By Pat Harty

By Pat Harty

IOWA CITY, Iowa – For weeks, rumor and speculation has had Joe Wieskamp leaning heavily towards staying in the 2021 NBA draft, and that belief will strengthen with the Muscatine native having been invited to the NBA pre-draft Combine.

The 6-foot-6 Wieskamp, and his former Iowa teammate Luka Garza, are among 69 players who have been invited to the combine, and are among just five Big Ten players who made the list.

The 2021 NBA predraft Combine will be held next week in Chicago.

Wieskamp is testing the NBA draft process for the second time in three years as a Hawkeye. He also tested the draft process after his freshman season before deciding to return to Iowa where he twice has earned All-Big accolades.

Wieskamp averaged 14.8 points and 6.6 rebounds per game for the Hawkeye last season, and led the team in steals. He also made 46.2 percent (73-0f-158) of his 3-point field goal attempts.

Wieskamp was the only Division player to finish with at least 400 points, 200 rebounds, 70 3-pointers and 25 steals this past season.

Illinois guard Ayo Dosunmu, Michigan forward Isaiah Livers and Michigan State guard Aaron Henry are the other Combine participants from the Big Ten.

Wieskmp hasn’t commented publicly about his situation since Iowa’s season ended with a loss to Oregon in the second round of the NCAA Tournament in March.

But rumor and speculation that he is likely to stay in the draft has persisted.

Wieskamp isn’t currently listed on the 2021-22 Iowa roster, but he still has the option of returning for his senior season.

The fact that Wieskamp already has graduated, and is engaged to be married also has fueled the belief that he won’t return for his senior season.

The 6-11 Garza, meanwhile, has been preparing for the draft since shortly after the 2020-21 season ended.

He ended his career as Iowa’s all-time leading scorer with 2,306 points, and as the consensus National Player of the Year.