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Info capsules of everyone on the Iowa men’s basketball remade roster
Hawkeyes need to introduce themselves to Iowa fans after Ben McCollum assembled a roster with only one returning scholarship player
Oct. 14, 2025 1:57 pm, Updated: Oct. 14, 2025 4:44 pm
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With just one scholarship player back from last year’s team, Iowa men’s basketball team needs to be introduced to the school’s fans. Here’s an effort:
No. 3 — Cam Manyawu, 6-foot-9 junior from Kansas City, Mo. Played one season at both Wyoming and Drake. Averaged 7.1 points and 5.3 rebounds last season and started all 35 games for 31-4 Drake.
No. 5 — Peyton McCollum, 6-2 freshman from Waukee. Son of head coach Ben McCollum. Averaged 13.1 points for Waukee Northwest High last season.
No. 6 — Tavion Banks, 6-7 senior from Kansas City, Mo. Was the Missouri Valley Conference’s Sixth Man of the Year last season, averaging 10.1 points and 5.0 rebounds. Made the All-MVC tournament team after totaling 35 points and 21 rebounds over three wins.
No. 7 — Alvaro Folgueiras, 6-10 junior from Malaga, Spain. Was the Horizon League’s Player of the Year after averaging 14.1 points, 9.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists for 26-9 Robert Morris. Had 15 points and 10 rebounds in the Colonials’ 90-81 loss to Alabama in the NCAA tourney.
No. 8 — Cooper Koch, 6-8 freshman from Peoria, Ill. Iowa’s only returning scholarship player. Played 10 games last season before taking a medical redshirt, averaging 4.6 points. Scored 14 points against New Hampshire. Son of former Iowa player J.R. Koch.
No. 10 — Jacob Koch, 6-2 sophomore from Iowa City. Walk-on who played in seven games last season. He was a three-time all-conference player at Iowa City West. No relation to Cooper Koch.
No. 11 — Kael Combs, 6-4 junior from Nixa, Mo. Played at Wyoming and Drake. Averaged 3.8 for Drake last season. Had 13 points, 5 rebounds and 3 assists in 20 minutes against Texas Tech in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
No. 14 — Bennett Stirtz, 6-4 senior from Liberty, Mo. Played at Northwest Missouri State and Drake for McCollum. Was the MVC’s Player of the Year after averaging league-highs of 19.2 points and 2.2 steals, and had 5.7 assists per game. Scored 21 points in both of the Bulldogs’ NCAA tourney games.
No. 15 — Brendan Hausen, 6-4 senior from Amarillo, Texas. Played two years at Villanova, one at Kansas State. Started all 33 games at K-State last season, averaging 10.9 points. Made 90 of 232 three-pointers. Scored 27 points at St. John’s last December.
No. 20 — Trey Thompson. 6-8 freshman from Greeneville, Tenn. A 4-star recruit who averaged 21.8 points and 9.6 rebounds over three years of high school play. Turns 18 on Dec. 3.
No. 23 — Isaia Howard, 6-5 sophomore from Plattsburg, Mo. Averaged 4.5 points and 15.4 minutes at Drake last season after scoring 34.4 points and 13.2 rebounds per game in his senior year of high school. Scored 21 points against Southern Illinois in the MVC tournament.
No. 24 — Tate Sage, 6-7 freshman from Weatherford, Okla. Averaged 13.1 points last year for the state’s Class 4A high school champion. Weatherford was 110-12 over his four seasons.
No. 27 — Trevin Jirak, 6-11 freshman from West Des Moines. Was Iowa’s prep “Mr. Basketball” last season after averaging 16.2 points and 9.4 rebounds for West Des Moines Valley. Played for the Class 4A state-champions the last three years.
No. 44 — Joey Matteoni, 6-9 freshman from Overland Park, Kan. Transferred from Drake, sat out last season. Averaged 19.1 points and 8.9 rebounds his senior year at Blue Valley Northwest High. Originally signed with Northwest Missouri State when McCollum coached there.
Comments: (319) 398-8440; mike.hlas@thegazette.com
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