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Drake Star Guard Bennett Stirtz Is Reportedly Transferring

Originally posted on The Spun | By Matt Hladik | Last updated Mar 25, 2025 12:20 PM ET

Drake star Bennett Stirtz is reportedly on the move, but won't have to go too far for his next stop.

The 6-foot-4 Stirtz was the Missouri Valley Conference Larry Bird Player of the Year and MVC Newcomer of the Year in 2024-25 after transferring in from Division II Northwest Missouri State. The Liberty, Missouri native played at NMSU under Ben McCollum, and when McCollum made the leap to Drake, Stirtz followed.

Now, with McCollum being named the new head coach at the University of Iowa, his best player will once again be joining him.

Field of 68's Jeff Goodman reported Tuesday that Stirtz was entering the NCAA transfer portal and planned to follow McCollum from Des Moines to Iowa City.

"Stirtz told me that Ben McCollum’s system is perfect for him and that he also believes in loyalty and the opportunity that McCollum gave him when no one else wanted him coming out of high school," Goodman wrote.

This season, Stirtz led the MVC in scoring, averaging 19.2 points per game. In Drake's two NCAA Tournament games, he scored 21 points both times, connecting on 16-of-30 field goals and 5-of-9 from three-point range.

For the year, Stirtz also averaged 5.7 assists and 4.3 rebounds per game while shooting 49.8% from the field, 39.5% on three-pointers and 79.4% from the foul line.

Drake finished 31-4 and won an NCAA Tournament game for the first time since 1971, beating sixth-seeded Missouri in the first round. The 11th-seeded Bulldogs fell to No. 3 seed Texas Tech 77-64 on Saturday in Wichita.

"I'm proud of our kids," McCollum said postgame. "I'm proud of their effort. I didn't think it was our best game."

At Iowa, McCollum will be replacing Fran McCaffery, who led the Hawkeyes to seven NCAA Tournament appearances and four NIT trips in 15 seasons.

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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