What Jaidyn Coon commitment means for Iowa basketball
The Hawkeyes flipped a massive in-state recruit on Thursday. What does it mean for the future of the program?
After weeks of speculation, Iowa fans got the good news they had been waiting for: Jaidyn Coon is going to be a Hawkeye . The four-star forward from Storm Lake, Iowa, was originally committed to Creighton. Following the announcement that longtime Blue Jays head coach Greg McDermott was stepping down after the 2025-26 season, Coon reopened his recruitment.
Many predicted that he would end up in Iowa City alongside fellow Storm Lake native and current head coach Ben McCollum. That news became official on Thursday. Coon posted a statement on X announcing his intentions to become a Hawkeye , fulfilling a childhood dream.
The 2026 Iowa Mr. Basketball winner will join last year's winner, Trevin Jirak, at Iowa. It's a big recruiting win for McCollum and the program.
But what else does it mean for the future of Iowa basketball? Here are three takeaways from the Hawkeyes landing a commitment from Coon. 1.