Recruiting Report: Jake Hilmer (2019)
Jake Hilmer has been posting ridiculous numbers for 1A North Linn since he stepped foot onto the school’s diamond and hardwood as a freshman.
And still with two years left for his recruitment to materialize, there’s a lot that could happen, but there’s one thing he knows for sure: he wants to play basketball at the next level.
Maybe baseball, too.
“One thing I know about college, is that I want to play basketball, whether that’s at any level, it doesn’t really matter, I just want to be on the court,” said Hilmer, Iowa’s 9th-ranked 2019.
“I love baseball, but basketball is probably the sport right now that I’m most excited about.”
But the 5-foot-10 dual sport star has been in contact with a couple schools about possibly playing both sports in college.
“I do have a couple schools that might give me the opportunity to play both, if that’s the option I want to take. And that’s something I could think about. But I want to be playing basketball, that’s for sure.”
When college basketball coaches could start calling the class of 2019 in June, Hilmer’s phone was ringing off the hook, with several Division I inquiries.
“In June, the first day that coaches could call, I had six D1s reach out to me, North Dakota, UNI, Drake, South Dakota State, South Dakota and Miami-Ohio, so that was a good start,” said Hilmer, who mentioned two schools that he’s continually spoken with.
“I talked to Drake quite a bit throughout July, and a little bit again lately. I’ve also talked on the phone a couple of times recently with Jeff Rutter at Miami of Ohio.”
Then, there’s the one school that is Hilmer might consider his dream school.
“I’m still hopeful UNI isn’t off the list, I known AJ (Green) committed, but that’s definitely a school I really like,” said Hilmer. “And if I ever had the opportunity to go there, that’d be special.”
Division III Clark, and D2 Upper Iowa are the schools that have mentioned Hilmer playing both baseball and basketball for them. And after a visit to Fayette, Iowa, Hilmer came away impressed.
“And for D2s, I plan on visiting Sioux Falls sometime this winter. I’ve already visited Upper Iowa, and that’s a school that’s kind of offered me basketball and basketball if that’s something I want to do,” said Hilmer.
“I’ve heard from a couple other D2s, and then I also went on a visit to Grand View, and I liked it there, and that was good, from an NAIA standpoint.
Whichever school ends up with the extremely quick and skilled point guard will get a true floor general, and a true point guard with an IQ that’s off the charts.
“I’d say my biggest asset that I bring to the table is my ability to facilitate to my teammates, and just my understanding of the game,” said Hilmer.
“Just being a coach’s kind, I understand it well, and have a pretty high IQ.”
He added: “Right now, I’m working most on quickness with my jumpshot, strength in the weight room, just trying to put on some pounds.”
And playing with one of the nation’s best grassroots teams this summer, Iowa Barnstormers 16U, certainly helped with the progression of his skill-set.
“We had a really successful summer, and that stemmed from everyone giving into the team concept. Playing on the (adidas) Gauntlet, we played against a lot of really good teams and really good players, and I’m so glad I was able to do that,” said Hilmer.
“Everyone just wanted to win, and that made it a really fun summer, and a memorable one.”