Jaidyn Coon

IOWA CITY — Iowa’s Mr. Basketball Jaidyn Coon has signed a scholarship agreement with the University of Iowa men’s basketball program, it was announced Wednesday by head coach Ben McCollum.

“I chose the University of Iowa for several reasons,” Coon said. “I trust coach McCollum and the direction he’s taking this program. After having multiple conversations with him and learning how I’d fit into their system — how their style of play would help develop me into an even better player — I knew this was what I was looking for and striving toward.

“The culture was incredible during my official visit. The players were down-to-earth and welcoming, and everything felt genuine. After spending time with the coaches, staff and team, I knew I wanted to be a Hawkeye.”

Coon, a 6-foot-7, 200-pound guard/forward, is a four-star prospect and the 116th-ranked player nationally (No. 44 small forward) in the Class of 2026 by 247Sports. He is the third-ranked player in the state of Iowa.

“Jaidyn is a great fit for our program as we continue to build on the foundation we’ve established,” said McCollum. “His athleticism is off the charts, and he’s a valuable defensive player with the ability to guard four positions. It’s important for us to keep the top players in state, so we’re extremely excited Jaidyn is a Hawkeye.”

The Storm Lake native is the second straight Iowa Mr. Basketball to join the program. Trevin Jirak earned the award in 2025 after leading West Des Moines Valley High School to the state title as a senior.

Coon is the second member of Iowa’s 2026 recruiting class, joining 6-foot-9 guard Ethan Harris, who signed in November. Harris is a four-star recruit out of Camas, Wash.

Coon averaged 22 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.7 steals in leading Storm Lake to the Class 3A state semifinals this past winter.

He finished as Storm Lake High School’s all-time leading scorer with 1,692 points, breaking a school record that had stood for 56 years.