Get ready for an exciting season as we introduce you to the Iowa men's basketball team's revamped roster! With a fresh lineup, these players are ready to make their mark.
A New Era for Iowa Hoops
But here's the catch: only one scholarship player remains from last year's team. So, let's dive into the new faces and uncover some intriguing stories.
No. 3: Cam Manyamu - The Versatile Forward
A 6-foot-9 junior from Kansas City, Cam brings experience from both Wyoming and Drake. Last season, he averaged an impressive 7.1 points and 5.3 rebounds, starting all 35 games for Drake's successful 31-4 campaign.
No. 5: Peyton McCollum - Coach's Son Steps Up
Freshman Peyton, son of head coach Ben McCollum, is ready to make his mark. Hailing from Waukee, he averaged 13.1 points for Waukee Northwest High last season, showing his scoring prowess.
No. 6: Tavion Banks - Sixth Man Extraordinaire
Senior Tavion Banks, another Kansas City native, was named the Missouri Valley Conference's Sixth Man of the Year last season. His stats speak for themselves: 10.1 points and 5.0 rebounds per game. He also made the All-MVC tournament team with a stellar performance, totaling 35 points and 21 rebounds across three wins.
No. 7: Alvaro Folgueras - Horizon League's Star
Standing tall at 6-foot-10, junior Alvaro Folgueras from Malaga, Spain, was crowned the Horizon League's Player of the Year. His numbers are impressive: 14.1 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game for Robert Morris. He had a standout performance against Alabama in the NCAA tourney, scoring 15 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.
No. 8: Cooper Koch - Iowa's Returning Talent
Freshman Cooper Koch, the only returning scholarship player for Iowa, is back and ready to make an impact. Despite playing only 10 games last season due to a medical redshirt, he averaged 4.6 points. Cooper showed his potential with a 14-point performance against New Hampshire. Did you know he's the son of former Iowa player J.R. Koch?
No. 10: Jacob Koch - Walk-On with Talent
Sophomore Jacob Koch, a walk-on from Iowa City, played in seven games last season. He's a three-time all-conference player at Iowa City West, showcasing his skills. Interestingly, he has no relation to Cooper Koch.
No. 11: Kael Combs - The Transfer with Potential
Junior Kael Combs, a transfer from Wyoming and Drake, averaged 3.8 points for Drake last season. He had a standout performance against Texas Tech in the NCAA tournament, contributing 13 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists in just 20 minutes on the court.
No. 14: Bennett Stirtz - MVC's Player of the Year
Senior Bennett Stirtz, from Liberty, Missouri, played for Northwest Missouri State and Drake under Coach McCollum. He was named the MVC's Player of the Year, averaging league-highs of 19.2 points and 2.2 steals, along with 5.7 assists per game. Bennett scored 21 points in both of the Bulldogs' NCAA tournament games.
No. 15: Brendan Hausen - Villanova and K-State Experience
Senior Brendan Hausen brings experience from Villanova and Kansas State. He started all 33 games at K-State last season, averaging 10.9 points. Brendan is a reliable three-point shooter, making 90 of 232 attempts. He had a career-high 27 points at St. John's last December.
No. 20: Trey Thompson - Highly Rated Recruit
Freshman Trey Thompson, a 4-star recruit from Greeneville, Tennessee, is turning 18 on December 3rd. Over three years of high school play, he averaged an impressive 21.8 points and 9.6 rebounds. Keep an eye on this young talent!
No. 23: Isaia Howard - Rising Star
Sophomore Isaia Howard, from Plattsburg, Missouri, averaged 4.5 points and 15.4 minutes at Drake last season. However, he was a high school standout, scoring 34.4 points and grabbing 13.2 rebounds per game in his senior year. Isaia had a breakout performance against Southern Illinois in the MVC tournament, scoring 21 points.
No. 24: Tate Sage - High School Champion
Freshman Tate Sage, from Weatherford, Oklahoma, averaged 13.1 points last year for his state's Class 4A high school champion team. Weatherford had an impressive 110-12 record over Tate's four seasons.
No. 27: Trevin Jirak - Iowa's Prep Star
Freshman Trevin Jirak, from West Des Moines, was named Iowa's prep "Mr. Basketball" last season. He averaged 16.2 points and 9.4 rebounds for West Des Moines Valley. Trevin has been a key player for the Class 4A state champions for the past three years.
No. 44: Joey Matteoni - Transfer with Potential
Freshman Joey Matteoni, a transfer from Drake, sat out last season. However, he averaged an impressive 19.1 points and 8.9 rebounds during his senior year at Blue Valley Northwest High. Originally committed to Northwest Missouri State when Coach McCollum was there, Joey is now ready to make his mark at Iowa.
And there you have it! This diverse and talented roster is sure to keep fans on the edge of their seats. Who do you think will be the breakout star this season? Share your thoughts and predictions in the comments below!
