Trevin Jirak didn’t need a monster freshman season to understand what Iowa asked of him. He needed reps, and he got them.
In a debut year spent mostly learning on the fly, Jirak appeared in 17 games and averaged 3.4 points and less than one rebound in eight minutes a night. For a player who came in as a former Northern Iowa commit before flipping to the Hawkeyes, that run was less about numbers and more about adjusting to the Big Ten’s size, speed and bruising style.
“It helped a good amount,” Jirak said at Iowa’s media day lasst week. “It's better than if I didn't see any court action for sure.
I can play more quickly, I feel like, this year. I know a little more what to expect.
More of the physicality, the speed, and what it takes to win. I think learning those things last year were essential for me going into this year.
That way I'm going into the game running, instead of just kind of thinking a little bit.”
That learning curve matters because Jirak brings a different kind of game to Iowa’s front line. His path to becoming a forward started with a growth spurt in high school, when he grew six inches between his freshman and sophomore seasons and moved from guard to the post. Even after four years at the new spot, he still carries guard-like skills into the front court.
“I keep working on it,” he said. “Shooting-wise, me and Coach (Luke) Barnwell work a lot.
Passing skills, I don't know why, it's just something that's somewhat natural to me. I think playing multiple sports growing up helped a lot with that.
You're able to see the court, have a vision for it.”
That feel is part of why Iowa’s staff has reason to expect more from him in year two. Jirak is also coming off an offseason push to slim down and improve the way he moves, something he says has already changed how he feels on the floor.
“[Strength and conditioning coach, Logan Ogden] set a plan for me that I've tried to follow closely,” Jirak said. “He's a good guy to listen to.
I 100% [feel different]. The way I move and how I'm able to move, 100%.
Even my teammates have said I look different, so that made me know that I'm doing the right things.”
His new frontcourt partner should make the transition even smoother. Iowa added 7-foot-3 St. Mary’s transfer Andrew McKeever this offseason, giving the Hawkeyes another big man who can move the ball and see the floor.
“It makes everyone's lives easier when you got a guy like that that can make a play,” Jirak said. “When he gets the ball, a lot of teams might try and double that.
The kickouts, extra swings, open shots. It's great playing with someone that has a high IQ and a great feel of the game.”
McKeever, Jirak said, has also taken time to help him sort through the little things.
“He's got a very high IQ, as well,” Jirak added. “We kind of talk about some of our offensive things -- how he reads things, and how I read things, to kind of compare. If he sees things, he's not afraid to kinda coach up a little bit.”
That pairing could lead to plenty of two-big looks for Ben McCollum’s team this winter. Jirak and Cam Manyawu are both in line for meaningful minutes, with either one able to slot at the four alongside McKeever at the five. It’s an adjustment for Jirak, who spent much of his earlier basketball life as the biggest player on the floor at West Des Moines Valley and with the Iowa Attack on the EYCL circuit.
“I’m adjusting to it, I think, better and better every week,” he said. “At the end of the day, I was five in a lot of my life, so I've kind of been in his shoes.
I feel like I look for him a good amount, because I'm like, 'This is when he likes the ball, because that's when I like the ball.' It's nice having him on the team.”
For Iowa, the equation is pretty clear: a bigger, leaner, more experienced Jirak could be a lot more useful than the freshman version that simply tried to survive the job.
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Special teams coordinator Chris Polizzi has been quick to point out James work ethic and improvement, and the recognition has started to follow. James was named to the Jet Award Midseason List, a nod that former Hawkeye Kaden Wetjen also earned before him. For a program that has long valued special teams as an edge, the next question is whether James can keep turning routine punts into something the Hawkeyes can count on when games tighten up later in the fall. [Read more 🡒]
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Tradon Bessinger and Ryan Fitzgerald are also gaining confidence, which matters in a room that has spent plenty of time searching for stability. Lester has talked through the progress and the growing pains that come with quarterback development, both in practice and in games, and the bigger takeaway is hard to miss: this is no longer just about sorting out who takes snaps now, but about whether Iowa is finally building a deeper future at the most important spot on the field. [Read more 🡒]