There’s plenty of speculation right now on how newly extended Bobby Webster and the Toronto Raptors front office plan to use the No. 19 in the 2026 NBA Draft. But maybe, through the pre-draft process, Toronto has already tipped its hand about who they plan to select with its first-round pick.
The Raptors have invited 10 players to come in and do a pre-draft workout. Out of the 10 prospects invited, only three really project to be selected in the first round: Zuby Ejiofor, Baba Miller, and Bennett Stirtz.
Out of these three, Stirtz should be the clear frontrunner. The Iowa guard could be the floor spacing boost the Raptors desperately need and help diversify their backcourt next season.
Don’t get me wrong, both Jamal Shead and Immanuel Quickley are fine guards, but both are of a similar flavor as scoring shifty guards—Stirtz is very different.
He measured in at 6-foot-2.5 (barefoot) with a 6-foot-6 wingspan at the combine, possesses high-level floor general skills, and plays with patience and control that Toronto lacks in the backcourt.
Stirtz is perfect for the Raptors
When looking at the main reason why the Toronto Raptors failed to escape round one of the NBA playoffs, two things stand out. First was the lack of size, and second was the minimal floor spacing. Now, I’d argue that, as important as size can be, with great floor spacing, you can win any matchup in the modern NBA with the way the three-ball is prioritized.
Stirtz is a career 37.2 percent three-point shooter over his two years playing D1 college basketball. He thrives off the dribble from the perimeter, but there are some major concerns about how his effectiveness in those situations will translate to the pros.
He lacks elite burst, which has led some to question whether he can create separation in the pros the way he did in college. For me, that notion is a bit nitpicky. Several players without elite athletic tools have been effective self-creators at the next level, and Stirtz showed he could do it already in college with his ability to manipulate a game.
But if you’re one of the doubters, it’s worth noting that he did carry a 72.7 true shooting percentage on catch and shoot shots this season, according to No Ceilings NBA Draft Guide.
He is also an exceptional cutter off the ball, ranking in the 99th percentile in cuts this past season, according to No Ceilings NBA Draft Guide.
Stirtz is a maestro in the pick-and-roll and could be a steady playmaking option to help ease Brandon Ingram’s ball-handling and self-creation duties. Stirtz has been playing high-level hoops for so long that his awareness and playmaking instincts are among the best in the class. His 2.44 assist-to-turnover ratio doesn’t jump off the page, but when provided with the context that he was Iowa’s only real ball handler, they appear much more impressive.
His general counting stats look like 19.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game while shooting 47.7 percent from the floor. Stirtz has been an iron man throughout his D1 and D2 playing careers, logging an average of 37.7 minutes per game this past season. Iowa head coach Ben McCollum was so opposed to subbing Stirtz off that he had him stand off to the side for stretches to rest while still on the court.
Considering Quickley's injury issues since arriving in the Six, having a player who has zero history of injuries would be a nice safety net for the backcourt.
At 22, he has a natural maturity and calm that could help him transition to the NBA much more smoothly than the average 19-year-old prospect. Depending on how the draft shakes up on June 23, Stirtz could be going from playing at Drake in college just a year ago to joining Drake’s hometown team.
If the Raptors want to prioritize floor spacing and finding another trustworthy ball handler in this draft, then Stirtz may just be the perfect prospect for them.
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