The Iowa Hawkeyes just wrapped up their most historic run in years. Bennett Stirtz led the Hawkeyes to this year’s Elite Eight, where they ultimately fell to Illinois. He has been one of the most important figures for first-year head coach Ben McCollum. Not to mention that Stirtz has shown his star power at every level of basketball he’s played. His performances at Iowa only elevated his draft stock.
Stirtz’s name has been lighting up the draft boards as far back as last season. Iowa’s run will only grow the buzz for him. Let’s take a closer look at Stirtz’s 2026 NBA Draft profile.
Bennett Stirtz 2026 NBA Draft Profile
College Career
One of the many well-traveled stars in the Big Ten, Stirtz has had quite a strong collegiate career. He began by playing at the NCAA Division II level at Northwestern Missouri State. After two stellar campaigns there, he followed his coach, Ben McCollum, to the D1 level with the Drake Bulldogs.
Once at Drake, Stirtz started to show that he could make an impact at a national level. He helped the Bulldogs reach the NCAA Tournament and was named the MVC Player of the Year, as they reached the Round of 32.
Like his previous tenure at the D2 level, Bennett Stirtz followed his coach to Iowa and the Big Ten prior to this season. It has completely paid off, as Stirtz was named First-team All Big Ten alongside other strong guards like Braden Smith and Jeremy Fears Jr. He was the floor leader for an Iowa team that reached its first Elite Eight since 1987. Heading into Saturday’s matchup, Stirtz averaged 19.7 points and 4.4 assists.
Stirtz was heroic in his final game, with 24 points, but it wasn’t enough to stop Illinois, who defeated Iowa 71-59. Regardless of how it ended, he has more than proven he is a knockdown shooter.
Strengths
Offense
Talk about a playmaker. Bennett Stirtz is oozing with confidence and potential. You’re talking about a player who has delivered at every level he’s played at. Division II, Drake, and Iowa, Stirtz was a pure shooter. Whether he’s defended or not, Stirtz is going to take a shot. More often than not, he has the ball in his hands with seconds left on the clock. He can make game winners or stop opposing runs.
If you need that kill shot, Stirtz has it. He has a high volume of shots from the outside. He averaged nearly seven three-point attempts per game while shooting 36 percent from deep. Stirtz’s step back proved to be hard to stop. He isn’t afraid to let it fly while contested.
At 6-foot-4, he can help drive the offense just as much as being the go-to scorer. Stirtz isn’t afraid to set up his teammates, with a respectable 4.5 assists per game this season.
He has a nice touch around the rim despite his 180-pound frame. Not only can he get to the basket and finish there, but he also has that floater teams will appreciate when going against much bigger defenders.
Sure, the 36 percent isn’t the flashiest, but when Stirtz was in a catch-and-shoot situation from deep, he nailed 51.7 percent of those attempts.
Defense
While he isn’t the flashiest defender, Stirtz’s overall basketball IQ stands out. It’s huge on the offensive side of the ball, which only helps him on defense. That defensive IQ allows Stirtz to make timely plays and be active with his hands, despite not having the athleticism to lock down players.
He’s got good hands, which allow him to deflect balls in the passing lane, but other than that, defensively, he needs more polishing.
Weaknesses
Mar 20, 2026; Tampa, FL, USA; Iowa Hawkeyes guard Bennett Stirtz (14) looks on during the second half against the Clemson Tigers during a first-round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Benchmark International Arena. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images
Offense
Stirtz does have a couple of key concerns before heading to the league. Can he get enough paint touches? Guards in the NBA must be able to score near the rim, a lot, especially in the biggest of moments. He’s got good height, but his weight could be an issue, as he tends to pick up his dribble too early and throw up a low percentage shot.
While he’s going to have that killer instinct from outside the three-point line, it’s hard to say he will have enough athleticism to be a go-to player at all three levels. He was clearly the go-to guy at Iowa, but in the NBA, his ceiling could be limited, and he might just become a three-point specialist.
Defense
Big-time shooters will always face the question of whether or not they can play defense. This isn’t a shot at Stirtz by any means, but defense is the biggest concern for his chances in this draft, not to mention his pro future.
Is he going to be an All-Defensive player? No, but he needs to be able to stop someone on the floor. That’s the biggest issue with Stirtz, honestly. It’s not a lack of being in position on defense; he just doesn’t have the mobility. He struggles to move his feet laterally and can be overpowered by stronger players.
That only adds to his trouble getting around screens. Unless he develops a way to improve on switches, he’s in for a tough time at the next level.
NBA Comparison
Stirtz will have a lot to live up to if he wants to match either of the following comparisons. Offensively, he is on par with Andrew Nembhard. Sure, Nembhard is a far superior defender, but Stirtz can hit big threes, and the moment is never too big. Stirtz is certainly an odd player. There aren’t too many prospects who have the shooting prowess and the defensive limits that he has.
Duncan Robinson is a much taller player, but if Stirtz can get anywhere near what Robinson brings to the table as an outside scoring threat, he could very well become a key cog on a roster, with far better passing ability.
2026 NBA Draft Projection
Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images