Video: Ben McCollum talks offseason workouts, Bennett Stirtz and more
Iowa basketball coach Ben McCollum meets with the media on June 24, 2025.
Iowa coach Ben McCollum made it clear in June that the Hawkeyes had not closed the door on adding to their 2025-26 roster.
Those pursuits have now been rewarded.
Four-star forward Trey Thompson committed to Iowa on July 5. Thompson, who completed his junior season in high school, is reclassifying to join the Hawkeyes for the upcoming 2025-26 season.
Joe Tipton was first to report the news.
Iowa’s 2025-26 roster is now up to 14 players.
A product of Greenville, Tennessee, Thompson was ranked 119th nationally in the 2026 high school class, according to the 247Sports Composite, though he will now be a part of the 2025 class: The 6-foot-8, 220-pound forward received offers from a lengthy list of programs, including Alabama, Kansas, Purdue, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, UConn, Indiana and Clemson.
Iowa offered Thompson in May and he took a visit to Iowa City in June.
Director of Scouting at 247Sports, Adam Finkelstein, wrote the following about the Thompson:
“A prototypical face-up four-man, Thompson has the size and strength to impact the game in the paint, but the skill-set to operate on the perimeter. He’s not only a good shooter who can space the floor both by spotting up, but also in pick-and-pops and slipping out of various ghost actions. He also has a good feel for the game offensively, specifically with his understanding of spacing and how to get to the right spots. He’s also comfortable putting the ball on the floor and a reliable passer.
“Physically, Thompson has a strong build and solid vertical athleticism that allowed him to record a total of 22 dunks in just 8 3SSB games this spring. He runs hard in the open floor, cuts well off the ball, is a solid area rebounder with good hands, and capable of going into the post at times as well.
“Where he is a bit more limited right now is in terms of his lateral mobility. He doesn’t project as especially switchable on the defensive end and will have to prove that he can keep quicker drivers in front of him away from the basket.
“Overall, he projects as a skilled, smart, and dependable player who should be especially good in advanced offensive structure and a reliable team defender who knows how to be in all the right spots.”
Thompson becomes the fourth member of Iowa’s 2025 high school recruiting class. He joins Trevin Jirak, Tate Sage and Peyton McCollum. Jirak, a product of Valley High School, was the 2025 Iowa Mr. Basketball winner. Sage originally signed with Drake but followed the coaching staff to the Hawkeyes. Peyton McCollum is the oldest son of Ben McCollum.
Here are some highlights of Thompson:
Needless to say, Thompson is a significant win on the recruiting trail for Ben McCollum and company. Recruiting at a power conference program can be different than a mid-major or Division II level. By bringing in Thompson, McCollum has quickly shown his ability to attract highly-touted talent which, in this case, included beating out blue-blood programs.
Thompson adds another piece to Iowa’s frontcourt.
That group is headlined by Robert Morris transfer Álvaro Folgueiras, who was last season’s Horizon League Player of the Year. Cam Manyawu, one of six Drake transfers, started all 35 games for the Bulldogs last season and is an exceptional rebounder at 6-foot-8. Reigning Missouri Valley Conference Sixth Man of the Year Tavion Banks is a bit of a hybrid who could serve as a big or play on the wing.
Jirak is the most physically suited to be a bruiser in the Big Ten but is still tasked with transitioning to the college game. Joey Matteoni redshirted last season at Drake and it’s unclear how prominent of a role he will have in 2025-26.
It’s worth recognizing that typically there’s a learning curve for players making the jump from high school to college. That can be amplified when someone reclassifies to begin their collegiate career early. That said, Thompson’s pedigree indicates he has a chance to come in and make an impact in his freshman season with the Hawkeyes.
At the very least, Iowa now has more depth in the frontcourt and another wild card whose emergence could tilt the game in favor of the Hawkeyes.
Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at ttachman@gannett.com