Tag: Iowa Basketball

Payton Sandfort announces return to Iowa basketball

Iowa star Payton Sandfort announced he is returning to the Hawkeyes for his senior season.

Payton Sandfort is back for one more ride.

The 6-foot-7, 215 pound forward decided his heart was still painted black and gold for next season.

Faced with a tough decision, Sandfort took to X to announce that he had withdrawn his name from the 2024 NBA draft and would be returning to the Iowa Hawkeyes for his senior season.

“This process has been an unbelievable experience and thanks to everyone for all the help along the way. But my heart is still in Iowa City, unfinished business,” Sandfort wrote on X.

It’s massive news for the Hawkeyes. Sandfort was Iowa’s leading scorer and rebounder a season ago, averaging 16.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. The Waukee, Iowa, native shot 44.6% from the field, 37.9% from 3-point range and 91.1% from the charity stripe.

Sandfort knocked down a league-leading 94 3-pointers during the 2023-24 men’s college basketball season.

A third-team All-Big Ten selection by both the league media and coaches, Sandfort reached double-figure scoring in 27 games with a team-high 11 20-point contests. In Iowa’s 91-82 NIT win over Kansas State, Sandfort dropped a career-high 30 points and collected 12 rebounds.

In an offseason that has involved some musical chairs for the Hawkeyes, this news from Sandfort is the biggest. Iowa needed its top player back for the 2024-25 men’s college basketball season and now the Hawkeyes know that Sandfort is indeed back in tow.

Iowa saw guards Tony Perkins and Dasonte Bowen and forward Patrick McCaffery exit the program through the transfer portal to Missouri, St. Bonaventure and Butler, respectively.

Meanwhile, Iowa added Morehead State guard Drew Thelwell and Manhattan forward Seydou Traore via the transfer portal.

Thelwell, a 6-foot-3, 195 pound guard, averaged 10.0 points, 6.2 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. The Orlando product shot 43.5% from the floor and 33.8% from 3-point range. Thelwell netted 64.5% of his free throw tries.

A native of New York, N.Y., Traore averaged 11.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game while shooting 43.3% from the field, 25.6% from 3-point range and 80.0% from the charity stripe.

The 6-foot-7, 215 pound swingman just completed his freshman season where he scored in double figures in 18 contests. That included 16 points and eight rebounds in a game at Kansas on Nov. 10, 2023.

Traore also registered 10 games with double-figure rebounds, including four contests where he pulled down a dozen or more boards.

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247Sports shares Iowa basketball’s way-too-early Big Ten power ranking

Where are the Hawkeyes in 247Sports’ Big Ten basketball power rankings?

After missing out on the NCAA Tournament in 2024, the Iowa Hawkeyes hope to make a return trip this coming season.

As Iowa awaits a stay-or-go decision from its leading scorer in forward Payton Sandfort, the Hawkeyes have brought in a pair of transfers to add to its nucleus for next season.

Iowa added Morehead State transfer guard Drew Thelwell alongside Manhattan transfer forward Seydou Traore.

Thelwell averaged 10.0 points, 6.2 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game last season, while shooting 43.5% from the floor and 33.8% from 3-point range. Traore averaged 11.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game while shooting 43.3% from the field.

That duo joins an Iowa squad that returns core players such as sophomore forwards Owen Freeman, Ladji Dembele and Pryce Sandfort, sophomore guard Brock Harding and junior guard Josh Dix.

With the spring transfer portal shuffling winding down, 247Sports’ Isaac Trotter put together his way-too-early Big Ten power rankings.

In the now 18-team Big Ten, Iowa is slotted at No. 12 in Trotter’s Big Ten power rankings.

If Iowa can get Payton Sandfort back for another season (as projected), the Hawkeyes have a Big Three that can play with anybody. Dix, Sandfort and Freeman will be highly productive. But Iowa’s player development will be the ultimate pivot point in the crowded middle of the Big Ten standings. If Harding, Pryce Sandfort, Dembele or Traore explode into no-doubt dudes, Iowa could vault past more than a few clubs.

Keep an eye on the Thelwell addition. The Morehead State transfer point guard needs to prove himself on the defensive end at the Big Ten level, or Harding could take his spot and run away with it.

If Sandfort stays in the NBA Draft, the conversation around Iowa will change significantly. – Trotter, 247Sports.

There’s certainly a number of reasonable question marks with Iowa. The Hawkeyes finished last season 19-15 (10-10 Big Ten) and saw guards Tony Perkins and Dastone Bowen alongside forward Patrick McCaffery depart in the transfer portal.

Iowa’s two transfer portal additions need to be difference makers for the Hawkeyes. Coach Fran McCaffery will similarly be depending on Freeman taking a big step forward and development with a number of the Hawkeyes’ other young pieces.

If several of those players can develop into legitimate Big Ten players, then the Hawkeyes should fare well in what figures to be a rugged middle of the conference.

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CBS Sports includes Payton Sandfort among players that should return to college

CBS Sports says it’s best for Payton Sandfort to return to Iowa.

One looming question mark for the Iowa Hawkeyes men’s basketball team ahead of the 2024-25 college basketball season is if they will have Payton Sandfort or not.

The guard has played three years at Iowa and is coming off of a career year where he averaged 16.4 points. He also had career-highs in field goal percentage (44.6%), 3-point shooting percentage (37.9%), rebounds (5.4) and free-throw shooting (91.1%).

This year earned him buzz around the NBA draft and has media wondering if Sandfort should stick around at Iowa for one more year or head to the pros. CBS Sports feels one more year at Iowa could benefit the guard.

Payton Sandfort | SG | Iowa – The combine was rough for Sandfort after generating potential first-round buzz leading into the week. He struggled shooting the ball, a worrying trend for a prospect labeled primarily as a shooter, and never got comfortable playing against his peers in the scrimmages. That’s just one piece of the puzzle to consider during the process, of course, and playing great or miserably won’t make or break any one player’s specific stock, but a return to school seems like his best option. – Kyle Boone, CBS Sports

If Sandfort goes to the NBA, Iowa loses its best scorer and most-experienced guard. They will turn to a group, while talented, that is young and would be thrust into Big Ten action.

Second-leading scorer Tony Perkins has since transferred out along with Dasonte Bowen. Behind Sandfort that leaves Josh Dix, who came into his own during the second half of last season, and Brock Harding, who will enter his second year at Iowa.

After those two, Iowa will need to find depth at the guard position if Sandfort leaves. With Iowa’s current roster construction, his decision looms large.

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Iowa basketball among ESPN’s ‘Next Four Out’ in May bracketology update

In its May bracketology update, Iowa basketball finds itself projected squarely on the bubble.

The Iowa Hawkeyes will enter the 2024-25 men’s college basketball season looking for a return to the NCAA Tournament.

It remains to be seen whether the combination of in-house development, several transfer portal additions and a hopeful return from its biggest star can propel Iowa back into the NCAA Tournament.

In his May rendition of bracketology, ESPN’s Joe Lunardi has the Iowa Hawkeyes in the mix for an NCAA Tournament berth, but, ultimately, on the outside looking in.

Iowa is among Lunardi’s “Next Four Out” teams, joining the Big 12’s Colorado and TCU and the West Coast Conference’s San Francisco in that distinction.

Iowa finished with a 19-15 (10-10 Big Ten) record and missed out on the Big Dance in 2024 for the first time since 2018, ending a stretch of four straight NCAA Tournament trips beforehand.

The Hawkeyes did earn an invite into the National Invitation Tournament to cap last season. Iowa topped Kansas State, 91-82, before falling at Utah, 91-82, in the second round of the NIT.

Now, as Iowa turns the page to next season, the Hawkeyes have turned to the transfer portal to help retool their roster. Iowa has brought in Morehead State guard Drew Thelwell alongside Manhattan transfer forward Seydou Traore to bolster its ranks.

Thelwell averaged 10.0 points, 6.2 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game, while shooting 43.5% from the floor, 33.8% from 3-point range and 64.5% from the charity stripe.

Traore averaged 11.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game while shooting 43.3% from the field, 25.6% from 3-point range and 80.0% from the charity stripe.

The 6-foot-7, 215 pound swingman just completed his freshman season where he scored in double figures in 18 contests. That included 16 points and eight rebounds in a game at Kansas on Nov. 10, 2023.

Traore also registered 10 games with double-figure rebounds, including four contests where he pulled down a dozen or more boards.

Iowa is awaiting a stay-or-go decision from its leading scorer a season ago, forward Payton Sandfort. The 6-foot-7 forward from Waukee, Iowa, averaged 16.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game and shot 44.6% from the field, 37.9% from 3-point range and 91.1% from the foul line.

Sandfort has until June 16 at 4 p.m. CT to withdraw his name from the 2024 NBA draft.

If Sandfort returns, Iowa would put together a nice nucleus of players that would feature Sandfort, freshmen forwards Cooper Koch and Chris Tadjo, sophomore forwards Owen Freeman, Ladji Dembele, Pryce Sandfort and Seydou Traore, sophomore guard Brock Harding, junior guard Josh Dix and senior guard Drew Thelwell.

A trio of Hawkeyes made decisions to play their next collegiate seasons elsewhere. Guards Dasonte Bowen and Tony Perkins transferred to St. Bonaventure and Missouri, respectively, while forward Patrick McCaffery transferred to Butler.

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Iowa basketball adds Manhattan transfer Seydou Traore

Seydou Traore is a Hawkeye.

The Iowa Hawkeyes added another piece to their 2024-25 men’s college basketball roster on Wednesday.

Manhattan Jaspers transfer guard and forward Seydou Traore announced his commitment to Iowa.

A native of New York, N.Y., Traore averaged 11.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game while shooting 43.3% from the field, 25.6% from 3-point range and 80.0% from the charity stripe.

The 6-foot-7, 215 pound swingman just completed his freshman season where he scored in double figures in 18 contests. That included 16 points and eight rebounds in a game at Kansas on Nov. 10, 2023.

Traore also registered 10 games with double-figure rebounds, including four contests where he pulled down a dozen or more boards.

Traore tallied six double-doubles during the 2023-24 men’s college basketball season and was named to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Men’s All-Rookie Team.

“It was truly a blessing being named to the MAAC All-Rookie Team. Before the season, I set a goal for myself, and I just worked in the offseason. Even though I fell short on one of my goals to win Rookie of the Year, it was one of the best seasons I’ve ever been a part of. I give all my success to God and the coaching staff believed in me to play with a tremendous amount of confidence,” Traore said after the season with Manhattan.

Traore joins a core at Iowa that features sophomore forwards Owen Freeman, Ladji Dembele and Pryce Sandfort, sophomore guard Brock Harding and junior guard Josh Dix.

Iowa is awaiting a stay-or-go decision from forward Payton Sandfort who is going through the NBA draft process but has maintained his collegiate eligibility so far. Sandfort averaged 16.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game last season while shooting 44.6% from the field and 37.9% from 3-point distance.

Iowa also added former Morehead State guard Drew Thelwell out of the transfer portal this offseason.

The 6-foot-3, 195 pound guard played and started in all 68 games for the Eagles over the past two seasons. In his career, Thelwell has appeared in 114 games and started 69.

This past season, Thelwell averaged 10.0 points, 6.2 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. The Orlando product shot 43.5% from the floor and 33.8% from 3-point range. Thelwell netted 64.5% of his free throw tries.

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Former Iowa star Kate Martin rocked Gamecocks gear for Aces teammate A’Ja Wilson ahead of preseason game in South Carolina

Former Iowa star Kate Martin became a South Carolina fan for a day to support her Aces teammate A’Ja Wilson.

With news that Las Vegas Aces superstar A’Ja Wilson is finally getting her own Nike shoe, some of her Aces teammates rocked South Carolina gear to support her during the team’s preseason.

Recent 2024 WNBA Draft pick Kate Martin of Iowa women’s basketball fame was among those supporting Wilson’s college team, which is really fascinating because of the on-court rivalry those two teams have had in the women’s NCAA tournament the past few years.

While South Carolina and Iowa aren’t necessarily big fans of each other on game days, Martin is now a teammate to one of the biggest names in women’s basketball in Wilson.

Plus, the Aces are playing in South Carolina against Puerto Rico for a preseason game, so the support is all the more endearing.

She’s used to playing with a great talent like Caitlin Clark, so being able to play with and support Wilson now is as good a reason as any to represent South Carolina for a day.

Hey, if we played with someone as great as Wilson on the court, we’d be ready to wear an opposing college team’s gear, too!

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Iowa basketball star receives 2024 NBA draft combine invite

Payton Sandfort is officially headed to the 2024 NBA draft combine.

Iowa men’s basketball has the opportunity this summer to extend their streak of players drafted into the NBA. Since 2021, four Hawkeyes have heard their names called at the NBA draft.

Luka Garza and Joe Wieskamp were second-round picks in 2021. Twin brothers Keegan and Kris Murray would become first-round picks in back-to-back drafts in 2022 and 2023. Now, Payton Sandfort is the newest Iowa player with his sights set on the NBA.

It was announced on Friday that Iowa guard Payton Sandfort received an invitation to the 2024 NBA draft combine. Taking place May 12-19 in Chicago, Sandfort is one of 78 players who received an NBA draft combine invitation.

How he performs at the combine will be a major sign of the direction Payton Sandfort plans to take. If he impresses and raises his draft stock, there’s a good shot Sandfort could remain in what is seen by the consensus as a very weak draft.

However, Sandfort enters the combine maintaining his collegiate eligibility. The 6-foot-7, 215 pound forward could very well just be testing the waters, seeing what he has to improve on in his senior season in order to lock himself into an NBA draft pick of the future.

With a year of eligibility remaining, Sandfort’s decision will be extremely important for Iowa. The Waukee, Iowa, native was the Hawkeyes’ leading scorer last season, averaging 16.4 points per game. It really felt as though his game finally started to come together after showing great flashes his first two seasons with the Hawkeyes.

Now a full-time starter, Sandfort showed that he is capable of being a go-to scorer for the Hawks. Through his first two years, Sandfort was a player who impressed in spurts.

Last season, it all really started to click, though. Sandfort sank nearly three 3-pointers per game on average and shot 37.9% from 3-point range.

The Hawkeyes have some impressive young pieces on the roster with point guard Brock Harding and reigning Co-Big Ten Freshman of the Year Owen Freeman at forward. However, even with the young emerging talent, the squad still needs that leader who can be counted on every night to put the ball into the basket.

Iowa also added Morehead State transfer guard Drew Thelwell to its roster last month. This past season, Thelwell averaged 10.0 points, 6.2 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. The Orlando product shot 43.5% from the floor and 33.8% from 3-point range. Thelwell netted 64.5% of his free throw tries.

Sandfort has until May 29 to make his final NBA draft decision.

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Iowa basketball transfer target F Matt Cross commits to SMU

Iowa transfer portal target, forward Matt Cross, committed to SMU.

One of Iowa basketball’s transfer portal targets is off the board.

UMass transfer forward Matt Cross visited Iowa City in late April, but he announced his commitment to SMU on Friday night via Instagram.

Cross averaged 15.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game last season with the Minutemen. The 6-foot-7, 230 pound forward shot 54.0% from the field, 32.9% from 3-point distance and 79.8% from the charity stripe.

The Beverly, Mass., product was a first-team Atlantic 10 All-Conference selection this past season at UMass.

Cross was regarded as a four-star transfer portal prospect per 247Sports. 247Sports rated Cross as the No. 221 overall transfer and as the No. 44 small forward.

Coming out Brewster Academy, Cross was a four-star signee, the No. 93 player overall in the 2020 class and the No. 23 small forward. Cross signed with Miami (Fla.) originally before transferring to Louisville and then UMass.

With Cross off the board, Iowa will have to turn its attention elsewhere. The Hawkeyes still need more help and there are reports that Iowa is one of the schools that has contacted UCLA transfer forward Berke Buyuktuncel.

The Hawkeyes are battling the likes of Nebraska, Virginia, Cincinnati, Washington, Butler, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Kentucky, BYU and Louisville in the recruitment of Buyuktuncel.

The Hawkeyes have seen a pair of guards, Dasonte Bowen and Tony Perkins, and forward Patrick McCaffery leave in the transfer portal. Bowen and Perkins transferred to St. Bonaventure and Missouri, while McCaffery transferred to Butler.

Iowa has added Morehead State transfer guard Drew Thelwell.

The 6-foot-3, 195 pound guard played and started in all 68 games for the Eagles over the past two seasons. In his career, Thelwell has appeared in 114 games and started 69.

This past season, Thelwell averaged 10.0 points, 6.2 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. The Orlando product shot 43.5% from the floor and 33.8% from 3-point range. Thelwell netted 64.5% of his free throw tries.

Thelwell helped Morehead State finish 26-9 (14-4 OVC) and win the Ohio Valley tournament championship. The Eagles earned a No. 14 seed and played Illinois in the NCAA Tournament.

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Iowa basketball reportedly targeting UCLA transfer F Berke Buyuktuncel

Iowa basketball has its sights set on a UCLA transfer forward.

The Iowa Hawkeyes are still trying to upgrade their roster for the 2024-25 men’s college basketball season.

After adding Morehead State transfer guard Drew Thelwell, Iowa would like to add a forward as well. The Hawkeyes are reportedly one of a handful of teams interested in UCLA transfer forward Berke Buyuktuncel.

CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein shared that Iowa is among a group of schools that includes Nebraska, Virginia, Cincinnati, Washington, Butler, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Kentucky, BYU and Louisville that have contacted Buyuktuncel.

Buyuktuncel just completed his freshman season with the Bruins. The 6-foot-9, 245 pound freshman averaged 4.5 points and 2.5 rebounds per game. Buyuktuncel shot 38.5% from the field, 29.7% from 3-point distance and 62.8% from the free-throw line.

A native of Bursa, Turkey, Buyuktuncel was a regular participant for the Turkish international teams. Buyuktuncel helped Turkey finish in third place at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup in the summer of 2023.

In Turkey’s third-place win over the United States, Buyuktuncel totaled 19 points, four rebounds, five assists and two steals. He was named to the “All-Star Five” at the FIBA U19 World Cup in 2023.

In seven games in that tournament, Buyuktuncel shot 38.3% from the field, 34.8% from beyond the 3-point arc, and 86.7% at the free-throw line.

In the summer of 2022, Buyuktuncel led Turkey to a second-place finish at the FIBA U18 European Championship. Buyuktuncel was also named to the “All-Star Five” at the FIBA U18 European Championship, averaging 12.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.1 steals in seven games.

If Iowa could pair Buyuktuncel with rising sophomore Owen Freeman, the Hawkeyes would have the beginning of something special inside.

Iowa returns junior guard Josh Dix and sophomore guard Brock Harding and sophomore forward Pryce Sandfort. Standout forward Payton Sandfort could return as well, though he entered his name into the 2024 NBA draft and just received an NBA draft combine invite.

Thelwell, Iowa’s lone transfer portal addition thus far, averaged 10 points, 6.2 assists, 3 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. The Orlando native shot 43.5% from the floor and 33.8% from 3-point range.

Iowa also inked power forward Chris Tadjo and small forward Cooper Koch in the 2024 signing class. Koch is a four-star signee, while Tadjo is regarded as a three-star talent per 247Sports.

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247Sports lists Iowa basketball as transfer portal winner

247Sports says Iowa basketball is a transfer portal winner.

The Iowa Hawkeyes have had three players leave the program for the transfer portal.

Guards Tony Perkins and Dasonte Bowen left and resurfaced at Missouri and St. Bonaventure, respectively. Forward Patrick McCaffery entered the transfer portal and joined Butler.

Perkins started all 34 games for Iowa last season, averaging 14 points, 4.6 assists and 4.4 rebounds per game. McCaffery appeared in 31 games, started 15 and averaged 8.9 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game. Bowen played in 25 games, started eight and averaged 4.4 points, 2 assists and 1.3 rebounds per game.

Even with those departures, 247Sports lists Iowa basketball among its transfer portal winners.

Iowa was not immune to the transfer portal. Patrick McCaffery left for Butler. Second-leading scorer Tony Perkins bounced for Mizzou. Rotation guard Dasonte Bowen jetted off to St. Bonaventure.

But it could have been so much worse.

Iowa survived the transfer portal deadline without Josh Dix, Owen Freeman or Payton Sandfort tossing their names into the fray. Sandfort is currently going through the NBA Draft process. The 6-foot-7, 215-pound wing is one of the top pure snipers in the country, period, and heavy-hitters were strongly interested. Fellow NBA Draft prospects like Coleman Hawkins, Trevon Brazile and Cam Christie entered the transfer portal in the final hour to keep their options open. Sandfort did not. If he plays college basketball next season, it’ll be at Iowa. That’s enormous for Fran McCaffery.

Keeping Josh Dix and Owen Freeman out of the portal is just as significant. Dix is a midrange assassin who can get to his spots against anybody. The polished three-level scorer would’ve had a huge market, but he’s primed for a usage rate bump without Perkins in the mix. The Big Ten didn’t have many impactful freshmen, but Freeman was a major outlier. The 6-foot-10 center averaged 10.6 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.8 blocks and 1.2 assists per game on his way to earning co-Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors. Iowa didn’t have any semblance of rim protection until Freeman steamrolled his way into the starting lineup.

Iowa has plenty of hoops to jump through. It’s still in the thick of it for UMass transfer Matt Cross to fill the frontcourt forward. It’s still waiting to see Sandfort’s feedback from the NBA personnel, but at least it knows Dix and Freeman are officially locked in for an important 2024-25 campaign. – Isaac Trotter, 247Sports.

As noted, Sandfort has a decision to make before the May 29 deadline: to remain in the 2024 NBA draft pool or return to Iowa. A return from Sandfort would bring Iowa’s top scorer and rebounder back.

Sandfort averaged 16.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. The 6-foot-7 forward shot 44.6% from the field, 37.9% from 3-point range and 91.1% from the free throw line.

Retaining guard Josh Dix and forward Owen Freeman was key for Iowa head men’s basketball coach Fran McCaffery. Freeman averaged 10.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game last season while shooting 61.4% from the floor.

Dix averaged 8.9 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game. The 6-foot-5 guard shot 55.2% from the field and 42.1% from 3-point range.

As Iowa continues its pursuit of UMass transfer forward Matt Cross, the Hawkeyes have already added one player out of the transfer portal. Morehead State transfer Drew Thelwell signed with the Hawkeyes.

The 6-foot-3, 195 pound guard played and started in all 68 games for the Eagles over the past two seasons. In his career, Thelwell has appeared in 114 games and started 69.

This past season, Thelwell averaged 10.0 points, 6.2 assists, 3 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. The Orlando native shot 43.5% from the floor and 33.8% from 3-point range. Thelwell netted 64.5% of his free-throw tries.

On Wednesday, the Big Ten announced Iowa basketball’s breakdown for its conference opponents.

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