Bennett Stirtz Projects as First‑Round Pick After Combine Shooting Lead

He transferred twice to stay with head coach Ben McCollum, moving from Northwest Missouri State (Division II) to Drake and then to Iowa. At Iowa he earned All‑Big Ten honors and helped the Hawkeyes reach the Elite Eight for the first time since 1987.

Despite his unconventional path, Stirtz has spoken about a fallback plan to join his brothers in a lawn‑mowing business if basketball didn’t work out. He said he would "probably still go back home and do a lawn mowing business and keep that up with my brothers."

At the 2026 NBA Draft Combine he received an invitation and is projected as a first‑round pick in June. He unofficially ranked first in spot‑up shooting and second in side‑mid‑side shooting drills.

Those shooting results place him among the top perimeter shooters measured at the event, highlighting a skill set that NBA teams value for spacing and ball‑movement offenses.

His side‑mid‑side drill result, ranking second, shows quick lateral movement and shooting off the dribble, a trait valued for modern guard play.

Analysts note that his combine shooting scores suggest he could fill a 3‑and‑D role, complementing playmakers who create open looks. His ability to knock down catch‑and‑shoot jumpers would allow teams to stretch defenses.

His collegiate experience as Iowa’s primary playmaker shows he can also handle the ball, giving teams flexibility in how they deploy him. In his senior season he averaged double‑figure points and assists while shooting 38 percent from three.

The lawn‑mowing comment underscores his grounded mindset, which may appeal to franchises looking for professionalism and work ethic. It also reminds observers that his basketball rise was not guaranteed.

Several NBA scouts have compared his game to Jamal Murray’s ball‑screen usage and Ty Jerome’s pace and spot‑up readiness.

Watch for his summer‑league performance and which team selects him in the June draft to see how his shooting translates to NBA game action.