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We’ve fully entered what used to be viewed as the offseason, a time when things got really slow, news was almost non-existent and if there was anything to focus on, it was Hawkeye football. The good ol’ days, as they were, are gone.
Now, we’re in a world where there is no offseason.
Basketball never sleeps. And in the words of Michael Douglas, money never sleeps. From the moment the NCAA Tournament ended, full attention for every coach in America turned to the transfer portal. The same is true for a good portion of college basketball fans around the country.
For the Hawkeyes, there are two clear positions of need, as pointed out by BoilerHawk last week: center and point guard. Iowa is obviously losing its anchor in PG Bennett Stirtz who played virtually every available minute this season, leaving a massive void at the point. And Ben McCollum wasted no time calling out Iowa’s lack of size in the middle during his postgame comments after the loss to Illinois.
But which one is a bigger need? That was our Reacts question last week. Here are the results.
A whopping 81% of Iowa fans said center is the Hawkeyes’ biggest need in the transfer portal. Point guard came in a distant second at 18%, and everything else combined for just 1%. The fanbase has spoken, and the message to Ben McCollum is clear: get us a big man.
Can you blame them? Iowa’s Elite Eight run ended with a 40-12 paint scoring deficit against Illinois. That number isn’t a typo. Forty to twelve. In the paint. In an Elite Eight game. McCollum himself said it after the loss: “We need some size. We just don’t have a true five.” The fans heard him, and 81% of them are nodding emphatically.
That need became even more urgent late last week when Alvaro Folgueiras announced he is entering the transfer portal. The March Madness hero who hit the game-winning three against Florida is moving on, and while we will always have that corner three in Tampa, his departure means Iowa is losing its most versatile frontcourt option. The 6-9 forward averaged 8.4 points and 3.6 rebounds this season and was Iowa’s third-leading assist man. Finding a true center was already the top priority — now it’s a five-alarm fire.
The 18% who said point guard aren’t wrong, either. Bennett Stirtz played 40 minutes a game and his departure leaves an enormous void. But the poll suggests fans trust Kael Combs to step into that role more than they trust Iowa’s current interior depth to hold up against Big Ten bigs. And honestly? That’s a fair assessment.
So Who Are the Targets?
As BoilerHawk outlined in his rotation breakdown, the portal window (for entries) is open through April 21 and Iowa is on the hunt. Let’s break down the names that have been floating around Iowa City, starting with the two big men the fanbase is clamoring for.
The Centers: Addressing the 81%
Andrew McKeever — Saint Mary’s — 7-2, 285 lbs — Sophomore
McKeever is the dream target — and the interest is mutual. Iowa hosted McKeever on an official visit this past Sunday, giving the 7-foot-3 center a firsthand look at what McCollum is building in Iowa City. He — and the interest is mutual. Iowa hosted McKeever on an official visit this past Sunday, giving the 7-foot-3 center a firsthand look at what McCollum is building in Iowa City. He, and it’s not hard to see why. The 7-foot-2, 285-pound center led the WCC in rebounding this season, averaging 9.2 rebounds per game to go with 8.2 points in just 23.2 minutes per night for a Saint Mary’s squad that earned an NCAA Tournament at-large bid. He started only 10 games and came off the bench in 23 — meaning his production came in limited minutes, which suggests a much higher ceiling with a full-time starting role.
McKeever is exactly the kind of player Iowa lacked against Illinois. He’s a legitimate rim protector, a dominant rebounder, and a physical presence that changes how opponents attack the paint. At 7-2, he would be the biggest player on Iowa’s roster by a significant margin and the kind of “true five” McCollum specifically asked for. The Livermore, California native committed to Saint Mary’s as an unranked prospect out of high school, so there’s a development story here too — a late bloomer who is just scratching the surface of his potential.
The competition for McKeever will be fierce. Multiple Power Four programs are circling, including Arizona State, UCLA, and others. Iowa’s Elite Eight run and McCollum’s track record of player development are strong selling points, but this is a national-level recruitment.
Sananda Fru — Louisville — 6-11, 250 lbs — Junior
Fru is the other name generating significant buzz in Iowa circles. The Berlin, Germany native started 29 of 35 games for Louisville this season, averaging 9.0 points and 6.1 rebounds in 22 minutes per game. What jumps off the stat sheet is his efficiency: Fru shot an absurd 75.3% from the field on 127-of-167 attempts, making him one of the most efficient finishers in the ACC.
At 6-11, Fru is slightly undersized compared to McKeever, but he brings a different skill set — he’s more of a face-up four who can operate in the pick-and-roll and finish around the rim with touch. His free throw shooting (61.1%) is a concern, but in McCollum’s system, Fru’s ability to catch lobs, finish in traffic, and rebound at a high level would make him an immediate contributor.
Iowa and Indiana are among the programs pursuing Fru, and the pitch is straightforward: come be the starting five for an Elite Eight team with a coach who just proved he can develop players into March Madness heroes.
Blake Barkley — East Tennessee State — 6-8, 230 lbs — Junior
Barkley is a different profile than McKeever and Fru — more of a versatile power forward than a traditional center — but his production demands attention. He averaged 14.6 points and 5.8 rebounds while shooting a sizzling 58.9% from the field for a SoCon regular season champion. Originally from Northwestern, Barkley transferred to ETSU last year and immediately became their best player. Iowa, Auburn, USC, and Kansas State have all been in contact.
The Guards & Forwards: Addressing the Other 19%
While center dominates the conversation, Iowa is also working the guard market. Three names to know:
Ace Glass — Washington State — 6-3, 185 lbs — Freshman. Glass was Washington State’s leading scorer at 16.4 points per game as a true freshman, earning Second Team All-WCC and All-Freshman honors. He’s a former four-star recruit (originally committed to Texas A&M before Buzz Williams left) who shot 45.5% from the field and 36.4% from three. He has three years of eligibility remaining. Aaron Torres called him a future “high major STAR.” The kind of dynamic scorer who could slot in next to Combs and immediately replace a chunk of Stirtz’s offensive production.
Tylen Riley — Tulsa — 6-3, 185 lbs — Junior
Riley was a Second Team All-AAC selection after averaging 15.0 points, 4.4 assists, and 3.9 rebounds while shooting 39% from deep and 87% from the free throw line. He was the engine behind Tulsa’s run to the NIT Championship game, scoring 20 points in the title game against Auburn and going on a personal 8-0 run in the semifinal to put away New Mexico. Originally from Cal Baptist, Riley brings two years of eligibility and the kind of lead guard experience Iowa needs alongside Combs. Auburn is also pursuing him heavily after he torched them in the NIT title game.
Drew Scharnowski — Belmont — 6-9, 230 lbs — Redshirt Junior
Scharnowski is an interesting hybrid — a 6-9 forward who could help address the frontcourt need while also providing offensive versatility. He was a First Team All-MVC and All-MVC Defensive Team selection after averaging 10.7 points and 6.0 rebounds while shooting 69% on two-pointers (32nd nationally). He also led Belmont with 39 blocked shots. The Camp Point, Illinois native was at Northwestern before transferring to Belmont, so he has Big Ten experience and knows what it takes to compete at this level. Kansas State’s new coach Casey Alexander (formerly at Belmont) is also pursuing him, but Iowa’s pitch — an Elite Eight program with an immediate need for his exact skill set — is compelling.
The Bottom Line
The fans are right. Center is the priority, and it’s not close. McKeever and Fru represent two different paths to solving Iowa’s interior problem — McKeever is the traditional rim-protecting seven-footer, Fru is the efficient finisher who can operate in the pick-and-roll. Either one would be a massive addition. Both could be a season-changer for the Hawkeyes in 2026-2027.
The portal window closes April 21. McCollum proved in year one he knows how to construct his roster. He built an Elite Eight team in Year 1 with pieces that other programs overlooked, largely from low-majors and D2. Now he’s working the portal with a resume that speaks for itself.
Buckle up, this should be a fun ride.
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