jaidyn coon committed to Iowa men’s basketball in Iowa City, a decision he announced on Thursday, April 2. The in-state wing is a four-star prospect ranked No. 116 nationally in the 247Sports Composite and the No. 3 player in Iowa’s 2026 high school class. The move strengthens head coach Ben McCollum’s recruiting push with a high-profile local addition tied directly to Storm Lake, the hometown where McCollum grew up.
What is confirmed right now
Iowa’s program lands an in-state talent who put up 22. 0 points, 9. 3 rebounds, 3. 1 assists, and 1. 7 steals per game during his senior season at Storm Lake High School. The 6-foot-7 wing shot 53. 2% from the field, 29. 8% from deep, and 64. 1% from the free throw line.
In his announcement, jaidyn coon posted a message on social media that included: “Thank you Lord for blessing me with an opportunity of a lifetime, I dreamed as a kid playing at the collegiate level… GO HAWKS. ”
The commitment follows a recent recruiting reset. Coon had been set to attend Creighton, but reopened his recruitment after longtime head coach Greg McDermott announced his retirement. Nebraska and Illinois were among the programs that pursued him, and Drake previously offered when McCollum was still head coach of the Bulldogs.
Why this matters for Iowa and the 2026 class
Iowa now has two members in its 2026 high school recruiting class. Coon joins four-star wing Ethan Harris, who picked Iowa over Washington, Gonzaga, and Boise State, giving the Hawkeyes a pair of four-star wings to build around in the cycle.
The commitment also continues a notable recruiting trend early in McCollum’s tenure. Since taking over the job, Iowa has received commitments from three four-star high school recruits: Trey Thompson, Ethan Harris, and Coon.
It also extends an in-state award pipeline. Iowa has landed the Iowa Mr. Basketball winner in each of the last two years: former West Des Moines Valley star Trevin Jirak in 2025, and Coon in 2026.
Immediate reactions and on-the-ground perspective
Coon’s own words were the clearest immediate reaction, delivered through his social media commitment announcement.
From the program’s vantage point, the local connection has been a central storyline. McCollum grew up in Storm Lake, and earlier in the process he traveled there to visit with Coon. That initial recruitment didn’t end in Iowa’s favor at the time, with Coon choosing Creighton before reopening his decision after McDermott’s retirement.
Quick context
Iowa’s offseason is active, with roster building and recruiting running in parallel. The transfer portal is set to open April 7, and Iowa had been working to add to the 2026 class beyond Harris before Coon’s commitment became official.
What’s next
Iowa’s 2026 class now has two four-star wings, and attention turns to how the staff continues to shape the roster around a young core that includes Tate Sage, Cooper Koch, Jirak, and Thompson. With the portal opening April 7, the immediate next checkpoint for the program comes quickly, while jaidyn coon becomes the latest in-state building block for the Hawkeyes’ longer-term plan.
