Iowa is reloading coming off of its Elite 8 appearance in Year 1 under Ben McCollum, and the Hawkeyes have picked up another key addition in Illinois State transfer guard Ty’Reek Coleman.
The Aurora (Ill.) native is coming off a standout freshman season for the Redbirds and chose the Hawkeyes over Nebraska and a host of other programs. In his lone season with ISU, the 6’2 Coleman averaged 10.0 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game while shooting 50% from the field and 42% from beyond the arc.
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He started 19 of the team’s 35 games, bouncing between the starting two-guard spot and the sixth man role. Across those 35 contests, he played a little under 23 minutes per night and was a microwave scorer for the Redbirds’ offense.
Coleman scored 16-plus points in eight games, including a 17-point performance against Auburn in the NIT earlier this month. His 37 3-pointers were also fourth-best on team, while his 3-point percentage mark (41.6%) led the squad.
He was also one of the team’s best pure defenders, a major upside for McCollum and Co., who finished 20th nationally in scoring defense last year.
Hawkeyes looking to restock in the portal
With Coleman in the fold, Iowa has filled one of its key offseason needs as it looks to build on last year’s 24-13 season.
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Not only do the Hawkeyes need to replace All-Big Ten guard Bennett Stirtz, but the team’s second- and third-leading scorers are also gone. Senior guard Tavion Banks has entered the transfer portal after playing his first two years at the junior college level, hoping to get another year of eligibility. NCAA Tournament hero Alvaro Folgueiras also entered the portal with a year left to play.
Louisville has emerged as the favorite to land him, and meanwhile the Hawkeyes must now replace their three leading scorers.
Iowa is also considered the major favorite to land center Andrew McKeever from St. Mary’s — a huge pickup if they’re able to do so. The 7-foot-2 center averaged 8.2 points and 9.2 rebounds per game this season for the Gaels.
