Iowa men's basketball: Thoughts on each scholarship player entering 2024-25 season (2024)

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Payton Sandfort

In an offseason that featured a variety of encouraging developments for Iowa, Sandfort’s decision to return to college might have been the most impactful. After going through the pre-NBA Draft process (and ultimately withdrawing), Sandfort should enter the season among the best players in the Big Ten.

He holds importance on multiple levels. Sandfort is a lethal 3-point threat and proven high-volume scorer. His points per game has increased in each of his seasons at Iowa, and that is likely to continue. Sandfort is also a trusted leader, someone who helped the Hawkeyes navigate a turbulent 2023-24 season.

Altogether, Sandfort figures to play a crucial role in making Iowa’s ambitions come to fruition next season.

More: Why Payton Sandfort remained loyal to Iowa men's basketball

Owen Freeman

Last season’s co-Big Ten Freshman of the Year, Freeman had one of the best rookie campaigns in program history. But as good as he was last season, it’s clear that there is much room for him to get even better.

Freeman could be one of the Big Ten’s premier frontcourt players if he makes a jump from his freshman to sophom*ore seasons. That means avoiding foul trouble on the defensive end, something that ailed him at times last season. Also, expanding his game outside of the painted area is another natural step in the progression of his offensive repertoire.

Because of his ability to make an impact on both ends of the floor, Freeman's level of dominance could decide Iowa’s ceiling in 2024-25.

Josh Dix

If there were to be a so-called “big three” for Iowa entering the season, it would be Sandfort, Freeman and Dix.

Dix’s breakthrough as a sophom*ore was highlighted by a three-game stretch during Big Ten play when he averaged 21.3 points per game while shooting 68.4% from the field and 61.5% from deep. It’s not realistic to think that sample size game can be replicated over the course of an entire season, but did provide a window into just how good he can be.

Dix’s ability to score at all three levels coupled with his defensive value puts him in the conversation as one of Iowa’s most important players entering the season. If his improvement from sophom*ore to junior year is similar to that from his freshman to sophom*ore, he could emerge as one of the best guards in the Big Ten.

Drew Thelwell

One of the two transfers that Iowa brought in this offseason, Thelwell joins the Hawkeyes with a substantial amount of experience and, taking that one step further, winning experience. Thelwell is the winningest player in Morehead State men’s basketball history, a program with which he spent four seasons.

Beyond his intangibles, Thelwell also provides another primary ball-handling option, an area of need with the departures of Tony Perkins and Dasonte Bowen. Last season, Thelwell averaged a career-high 6.2 assists per game, making his ability to distribute a major asset for Iowa, which should have a handful of capable scorers around him.

More: Why Drew Thelwell transferred to Iowa men's basketball from Morehead State

Seydou Traore

The second of Iowa’s two incoming transfers, Traore is coming off a standout freshman season at Manhattan College. Traore’s blend of size and athleticism is part of what makes this such an intriguing addition. Listed at 6-foot-7 and 215 pounds on Iowa’s updated roster, Traore is an explosive athlete, which makes him a great fit for a fast-paced offensive system that shines in transition. His 2.3 assists per game last season also indicates that he could be a capable high-low passer with Freeman.

Also important: Traore also has the potential to make Iowa better in areas where it has struggled. He averaged 8.2 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks per game last season. Elevating Iowa’s defense and production on the glass present clear pathways for Traore to earn big minutes in his first season as a Hawkeye.

Brock Harding

An undersized but extremely crafty guard, Harding showed how quickly he can send a jolt of excitement into the game last season. Appearing in 34 games off the bench, that production came in inconsistent doses, but his worth as a dynamic ball-handler was evident.

Harding’s most valuable skill is probably his passing. That means getting him in positions to thrive as a set-up man — whether that be in pick-and-roll scenarios with Freeman or driving and kicking to shooters — should be a priority offensively. As a smaller guard, it’s also imperative that Harding finds a way to avoid being a liability defensively.

With Perkins and Bowen gone, the opportunity for Harding to emerge into a bigger role as a sophom*ore is there for the taking.

Ladji Dembele

Dembele fits the mold of what has become known as a “stretch four” in the modern game. He is strong, athletic and versatile, which he showed during various points during his freshman season when he was a key part of Iowa’s bench contributions.

Dembele’s skillset makes him an ideal fit to play alongside Freeman. He has the functionality to excel as a rebounder and be a factor on the defensive end. Though Dembele shot a mediocre 31% from deep as a freshman, it isn’t a bad starting point as long as that percentage is the baseline on which he improves.

With Ben Krikke exhausting his college eligibility, there are minutes available in the frontcourt. The next step for Dembele is producing on a consistent basis.

Pryce Sandfort

Similar to Harding and Dembele, Pryce Sandfort showed flashes of what he could provide as a freshman. The growth of that trio from freshman to sophom*ore seasons serves as a wild card to Iowa’s potential success in 2024-25.

Pryce Sandfort’s most influential tool in the immediate future is likely shooting. As a freshman, he shot 34.7% from beyond the arc. But a stretch during Big Ten play, in which he went 6-for-9 from deep, indicates Pryce Sandfort is capable of more. Still with a fairly wiry build, putting on weight this offseason would be of benefit, particularly on the defensive end.

With Patrick McCaffery transferring out, Pryce Sandfort should have a chance to make his case for more playing time at the wing position.

Even Brauns

There was a clear learning curve for Brauns in the transition from Belmont to Iowa. In his first season with the Hawkeyes, Brauns played sparingly and when did, often didn’t look very comfortable.

That said, Brauns can bring useful characteristics to the table. He is big, strong and athletic. In a league that is so physical, there is major benefit to having a reliable bruiser in the paint. Being able to bring a productive reserve big man off the bench, even if it’s just for a few minutes per game, can create positive ripple effects. But for Brauns to fit that role will require him to take a major step forward from last season.

Cooper Koch

A benefit of Iowa’s positive offseason developments is that it shouldn’t need to lean as heavily on its freshmen as it did last season. But anything they can provide would be a plus.

Koch arrived at Iowa as the 82nd-ranked prospect in the 2024 class, according to the 247Sports Composite, making him a notable pickup for Fran McCaffery. Listed at 6-foot-8, Koch fits the mold of a knock-down, shooting wing — not far different from the Sandfort brothers. His ability to stretch the floor is probably his most translatable skill in the immediate future.

There is plenty of room for him to fill in his frame. But regardless of his role as a freshman, Koch has substantial long-term value for the program’s future.

Chris Tadjo

Previously far lesser known in Midwest circles than Koch, there’s a considerable amount of intrigue surrounding Tadjo. A product of the NBA Academy Latin America, Tadjo is ranked 143rd nationally in the 2024 class, according to the 247Sports Composite.

Though he is listed at 6-foot-8 like Koch, Tadjo’s game is vastly different. At approximately 220 pounds, Tadjo enters his freshman season with a stature ready to compete in the Big Ten. Already possessing advanced size, strength and athleticism for his age gives him a high long-term ceiling.

It's difficult to predict how much of an impact a freshman will make early in their college career, but Tadjo is the type of prospect who could make some head-turning plays this season.

Riley Mulvey

Mulvey’s circ*mstances are similar to Brauns' in that providing even a small amount of help would be meaningful. Largely leaning on Freeman, Dembele and Krikke last season, Iowa could use more frontcourt depth this season.

Mulvey has not been much of a factor at the college level thus far. He scored just 27 points combined during his freshman and sophom*ore seasons. He redshirted last season and didn’t play a single minute of game action. At 6-foot-10, Mulvey has the length to be a factor, but still has room to fill in his frame and make himself better equipped to deal with physicality.

For those reasons, it’s probably wise to go into the season with low expectations for Mulvey, though it isn’t fair to entirely rule out surprises.

Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at ttachman@gannett.com

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