The Draft Landscape
Bennett Stirtz capped a breakout season for the Iowa Hawkeyes, averaging 19.8 points and 4.4 assists while guiding the team to an Elite Eight appearance – the first since 1987. The performance cemented his status as a top prospect heading into the 2026 NBA Draft.
CBS Sports’ latest mock draft places Stirtz at the No. 29 slot, projecting he will hear his name called by the Cleveland Cavaliers. The franchise, fresh off consecutive Eastern Conference Finals runs, appears eager to inject youth into a backcourt that currently relies on veterans such as James Harden and Dennis Schroder.
At 6‑foot‑4 and 190 pounds, Stirtz brings a blend of size and playmaking that attracted attention from scouts across the league. A native of Liberty, Missouri, he has already been compared to recent Iowa alumni who have made the jump to the NBA.
His draft trajectory also marks a milestone for the Hawkeyes program, as Stirtz is slated to become the first player from Iowa selected in the first round since Kris Murray in 2023. The achievement underscores the program’s resurgence under head coach Chris Beard.
The Cavaliers’ interest aligns with a broader strategy to rebuild around younger talent. With Harden at 36 and Schroder at 32, the team sees an opportunity to develop a new floor general who can both score and facilitate.
The first round of the 2026 NBA Draft will be televised on ABC from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, kicking off at 7 p.m. CT, giving fans a prime view of Stirtz’s potential debut.