Iowa basketball star Bennett Stirtz turned heads at the 2026 NBA Draft Combine with a scorching shooting display that had scouts buzzing. The former Hawkeye standout participated in strength, agility, and shooting drills on May 11 in Chicago, where his performance in the shooting categories stood out among the day's participants.

While official rankings are pending as more players take the floor on Tuesday, Stirtz's unofficial shooting numbers were impressive. He also showed off his athleticism in the 3/4 court sprint, tying for fourth out of 32 players with a rapid 3.17-second time—a testament to his explosive speed and conditioning.

Stirtz's combine performance comes on the heels of a historic season at Iowa. In his lone year with the Hawkeyes, he helped propel the program to its first Elite Eight appearance since 1987, a remarkable run that captured the attention of college basketball fans nationwide. His stat line was nothing short of elite: averaging 19.8 points, 4.4 assists, 2.6 rebounds, and 1.4 steals per game, while shooting 47.7% from the field and 35.8% from beyond the arc. He had three games of at least 32 points, including a career-high 36 against Northwestern.

The accolades piled up quickly. Stirtz earned first-team All-Big Ten honors from the media and second-team recognition from the league's coaches. He also etched his name in Iowa's record books, ranking fourth on the single-season scoring list with 734 points, eighth in field goals made (251), and tied for fifth in 3-point field goals made.

With draft stock on the rise, The Athletic's post-lottery mock draft projected Stirtz to go 26th overall to the Denver Nuggets—a team known for developing versatile guards. If his combine shooting is any indication, he's ready to make an immediate impact at the next level.