Sportsvival is moving back into its 2026 NBA Draft coverage with one of the most productive guards in college basketball. Bennett Stirtz is not the flashiest name in the class, but the Iowa point guard has become one of the more interesting lead-guard evaluations because of his production, feel, efficiency, and command of an offense. He went from Northwest Missouri State to Drake, then followed head coach Ben McCollum to Iowa, and his game has continued to translate at every stop.
Bennett Stirtz, PG, Iowa
Height: 6’4”
Weight: 190 pounds
Class: Senior
Hometown: Liberty, Missouri
Background
Bennett Stirtz has taken one of the more unusual paths among 2026 NBA Draft guard prospects. He began his college career at Northwest Missouri State, followed Ben McCollum to Drake, became one of the best mid-major guards in the country, and then made the move to Iowa when McCollum took over the Hawkeyes program.
At Drake, Stirtz was the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year and MVC Newcomer of the Year after averaging 19.2 points, 5.7 assists, 4.3 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game. He also led the league in scoring, steals and assist-to-turnover ratio, showing he was not just putting up numbers, but controlling games.
At Iowa, Stirtz proved the jump in competition did not overwhelm him. He started all 37 games and averaged 19.8 points, 4.4 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.4 steals while shooting 47.7 percent from the field, 35.8 percent from three and 84.8 percent from the free-throw line. Iowa’s official bio notes that he became the first Hawkeye in 26 years to lead the team in scoring, assists and steals in the same season.
2025-26 Stats
Iowa
37 games started
19.8 points per game
4.4 assists per game
2.6 rebounds per game
1.4 steals per game
47.7 FG%
35.8 3PT%
84.8 FT%
Strengths
Feel for the Game
Stirtz plays with a mature understanding of pace. He does not need to play at 100 miles per hour to control the game. He changes speeds, gets defenders leaning, and knows when to attack, when to pull up, and when to get teammates involved. That feel is one of the biggest reasons his production has translated from Division II to Drake to Iowa.
Shot Making
Stirtz is a three-level scoring guard. He can make threes, get to his spots in the mid-range, and finish with touch around the basket. His shooting splits at Iowa show a player who carried a big offensive role while still staying efficient. He shot 47.7 percent from the field and 84.8 percent from the free-throw line, which gives scouts reason to believe the shooting touch is real.
Pick-and-Roll Control
Stirtz is very comfortable using ball screens. He reads the second defender well, keeps his dribble alive, and makes smart passes without forcing the action. He is not always going to blow by defenders with elite speed, but he uses angles, patience, and body control to create advantages.
Toughness and Poise
One thing Sportsvival likes about Stirtz is that he plays like a guard who has been through a lot of basketball. He rarely looks rushed. He has played in big spots, handled heavy minutes, and became the engine of multiple successful teams. At Drake, he helped lead a 31-win team and carried a major workload. At Iowa, he became the clear lead guard and helped push the Hawkeyes on a deep NCAA Tournament run.
Defensive Instincts
Stirtz is not just an offensive guard. He has good hands, reads passing lanes, and competes on the ball. His 2.1 steals per game at Drake and 1.4 steals per game at Iowa show that he can create defensive events without gambling too much.
Concerns
Age and Upside
The biggest question with Stirtz will be age and ceiling. As a senior guard, NBA teams may view him more as a ready-made contributor than a long-term upside swing. That does not mean he cannot carve out a role, but he will have to prove his game can translate quickly.
Athletic Pop
Stirtz is skilled and smart, but he is not an elite burst athlete by NBA standards. He wins more with pace, craft, shooting and decision-making than with blow-by speed. That could make finishing at the rim tougher against NBA length.
Defensive Matchups
At 6’4”, Stirtz has good size for a point guard, but teams will want to see how he handles NBA-caliber quickness. He competes and has instincts, but the next level will test whether he can stay in front of explosive guards consistently.
NBA Comparison
NBA Comparison: T.J. McConnell with more size and scoring polish
Stirtz is not the same type of player physically, but the comparison comes from the feel, toughness, decision-making and ability to run a team. Like McConnell, Stirtz has a high basketball IQ and plays with poise. The difference is that Stirtz brings more size and more scoring versatility, especially as a pull-up and perimeter shooter.
Draft Outlook
Bennett Stirtz looks like a player who should get real NBA Draft consideration because he checks a lot of boxes teams value in backup point guards. He can shoot, pass, protect the ball, defend with instincts, and run an offense. He may not have lottery-type athletic traits, but his production and feel make him one of the safer guard evaluations in the class.
Projected Round: Late First Round to Early Second Round
Sportsvival sees Stirtz as the type of guard who could rise during the pre-draft process if he shoots well in workouts and interviews strongly with teams. NBA teams are always looking for guards who can run second units, make smart decisions, and not get overwhelmed by the moment. Stirtz has already shown he can adjust to new levels of competition, and that gives him a real chance to stick at the next level.