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Bennett Stirtz, an ex-Iowa basketball star, is on the verge of entering the 2026 NBA Draft after an unexpected rise from Division II to Division I. His journey raises questions about the potential paths he could have taken if he hadn't pursued basketball at higher levels.
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CHICAGO â What if one of the unlikely stories of the 2026 NBA Draft class didnât happen?
What if, instead of his meteoric rise from Northwest Missouri State to Drake to Iowa to being on the verge of the NBA, Bennett Stirtz spent all four of his collegiate seasons at the Division II level?
What if he never made it to the 2026 NBA Draft Combine, instead deciding to call his basketball career over and enter the workforce?
What would he do?
âProbably still go back home and do a lawn mowing business and keep that up with my brothers,â Stirtz said. âBuild that up. I think thatâs what Iâd be doing. Thatâs a good backup plan, right?"
As funny as that might sound, there is some truth to it.
Stirtz does actually have a history of mowing lawns. You can check out the family business venture on their Instagram page. In his LinkedIn profile, Stirtz lists himself with experience as a business owner of Stirtz Bros Lawn Care.
While Stirtz might've been able to make do in the lawn mowing business, he has a bright future in another profession.
Stirtz is preparing for the next stage of his improbable career: The NBA. After a season in which he was an All-Big Ten honoree, Stirtz was invited to the 2026 NBA Draft Combine and is projected to be a first-round pick in June.
He has come a long way from his days as an overlooked high school prospect. Stirtz transferred twice to stay with his head coach, Ben McCollum â from Northwest Missouri State to Drake and from Drake to Iowa. McCollum has called the journey theyâve taken together, âa little ridiculous, to be honest.â
Roughly two years after being at the Division II level, Stirtz and McCollum were one win away from the Final Four.
Despite entering the NCAA Tournament having won just three of their previous 10 games, Iowa got hot at the right time. The Hawkeyes went on a thrilling March Madness run, which included upsetting 1-seed Florida and knocking off rival Nebraska to reach the programâs first Elite Eight since 1987.
"When we were at rock bottom, when we were losing three straight games, we stuck together as a team," Stirtz said. "Everythingâs not going to be sunshine and rainbows. Youâve got to go through the struggle. I think the struggle and suffering changes you. So just seeing what weâve been through and what we made it to â close to our goal â I think that was super special. And then, the relationships that I had was something that Iâll never let go.â
Bennett Stirtz played at Northwest Missouri State, then transferred to Drake and Iowa, showcasing his talent before approaching the 2026 NBA Draft.
If Bennett Stirtz enters the 2026 NBA Draft, it could highlight the success of players transitioning from lower divisions to the NBA.
Stirtz's career progressed from playing at Northwest Missouri State in Division II to competing at Iowa in Division I, marking a significant rise in his basketball journey.
If Bennett Stirtz decides against pursuing the NBA, he may enter the workforce, although specific career plans are not detailed.
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Along with McCollum, Stirtz was a poster child for the revitalization of Iowa menâs basketball. Stirtz made a profound impact on the program in just one season and helped lay a foundation for the future. He has acted as an ambassador for this new era, publicly campaigning for players to come to Iowa after the Hawkeyesâ Elite Eight loss to Illinois.
âIt was the first year that that culture has been set and I just wanted to keep it rolling,â Stirtz said. âI love watching the success and I just know the time that the coaching staffâs put in to being successful and to being great. I think the better players they get, the better that they are, obviously. I think itâs good for the interest of the players, too. Youâre going to be a better player when you come out of that program.â
Leading up to the NBA Draft Combine, Stirtz had the option to train out of town, but instead decided to spend most of his time in Iowa City, trusting McCollum and director of menâs basketball athletic performance Logan Ogden to help prepare him.
âI knew coach (McCollum) has done it before with some of his other guys,â Stirtz said. âI knew it was going to be a lot harder than being here in Chicago. And then, I also know he knows my body. Even training, Iâve gained eight pounds since the season. So training with coach Ogden and coach (McCollum), I knew that was in the best interest because they know how my body reacts to stuff. They know what I need to get better at.â
After four seasons together â and three schools â it gave the pair even more time together.
âIt was a blast,â McCollum said. âI got to yell and scream at him some more, which is great. No, itâs fun. Iâve always enjoyed coaching Bennett. Coaching him a little bit different to get him ready for the NBA is fun and Iâm excited to see what he does.â
Stirtz mentioned a couple of NBA players who he sees with similarities to himself: Jamal Murray and Ty Jerome. Murray won an NBA title with the Denver Nuggets in 2023. Jerome, who won a national championship in college at Virginia, was a first-round pick in 2019.
âWith Jamal, just how he plays with the ball screen, plays with (Nikola) JokiÄ,â Stirtz said, âand then Ty Jerome, just how he plays with his pace and how he gets to his spots.â
While Stirtz thrived in a ball-dominant role at Iowa, operating as the Hawkeyesâ main playmaking hub, he believes that he is actually better off the ball, something he wants to showcase. He also said that he feels like he is âthe best shooter in this draft.â Stirtz was a standout in the shooting drills at the Combine, unofficially finishing first in spot-up shooting and second in side-mid-side.
It has been quite the journey for Stirtz from Northwest Missouri State. But it isnât over yet.
âHopefully, I can show that I can play in this league for a long time,â Stirtz said. âWouldnât have believed myself at a young age that I was going to be here. But Iâm here now and full steam ahead.â
Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at TTachman@usatodayco.com
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Bennett Stirtz preparing for next step of unlikely basketball journey