In the third installment of our Nova Notebook "Meet the Cats" series we welcome former Cornell guard Jake Fiegen to Villanova.
 
As a basketball novice in his native Illinois, Jake Fiegen (fee-gen) didn't have a signature strength that drew the public's attention to him.
 
"Growing up," says the product of Wilmette, Ill., "I was more of a hustle player. I was trying to get rebounds and play defense. I wasn't super-skilled. When I started practicing my shooting and dribbling to hone my skills, that's when I started to see results."
 
When he turned his attention to basketball after dabbling in a variety of sports in grade school and junior high, Fiegen discovered his niche. By the time his senior season at New Trier High School rolled around in 2022-23, he had become a first team all-state pick by the News Gazette and a candidate for Illinois' "Mr. Basketball" award. In his final season he averaged 20.8 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per outing.
 
Fiegen's 748 points and 85 3-pointers in his final season at New Trier established new school records.
 
Better still, New Trier advanced to the Illinois state semifinal.
 
"I really enjoyed playing with that team," says Fiegen. "We had a special group of guys. Everyone on the team was bought in, whether they were a starter, bench player or practice player. That closeness carried over to off the court. We liked to hang out and enjoyed being with each other. We were a very competitive group and had a ton of fun."
 
He attributes much of his development to his parents, Jennifer and Jonathan Fiegen, and an AAU coach named Dimitri who spent hours tutoring him on the floor.
 
Fiegen chose to attend Cornell and his on-court progress continued. In his three seasons, the Big Red posted a 55-42 record, including 28-14 in the Ivy League. As a junior the 6-4 guard averaged 17.1 points, 5.0 rebounds and was named first team All-Ivy League.
 
"I had the opportunity to attend Cornell, be a part of special teams, and win a lot of games," he states. "The combination of athletics and academics was something I really appreciated. Basketball allowed me to grow my game in those three years.
 
"I think I've come a long way as a college player. The biggest area in which I have grown is just confidence in myself and who I am on and off the court. Going into games and practices I am confident in my abilities and what I can do to help my team win."
 
When he elected to enter the transfer portal last spring, he immediately sensed a good fit at another elite academic institution at Villanova.
 
"I was looking for a school that had a prestigious culture and a history with great players that have gone on to have success at the next level. But also, I wanted a team that is close (off the court) and could take that lower-level team chemistry to a high major program. Villanova does that very well with its culture.
 
"I want to win, make it to March Madness and win games in March Madness."
 
There were other elements that drew Fiegen to Villanova with head coach Kevin Willard at the top of that list.
 
"I really wanted to play for Coach Willard," Fiegen states. "You see his intensity and passion out there every day. He runs a lot of great actions. We play fast and get a lot of shots up. All his teams play together so that was very attractive to me."
 
Fiegen has been working alongside most of his new teammates now for more than six weeks. In that relatively short span of time, he has seen many of the same traits that helped his previous teams enjoy success.
 
"The transition was very smooth," says Fiegen. "Everyone is super nice. We kind of bonded right away and we're getting closer every week we're here. No one else is really on campus so we spend a lot of time together in the facility. That's a good way to set the tone for the year."
 
As one of the most experienced Wildcats on the 2026-27 roster, he hopes to help offer whatever tips he can to teammates who may not have that same level of guile to call upon.
 
"I want to keep improving my vocal leadership," he states. "I want to grow and expand my game to do whatever the teams needs from me to help us win."
 
Fiegen describes his basketball self as "a tough player who does whatever it takes to win. I pride myself on playing hard and playing to my strengths. I like to shoot the ball so hopefully you'll see a lot of 3's in the Pavilion."
 
The new season also offers an element of unfamiliarity that hasn't really been a part of Fiegen's basketball path to this point.
 
"Being with the same guys and same team, as I was before, is always comfortable," he states. "But being uncomfortable forces me and everyone else, to grow to see what our new teammates are good at.
 
"I have learned from a lot of great players who have taught me what it takes to create a great team environment and put in the work to win games. I've played college basketball before, but this is a step up. I can take a lot of what I have learned and try to bring that to this team."
 
The last Wildcat to have honed his skills at an Illinois High School was none other than 2026 NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Jalen Brunson. A decade later, this product of the Land of Lincoln hopes to help a new generation of 'Cats write its own chapter in the rich history of Villanova Baskebtall.