IOWA CITY, Iowa — Luka Garza’s number 55 will never be worn again by a University of Iowa men’s basketball player. The announcement was made by Henry B. and Patricia B. Tippie Director of Athletics Chair Gary Barta Sunday afternoon at the conclusion of Iowa’s 77-73 win over No. 25 Wisconsin.
Garza joins eight other former Hawkeyes to have their number retired: Carl Cain (21), Ronnie Lester (12), Bill Logan (31), Sharm Scheuerman (46), Bill Seaberg (22)*, Bill Schoof (33), Greg Stokes (41), and Chris Street (40). B.J. Armstrong’s (10) jersey is also retired.
As a junior, Garza was named 2020 National Player of the Year by six national publications, Big Ten Player of the Year, USBWA District VI Player of the Year, Naismith Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Center of the Year, NABC Pete Newell Big Man of the Year, and was a consensus first-team All-American.
Garza’s final chapter as a Hawkeye is not finished but the All-American broke Roy Marble’s 32-year old all-time scoring record last month. In addition to ranking first in career scoring, Garza is tops at Iowa in conference scoring (1,399), total field goals made (829), field goal attempts (1,522), and 40-point games (2); second in 30-point games (12); fourth in double-doubles (33); fifth in rebounding (895); fifth in blocked shots (148); eighth in free throw makes (430); and 13th in 3-pointers made (113).
The native of Washington, D.C., leads the nation in total points (642); player efficiency rating (36.33); 30-point games (7); field goals made (240); and 22-point games (17).
He is the only men’s basketball player in Big Ten history to accumulate 2,000 points, 850 rebounds, 125 blocked shots, and 100 3-pointers. Garza is the only Hawkeye in school history to amass four 400-point seasons and two 600-point seasons.
* — Seaberg granted Patrick McCaffery permission to wear No. 22 due to a special significance
