Inside Iowa Basketball’s Secret Playbook: Unveiling a Day in the Life of Their Mysterious New Guard

With the 2025-26 Iowa men’s basketball campaign inching ever closer, the buzz around Iowa City is palpable, and rightfully so. Among the fresh faces gearing up to light up the hardwood is Tavion Banks — a 6-foot-7 wing who isn’t just any newcomer. Having followed head coach Ben McCollum from Drake, Banks brings with him a solid track record, boasting an impressive 10.1 points and 5 rebounds per game last season, not to mention snagging the Missouri Valley Conference Sixth Man of the Year award. This week, the Hawkeyes peeled back the curtain with a captivating “Day in the Life” feature that captures Banks’ routine — from grinding through preseason drills to juggling academic hurdles and living the student-athlete experience. The hope? That Tavion’s hustle and familiarity with McCollum’s system translate into impactful minutes this season. Mark your calendars for November 4th when Iowa tips off at Carver-Hawkeye Arena against Robert Morris — details on tipoff and broadcast are coming soon. Ready to dive deeper into Tavion Banks’ journey and what’s next for the Hawkeyes? LEARN MORE

As the 2025-26 Iowa men’s basketball season is just around the corner, the Hawkeyes released a unique “Day in the Life” feature on Thursday, highlighting one of its newest guards, Tavion Banks.

Banks is one of five former Drake players to follow first-year Iowa head men’s basketball coach Ben McCollum to Iowa City. The 6-foot-7 wing joins the Hawkeyes after averaging 10.1 points and 5 rebounds per game across 34 games played last season for the Bulldogs en route to capturing Missouri Valley Conference Sixth Man of the Year honors.

During the “Day in the Life” feature released on the Hawkeyes’ various social media platforms, fans were given a unique vlog-like perspective of Banks’ typical day as a student-athlete through his academic coursework, preseason training with the team, and other personal activities.

In terms of Banks’ abilities on the court, the Hawkeyes hope he can replicate the same effort he displayed last season as a key contributor off the bench, especially as he is already familiar with the style of play and expectations of McCollum.

Iowa opens its season on Nov. 4 from Carver-Hawkeye Arena against Robert Morris, with tipoff time and broadcast information to be announced at a later date.

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