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Following Iowa basketball's 71-59 Elite Eight loss to Illinois on Saturday, an emotional Bennett Stirtz sat in the locker room answering questions from the media.
His collegiate basketball career had just come to an end after an outstanding 24-point performance that wasn't enough to take down a really good Illini squad. Stirtz took some time to reflect on his journey from Northwest Missouri State to Drake and then to Iowa, where he helped orchestrate one of the most impressive one-year turnarounds you'll see.
He also took some time to rave about the program and its future under head coach Ben McCollum. While Stirtz will be in the NBA next fall, it's clear that he cares a lot about where the Hawkeye program goes from here. Sitting in his locker after the game, he made a pitch to any high school or collegiate basketball player interested in elevating their game to the next level.
"If you wanna be a great point guard, you should come to Iowa," Stirtz said. "If you wanna be a great player, a great big, a great shooter, come play for Iowa. This coaching staff is the best in the country, so, why wouldn’t you?"
While the words are very poignant and important, the actions speak louder. Stirtz is a living, breathing example of the development and coaching he praised.
Just two years ago, he was playing Division II basketball alongside McCollum. Now, he's a first-team All-Big Ten player who helped lead Iowa to its first Elite Eight in almost 40 years. And the cherry on top: he's most likely going to be a first-round pick in the upcoming NBA draft.
Any player who was questioning whether or not McCollum can coach at the highest levels of the sport should have their questions answered now. The future is bright in Iowa City, with a ton of pieces from this year's team set to return next season. Stirtz won't be one of them, but his story should make one message very clear to prospective Iowa basketball players. If McCollum calls, pick up the phone.
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Zach on X: @zach_hiney
This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Bennett Stirtz makes pitch to prospective Iowa basketball players
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His collegiate basketball career had just come to an end after an outstanding 24-point performance that wasn't enough to take down a really good Illini squad. Stirtz took some time to reflect on his journey from Northwest Missouri State to Drake and then to Iowa, where he helped orchestrate one of the most impressive one-year turnarounds you'll see.
He also took some time to rave about the program and its future under head coach Ben McCollum. While Stirtz will be in the NBA next fall, it's clear that he cares a lot about where the Hawkeye program goes from here. Sitting in his locker after the game, he made a pitch to any high school or collegiate basketball player interested in elevating their game to the next level.
"If you wanna be a great point guard, you should come to Iowa," Stirtz said. "If you wanna be a great player, a great big, a great shooter, come play for Iowa. This coaching staff is the best in the country, so, why wouldn’t you?"
While the words are very poignant and important, the actions speak louder. Stirtz is a living, breathing example of the development and coaching he praised.
Just two years ago, he was playing Division II basketball alongside McCollum. Now, he's a first-team All-Big Ten player who helped lead Iowa to its first Elite Eight in almost 40 years. And the cherry on top: he's most likely going to be a first-round pick in the upcoming NBA draft.
Any player who was questioning whether or not McCollum can coach at the highest levels of the sport should have their questions answered now. The future is bright in Iowa City, with a ton of pieces from this year's team set to return next season. Stirtz won't be one of them, but his story should make one message very clear to prospective Iowa basketball players. If McCollum calls, pick up the phone.
Contact/Follow us @HawkeyesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Iowa news, notes and opinions. Follow Zach on X: @zach_hiney
This article originally appeared on Hawkeyes Wire: Bennett Stirtz makes pitch to prospective Iowa basketball players
Continue reading...
