Transfer portal season is upon us for men's basketball and Iowa is expected to be a very active participant in the portal, with a host of players departing and several newcomers expected to arrive as well. The winter transfer portal officially opens on March 24, 2025, and remains open through April 22, 2025.
We'll update this post regularly over the next few weeks with all the portal activity impacting Iowa -- new players joining the program and current players departing the team. Several players have already announced their intent to enter the transfer portal and are listed below.
UPDATED: April 9, 2025
ARRIVALS
Tavion Banks
Tavion Banks | Jr | 6'7" | 200 lbs
Banks, a junior forward from Drake was a key reserve for the Bulldogs in 2024-25, earning Missouri Valley Conference Sixth Man of the Year honors. He played in 33 of 35 games this year and averaged 10.1 points and five rebounds per game this season.
Banks should be, at the very least, a key reserve off the bench and tenacious defender and rebounder. Improvements as a shooter and ball-handler could see his role at Iowa expand as well. He will have at least one year of eligibility remaining, with the possibility for more depending on possible changes to NCAA rules around eligibility for JUCO players.
READ MORE:
Transfer Portal Target Breakdown: Tavion Banks
Drake Transfer Forward Tavion Banks Signs with Iowa
Tavion Banks Talks Commitment, Mentality: "I Love to Play Defense"
Isaia Howard
Isaia Howard | Fr | 6'5" | 228 lbs
Howard, a freshman guard from Drake was a key reserve for the Bulldogs in 2024-25, playing in 30 of 35 games, averaging 4.7 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game. He also showed great energy and instincts on defense.
Howard projects as, at minimum, an impactful rotation player and a solid defensive addition to the Iowa roster in the future, with the potential to earn a bigger role as he gains more experience and further develops his skills (including his shooting ability). He will have three years of eligibility remaining.
READ MORE:
Drake Transfer Guard Isaia Howard Commits to Iowa
Cam Manyawu
Cam Manyawu | So | 6'9" | 228 lbs
Manyawu, a sophomore forward from Drake (by way of Wyoming), was an impact player for the Bulldogs in 2024-25, starting all 35 games and averaging 7.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 18.8 minutes per game.
Manyawu projects to be an immediate contributor at Iowa and will have two years of college eligibility remaining.
READ MORE:
Drake Transfer Forward Cam Manyawu Commits to Iowa
Cam Manyawu Talks Commitment: "I Have Great Belief in Coach Mac"
Kael Combs
Kael Combs | So | 6'4" | 190 lbs
Combs, a sophomore from Drake (and previously Wyoming) averaged 3.8 points and two rebounds over 12.8 minutes per game while shooting 51% from the field this season for the Bulldogs. He'll immediately add athleticism and defensive intensity to the Iowa lineup.
Combs will have two years of college eligibility remaining.
READ MORE:
Drake Transfer Guard Kael Combs Commits to Iowa
Kael Combs Talks Commitment: "There's a Lot to be Excited About"
Bennett Stirtz
Bennett Stirtz | Jr | 6'4" | 180 lbs
Stirtz, a junior from Liberty, Missouri, who followed head coach Ben McCollum from Northwest Missouri State to Drake has excelled at all levels. He was a two-time second-team All-MIAA honoree at NMSU (as well as MIAA Freshman of the Year in 2022-23), then earned Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year and honorable mention All-America honors at Drake this season.
This season Stirtz led the Bulldogs in scoring (19.2 ppg), assists (5.6 apg), steals (2.1 spg), and minutes (39.4 mpg), while shooting 49.8% from the field and 39.7% from 3-point range. He didn't just excel against lesser opposition either; Stirtz scored 16+ against Miami (FL), Vanderbilt, and Kansas State during the regular season (and had 11 assists against Vanderbilt as well) before scoring 21 points in each of Drake's NCAA Tournament games (against Missouri and Texas Tech).
Stirtz will have one year of college eligibility remaining.
All-American Bennett Stirtz to Transfer to Iowa
Bennett Stirtz Discusses Iowa Commitment, Portal Recruitment
RETURNING
Cooper Koch
Cooper Koch | Fr | #8 | F | 6'8" | 215 lbs
Koch, a freshman from Peoria, Illinois, who played his prep ball at Metamora Township, had a frustrating, injury-hit year in his first season at Iowa. A 4-star recruit (ranked 118th nationally) coming out of high school, injuries and illness prevented Koch from making a significant impact in his freshman campaign.
In 2024-25, Koch played in just 10 of Iowa's 33 games, averaging 4.6 ppg, 2.1 rpg, and 0.8 apg in 13.6 mpg, while shooting 48.4% from the field, including 42.9% from 3-point range. His best game of the season (by far) came against New Hampshire in late December, when he had 14 points on 4-of-7 shooting along with three rebounds and three assists.
Koch, a Hawkeye legacy as the son of former Iowa standout J.R. Koch, is expected to receive a medical redshirt for the 2024-25 season and should have four years of college eligibility remaining.
He entered the portal on March 19.
READ MORE: Cooper Koch Enters Transfer Portal
Cooper Koch exited the transfer portal on March 30 and opted to return to Iowa.
READ MORE: Cooper Koch to Withdraw from Portal, Stay at Iowa
DEPARTURES
The following players have entered the transfer portal or announced their intention to enter the transfer portal.
UPDATE: April 9, 2025
Carter Kingsbury
Carter Kingsbury | Jr | 6'5" | 225 lbs
Kingsbury, a 6'5", 225-pound forward from Ponca, Nebraska served as a bench player for Iowa in 2024-25. Over the course of the season, he played in 23 of Iowa's 33 games and averaged 7.2 minutes per games. In his appearances, he averaged 1.2 ppg, 0.7 rpg, and 0.4 apg while shooting 47.6% from the field and 35.7% from three-point range.
Kingsbury's career high in points came earlier this season against New Orleans, when he posted six points on 3-of-4 shooting, along with two rebounds and an assist in Iowa's blowout win. His best performance may have come against Washington; he played a career-high 29 minutes off the bench in Iowa's 85-79 win and had three points, a rebound, and two assists, as well as solid defense against Great Osobor, Washington's leading scorer.
The son of former Iowa legend Chris Kingsbury, Carter will have one year of college eligibility remaining.
He entered the portal on April 9.
READ MORE: Carter Kingsbury Enters Transfer Portal
Isaiah Johnson-Arigu
Isaiah Johnson-Arigu | Fr | 6'7" | 220 lbs
Johnson-Arigu, a freshman forward originally from Minneapolis, Minnesota, is back in the transfer portal for the second time in less than six months. Johnson-Arigu was hotly pursued by Iowa out of high school, but opted to attend Miami (FL) instead. After Hurricanes head coach Jim Larrañaga abruptly retired at the end of December, Johnson-Arigu entered the transfer portal.
He chose Iowa at that time, citing the strong relationship he had developed with the then-Iowa coaching staff during the recruitment process. At Miami, Johnson-Arigu played in just eight games, totaling only 43 minutes for the Hurricanes. He averaged 1.0 ppg, 0.8 rpg, and 0.3 apg in 5.4 minutes per game in his brief appearances.
As a mid-season transfer, Johnson-Arigu was not able to play for Iowa during the 2024-25 season. Instead, he served as a key member of the scout team and contributed during practices.
Johnson-Arigu will have at least three years of college eligibility remaining; he is also trying to pursue a redshirt for the 2024-25 season. If successful, he would then have four years of college eligibility remaining.
He entered the portal on April 4.
READ MORE: Isaiah Johnson-Arigu Enters Transfer Portal
Seydou Traore
Seydou Traore | So | #7 | 6'7" | 220 lbs
Traore, a sophomore from New York, NY, transferred to Iowa from Manhattan a year ago. Traore played in 27 games for Iowa this season and started the final 12 games of the year.
Over the course of the season, he averaged 5.9 ppg, 3.0 rpg, and 1.4 apg while shooting 43.6% from the field and 26.5% from three-point range. As a freshman at Manhattan, Traore started 27 of 28 games for the Jaspers and averaged 11.8 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 2.3 apg, and 2.8 blocks/steals per game in 2023-24.
Traore's best game as a Hawkeye may have been early in the season, when he had 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting to go with six assists and three rebounds in Iowa's blowout win over New Hampshire. His athleticism and playmaking skills were on full display in that game. In Big Ten play Traore went for double figures in scoring four times, most recently for 15 points in Iowa's 91-84 loss to Michigan State a few weeks ago.
Tadjo will have two years of college eligibility remaining.
He entered the portal on April 3.
READ MORE: Seydou Traore Enters Transfer Portal
Chris Tadjo
Chris Tadjo | Fr | #34 | 6'8" | 240 lbs
Tadjo, a freshman from Montreal, Quebec who last played at the NBA Academy Latin America, played very limited minutes during his first and only season at Iowa.
In 2024-25, Tadjo played in just 11 games this year (starting none) and averaged 1.7 ppg and 1.2 rpg in five minutes per game while shooting 50% from the floor and from 3-point range. His best performance came against New Hampshire in late December, when he had five points and four rebounds in 10 minutes of action.
Tadjo will have three years of college eligibility remaining.
He entered the portal on March 27.
READ MORE: Chris Tadjo Enters Transfer Portal
Ladji Dembele
Ladji Dembele | So | #13 | 6'8" | 255 lbs
Dembele, a junior from Mali who played his prep ball at St. Benedict's Prep, had an up-and-down sophomore season, but provided some solid play for Iowa in the final few weeks of the season.
In 2024-25, Dembele played in all 33 games for Iowa, starting 21 contests. Dembele averaged 4.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg, and 0.6 apg this season, while shooting 46.7% from the field and 38.2% from 3-point range. He had a career-high 12 points against New Hampshire and 11 points and eight rebounds against Maryland. More recently, Dembele had a strong performance in Iowa's win over Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament, with eight points and nine rebounds.
Dembele will have three years of college eligibility remaining.
He entered the portal on March 20.
READ MORE: Ladji Dembele Enters Transfer Portal
Josh Dix
Josh Dix | Jr | #4 | G | 6'6" | 210 lbs
Dix, a junior from Council Bluffs, Iowa, who played his prep ball at Council Bluff Lincoln, grew into a star player for the Iowa over the last three seasons. He was Iowa's best player for much of the 2024-25 season and has one year of eligibility remaining.
In 2024-25, Dix played in 32 of Iowa's 33 games and posted career-best averages in scoring (14.4 ppg), rebounding (3.2 rpg), and assists (2.8 apg). He's been a tremendous shooter since arriving at Iowa, shooting 40% or better from 3-point range in all three seasons (including 42.2% from deep this year). Dix scored in double figures in all but five of Iowa's games this season, highlighted by a career-best 31-point explosion against Nebraska in an overtime win in January.
He entered the portal on March 19.
READ MORE: Josh Dix Enters Transfer Portal
Josh Dix committed to Creighton out of the portal.
Riley Mulvey
Riley Mulvey | Jr | #44 | F | 6'11" | 245 lbs
Mulvey is a junior from Rotterdam, New York, who attended St. Thomas More and played a limited role over three years at Iowa. He has one year of eligibility remaining.
In 2024-25, Mulvey played in 19 games (including two starts) and averaged career highs in minutes (7.2 mpg), points (2.2 ppg), and rebounds (1.9 rpg), while shooting 68% from the floor.
He entered the portal on March 18.
READ MORE: Riley Mulvey Enters Transfer Portal
Riley Mulvey has transferred to Siena.
Pryce Sandfort
Pryce Sandfort | So | #24 | F | 6'7" | 210 lbs
Sandfort, a sophomore from Waukee High School in Waukee, Iowa, who took a big step forward as a sophomore and became Iowa's top reserve off the bench. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
In 2024-25, Sandfort averaged 8.8 ppg, 2.9 rpg, and 1.3 apg this season, while shooting 48.8% from the floor and 40% from 30-point range. He played some of his best basketball of the season, scoring 10+ points in Iowa's final four games, including a 16-point, 11-rebound effort in Iowa's must-win regular season finale at Nebraska.
He entered the portal on March 17.
READ MORE: Pryce Sandfort Enters Transfer Portal
Pryce Sandfort committed to Nebraska out of the portal.
Brock Harding
Brock Harding | So | G | #2 | 6'0" | 165 lbs
Harding, a sophomore from Moline High School in Moline, Illinois, was a staple of Iowa's back court as a sophomore, alternating between a starting role and serving as a sparkplug off the bench. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
In 2024-25, Harding improved his numbers across the board, averaging 8.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 5.3 apg, 1.5 spg, while shooting 45.4% from the floor and 39.8% from deep. Harding had 12 points, four assists, and three rebounds in Iowa's must-win regular season finale against Nebraska and was even better (15 points, three assists, two rebounds) in Iowa's Big Ten Tournament win over Ohio State.
He entered the portal on March 17.
READ MORE: Brock Harding Enters Transfer Portal
Brock Harding has committed to TCU out of the transfer portal.
Owen Freeman
Owen Freeman | So | #32 | 6'10" | 245 lbs
Freeman, a sophomore from Moline High School in Moline, Illinois, was a fixture in Iowa's starting lineup over two seasons in Iowa City, serving as a key low-post presence on offense and defense. He has two years of eligibility remaining.
In 2024-25, Freeman led Iowa in scoring (16.7 ppg) and rebounding (6.7 rpg), though he only played in 19 of Iowa's 33 games this season. A finger injury led to season-ending surgery in January. Freeman shot 63.8% from the floor and 31.3% from 3-point range while scoring in double-digits in every game this season while posting three double-doubles.
He entered the portal on March 15.
READ MORE: Owen Freeman Enters Transfer Portal
Owen Freeman has committed to Creighton out of the transfer portal.
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