Taking stock of where Iowa men's basketball roster stands as offseason rolls on
Tyler TachmanIOWA CITY — The busy offseason is in full swing for college basketball. This current window, with the transfer portal remaining open, is a pivotal time as programs try to piece together a roster for the season ahead.
While the Iowa men's basketball team hasn’t been hit with a mass exodus, there is still work to be done in the coming weeks to put the Hawkeyes in position to get back to the NCAA Tournament after missing out in 2024.
With the many moving parts, this story serves as a breakdown of where Iowa stands at this point in the offseason. As a disclaimer, circumstances can still be fluid and change is always possible. But this is meant to provide a snapshot of what has unfolded so far.
Departures: Ben Krikke, Tony Perkins, Dasonte Bowen, Patrick McCaffery
Out of those four, Krikke is the only player to have exhausted his college eligibility. The other three entered the transfer portal.
Perkins, who played a major role for the Hawkeyes last season, is probably the biggest loss of the group. A second-team All-Big Ten selection (as voted by coaches), Perkins was the motor to Iowa’s offense last season because of his ability to attack the basket and create for others.
The others made contributions to varying degrees.
As a single-season transfer portal rental, Krikke was one of three Hawkeyes to start every game last season. He produced in that role, though his lack of defensive versatility and inconsistent rebounding hurt Iowa at times. Bowen began last season in Iowa’s starting five but later moved into a decreased role off the bench before missing the last handful of games due to a knee injury. McCaffery’s somewhat tumultuous season ended with him providing a spark off the bench, but not necessarily morphing into a consistent, high-volume scorer like some had hoped.
Iowa loses at least a little something from each of those departures. Arguments against that claim should consider the fact that those four combined for 91 starts last season.
It would’ve been a plus to get Perkins for a fifth season. Or to have more time to mold Bowen into a dynamic Big Ten scorer. But at this point, none of the departures should be considered devastating to the long-term trajectory of the program.
Iowa should be able to move forward knowing that what it lost is not irreplaceable. And what is still on the current roster holds substantial value.
Arrivals: Chris Tadjo, Cooper Koch
Those are the two signees in Iowa’s 2024 high school recruiting class. There is reason to be optimistic about what each of them can provide for the program in both the short and long term.
Koch is ranked 78th in the class nationally and Tadjo is 137th, according to the 247Sports Composite. While both are listed at 6-foot-8, each has a unique skillset — with Koch being a high-level scorer and Tadjo possessing elite athleticism.
Here is what Iowa coach Fran McCaffery said (via a news release) about both players after they signed with Iowa.
On Koch: “Cooper is incredibly versatile and is a phenomenal shooter, but he is also skilled in so many different areas. He runs the floor, moves constantly, puts it on the floor and can make plays for so many other people. He rebounds the ball, really competes and is a tremendous worker. Cooper has tremendous character and he is one of those guys that continues to get better every time you see him. He’s going to have a great impact for many years.”
On Tadjo: “Chris is a very gifted, talented, athletic player. He is extremely versatile with the ability to put it on the floor, slash and play in the post. Chris has a great deal of character, and we are so excited to have him join our program.”
Still TBD: Payton Sandfort
Payton Sandfort declared for the 2024 NBA Draft while maintaining his college eligibility. He will go through the process leading up to the draft, get feedback from NBA-level evaluators and then make an informed decision about his his future.
Sandfort has until May 29 to figure out his plans.
More:Iowa basketball's Payton Sandfort declares for 2024 NBA Draft while maintaining college eligibility
His decision serves as one of the offseason’s biggest wild cards for Iowa.
Sandfort is coming off the best season of his college career, averaging 16.4 points and 6.6 rebounds per game while shooting 37.9% from deep. His skill as a sharpshooter could tilt the entire dynamic of games in Iowa’s favor.
If Sandfort elects to return to Iowa to use his last season of college eligibility, it would give the Hawkeyes a nuclear scorer and outstanding leader, while also further cementing expectations of what can be accomplished as a team.
But if Sandfort pursues a professional career, it would be a major hit to the outlook of the 2024-25 season, and Iowa would be left to pick up the pieces on various levels.
Iowa’s scholarship players as it stands right now
- Brock Harding
- Owen Freeman
- Josh Dix
- Ladji Dembele
- Pryce Sandfort
- Even Brauns
- Riley Mulvey
- Chris Tadjo
- Cooper Koch
This means if Payton Sandfort returns, Iowa has three scholarships available. If he doesn’t, there would be four available.
Historically, Iowa has not relied heavily on the transfer portal, though it has enjoyed some success bringing in transfer frontcourt pieces in Filip Rebraca (North Dakota) and Ben Krikke (Valparaiso). But with likely at least three scholarships open, the Hawkeyes have the flexibility to dive deeper into the transfer portal if they so choose.
The frontcourt could very well be an area of need for Iowa leading into next season. The central figure in that rotation is expected to be last season’s Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Year, Owen Freeman. After showing flashes last season, Ladji Dembele also could be a factor.
But outside of those two, there is some uncertainty. Brauns played a limited role last season. Mulvey scored just 27 total points in 29 appearances over two seasons as a Hawkeye before redshirting the 2023-24 campaign. Tadjo could be a contributor, but it’s difficult to gauge what a freshman might contribute.
Iowa has been active in trying to bolster its frontcourt through the transfer portal. According to Dushawn London of 247Sports, the Hawkeyes recently reached out to Harvard transfer Justice Ajogbor, who averaged 8.4 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game last season. Given the Iowa program’s longstanding defensive struggles, a rim-protecting presence like Ajogbor would be helpful.
Iowa also could benefit from adding to its guard depth given that two of its departures, Perkins and Bowen, were both primary ball-handlers. Harding, an undersized but crafty point guard, should be in line for a much bigger role in that spot next season, but there is room to add another ball-handler into the mix (along with Dix).
A guard that could fit that mold is Hofstra transfer Jaquan Carlos, who Iowa reached out to, per London. Carlos averaged 10.4 points, 6.3 assists and 4.4 rebounds per game last season and was named to the CAA All-Defensive Team.
There is still a lot left to play out. Payton Sandfort’s decision will be crucial. So will Iowa’s ability to reel in the right puzzle pieces from the portal. Though the start of the 2024-25 season is months away, this time of the year is crucial in shaping the fate of Iowa’s future.
Follow Tyler Tachman on X@Tyler_T15, contact via email at ttachman@gannett.com