The Iowa State Cyclones men's basketball team has several openings in its starting lineup for the 2026-27 season. Tamin Lipsey, Joshua Jefferson and Milan Momcilovic are not returning after stellar performances this past campaign.

Jack Kohnen, from Slinger High School in Wisconsin, is ranked 59th nationally in the 2027 high school class, according to the 247Sports Composite.

"I had a conversation when we went to the University of Iowa," McCollum said. "He could have gotten a ton of NIL money. He came in and I offered him. Said 'we'd love to have you', I can't give you what these other schools get. He said 'coach, I'd actually like to give some money back so that we can recruit the right team'."

Iowa women's basketball star Hannah Stuelke officially has begun her professional journey by signing with an overseas contract in Italy.

This year, for the first time since 2023, Ben McCollum did not change jobs. After a lengthy stint at Northwest Missouri State, McCollum has rocketed up the college basketball ranks. In 2024, he made the move to Drake after 15 seasons as head coach at Northwest Missouri State.

The Iowa Hawkeyes are getting creative in their approach to taking over basketball in the state. A big-market game is a strategic step in the right direction,

For the second season in a row, the Iowa men's basketball team will venture to the state's capital for a game. This time around, the opponent will be more difficult. Last season, the Hawkeyes took on Bucknell inside the Casey's Center in Des Moines.