Video: Peyton McCollum on what he can bring to Iowa basketball in 2026-27

I've never missed a practice that I've been in, so yeah. It's been a lot of adversity to deal with, but I think it's helped me in the long run. I just appreciate every single day that much more just sitting out. It sucks that much, so yeah, it's been good. How are you making sure you make the most of your mental reps, I guess, away from the game last year when it sucks at the same time? Yeah, you see an elite processor in Bennett every single day, how he prepares himself, how he comes in and works after practice. You see that and you see what he does and you try and learn from that, try and work that into your process that much more. Coach said you're only in week two of being back? Yes, sir. When you got clearance from the doctors to go back, what was your reaction? I was very excited, cuz it's been six months. I got injured with that left foot in January and then the right foot in April. So it's been a long ride, but it's awesome to kind of compete against. That's what I love about basketball. And the April injury, was that just trying to rush back on your- Yeah, I would say we didn't rehab as well as we were supposed to and kind of rushed back into five on five. Legs weren't really prepared. I think it was also a big deal, cuz I did step on someone's foot. But yeah, just kind of a big deal, I don't know. And then, have you had an I'm back moment? Yeah, everything's working correctly again? Yeah, not really. I guess the first day, I was just like, dang, we really made it. But other than that, I try and take it day by day, trying to process things. How long had you been back before the second injury happened? I was working out for a solid month, and then when I got hurt, it was actually the first time playing pickup again, I got hurt with my right foot. What's going through your head when that happens? I was mad, I was very angry, a lot of emotions going on. Yeah, it was a rough time, but next couple days, we recovered, we were fine. We were just on to the next, gotta recover from this one, we're gonna recover and rehab even harder this one. What did you do to take care of yourself mentally through that process? I would say just find different hobbies, they enjoy it. I really enjoy watching movies, so I kind of just binge watch movies. And then you obviously focus on your team as well, because we were in the off season, just hanging out with the guys, doing everything with them. What movies were you watching? Shoot, I just go, the IMDB top 150 list, I just kind of work my way down that. Every once in a while, I'll see something pop up in my feed that intrigues me, and then I'll watch that. Usually, I like the popular ones, cuz they're better. How many of the 150 did you get through? Honestly, I probably watched, I don't wanna say it and not have any movie knowledge, but 60, 70. Really? Yeah. That many, okay. Does it hold up? Do you agree with the top 150? I do, yeah, there's some of the older ones that I'm like, I don't know, maybe just cuz they're classics, but yeah, I agree with most of them. What do you feel like you can bring to the team this year? I think I can bring a great teammate, energy, a little bit of leadership if needs be. And obviously, when my shot's not falling or when I'm not getting to the basket, a great defender as well, so yeah. What's been the most important part since being back and staying down there? What's been the most important part? I would say just making sure my body's prepared every single day. I've never really been big into recovery, ice baths. Just being in that training room, making sure to take care of your body more and more cuz it's pretty strenuous on your body when you're just going all year long. So just realizing to take your time away from basketball to actually help your body, help your mind. What does your pre and post workout or even just regular practice look like now since you've become pro player? Sometimes I work with my strength coach just on mobility. Before practice, I usually have a thorough 15-minute stretch where I'm band stretching, opening up my hips. And then after practice, just working in the training room as much as I can. And I just get in some good stretching because usually when you have an injury, all your body parts kind of have to adjust to it. So just making sure those aren't too tight and we don't have any risk for injury there. What part of your