Stirtz Named to Naismith Trophy College Player of the Year Late-Season Team

ATLANTA  – University of Iowa senior Bennett Stirtz has been named to the 2026 Naismith Trophy Men’s College Player of the Year Late-Season Team, the announcement was made Thursday by the Atlanta Tipoff Club.

Stirtz, who has also been named to the Wooden Award Late Midseason Top 20 and to the Bob Cousy Point of the Year Midseason Top 10, is third in the Big Ten in scoring, averaging 20.5 points to go along with 4.6 assists, 2.5 rebounds and 1.4 steals in leading Iowa to a 19-7 overall record. 

In league-only games, the Liberty, Missouri, native, is second in the conference with 23.4 points, while also averaging 3.9 assists, 2.4 rebounds and 1.2 steals with a .515/.389/.838 shooting clip.  He has three 30-point and 10 20-point contests in league games.

In Iowa’s win over Northwestern on Feb. 8, Stirtz had a career-best 36 points, making 12-of-20 field goals, 4-of-6 3-pointers and all eight free throws.  His 36 points were the most by a Hawkeye since Luka Garza in 2021 and they are tied the fourth-most points by a player in Carver-Hawkeye Arena history.

Stirtz, who ranks in the top seven in the Big Ten in scoring, assists and steals, is the only player in the nation with 530+ points, 120+ assists, 65 rebounds, 60 3-pointers and 35+ steals. He is looking to become the first Hawkeye in 26 years to lead the team in points, assists and steals.

Stirtz is one of 31 players on the list, which includes seven from the Big Ten Conference.   

Iowa returns to action Sunday, traveling to Madison to face No. 24/25 Wisconsin at 3 p.m. (CT) from the Kohl Center.  The game will be televised on FS1.