Bennett Stirtz Rises to Top‑20 Draft Projection After Combine Breakout

Elite shooting marks and strong team workouts pushed his stock into the first round while scouts continue to flag his age and defensive limits.

Overview

Exceptional testing at the NBA Combine and polished pre‑draft workouts elevated Stirtz from a late first‑round projection into a consistent top‑20 range.
Iowa senior Stirtz backed the jump with a 19.8‑point season and first‑team All‑Big Ten honors that gave teams a large body of recent, high‑level tape to study.
Combine numbers that stood out included an above‑average vertical and best‑in‑group spot‑up shooting, with drills showing elite accuracy both spot‑up and off‑the‑dribble.
He received a green‑room invite and is widely expected to be taken in the first round, with final mocks clustering him roughly between picks 16 and 21 and naming teams such as Toronto, Memphis, Charlotte, Oklahoma City and Detroit as fits.
Scouts warn Stirtz’s age and limited explosiveness may cap his upside as a lottery choice, so teams will weigh his ready scoring and playmaking against questions about on‑ball defense and long‑term athletic upside.