Iowa will retire Luka Garza's No. 55 at the end of the season. Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen via Imagn Content Services, LLC

Iowa to retire Luka Garza's number at end of season

By Erin Walsh | Last updated 3/7/21

The No. 5 Iowa Hawkeyes will retire Luka Garza's No. 55 at the end of the season, the team announced Sunday after a 77-73 win over Wisconsin.

There will never be another Luka Garza, and there will never be another No. 55. @IowaHoops plans to retire @LukaG_55's number after the season. #Hawkeyes pic.twitter.com/bjcJmmHAIs
— The Iowa Hawkeyes (@TheIowaHawkeyes) March 7, 2021

Garza was brought to tears when the announcement was made. The 22-year-old center specifically thanked head coach Fran McCaffery and his teammates as he addressed fans at Carver-Hawkeye Arena.

"Thank you, Hawkeye nation," Garza said. "I love this place."

I'm not crying, YOU'RE crying.

No. 55 will forever hang in the rafters of Carver-Hawkeye Arena. @IowaHoops

Thank you, @LukaG_55. pic.twitter.com/wSCfYpikKu
— Iowa On BTN (@IowaOnBTN) March 7, 2021

Earlier this week, McCaffery said it's a "no-brainer" for the school to retire Garza's No. 55. He is Iowa's all-time leading scorer with 2,201 points.

In Sunday's win over Wisconsin, Garza notched 21 points and 16 rebounds to help the Hawkeyes finish the regular season 20-7.

The Washington D.C. native finished the regular season averaging 23.9 points, 8.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game while shooting 55.3% from the field and 45% from deep. He is a semifinalist for the Naismith Player of the Year Trophy this season and has also won several other honors throughout his career.

In ESPN's latest mock draft, Garza is projected to be selected in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft.

More must-reads: