By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

Trent Jakacki is coming home.

The Crestwood High School graduate has made the commitment to play men’s basketball at Hiram College beginning in the 2022-2023 season.

“I am really excited to be back in my hometown,” Jakacki said. “It will be special to be so close to my family and friends. And it will be exciting to see them come to games to support not just me, but the entire Hiram team.”

Following Jakacki’s senior season at Crestwood, he had been recruited by many schools and had narrowed his choices down to a top three.

Hiram was one of those three, but he ultimately chose to continue his academic and athletic careers at Baldwin Wallace.

He played one season for the Yellow Jackets, appearing in nine games as a freshman.

Then, about midway through the summer, Jakacki began to think about his future.

“I loved the school, my friends and my teammates at Baldwin Wallace, but I just started to realize that Hiram was a better fit for me. It was a really hard decision, but I am happy with my decision. I am excited.”

Trent Jakacki originally committed to Baldwin Wallace and played in nine games last year as a freshman for the Yellow Jackets. Jakacki has transferred to Hiram College.

Jakacki has spent the off-season performing workout sessions that include weight training, shooting, ball-handling and competition.

“I spent Tuesdays and Thursdays during the summer working out at Crestwood, but I have been back at Hiram for the last two weeks to get ready for the season,” Jakacki said.
Jakacki finished his career at Crestwood as the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,339 points. The total ranks 19th-best in Portage County scoring history. And second-most in school history behind Jordan Fabry’s 1,754 points.

The 6-foot, 155-pounder owns the school record for points in a game (44), single-season scoring average (27.2) and career charges taken (40). In addition to the hefty scoring average, Jakacki’s senior senior also included 10.1 rebounds, 6.3 assists and 4.3 steals per game.

Jakacki, along with his older brother Mason and father Josh are the only father and multiple sons in Portage County history to all reach the 1,000-point milestone. Josh finished with 1,278 points and Mason totaled 1,063.

The return to Hiram also reunites the Jakacki family with the Terriers’ program, which Josh played for four years before graduating in 1998. He was a team captain that year and he was named Team MVP for all three seasons he played at Hiram. Josh Jakacki was inducted into the Hiram Hall of Fame in 2014.

“I think it is really special that I will be playing at the same place my dad did,” said Trent Jakacki, who said he intends to pursue a degree in financing and accounting. “To get the opportunity to follow in his legacy is really cool.”

And that opportunity cannot come fast enough for Jakacki.

“I could not be more excited,” he said. “I am ready for the season and to get started now,” Trent Jakacki said.