Iowa men’s basketball guard/forward Tavion Banks declared for the NBA draft and will enter the transfer portal if a fifth year is granted, he announced on his Instagram page.

Banks expressed his desire to remain with the Hawkeyes if a fifth year of eligibility is awarded to him. The senior played at JUCO Northwest Florida State for two seasons, before transferring to Drake in 2024. Banks then followed head coach Ben McCollum to Iowa for this season.

As of the 2025-2026 academic year, JUCO transfers in other sports, such as Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, argued that years played at junior colleges should not count against NCAA Division I eligibility. Banks is hoping for one more season via a waiver as the NCAA continues to fight the JUCO transfer rules in court.

If the current lawsuit doesn’t allow Banks a fifth year, he will turn his sights to the NBA draft. Because of the transfer portal closing on April 21, and the NBA draft being scheduled for June 23-24, Banks entering the portal gives him the flexibility to explore his options while awaiting a ruling for another year of eligibility.

Banks averaged 10.2 points and 4.6 rebounds for Iowa in 2025-2026, and shot 52 percent from the floor at 44 percent from three. The Kansas City, Missouri, native played in 37 games for the Hawkeyes this season and started in 35 of them.

“Competing as a Hawkeye this past season and helping lead this team to the Elite Eight was an amazing experience. This was one of the best years of my life and it was everything I could have imagined. I want to thank my family, coaches, teammates and Hawkeye Nation for making this a memorable year in my basketball journey,” Banks said in his Instagram post.