CHICAGO — Bennett Stirtz's path to the NBA is anything but conventional. The former Iowa star, now a projected first-round pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, could have easily taken a very different route.
Imagine this: Instead of rising from Northwest Missouri State to Drake to Iowa, Stirtz spends all four years at the Division II level. Instead of stepping onto the court at the 2026 NBA Draft Combine, he's starting his own lawn care business with his brothers. Sound far-fetched? For Stirtz, it was a very real possibility.
"Probably still go back home and do a lawn mowing business and keep that up with my brothers," Stirtz said with a chuckle. "Build that up. I think that's what I'd be doing. That's a good backup plan, right?"
It's not just talk. The Stirtz Bros Lawn Care venture has its own Instagram page, and Bennett's LinkedIn profile lists him as a business owner. But while he could have made a solid living mowing lawns, basketball had other plans.
After an All-Big Ten season at Iowa, Stirtz is now preparing for the next chapter of his unlikely journey. He was invited to the 2026 NBA Draft Combine and is projected as a first-round pick in June. It's a long way from being an overlooked high school prospect.
Stirtz's rise is inextricably linked to head coach Ben McCollum. The two have been together through three stops—Northwest Missouri State, Drake, and Iowa. McCollum himself calls the journey "a little ridiculous, to be honest."
Just two years after playing at the Division II level, Stirtz and McCollum found themselves one win away from the Final Four. The Hawkeyes entered the NCAA Tournament having won only three of their previous 10 games, but they caught fire at the perfect moment. Their March Madness run included a stunning upset of 1-seed Florida and a rivalry win over Nebraska, propelling Iowa to its first Elite Eight since 1987.
"When we were at rock bottom, when we were losing..."
Stirtz's story is a reminder that the path to greatness is rarely a straight line. For fans looking to channel that same underdog spirit, the right gear can make all the difference—whether you're hitting the court or just mowing the lawn.