Note #058: Bennett Stirtz (Midwest Maestro)
Beginning his career at Division II Northwest Missouri State, Bennett Stirtz rose to Division I Drake, and Iowa, all the way to the 16th overall selection in the 2026 NBA Draft.
Let's start with Stirtz's 2025-26 senior shooting (at Iowa, where he led the Hawkeyes to their first Elite Eight since 1987):
- 159/269 2P/2PA (59.1 2P%)
- 92/257 3P/3PA (35.8 3P%)
- 140/165 FT/FTA (84.8 FT%)
Since 1980-81, Stirtz is the only NCAA Division I men's player to shoot 59+ 2P% (min. 265 2PA), 35.5+ 3P% (min. 255 3PA), 84.5+ FT% (min. 165 FTA) in a single season!
If we lower the qualifying 2P% to 56.5, two more players enter:
1. Justin Wright-Foreman (2018-19) - 220/387 2P/2PA (56.8%), 110/259 3P/3PA (42.5%), 178/206 FT/FTA (86.4%)
2. Chris Clemons (2018-19) - 165/290 2P/2PA (56.9%), 139/389 3P/3PA (35.7%), 246/283 FT/FTA (86.9%)
Yes, Wright-Foreman and Clemons met the criteria in the same season.
For fun, if we lower the 2P% to 55, another player is revealed:
Buddy Hield (2015-16) - 154/279 2P/2PA (55.2%), 147/322 3P/3PA (45.7%!), 176/200 FT/FTA (88.0%)
Three more players appear if we slash the 2P% to 52 (sorted by FGA ascending):
1. Jodie Meeks (2008-09) - 146/280 2P/2PA (52.1%), 117/288 3P/3PA (40.6%), 211/234 FT/FTA (90.2%)
2. J.J. Redick (2004-05) - 163/313 2P/2PA (52.1%), 139/330 3P/3PA (42.1%), 221/256 FT/FTA (86.3%)
3. Lester Hudson (2008-09) - 207/398 2P/2PA (52.0%), 106/299 3P/3PA (35.5%), 148/168 FT/FTA (88.1%)
Okay, let's remove 3s entirely and go back to the original 2P% (59): there are five other instances, besides Stirtz in 2025-26, of a player hitting the 2P and FT baselines in a single season:
Seniors
1. Jimmy DeGraffenried (1995-96) - 167/274 2P/2PA (60.9%), 162/188 FT/FTA (86.2%)
2. Fred Jones (2001-02) - 164/276 2P/2PA (59.4%), 169/194 FT/FTA (87.1%),
Juniors
3. Keith Van Horn (1995-96) - 182/307 2P/2PA (59.3%), 160/188 FT/FTA (85.1%)
4. Nick Fazekas (2005-06) - 237/400 2P/2PA (59.3%), 154/182 FT/FTA (84.6%)
Sophomores
5. Keith Van Horn (1994-95) - 187/298 2P/2PA (62.8%), 143/167 FT/FTA (85.6%)
Yep, Van Horn did it twice.
Now, to wrap section one, Stirtz's senior per game (in 37 GP, 37.7 MP/G):
- 19.8 PPG
- 4.4 APG
- 2.6 RPG
- 1.4 SPG
Since 1947-48, nine seniors besides Stirtz have sustained those per game benchmarks across 35+ GP:
19.8-20 PPG
1. Pierre Jackson (2012-13) - 19.8 PPG, 7.1 APG, 3.8 RPG, 1.5 SPG (36 GP, 34.8 MP/G)
2. Nate Blackwell (1986-87) - 19.8 PPG, 4.6 APG, 4.5 RPG, 1.4 SPG (36 GP, 39.5 MP/G)
3. Mookie Blaylock (1988-89) - 20.0 PPG, 6.7 APG, 4.7 RPG, 3.7 SPG! (35 GP, 38.8 MP/G)
20.1-21 PPG
4. Jon Elmore (2018-19) - 20.3 PPG, 5.1 APG, 5.1 RPG, 1.7 SPG (37 GP, 35.9 MP/G)
5. Marvelle Harris (2015-16) - 20.7 PPG, 4.5 APG, 4.7 RPG, 2.2 SPG (35 GP, 36.7 MP/G)
21-24 PPG
6. Norris Cole (2010-11) - 21.7 PPG, 5.3 APG, 5.8 RPG, 2.2 SPG (36 GP, 35.7 MP/G)
7. Danny Ferry (1988-89) - 22.6 PPG, 4.7 APG, 7.4 RPG, 1.6 SPG (35 GP, 33.2 MP/G)
8. Marc Brown (1990-91) - 23.3 PPG, 5.1 APG, 4.0 RPG, 2.0 SPG (35 GP, 37.8 MP/G)
24+ PPG
9. Reggie Hamilton (2011-12) - 26.2 PPG, 5.1 APG, 3.8 RPG, 2.0 SPG (36 GP, 35.7 MP/G)
Clemons came on board in Note #050 on Ryan Conwell, a 2026 NBA Draft second round pick.
Redick also brings rain in the Conwell Note.
And Hudson can't hide in Note #029 on Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn, or Note #035 on Aaron Nkrumah.
Fazekas first found his way in Note #032 on former Duke/Missouri forward Mark Mitchell.
Finally, Ferry sailed full speed into Note #054 on 2026 second rounder Nick Martinelli.