The Iowa Hawkeyes and head coach Ben McCollum received some disappointing news on Wednesday regarding one of their key recruiting targets. Belgian forward Thijs De Ridder, who had been linked to Iowa this offseason, is reportedly heading elsewhere.
According to Spanish reporter Chema de Lucas, De Ridder will be joining Virginia, marking a setback for McCollum and the Hawkeyes. Iowa had been competing for De Ridder’s commitment along with Providence, Kansas State, and UConn.
De Ridder, a 6-foot-8 forward, has been playing for Spanish team Surne Bilbao Basket in the Endesa League. This season, he averaged 11.6 points and 5.6 rebounds, shooting 58.5% from the field and 30% from beyond the arc. He’s also been a part of the Belgium National Team.
McCollum, who was brought in to rebuild the Iowa roster, has already made several moves, including adding players like Bennett Stirtz from Drake, Kael Combs, Isaia Howard, Tavion Banks, and Cam Manyawu. He also secured Kansas State sharpshooter Brendan Hausen and Robert Morris transfer Alvaro Folgueiras.
McCollum had previously led Drake to a successful 31-4 season and a second-round appearance in the NCAA Tournament before being hired by Iowa in late March. His six-year deal with Iowa includes $3.35 million in guarantees, according to The Athletic.
Despite McCollum’s efforts, Iowa finished the season with a 17-16 record and missed out on the NCAA Tournament after a first-round exit in the Big Ten Tournament.
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