Jake Hilmer approaching end of record-setting basketball career at Upper Iowa University

CEDAR RAPIDS — No regrets. None.

Jake Hilmer was a Division I college basketball player had he wanted to be.

No doubt. None.

But his five years at D-II Upper Iowa University have been in a word record setting. Actually that’s two words.

“I’m pretty confident, especially with the way things went the last few years, that I could definitely play Division I college basketball,” Hilmer said recently. “But for me, there are a lot more factors moving that label of playing Division I basketball. I think my experience here at the Division II level has been more than I could have asked for, and I think a lot of athletes, had they found themselves in my shoes, would be shocked at how rewarding this has been.

“I’m surrounded by people that care about me. I couldn’t ask for anything more. If I’d ask for anything more, it’d be a little greedy on my part. There are a lot of things here that I wanted. This checks all the boxes that I needed in my experience. Some people might think that’s ridiculous or crazy. But if you were in my shoes, I think you’d be surprised.”

Upper Iowa plays a Division II regional game Saturday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. against Kentucky Wesleyan. Upper Iowa (21-9) is a No. 7 seed, Kentucky Wesleyan (21-8) a No. 2.

The game is at Indianapolis and could be the final one for Hilmer, a former Iowa Mr. Basketball and Gazette Male Athlete of the Year. The graduate student from Walker and North Linn High School went to UIU as a two-sport athlete but an arm injury shortened his baseball career.

Obviously it didn’t affect what he did on the court.

Hilmer, a 5-foot-11 guard, is Upper Iowa’s all-time career scoring leader (2,496 points) and its all-time leader in assists (614). He is averaging 24.3 points per game this season, which ranks third in Division II, and is one of 25 finalists for the Clarence “Bevo” Francis Award, which goes to the small college player who has had the finest overall season, with “considerations being season statistics and individual achievements, awards, personal character and team achievements.“

Friday he was named the 2023-24 D2CCA Midwest Region Player of the Year. Hilmer has been part of 92 wins in his UIU career, gotten to play this season and last season with his younger brother, Austin.

Perfect.

“Coming here, it’s been one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life,” Hilmer said. “I’ve stayed here five years, and that in itself tells you how much I’ve enjoyed it. I’ve played for great coaches, I got to play two sports for three years. I got to play with my brother again. So I’ve been more than lucky. Coming to Upper Iowa and staying at Upper Iowa definitely have been some of the best decisions of my life. It’s been very rewarding.”

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Hilmer has started every game since he stepped foot on the Fayette campus, 138 of them. He has increased his scoring average each season: from 12.2 points per game as a freshman to 14.8 to 16.5 to 21.8 to 24.0.

He’s had to take on more of a scoring load these past two seasons as prominent players have graduated out of the program.

“The one thing about Jake is he has gotten better every year,” said Upper Iowa Coach Brooks McKowen. “For a kid who came in and was pretty dang good as a freshman, he has just continued to get better every year. He has added to his game, added another dynamic. That doesn’t always happen with guys that are good early on. That’s one thing you’ve got to give him credit for, the work he has put in to continue to expand his game.”

It’s an expanded game that could make him some money.

Hilmer said multiple agents both domestic and foreign have contacted him about representation. McKowen said there’s no question he can play professional basketball, whether that be in the United States or overseas somewhere.

“Absolutely. He definitely can,” McKowen said. “It’s just his ability to score and make people better around him. I definitely think he’ll have a career overseas. How long of a career? You never know. He’ll have to stay healthy and produce. But he’ll definitely get an opportunity.”

An opportunity that never entered Hilmer’s mind when he first went to Upper Iowa.

“A lot of things I’ll need to look at,” he said. “Something that probably three or four years ago, I wouldn’t have thought about being a possibility. It’s kind of turned into a dream. Definitely a cool thing. Hopefully I can stay healthy and kind of make that dream a reality.

“Yeah, kind of one of life’s unexpected turns. A lot of my goals and stuff have been things I started when I was young. This is not something that has honestly crossed my mind until the last couple of years. To put myself into a position where maybe I can do this is definitely cool.”

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