Pryce Sandfort Becomes Third Iowa Player to Enter Transfer Portal
Iowa sophomore forward Pryce Sandfort has officially entered the NCAA transfer portal, becoming the third player from the Hawkeyes basketball team to seek a new home following the recent dismissal of longtime head coach Fran McCaffery.
Sandfort, who played an important role this past season, averaging 8.8 points across 33 games including two starts, shared the news of his departure via social media on Monday. His older brother, Payton Sandfort, was one of Iowa’s standout players, averaging a team-leading 16.7 points per game in his senior year.
Expressing gratitude in his statement, Pryce Sandfort thanked Coach McCaffery and his staff for their guidance and the chance to represent his home state on the basketball court. “Wearing the black and gold and sharing the court with my brother for these past two years has been incredibly special,” he wrote.
Sandfort’s decision follows similar moves by fellow sophomore teammates Owen Freeman and Brock Harding, who also announced their intentions to transfer after McCaffery’s departure. Freeman had a stellar season, matching Payton Sandfort’s 16.7-point average, while Harding contributed a consistent 8.8 points per game, mirroring Pryce Sandfort’s output.
The Hawkeyes concluded their season with a record of 17-16, ending with a loss to Illinois (106-94) in the second round of the Big Ten tournament. The defeat was marked by controversy, as Coach McCaffery was ejected from the game after receiving two technical fouls for arguing with officials.
Following McCaffery’s exit, Iowa has confirmed plans to immediately initiate a national search for a new head coach, signaling the start of a major transitional period for the program.
