IOWA CITY — Trevin Jirak was one of the best players on the floor during a portion of Iowa men’s basketball practice open to media on Wednesday, July 15.
It was just a brief window into the Hawkeyes’ summer workouts, but Jirak was easily one of the standouts.
On one possession, the former West Des Moines Valley star grabbed an offensive rebound and drained a 3-pointer. Jirak converted on just 16.7% from deep during his freshman season, but there is reason to believe he is a much better shooter than that percentage indicates. On another possession, Jirak knocked down a two-pointer from near the baseline out of a pick-and-pop action.
Jirak also showed his ability to get to the rim. He salvaged what began as a broken possession by driving down the left side of the lane in a scramble situation, finishing with his right hand. Later, Jirak went off the bounce again, but this time used a crafty spin move to get an edge on Cam Manyawu and finish with a left-handed hook.
His versatile offensive skillset at 6-foot-11 makes him an interesting chess piece for the Hawkeyes. On rare occasions during the July 15 practice, Jirak actually brought the ball up the floor, fitting the mold of a “point-forward” or “point-center” as a big man who can facilitate offense like a guard would.
“I felt like I played good,” Jirak said. “Didn’t force anything. Kind of made the right plays. Didn’t turn it over. I didn’t want to turn it over. So I was happy about that.”
Jirak’s playing time was spotty during his freshman season, appearing in less than half of Iowa’s 37 games. But he is one of the many players who could make a jump in head coach Ben McCollum’s second season leading the Hawkeyes.
“He went on a diet over the summer,” McCollum said of Jirak. “He’s worked. He’s been in the weight room. He’s been conditioning. He’s been in the gym. He’s already had the skill set, and now he’s moving at a high level… He’s had a great summer.”
Iowa basketball can play with size
Jirak and Saint Mary’s transfer Andrew McKeever played together at points of the July 15 practice. That made for a lineup with tremendous size, considering Jirak is listed at 6-foot-11 and McKeever is the tallest player in Iowa men’s basketball history at 7-foot-3. On top of that, Cooper Koch (6-foot-8) played with that duo, as well, making for a massive lineup.
The Hawkeyes simply couldn’t go that big last season. At 6-foot-9, Manyawu did an admirable job holding things down as an undersized “5”, but it was clear that Iowa needed to get bigger, especially after being bashed on the boards by Illinois in the Elite Eight.
The addition of McKeever and the potential growth of Jirak should give the Hawkeyes a frontcourt rotation better fit for the rigors of the Big Ten.
“I love it because I’m not the only rim protector in there,” Jirak said of playing with McKeever. “Drew’s the one that is at the rim blocking shots. So, I kind of enjoy that. And then, I love having him down low, because it’s always just kind of a high-low. You get down low, his (defender) helps, it’s just an easy up top to him and he’ll either dunk it or score a layup. So it’s just been fun learning from him, playing alongside (him), because he makes it easier for me.”
While it was intriguing that they played together during practice, it remains to be seen how effective the lineup is on the defensive end, McCollum said.
“Yeah, they played together today,” McCollum said. “They looked pretty good. Trevin can shoot it, so that helps. It’ll depend on which one can guard a guard. That’ll be the issue, so we’ll see.”
But one defensive possession during the practice showed Jirak is capable. The big man switched onto Tate Sage and did a fantastic job moving his feet to stay in front of Sage on the perimeter. Jirak poked the ball free and sent an outlet pass to Ty’Reek Coleman, who finished with a layup on the other end.
It was another noteworthy sequence during the impressive outing for Jirak.
“They’re smaller, they’re faster, they have a quicker acceleration,” Jirak said of defending guards. “But I think I’ve done a better job of just kind of being able to be lighter on my feet a little bit. Just change my body around a little bit so I can move better. So I think that’s kind of how I’ve changed in being able to guard ‘fours.’ Just being lighter on my feet, being quicker, being able to move faster.”
More layers to Cooper Koch’s game
Koch’s shooting is no secret. He has made around 40% from deep in his Iowa career.
But other parts of his game stood out during the July 15 practice— defense, rebounding and finishing at the rim.
Koch’s activity on the boards is a welcome sign. He averaged 3.1 rebounds per game last season, which isn’t terrible, but at 6-foot-8, there is the potential for him to be more involved on the glass. During one sequence on July 15, Koch secured a loose ball on defense and initiated a fast break. Peyton McCollum missed a 3-pointer in transition, but Koch grabbed an offensive rebound to give his team another possession.
Later, Koch ripped down a defensive rebound and went coast-to-coast with a slick move to get by Trey Thompson and lay it in with his right hand.
The redshirt sophomore was disruptive defensively, as well. On one possession, he got in the passing lane and tipped the ball, which led to a turnover. On another, Manyawu tried to throw a lob over Koch, but he was quick enough off his feet to knock it out of the air. Another time, Koch got a clean steal, raced down the floor and flushed the ball in for a two-handed jam.
Koch was a key part of the supporting cast around Bennett Stirtz during Iowa’s Elite Eight run last season. But there is still more room for him to be even more impactful.
“He’s got more confidence because of his workload,” McCollum said of Koch. “Last year, it was just like a shock to his system, and then about halfway through the year, he figured it out. This year, he knows what to expect, and now he’s driving our culture forward. If he’s not winning sprints, he’s in the top two or three. If he’s not winning the stairs, he’s top two or three. He’s moving around the weight room much better. And then on the floor, his energy has been elite. He’s driving things forward, which is a big deal, whereas last year he might’ve just allowed people to pull him along.”
Follow Tyler Tachman on X @Tyler_T15, contact via email at TTachman@usatodayco.com
This article originally appeared on Hawk Central: Who stood out in Iowa men’s basketball practice?
Reporting by Tyler Tachman, Des Moines Register / Hawk Central
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By Tyler Tachman, Des Moines Register | USA TODAY Network
