Iowa Hawkeyes
Bennett Stirtz

Iowa Hawkeyes

Senior
HT/WT/WS6' 3", 186lbs
Age22

PTS

19.8
  

AST

4.4
  

REB

2.6
  

FG%

47.7
 

Big Board Rankings


Community Scouting Reports (55)


AVC
u/avcstreams

#20

RANK


Overview

When I studied Bennett Stirtz on film, the first thing that stood out was how calm and controlled he is as a player. He’s not flashy, he’s not overly explosive, but he consistently makes the right decisions and plays within himself.

To me, he profiles as a game manager-type guard—someone who understands how to run an offense, keep things organized, and makes winning plays without needing the ball in his hands at all times.

If developed correctly, he’s the type of guard who can fit into a system and contribute by doing the little things well.

Playmaking and Decision-Making

Stirtz’s biggest strength is his ability to make the right play.

He consistently looks to move the ball, make quick decisions, and keep the offense flowing. One thing that stood out on film is how comfortable he is making pocket passes, especially when attacking out of pick-and-roll or dribble handoff situations.

Offensive Versatility Within Structure

Stirtz is comfortable playing both on and off the ball.

He can initiate sets when needed, but he’s also effective relocating, cutting, and fitting into actions where he’s not the primary handler. That flexibility makes him a good fit for more structured, system-based offenses.

Fundamental Defense

Defensively, Stirtz is solid.

He has quick feet, understands positioning, and shows good instincts. He’s not going to overwhelm opponents physically, but he competes and stays disciplined.

There aren’t major concerns here—he projects as a player who can hold his own within a team defensive scheme.

Shooting Mechanics

The biggest technical issue I saw is with his shooting mechanics.

He has a tendency to twist his hips and push his right hip forward during his jumper, which can affect balance and consistency. At higher levels, those mechanical inconsistencies can lead to streaky shooting.

Cleaning up his lower-body mechanics will be important if he’s going to become a reliable perimeter shooter.

Ball Handling

While he’s a capable handler, his ball control isn’t quite at the level you’d want from a primary NBA guard.

He can run offense and make reads, but he doesn’t consistently break down defenders or create separation at a high level. That limits his ability to function as a lead initiator.

Finishing Ability

There’s also room for improvement around the rim.

Finishing through contact or over length can be a challenge for him. He is actually quicker and more athletic than you might think, but his frame and lack of left-hand limits him currently. Improving his touch, angles, and overall craft will help him become more effective in those situations.

NBA Projection

When I project Stirtz to the NBA, I see a player who fits best currently as a secondary, backup guard.

His role would be: • Running second units • Keeping the offense organized • Making smart reads and quick decisions • Functioning as a connector within the system

I think he fits particularly well in hub-style offenses, where ball movement and decision-making are prioritized—teams like Denver are a good example of where his skill set could translate.

He’s not a high-usage creator, but he’s the type of player who can fit into a rotation and contribute to winning basketball by doing the small things consistently.



Analysis done by @avcstreams. View their full  draft big board and scouting reports here.
Jack
u/jbfrisco

#17

RANK


Pros:

  • one of the best screen-snaking prospects ever which creates advantages in itself

  • elite elite passer with haliburton-esque vision; best off ball-screens and handoffs

  • best process in the class by far; extremely low tov

  • very good/complete 3pt shooter

  • hub skills but maintains elite impact off the ball

  • crafty finisher with good touch on close-range shots

  • good defensive instincts; stays engaged and attached

Cons:

  • limited athlete

  • meh defender at best; not the quickest laterally and loses the contact battle often

  • potentially screen/closeout reliant; hasn’t shown he can consistently beat POA as the handler in stagnant isos

  • draft age

C: fringe all-nba

F: low-end starter



Analysis done by @jbfrisco. View their full  draft big board and scouting reports here.
Cooper Flagg Glazer
u/CooperFlaggfan

#25

RANK


Strengths: Good 3pt shooter, Great Scorer, Good Playmaker, Good at creating his own shot, Great Court Vision,

Weaknesses: Draft Age, Athleticism, Mid Range, Struggles Against Elite Competition, Ball Handling,

Role/Score First PG, Ceiling/All Star, Floor/Rotation, Expectations/Starter, Position/PG



Analysis done by @CooperFlaggfan. View their full  draft big board and scouting reports here.
AllThingsNBADraft
u/allthingsnba

#15

RANK


Super polished, older prospect who can run a team and shoots the ball at an elite level. Could be limited defensively. Not a plus athlete at the next level.

NBA Comp: Ty Jerome



Analysis done by @allthingsnba. View their full  draft big board and scouting reports here.
Ian Monje
u/iblakem10

#19

RANK


STRENGTHS:

  • One of the best offensive creators in college; with only 31% of his shots assisted, he created quite a bit and had shooting splits of 48-36-85

  • Very good handle; crafty footwork to get to side-steps, step-backs, as well as his ability to get into the defender's chest to create space and a quick release makes up for other athletic and physical deficiencies

  • High volume 3-point shooter; shot seven 3s a night on 36% shooting, 48% on catch and shoots, 57% on 2-point jumpers, made 99 pull-up jumpers, able to get to his spots effectively

  • On lower attempts at the rim, made 70% of his shots at the rim further displaying good touch when he decided to drive

  • Playmaking was solid as an offensive engine; nothing truly elite about his passing ability, but his bread and butter is in the pick and roll, where he graded out in the 91st percentile as a P&R ball handler, often a step ahead directing where the receiver's swing passes need to go. Very good processor

  • Competitive defensive player; with limitations that we'll get to, shows good effort when he has to chase around off the ball, very engaged on that front

WEAKNESSES:

  • Efficient shooting at the rim who will need to learn to create space to get those shots up; only attempted six shots at the rim per 100 possessions, often putting up shots easier for help-side to get a contest on

  • That lack of rim attempts also highlights his lack of downhill speed and burst; space creation will be more difficult against more athletic guards at the next level

  • Defensively leaves a lot to be desired; a low steal rate (2.3%) combines with his lack of athleticism, where he gets picked and struggles to recover to his man, and on-ball defense is an issue when guarding quicker players

  • Had an abnormal high minutes per game average in his collegiate career, averaging roughly 39 minutes per game (games are 40 minutes); shows stamina to play long games and be effective, and is also a lot of wear and tear already against high level competition as a high usage guard

Summary: Bennett Stirtz was one of the best shot creators for the last two seasons, both at different school at Drake and Iowa. He has a good stop and go move and change of speed to keep defenses honest about where he is going, and whether he uses pick and rolls, step-backs, side-steps, pull-up jumpers, he has a very good and crafty offensive perimeter game and uses that for good passing that is highlighted by his quick processing. Offensively, he has a really nice floor, and it is a floor that may have a cap with the lack of burst and blow-by speed, having to rely on craft quite a bit. His recovery on defense was good, but he was a clear pigeon on defense, lacking the strength to get through screens and the lateral ability to keep up with guards projected at the next level. He's still high effort there; he closes out well and can be physically irritating there. He will benefit from playing more off of the ball in the NBA. Stirtz has an offensive skillset and that feels translatable to multiple contexts: as an on-ball off the bench engine and as an off-ball play finisher.

Player Comparison: Shades of Grayson Allen and Collin Gillespie

Best Fits: Toronto Raptors, Charlotte Hornets, Detroit Pistons



Analysis done by @iblakem10. View their full  draft big board and scouting reports here.
Corey
u/coreynaylor2060

#13

RANK


I'm a big fan of his and think he is well polished out of all of the PG's in this draft. Think he can go and fit in right away on a team wanting to compete in a Finals and make an impact right away. He is more mature and focused and don't see him meshing well on a younger team like New Orleans or Washington.



Analysis done by @coreynaylor2060. View their full  draft big board and scouting reports here.
ArmChairScout
u/ArmChairScout

#17

RANK


Shades of:

Projected Role:

Big Board Range:


Strengths

Weaknesses

Final Thoughts



Analysis done by @ArmChairScout. View their full  draft big board and scouting reports here.
BobRossDaGOAT
u/BobRossIsSoCool

#18

RANK


SCOUTING REPORTS: Bennett Stirtz: Bennett Stirtz is one of the most impressive and complete guards-scratch that, players in this draft class. At first glance he’s an undersized whiteboy from Iowa who purely shoots and plays old style fundamental basketball. But he’s more than that, and he’s a workhorse. Let’s start with offense.

Offense:

  • One of the best guards off screens in the draft class.

  • Elite 3pt shooter from spot up and movement.

  • Creates strong offense, keeps tempo and brings authority to the team well.

  • Low TOV rating, keeps ball firmly in hands and doesn’t make sloppy plays.

  • Physically strong for size in painted area, making tough off dribble shots.

  • Almost Impossible to contain completely.

  • Amazing playmaking; top 3 in draft class. Elite bounce passes and pick and roll finds.

  • Meh athleticism, relying on teammates to compensate.

—————————————————————————

Defense:

  • Great anticipation on passes which allows him to get steals.

  • Outstanding hustle for the modern era, never gives up on the ball.

  • Small frame.

  • Weak athleticism shows, defenders can bully over him, would be weak against strong handlers.

  • Fits systems really well.

Archetype: Old school point guard, playmaking-screen playing shifty combo guard.

Player Comp: Tyrese Haliburton, Collin Gillespie, more complete Tyler Herro.

Draft Score: 51.56

Some Extra Stats:

Height: 6’3

Weight: 180lbs

Season Averages:

19.8ppg

4.4apg

2.6rpg

47% Field Goal

35.6% 3pt

84.6% Ft

1.4spg

0.2bpg.

1.8T/O



Analysis done by @BobRossIsSoCool. View their full  draft big board and scouting reports here.
aev
u/aeveep

#14

RANK


Low End: Tyler Kolek Median: Collin Gillespie/Derrick White High End: Tyrese Haliburton Pros: Playmaking, shooting, motor Cons: Athleticism, defense Verdict: Elite at preventing turnovers, reads the defense well and gets the ball to his teammates effectively. Great catch and shoot game, while also being a good scorer inside the arc even if sometimes physically outmatched. Athleticism (vertical/horizontal) will be the only question, as defense also hinges on this. Fast and tireless athlete though and with his motor, definitely a passable player on an NBA defense. Ideally an offensive engine, but there is certainly some appeal as a connective piece with a heavy scorer somewhere else due to his versatile offensive skills.



Analysis done by @aeveep. View their full  draft big board and scouting reports here.
Future NBA GM
u/TradeHub

#27

RANK


Prospect score: Scoring = 8 Shooting = 8 Playmaking = 4.5 Rebounding = 2 Defense = 3 Athleticism = 4 BPM / 3 + WS% = 5.5 Consistency = 3 Total = 38 / 75



Analysis done by @TradeHub. View their full  draft big board and scouting reports here.