Iowa basketball star PG Bennett Stirtz earning NBA first-round respect

The 2026 NFL Draft is approaching, and the Iowa Hawkeyes men's basketball team, much like their counterparts who play inside Kinnick Stadium, figures to be making some noise during the process.

Iowa could see one of its own off the board in the first round of this year's draft when all is said and done. Their star point guard, Bennett Stirtz, has garnered quite a bit of attention among NBA circles, and CBS Sports believes he could be off the board in the first round.

In the latest mock draft, he is being slotted to the Charlotte Hornets with the No. 18 pick.

Round 1 - Pick 18

Charlotte Hornets: Bennett Stirtz, PG, Iowa, Sr., 6-foot-4, 190 pounds

It's very possible the Hornets go big here, but if not, it would make sense to solidify the backcourt. Stirtz is a highly skilled true point guard with an elite feel for the game. He's not an overwhelming athlete or defender, but he's ultra reliable, always in the right spots, and has an understanding of the game beyond his years. The bottom line is his DNA is similar to what Charlotte prioritized in last year's draft. - Adam Finkelstein, CBS Sports

Bennett Stirtz was dynamic for Iowa this year as the point guard who ran the offense, but also the guy Iowa leaned on when they needed a bucket late in the shot clock or late in games. In his lone year in the Big Ten at Iowa, Stirtz averaged a very healthy 19.5 points per game to go with 5.0 assists and 2.6 rebounds, while shooting 48.7% from the field and 37.2% from three-point range.

The 2026 NBA Draft first round is set for Tuesday, June 23, and can be viewed on ABC.

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