Iowa junior forward Hannah Stuelke now leading on and off court
By John Bohnenkamp
ROSEMONT, Illinois – Hannah Stuelke’s evolution as a basketball player includes a more confident voice.
Stuelke was one of Iowa’s player representatives at the Big Ten basketball media days on Wednesday and that, she said, is one of the signs of her progress.
“I think it’s changed a lot,” Stuelke said when asked about the evolution of her game heading into her junior season. “I think my personality has changed a lot, too. I used to be really nervous sitting right here, but now I’m doing OK. I think I’ve just gotten more confident on the court, and that’ll just continue to grow.”
Stuelke was allowed to grow at her own pace on an Iowa team that was so senior-dominant over the last two seasons. There was no need for her to speak up on a team with the commanding voices of Caitlin Clark and Kate Martin.
But the Hawkeyes are going through their own evolution as they move on from an era that included back-to-back appearances in the NCAA tournament championship game. New leaders are emerging, and Stuelke is among those who are speaking up, especially when it comes to the five incoming freshmen.
“I’ve really been impressed with Hannah’s leadership,” Iowa coach Jan Jensen said. “Over the summer, she’s been the one that’s organized team dinners from the very beginning, and that stuff’s big off the floor.
But on the court, she’s playing with the presence and just kind of showing them the expectations. She also said something on a Big Ten panel where she said, ‘You know, I know kind of different things to share with them, because I’ve been there.’ And she’s like, ‘I’m excited about continuing to show them the way. And I think that’s really big for Hannah, because she came in with a big potential and a big style of play. But her voice was pretty quiet. It’s getting louder, which I love.”
Stuelke was a second-team All-Big Ten selection last season in a year in which she scored 47 points in a home game against Penn State, which now ranks as the second-highest single-game scoring total in a game at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The year before, as a freshman, she was the Big Ten’s Sixth Player of the Year.
Stuelke will have more interior help this season, and that might allow her to move back to the ‘4’ a position where she has been comfortable. Center Addison O’Grady is back, as is forward A.J. Ediger. Forward Jada Gyamfi’s role is expected to grow, and freshman center Ava Heiden was impressive in the summer.
Someone asked Stuelke about the tradition of Iowa post players in recent seasons, from Megan Gustafson to Monika Czinano.
“Megan, obviously, was amazing,” Stuelke said. “Monica was amazing. I’m not a true ‘5’ like them, so you can’t really compare any of us. We’re all very different, but just to be mentioned with those names is obviously a blessing.”
Stuelke is her own player, louder voice and all.
Getting back to the team dinners, Stuelke and teammate Lucy Olsen were asked who was the best cook on the team.
“Me,” Stuelke said.
Really?
“Yeah, it’s me,” she said, smiling.
It’s all about the confidence.