Former Iowa basketball forward Ben Krikke signs professional contract with Edmonton Stingers

IOWA CITY — Former Iowa basketball forward Ben Krikke is taking the next step in his career.

Krikke has signed a professional contract with the Edmonton Stingers of the Canadian Elite Basketball League (CEBL). The Stingers are based in Edmonton, Alberta, which is where Krikke grew up.

“I am really excited to be back home in Edmonton and play for such an amazing organization,” Krikke said in a release. “I’m thankful for the opportunity to play in such a great league and compete for a championship.”

Krikke put together a successful college career. Over five seasons, he combined to score more than 2,000 points and grab nearly 700 rebounds. A majority of those came at Valparaiso, where Krikke spent the first four seasons of his career. Because of the extra eligibility afforded due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Krikke was able to play a fifth season of college basketball.

Krikke entered the transfer portal ahead of the 2023-24 season, becoming a highly sought-after prospect. He ultimately chose Iowa to finish his college career, where he started all 34 games for the Hawkeyes last season, averaging 13.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per game while shooting 54.7% from the field. During his lone season at Iowa, Krikke scored in double-figures in 24 games.

“If you watched him on film, you would see pretty easily that he would fit perfectly into what we do,” Iowa coach Fran McCaffery said last season. “And that’s what we identified. There’s a lot of good players in the portal. But who fits? And there could not have been a better fit than Ben Krikke for us.” 

The Stingers' regular season spans less than three months, meaning that Krikke is also in the process of finding somewhere else to play after that relatively brief window.

“We are very excited to have Ben begin his professional career with the Stingers.” Edmonton head coach and general manager Jordan Baker said in a release. “As one of the most talented players Edmonton has ever produced, Ben is poised to have a very impactful summer in the CEBL. I am confident he will contribute in a meaningful way both on and off the court from day one.”

Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at ttachman@gannett.com