drake in the Big Ten, then he very well could see his name rocketing up 2026 NBA draft boards. For the Hawkeyes, Stirtz's familiarity with coach McCollum's system and his proven star power will pay dividends for a program transitioning into a new era. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Josh on X: @JoshOnREF
CBS News
06-04-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
USC guards Avery Howell, Aaliyah Gales and Dominique Darius entering transfer portal
Freshman Avery Howell is leaving Southern California and entering the transfer portal, along with two other Trojans guards. Howell announced her decision on her Instagram account. The 6-foot guard from Boise, Idaho, averaged 7.5 points and shot 43% from the field, including a team-high 40% from 3-point range, and 83% from the free-throw line. Howell averaged nearly 21 minutes off the bench. She started USC's last two games in the NCAA Tournament after star guard JuJu Watkins went down with an ACL tear in the second round. Howell, an alternate on Canada's 2024 Olympic team, had been expected to play more next season while Watkins recovers. "After much reflection, I have decided to enter the transfer portal in search of the best fit for the future," she posted Wednesday. "This was not an easy decision, but I believe it is the right step for my journey. Thank you, USC, for everything — you will always hold a special place in my heart." Howell was joined in the portal by redshirt sophomore Aaliyah Gayles and redshirt junior Dominique Darius. Gayles appeared in 15 games totaling 69 minutes, with 14 points, nine assists, eight rebounds and six steals. She signed a national letter of intent with USC from a hospital bed after being shot numerous times at a North Las Vegas house party in April 2022. She called USC "the best thing I ever committed to." Darius didn't play this season after appearing in 19 games last year. She sat out the 2022-23 season after transferring from UCLA. On the men's side, new Iowa coach Ben McCollum announced that Missouri Valley Conference player of the year Bennett Stirtz, Kael Combs and Cam Manyawu would follow him from Drake to Iowa City. Another player from Drake, Isaia Howard, announced Thursday on Instagram that he also was joining the Hawkeyes. Stirtz and the others helped lead McCollum's Bulldogs to a 31-win season, Missouri Valley regular-season and tournament titles and a win over Missouri in the NCAA Tournament. Stirtz played two seasons for McCollum at Division II Northwest Missouri State and then went with him to Drake for one season. He led the Valley in scoring, steals and assist-to-turnover ratio and ranked second in assists. He led the nation in minutes played. Tre Donaldson announced on Instagram that he was leaving Michigan for Miami. Donaldson played one season for the Wolverines and averaged 11.3 points and 4.1 assists per game while starting all 37 games. He played his first two seasons at Auburn. East Tennessee State star Quimari Peterson announced on Instagram that he's transferring to Washington. The Southern Conference player of the year shot 42.3% on 3-pointers and averaged a league-leading 19.5 points per game. UConn announced that Silas Demary Jr. had signed scholarship papers to finalize his transfer from Georgia. Demary logged 70 games for the Bulldogs from 2023-25, appearing in every game both seasons and starting all but one. He averaged 11.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.5 steals per game. ___ AP March Madness brackets: and and coverage: Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here .
Yahoo
03-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Freshman Avery Howell is 1 of 3 USC guards entering transfer portal. Drake's Bennett Stirtz to Iowa
Freshman Avery Howell is leaving Southern California and entering the transfer portal, along with two other Trojans guards. Howell announced her decision on her Instagram account. The 6-foot guard from Boise, Idaho, averaged 7.5 points and shot 43% from the field, including a team-high 40% from 3-point range, and 83% from the free-throw line. Howell averaged nearly 21 minutes off the bench. She started USC's last two games in the NCAA Tournament after star guard JuJu Watkins went down with an ACL tear in the second round. Howell, an alternate on Canada's 2024 Olympic team, had been expected to play more next season while Watkins recovers. 'After much reflection, I have decided to enter the transfer portal in search of the best fit for the future,' she posted Wednesday. 'This was not an easy decision, but I believe it is the right step for my journey. Thank you, USC, for everything — you will always hold a special place in my heart.' Howell was joined in the portal by redshirt sophomore Aaliyah Gayles and redshirt junior Dominique Darius. Gayles appeared in 15 games totaling 69 minutes, with 14 points, nine assists, eight rebounds and six steals. She signed a national letter of intent with USC from a hospital bed after being shot numerous times at a North Las Vegas house party in April 2022. She called USC 'the best thing I ever committed to.' Darius didn't play this season after appearing in 19 games last year. She sat out the 2022-23 season after transferring from UCLA. On the men's side, new Iowa coach Ben McCollum announced that Missouri Valley Conference player of the year Bennett Stirtz and two other players from Drake are following him to Iowa City. Stirtz, Kael Combs and Cam Manyawu helped lead McCollum's Bulldogs to a 31-win season, Missouri Valley regular-season and tournament titles and a win over Missouri in the NCAA Tournament. Stirtz played two seasons for McCollum at Division II Northwest Missouri State and then went with him to Drake for one season. He led the Valley in scoring, steals and assist-to-turnover ratio and ranked second in assists. He led the nation in minutes played. East Tennessee State star Quimari Peterson announced Thursday on Instagram he's transferring to Washington. The Southern Conference player of the year shot 42.3% on 3-pointers and averaged a league-leading 19.5 points per game. ___ AP March Madness brackets: and and coverage: Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. The Associated Press
Fox Sports
03-04-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Freshman Avery Howell is 1 of 3 USC guards entering transfer portal. Drake's Bennett Stirtz to Iowa
Associated Press Freshman Avery Howell is leaving Southern California and entering the transfer portal, along with two other Trojans guards. Howell announced her decision on her Instagram account. The 6-foot guard from Boise, Idaho, averaged 7.5 points and shot 43% from the field, including a team-high 40% from 3-point range, and 83% from the free-throw line. Howell averaged nearly 21 minutes off the bench. She started USC's last two games in the NCAA Tournament after star guard JuJu Watkins went down with an ACL tear in the second round. Howell, an alternate on Canada's 2024 Olympic team, had been expected to play more next season while Watkins recovers. 'After much reflection, I have decided to enter the transfer portal in search of the best fit for the future,' she posted Wednesday. 'This was not an easy decision, but I believe it is the right step for my journey. Thank you, USC, for everything — you will always hold a special place in my heart.' Howell was joined in the portal by redshirt sophomore Aaliyah Gayles and redshirt junior Dominique Darius. Gayles appeared in 15 games totaling 69 minutes, with 14 points, nine assists, eight rebounds and six steals. She signed a national letter of intent with USC from a hospital bed after being shot numerous times at a North Las Vegas house party in April 2022. She called USC 'the best thing I ever committed to.' Darius didn't play this season after appearing in 19 games last year. She sat out the 2022-23 season after transferring from UCLA. On the men's side, new Iowa coach Ben McCollum announced that Missouri Valley Conference player of the year Bennett Stirtz and two other players from Drake are following him to Iowa City. Stirtz, Kael Combs and Cam Manyawu helped lead McCollum's Bulldogs to a 31-win season, Missouri Valley regular-season and tournament titles and a win over Missouri in the NCAA Tournament. Stirtz played two seasons for McCollum at Division II Northwest Missouri State and then went with him to Drake for one season. He led the Valley in scoring, steals and assist-to-turnover ratio and ranked second in assists. He led the nation in minutes played. East Tennessee State star Quimari Peterson announced Thursday on Instagram he's transferring to Washington. The Southern Conference player of the year shot 42.3% on 3-pointers and averaged a league-leading 19.5 points per game. ___ AP March Madness brackets: and and coverage: Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. recommended
USA Today
03-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Top Iowa basketball transfer forgoing NBA draft, 'all in' on Hawkeyes
Top Iowa basketball transfer forgoing NBA draft, 'all in' on Hawkeyes After committing to Iowa basketball with the intention of testing out the NBA pre-draft process while still maintaining his NCAA eligibility, senior guard Bennett Stirtz has now shifted his focus entirely upon this upcoming season with the Hawkeyes. "I made the decision three days ago that I'm not going to. Ultimately, it came down to, I was talking to a lot of agents. Actually going through the process of hiring one right now. Coach Mac and my dad have gone through it a lot talking to other agents. "They said you're going to have to go through it all in. You've got to be all in on the process. I want to be all in on Iowa, so I decided not to. And then, I want to be happy. And I don't think going to LA or going to Chicago (training), I'd be happy. Or mentally happy. I think I'm physically ready to go, just not mentally. So, yeah, decided to pull out of that and get ready for Iowa," Stirtz told Eliot Clough on the HawkCast. The 6-foot-4 guard has risen through the ranks alongside head coach Ben McCollum, who both started at Division II Northwest Missouri State before moving on to Drake and now Iowa. As a junior, Stirtz had the best season of his career and was named Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year after averaging 19.2 points on shooting 49.6% from the floor, 39.5% from 3-point territory, and 79.4% from the charity stripe to go along with 5.7 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and 2.1 steals per game for the Bulldogs. In his impressive 2024-25 season with Drake, Stirtz only failed to score in double figures twice in 35 appearances and posted at least 25 points seven times. Stirtz had two occasions where he posted 30-point outings, with his best performance coming during a 12-for-17 shooting performance with 12 assists and five rebounds against the University of Illinois-Chicago on Jan. 1. Along with the program-best season under Ben McCollum, Stirtz was one of the central figures as Drake's national profile rose after knocking off No. 6 seed Missouri in the NCAA Tournament as he scored 21 points on 8-for-11 shooting from the field in the win. Stirtz also scored 21 points on 9-for-19 shooting in the Bulldogs' second-round loss vs. No. 3 seed Texas Tech. 'If he's not the best point guard in the country, he's top two or three,' McCollum said of Stirtz. 'So that's a pretty good fit right there.' With an Iowa roster still taking shape, Stirtz's decision to focus squarely on the Hawkeyes gives McCollum a centerpiece to mold the team around. Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes, and opinions. Follow Scout on X: @SpringgateNews
