IOWA CITY — Ten players from Iowa basketball’s Elite Eight roster are returning to the program for the 2026-27 season.
The fact that this was announced is a sign of the times, but notable nonetheless.
The following players will return to Iowa next season: Cam Manyawu, Kael Combs, Tate Sage, Cooper Koch, Isaia Howard, Trey Thompson, Trevin Jirak, Joey Matteoni, Peyton McCollum and Jacob Koch.
Manyawu and Koch each started every game for the Hawkeyes last season. Combs started the final 33. Howard, who mostly came off the bench, was part of Iowa’s regular rotation. Tate Sage, who emerged as a true freshman, was an integral member of the Hawkeyes’ reserve unit. Jirak, the 2025 Iowa Mr. Basketball winner, had a more limited role, but still possesses potential. There are high hopes for Trey Thompson, a former four-star recruit, who redshirted last season.
It was especially crucial to keep foundational pieces like Thompson, Sage, Koch and Jirak, each of whom has at least three seasons of eligibility remaining. That young nucleus is part of the reason why there is optimism about the future of the program.
To have ten players return to a program is an impressive showing of retention in this day and age.
Only three players from last season’s roster will definitely not be returning to the Hawkeyes. Bennett Stirtz and Brendan Hausen exhausted their college eligibility. Alvaro Folgueiras entered the transfer portal.
Tavion Banks’ future is more unclear. Banks has declared for the 2026 NBA Draft while also announcing his intention to enter the transfer portal. But Banks stated, “If a fifth year (of college eligibility) becomes an option, I want to be a Hawkeye!”
Banks played four seasons of college basketball and went through senior day festivities at Iowa. But because two of those seasons came at the junior-college level, the door isn’t closed on the possibility of him being granted more eligibility.
Iowa’s 2026-27 roster will also feature some newcomers to go along with the group of 10 returners.
The Hawkeyes have landed a pair of transfers — Ty’Reek Coleman and Andrew McKeever. Coleman, a 6-foot-2 guard, averaged 10 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game while shooting 50.4% from the field and 41.6% from deep as a freshman at Illinois State. McKeever, a 7-foot-3 big man, averaged 8.2 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game as a redshirt sophomore at Saint Mary’s.
On top of that, Iowa has a pair of four-star signees in its 2026 high school class — Ethan Harris and Jaidyn Coon.
Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at ttachman@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: 10 players from Iowa basketball’s Elite 8 roster to return in 2026-27
Reporting by Tyler Tachman, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
