As Iowa Center is recognized on the Big Ten Weekly Honor Roll, Ava Heiden shines brightly.
Ava Heiden, a sophomore center for Iowa, has quickly reminded everyone that she is prepared for a breakthrough season. Heiden was named to the Big Ten Weekly Honor Roll by the conference on Monday afternoon after leading the Hawkeyes to a 2-0 start with consecutive double-doubles.
During Iowa’s first two games, the 6-foot-4 star from Sherwood, Oregon, has been absolutely dominant. Heiden has immediately made a name for herself as one of the Big Ten’s early-season paint powerhouses, averaging 17.5 points and 12.0 rebounds per game while shooting an incredible 61.9% from the field. She has also been consistent at the free-throw line, making almost 70% of her attempts, which shows that she has improved overall from the previous season.
This early performance shows a great deal of growth and confidence for a player who spent a large portion of her freshman season learning from Iowa’s veterans. Jan Jensen, the head coach of Iowa, recently remarked, “She’s playing with poise.” “Ava is not in a hurry. Good things happen when you let the game come to you, as she is doing.
Indeed, positive things have occurred. Heiden has been a seamless conduit for Iowa’s offense, providing the Hawkeyes with a genuine inside presence to counterbalance their perimeter attack. Iowa has gotten off to a strong start in the first season of the post-Caitlin Clark era thanks to her ability to dominate the boards and finish efficiently. This is a storyline that many people nationwide are closely following.
The Hawkeyes’ early transition into this new chapter could have been rocky, but Heiden’s reliability has kept them afloat. She not only held her own against two nonconference opponents, but she also set the tone for the game. Iowa has an advantage in pace and physicality thanks to their rebounding instincts and soft hands around the rim. Heiden is in prestigious company because of the Big Ten’s recognition.
This week’s Honor Roll also includes Grace Sullivan of Northwestern and Berry Wallace of Illinois, both of whom have made impressive first impressions. Shay Ciezki of Indiana, meanwhile, won Big Ten Player of the Week following a scorching start in which he averaged 28.5 points per game on 52.6% shooting. Rishon LeZion of Purdue and Jazzy Davidson of USC were both named Freshman of the Week.
However, Heiden continues to prioritize team performance and consistency. The Drake Bulldogs (1-1) visit Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Thursday night, which will be Iowa’s next test. When the game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. CT on the Big Ten Network, fans can anticipate a lively crowd because in-state games always carry a little extra vigor.
Heiden will once more serve as the physical and symbolic focal point of Iowa’s offensive. When combined with Iowa’s quick ball movement and perimeter threats, her size, touch, and basketball IQ make her a nightmare for opposing defenses. It won’t be long before Heiden’s name makes even more headlines if she keeps up this pace of production; she might even be considered for Big Ten Player of the Year in the future.
But for the time being, she’s just doing what Iowa basketball players have done for years: putting in a lot of effort, playing selflessly, and letting the outcomes speak for themselves. And after just two games, it’s clear from the results that Ava Heiden has arrived.
