AP FILE PHOTO - Drake guard Bennett Stirtz (14) shoots against Texas Tech during the second half of their second-round game in the NCAA Tournament on Saturday in Wichita, Kan.

Drake star guard Bennett Stirtz plans to enter the transfer portal and follow coach Ben McCollum to Iowa, he told various media outlets on Tuesday.

Stirtz, one of the biggest breakout stars of the 2024-25 college basketball season, spent one season with the Bulldogs after transferring from Division II Northwest Missouri State when McCollum left for Drake.

A 6-foot-4 point guard, Stirtz won the Larry Bird Award as the Missouri Valley Conference’s Player of the Year and led the country in minutes played. He averaged 19.2 points and 5.7 assists, ranking in the top-50 nationally in both statistics.

Stirtz, who likely wasn’t even on NBA draft boards entering the season, has emerged as a borderline first-round pick after a stellar finish to the season. He had 24 points and four assists in the MVC title game against Bradley, then went for 21 points and four assists in a first-round NCAA tournament upset over Missouri. He followed that up with 21 points and eight assists in a second-round loss to Texas Tech, playing all 40 minutes in all three games.

He’s now ranked No. 35 in ESPN’s NBA draft rankings.

McCollum was hired at Iowa on Monday after leading the Bulldogs to the Missouri Valley regular-season and conference tournament titles in his only season at Drake. Before that, McCollum led Northwest Missouri State to four national championships and a 394-91 record.

Stirtz was one of four Northwest Missouri starters to follow McCollum to Drake last spring.