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Iowa basketball's Bennett Stirtz invited to 2026 NBA Draft Combine
TL;DR
Bennett Stirtz, former Iowa basketball player, has been invited to the 2026 NBA Draft Combine, taking place from May 10-17 in Chicago. He averaged 19.8 points per game during his season at Iowa, leading the team to the Elite Eight.
Key points
- Bennett Stirtz invited to 2026 NBA Draft Combine
- Combine scheduled for May 10-17 in Chicago
- Averaged 19.8 points per game at Iowa
- Led Iowa to its first Elite Eight since 1987
- Ranks fourth on Iowa's single-season scoring list
Bennett StirtzIowaNBA Draft Combine 2026
IOWA CITY — Former Iowa basketball star Bennett Stirtz has earned an invitation to the 2026 NBA Draft Combine, it was announced May 1.
The event is scheduled for May 10-17 in Chicago.
In his lone season at Iowa, Stirtz helped lead the program to its first Elite Eight since 1987. He finished the season averaging 19.8 points, 4.4 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 47.7% from the field and 35.8% from deep. Stirtz had three games of at least 32 points last season, including a career-high 36 against Northwestern.
Stirtz was a first-team All-Big Ten selection by the media and a second-team All-Big Ten selection by the league's coaches. He ranks fourth on the single-season scoring list in program history (734), eighth in field goals made (251) and tied for fifth in 3-point field goals made.
The guard rose the ranks with head coach Ben McCollum — from Division II Northwest Missouri State to Drake to Iowa. Between those three stops, Stirtz combined to score more than 2,300 points in his college career.
Stirtz, who was also the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year two seasons ago, is now a projected first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft.
“The journey that we’ve taken is a little ridiculous, to be honest, like when you think about it,” McCollum said after Iowa's Elite Eight loss to Illinois. “We were just in Maryville, Missouri. Now we’re playing in the Elite Eight. Man, almost had the Final Four.”
ESPN has Stirtz going 21st in its most recent 2026 NBA mock draft and The Athletic has him going 26th.
Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at ttachman@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa basketball's Bennett Stirtz invited to 2026 NBA Draft Combine
Q&A
What are Bennett Stirtz's stats from his season at Iowa?
Bennett Stirtz averaged 19.8 points, 4.4 assists, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game while shooting 47.7% from the field.
When is the 2026 NBA Draft Combine scheduled?
The 2026 NBA Draft Combine is scheduled for May 10-17 in Chicago.
How did Bennett Stirtz perform in his college basketball career?
Stirtz scored over 2,300 points in his college career, with notable achievements including three games of at least 32 points and a career-high of 36 points against Northwestern.
