Iowa Hawkeyes Target Transfer Portal Point Guard to Replace Bennett Stirtz

The Iowa Hawkeyes are seeking a point guard to fill the vacancy left by the departure of Bennett Stirtz, with Cruz Davis emerging as a primary option after entering the transfer portal on April 13, 2026.

Davis, a 6-foot-3 point guard from Plano, Texas, is regarded as one of the top available guards in the portal. According to 247Sports, he is rated as a four-star prospect, ranking as the No. 9 point guard and the No. 29 overall player available via the transfer portal.

Performance and Accolades

During his most recent season at Hofstra, Davis averaged 20.1 points per game. His efficiency improved to career highs, shooting 40% from three-point range and 44% from the field.

His offensive production included 18 games where he scored 20 or more points and five games where he recorded 30 or more points. These performances earned him a spot on the First-Team All-CAA Team and the CAA Player of the Year Award.

Davis brings significant collegiate experience to the portal, having appeared in 95 games across three different programs. He began his college career with one year at Iona, followed by one year at St. John’s, and spent his final two years at Hofstra.

Strategic Fit for Iowa

The need for an experienced point guard is critical for head coach Ben McCollum’s offensive system. The Hawkeyes’ offense relies heavily on timing, spacing, and the ability to control the tempo, requiring a maestro of the offense at the point guard position.

Davis is viewed as a potential plug-and-play solution who can replicate the role previously held by Bennett Stirtz. Because he has experience as the focal point of an offense, he is considered comfortable carrying a heavy scoring load and managing the attention of opposing defenses.

Roster Requirements and Portal Targets

The search for a new guard is part of a broader roster reconstruction following the Hawkeyes’ exit from the Elite Eight of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Coach McCollum has identified several critical needs for the program as it moves forward from his first year in Iowa City.

Iowa is losing three seniors, all of whom are guards. In addition to Bennett Stirtz, the program is losing Tavion Banks and Brendan Hausen. While Hausen played a smaller role, the coaching staff views the addition of another sharpshooter as paramount to the team’s future success.

Beyond the backcourt, McCollum has noted that the team lacked sufficient size throughout the season, making the addition of a big man a primary objective alongside the search for a new point guard.

While the Hawkeyes have explored multiple options in the portal, not all targets have remained available. Finley Bizjack, a former Butler guard who was identified as a target for Iowa, has committed to a program in the Big 12 Conference.