The NBA Draft and Iowa men's basketball rarely have anything in common, but that's likely going to change this year. 

The Ben McCollum era is only a year old, but that hasn't stopped it from producing an NBA-caliber player - Bennett Stirtz. 

Stirtz doesn't need much of an introduction at this point. McCollum brought over most of his roster from a talented, albeit Drake Bulldogs squad. Some Iowa fans questioned if these players could translate their games to the Big Ten, but one player they knew they could probably count on was Stirtz. 

And the reigning Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year delivered. Stirtz led Iowa in scoring (19.8 points per game), assists (4.4 APG), and steals (1.4 SPG), with his offensive performances often making or breaking the Hawkeyes' chances for victory. 

Stirtz struggled from the field in Iowa's first two NCAA tournament triumphs over Clemson and Florida, but turned it on when the Hawks needed him the most in the Sweet 16 comeback win over Nebraska - chipping in 20 points (including the go-ahead triple) and four assists. 

Though Iowa's season ended in the Elite Eight, Stirtz continued to show why he's a trendy first round pick in the NBA Draft, netting a team-high 24 points and three assists. 

Stirtz has worked out with several NBA teams in the months leading up to the draft and confirmed to HawkeyeInsider that he would be attending the draft in the green room, but what are the mock drafts saying about him? 

With the draft just one day away, let's get into it. 

Stirtz probably wouldn't mind landing in the Motor City. The Detroit Pistons were one of the laughingstocks in all of professional sports just a few years ago, but the emergence of star point guard Cade Cunningham has changed this franchise. 

The Pistons won an NBA-best 60 games in 2026, but were often criticized for failing to bring in another scorer to play alongside Cunningham, and they lost in the second round as a result. That, according to Yahoo Sports, is where Stirtz comes in. They have Detroit selecting him with the 21st overall pick. 

"The Pistons need more creation alongside Cade Cunningham and Stirtz could be the perfect fit. If he adjusts to the physicality and speed of the NBA, he could thrive as both a floor general and off-ball connector." 

Talk about another fantastic potential landing spot for Stirtz. Oklahoma City has been one of the league's best teams for the last three years, winning an NBA championship in 2025 and narrowly missing out on playing for another last season. 

The Thunder's title window is about as open as you'll ever see (they are one of the youngest rosters in the NBA), so general manager Sam Presti is looking to add more depth to this talented team. That's why ESPN analyst Jeremy Woo sees a potential fit for Stirtz in Oklahoma City, predicting Stirtz to go No. 17 overall. 

"His ability to organize in the half court and keep defenses honest with his shot helps his case to play immediately, but his age and average athletic ability will make him a more specific fit for teams, Woo wrote. "Stirtz would be a viable fit for the Thunder's style of play, but a luxury addition to the backcourt." 

The consensus with these mock drafts seems to be that Stirtz will be a perfect fit in Detroit. USA TODAY writer Jordan Mendoza is impressed with Stirtz's remarkable durability, which was on full display in Iowa City. 

While Stirtz did take rare breathers during the 2026 season, he was usually on the floor for all 40 minutes. Stirtz recorded full games in each of Iowa's NCAA tournament contests, with his lowest minutes of the season coming on Dec. 14 against Western Michigan. In all, Stirtz averaged 37.8 minutes per game in the ragged Big Ten - tied for fourth-most in the country and second-most by a Power Four player. 

"At every level he played at during his college career, Stirtz was a certified bucket. His knack for knocking down shots, but what really stands out is his ability to be an iron man after rarely sitting on the bench. 

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HawkeyeRoundtable publisher Brad Schultz has covered the Iowa Hawkeyes since 2023. To send him story ideas, scoops, or criticize his writing, reach him at [email protected]