Bennett Stirtz was one of the best players and pure scorers in college basketball last season. And now he’s aiming to translate that skillset to the NBA level.
In his lone season at Iowa, Stirtz averaged 19.8 points and 4.4 assists per game, shooting 47.7% from the floor and 35.8% from the three-point line. He was the star player on the first Hawkeye basketball team to make an Elite Eight in nearly 40 years. He’s now set his sights on next month’s NBA draft, where he appears to have a great shot of being a first-round pick.
Stirtz has been participating in the NBA’s scouting combine this week, getting the chance to show scouts and coaches what he can do. That includes his elite shooting. He lit up the shooting drills at the combine earlier this week, and doubled down on his shotmaking confidence on Thursday.
Stirtz sat down with Big Ten Network analyst Andy Katz at the combine, where he talked about his NBA skillset and made a bold declaration.
“I feel like I’m the best shooter in this draft, and I want to prove that,” Stirtz said. “It starts with your work ethic and getting up as many shots as you can.”
Stirtz’s performance last season and at the combine would certainly indicate he’s one of the best shooters in the class. Now it’s up to him to prove that he’s the best at the next level.
The 2026 NBA Draft will take place on June 23 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Stirtz will look to become Iowa’s first first-round pick since Kris Murray in 2023. His combination of scoring and playmaking ability will give him a great chance to do just that.
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Zach on X: @zach_hiney
This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: ‘Best shooter in this draft’: Bennett Stirtz talks NBA skill set
Reporting by Zach Hiney, Hawkeyes Wire / Hawkeyes Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
