Iowa basketball transfer portal fit: Drew Scharnowski

The Iowa Hawkeyes and head coach Ben McCollum are on the hunt in the transfer portal for some size on the interior. Iowa hosted Saint Mary's big man, Andrew McKeever, who, at 7-foot-3, could be an instant rim protector. If Iowa can add more size in the front court, it could really help this team's plans for 2026.

Another target on Iowa's transfer portal radar comes from the Missouri Valley Conference, a place Ben McCollum is familiar with after his one season as the head coach of the Drake Bulldogs. That target is Drew Scharnowski, a 6-foot-9 power forward from the Belmont Bruins, who is in the transfer portal.

At 6-foot-9, Scharnowski could be another influx of size to the Hawkeyes' lineup with an ability to finish at the rim and help on the boards. Last season, Scharnowski played in 30 games with 24 starts and averaged 10.7 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. He shot an outstanding 68.1% from the field and chipped in 1.3 blocks per game. He has played two years for Belmont.

A product of Camp Point Central High School and Camp Point, Illinois, Drew Scharnowski was a three-star recruit coming out. He was heralded as the No. 14 player from Illinois and the No. 77 power forward in the 2023 class. As a transfer portal recruit, he is a four-star recruit, ranked as the No. 6 power forward and the No. 28 overall player available, per 247Sports.

Drew Scharnowski is not a stretch four who will step out and shoot the three. While at Belmont, he attempted just seven threes, going 1-7. Where he does fit into Iowa is in the paint. On the offensive side of the ball, he brings excellent footwork and an understanding of spacing and leverage, things that Ben McCollum's offense is predicated on. He can play in the pick-and-roll, diving to the rim with authority.

On defense, he would be slightly undersized with his height going against Big Ten bigs all game, but what he can do is force guards to adjust their shots and make them change their plans once in the air. He is very lanky and can get his hands on shots, or at least cause shooters to adjust.

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This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire : Iowa basketball transfer portal fit: Drew Scharnowski