BROOKLYN — Bennett Stirtz officially became a first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft on June 23.
After being selected 16th overall by the Memphis Grizzlies, Stirtz was quickly traded to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Iowa basketball coach Ben McCollum, who was in Brooklyn to support Stirtz, called it a “perfect fit.”
Stirtz was the first Iowa player to be drafted since Kris Murray in 2023 and is the program’s highest pick since Keegan Murray went fourth overall in 2022. Stirtz, who goes to a franchise in a win-now mode with two-time league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, was very pleased with how he fits with the Thunder.
“I think the fit couldn’t be better,” Stirtz said. “Organization, just the people around it, nothing but good people. Community is great. Love the city of Oklahoma City. So, just excited to create relationships with everyone and get going.”
He is the first Iowa player drafted in the McCollum era.
Who could be next?
After winning the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year in his lone campaign at Drake, Stirtz was clearly on NBA radars entering the 2025-26 season with the Hawkeyes. But the current Iowa roster is different and doesn’t have a prospect close to Stirtz’s profile entering the 2026-27 season. This list is more reliant on projecting how someone might progress further down the road, rather than being a bona fide 2027 NBA Draft prospect.
Also, there are players on Iowa’s roster who have compelling tools, but there isn’t enough sample size to sufficiently judge what they could be capable of, like redshirt freshman Trey Thompson and true freshmen Ethan Harris and Jaidyn Coon. Someone like Harris, who is listed at 6-foot-9 and plays like a guard, has an NBA-level archetype, but it’s too early to tell whether he is ready to be thrown into that conversation.
Lastly, it’s possible that Iowa’s next NBA Draft pick is not even on the roster. It’s difficult to know what could happen in recruiting, so the next Iowa player to be drafted might not even be part of the program yet.
That said, here are guesses at who Iowa’s next NBA Draft pick could be, ranked from least to most likely.
3) Cooper Koch
The NBA covets big players who can shoot. Koch checks both those boxes.
Listed at 6-foot-8, Koch has proven to be a sniper from long range. Despite dealing with a slump last season, he still shot just over 40% from deep. Across his 47 collegiate appearances, 37 of which came last season, Koch is a career 40.5% 3-point shooter.
Koch still needs to prove that he can hold up defensively at the next level and he is also limited athletically.
But Koch still has three seasons of eligibility remaining for his game to grow. He became a crucial part of the supporting cast during Iowa’s run to the Elite Eight last season. After starting all 37 games for the Hawkeyes last season, it’s reasonable to think that he can make another jump as a redshirt sophomore.
With how important floor spacing is in the NBA, Koch already has the shooting and size that could make him an intriguing prospect if his game continues to ascend.
2) Andrew McKeever
McKeever has something you can’t teach: Height.
The Saint Mary’s transfer made history before even playing a single possession at Iowa. At 7-foot-3, McKeever is the tallest player in program history.
He will need to show that he has the footspeed and mobility defensively to play in the NBA. His block numbers in two seasons at Saint Mary’s were also oddly low for how tall he is.
But physically imposing centers, who can rebound, block shots and finish around the rim, are a commodity in the NBA world. The 285-pound McKeever fits that bill. It’s just a matter of refining his skills to match his NBA-ready frame.
1) Tate Sage
After arriving at Iowa surrounded by very little hype, Sage emerged as an impactful reserve in his freshman season.
He showed glimpses of the tools that could eventually make him an NBA-caliber player. At 6-foot-7, Sage possesses athleticism, poise, shooting and the ability to finish above the rim. His offensive efficiency — shooting 49.3% from the field and 38.9% from deep — is impressive considering freshmen can struggle in those areas as they make the jump to the college level.
Early in his Iowa career, Sage has shown he can deliver under the bright lights. He went off for a career-high 19 points in Iowa’s Sweet 16 win over Nebraska.
Sage has indicated there is potential for him to appear more in a guard-like role as a sophomore, which could entail operating in ball screen actions, playing off the dribble and serving as a distributor. If he’s able to add that to his game, Sage would fit the mold of a big guard, which is valuable at the next level.
His development is an exciting part of Iowa’s future. If all goes well, he might eventually be able to follow in Stirtz’s footsteps at the NBA Draft.
Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at TTachman@usatodayco.com
This article originally appeared on Hawk Central: Predicting Iowa basketball’s next NBA Draft pick after Bennett Stirtz
Reporting by Tyler Tachman, Des Moines Register / Hawk Central
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By Tyler Tachman, Des Moines Register | USA TODAY Network
