NBA Mock Draft: Iowa's Stirtz, Jefferson Projected Early

The 2026 NBA Draft is shaping up to be a memorable one for basketball fans across the state. Two players with deep Iowa roots are turning heads in the latest mock draft projections, and both are expected to hear their names called early when the draft kicks off on June 23 in New York.

Bennett Stirtz, the Iowa senior guard who transferred from Drake, is projected as the 15th overall pick to the Chicago Bulls. Joshua Jefferson, the Iowa State senior forward, isn't far behind at 35th overall to the San Antonio Spurs. For a state that lives and breathes college basketball, it's another sign that Iowa develops real talent.

Stirtz Lands in the First Round

The Chicago Bulls have plenty of guards on their roster, but they apparently don't have the right one for the long haul. That's where Stirtz comes in. According to the latest mock draft from Kevin O'Connor at Yahoo Sports, the Bulls are projected to take the Iowa senior with the 15th pick in the first round.

Stirtz feels the game at a different frequency than everyone else on the floor, and yet still makes scouts squint because he doesn't look the part athletically. The question isn't whether he can play, though. After transferring from Drake to Iowa, he kept cooking with bullseye passes, pump-fakes, and shooting touch off the dribble from NBA range.

If he adjusts to the physicality and speed of the NBA, he could thrive as both a floor general and off-ball connector. That's a skill set that translates well at the next level, even if the traditional measurables don't blow anyone away.

For Iowa fans, Stirtz's projection is validation of what they watched all season. The kid can flat-out play, and NBA front offices are taking notice.

Jefferson Brings Steady Presence to San Antonio

Further down the board, Joshua Jefferson is projected to go 35th overall to the San Antonio Spurs. The Iowa State senior spent four years in college getting better at everything, and now he's reaping the rewards.

Some players are drafted for their ceilings. Others for their floor. Jefferson lands in the latter category as a 22-year-old senior who developed into a steady, high-feel forward. He can pass out of the post, make connective reads, and guard multiple positions. He just needs his shooting progress to prove to be real, and right now there's not enough of a sample to be sure it is.

That kind of versatility is exactly what NBA teams covet in the second round. Jefferson may not be a superstar, but he has the tools to carve out a long professional career. San Antonio, with its strong development infrastructure, could be the perfect landing spot.

The Top of the Board: Dybantsa and Boozer Lead the Way

While Iowa fans will be watching for Stirtz and Jefferson, the rest of the draft features some intriguing storylines at the very top.

AJ Dybantsa, the 6-9 BYU freshman forward, is projected to go first overall to the Washington Wizards. He has the potential to become one of the NBA's most unstoppable shot-creators, with a special blend of athletic tools and the ability to get to the rim at will. In Washington, the pressure will be alleviated early now that he'd be teammates with veterans Trae Young and Anthony Davis.

The biggest news in this mock draft, though, is Cameron Boozer moving up to the second pick for the Utah Jazz. Boozer, a 6-8 Duke freshman forward and the son of two-time All-Star Carlos Boozer, is the most polished player in the class. He scores from the post with both footwork and power, hits 40% of his 3s on high volume, and has enough handle to run offense as a point forward.

The move to second isn't based on any intel, according to O'Connor. It's a gut feeling based on history, comparing the situation to when the Celtics traded down from the first pick in 2017 and landed Jayson Tatum instead of Markelle Fultz. With the Jazz front office now led by Danny Ainge and Austin Ainge, the same kind of move could happen here.

Peterson Slips to Third Amid Concerns

Darryn Peterson, the 6-5 Kansas freshman guard, slipped to third in this mock draft, and it's not hard to see why. Peterson is a buttery smooth scorer with the ingredients to become an elite NBA player, but concerns about his body are starting to pile up.

Peterson missed 11 of 35 games and pulled himself out of others due to cramping, capping off one of the weirdest freshman seasons in recent memory. He also sat out against undefeated Arizona, pulling himself 15 minutes before the game because of