The NBA Draft continues to approach and garner more and more buzz each day. For the Iowa Hawkeyes, they appear ready to make a return to the first round, with some premier talent finding itself littered among big boards, mock drafts, and in conversations.
Bennett Stirtz, Iowa’s elite point guard, who controlled the offense with precision and efficiency that very few in the country did, figures to be a first-round talent. In ESPN’s latest mock draft, the Hawkeyes’ guard is headed north, across the border, to the Toronto Raptors in the first round.
19. Toronto Raptors
Bennett Stirtz, PG, IowaSenior
Combine measurementsHeight without shoes: 6-2½ | Weight: 186Standing reach: 8-2½ | Wingspan: 6-6
Stirtz shot the ball extremely well in drills at the combine, plus measured and tested fairly well, helping himself overall. He has drawn interest inside the top 20, with teams hoping that his high-level shooting might give him the versatility to play off the ball. Though his shooting was streakier than anticipated at Iowa (35.8% from 3), he carried a heavy workload and was asked to create for himself far more than he’ll need to in the pros. His ability to navigate ball screens, limit mistakes and knock down open shots gives him a path to a useful bench role in the right situation, despite turning 23 in the fall.
Toronto can go a couple of different directions at this slot, with a need for a creative guard as well as a long-term center. Stirtz would be an immediate boost to their backcourt as a plug-and-play option, helping improve spacing and giving them another half-court playmaker. – Jeremy Woo, ESPN
With the draft just over one month away, things could change a bit, but for Bennett Stirtz to fall out of the first round, things would have to take a drastic swing. He has proven he can play at any level, going from the MIAA Freshman of the Year in Division II, to the MVC Player of the Year in 2025 at Drake to earning a First-Team All-Big Ten nod in 2026.
The first round of the 2026 NBA Draft is scheduled for Monday, June 23, and will be airing on ESPN and ABC at 7 p.m. CT.
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This article originally appeared on College Sports Wire: ESPN NBA mock draft solidifies Bennett Stirtz as a first-round talent
Reporting by Riley Donald, Hawkeyes Wire / College Sports Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
