The Iowa Hawkeyes added a pair of players to its 2024-25 men’s basketball roster via the transfer portal.
Drew Thelwell joins Iowa after a career that saw him become the winningest player in Morehead State school history. During Thelwell’s time with the Eagles, the 6-foot-3, 195 pound guard helped lead Morehead State to a pair of Ohio Valley Conference regular season titles and two OVC Tournament titles.
Thelwell averaged 10.0 points, 6.2 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game last season while shooting 43.5% from the field, 33.8% from 3-point distance and 64.5% from the foul line. The Orlando, Fla., native started all 68 games during his junior and senior seasons with the Eagles.
Iowa also brought in Manhattan transfer Seydou Traore. The 6-foot-7, 215 pound forward joins the Hawkeyes after being named to the All-Metro Atlantic Athlete Conference Rookie Team.
Traore averaged 11.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks per game in his freshman season. The New York product shot 43.8% from the field, 25.6% from 3-point range and 80.0% from the free throw line.
For a Hawkeye team that is hoping to bounce back and make a return trip to the NCAA Tournament after missing out last season, Iowa is looking for big things out of both Thelwell and Traore.
247Sports’ Isaac Trotter put together his realistic expectations for every Big Ten transfer ahead of the 2024-24 men’s basketball season.
For Thelwell, Trotter says it’s a realistic expectation for Thelwell to step right in and seriously help the Hawkeyes out. Trotter pegged Thelwell’s expected role as the Hawkeyes’ starting point guard.
Don’t be surprised if Thelwell cracks this starting lineup for good. Iowa wants high-processing guys who can pass, dribble and shoot at all times. The Morehead State, veteran transfer embodies all of that. Thelwell has shot over 38% on his catch-and-shoot 3-pointers in each of the past two seasons and it’s on high volume. Isolation basketball is not Thelwell’s strength, but that’s fine because it’s not a huge piece of Iowa’s offensive arsenal.
The Hawkeyes had one of the lowest isolation rates in college basketball last season. Thelwell gives Iowa’s backcourt an unselfish veteran who will make shots, move the ball and play with pace. He’s only additive offensively, and he won’t hamper the development of sophomore point guard Brock Harding. But Thelwell will have to prove himself defensively at the high-major ranks. – Trotter, 247Sports.
According to Trotter, Traore could crack the starting rotation for Iowa as well. Trotter tabbed Traore’s expected role as potential starting forward, though.
Traore was an eye-popping athlete in the MAAC, and he’ll stand out in the Big Ten, too. His activity level defensively is so obvious. The 6-foot-7, 215-pound forward just flies around causing havoc. He has all the physical tools and the mindset to be one of the Big Ten’s best defenders one day. Offensively, Traore is more of a play-finisher who needs to continue working on his jumper in a major way. But he’ll run hard in transition and if you do that, you get fed in Iowa City. – Trotter, 247Sports.
The Hawkeyes are currently going through summer workouts. Sophomore forward Owen Freeman shared some of his thoughts on the season ahead with media members on Monday. Freeman’s growth and development will be one of the biggest keys for the Hawkeyes headed into next season.
Iowa finished the 2023-24 season with a 19-15 (10-10 Big Ten) mark.
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