Wake Forest Athletics
Demon Deacons Add Former Missouri Valley Freshman of the Year Cooper Schwieger
4/23/2025 1:58:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Schwieger will arrive in Winston-Salem following two accolade-filled seasons at Valparaiso.
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Wake Forest men's basketball has announced the addition of 2023-24 Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year and 2024-25 All-MVC Second-Team selection Cooper Schwieger.
"Cooper is a multi-dimensional offensive player," said head coach Steve Forbes. "He can score both facing the basket and with his back to the basket. I love his competitiveness and desire to improve, much like all the successful portal players we've had during our time at Wake Forest. He has the same trajectory as Jake LaRavia, who transferred to Wake from Indiana State after his sophomore year. Freshman of the Year in the Missouri Valley and 2nd Team All-Valley as a sophomore. We are so excited that Cooper chose to be a Demon Deacon!"
In his two seasons at Valparaiso, Schwieger started all 65 of his appearances, averaging 14.5 points per game along with 6.7 rebounds and 96 total blocks. The Overland Park, Kan., native shot 49.4 percent from the field in his first two collegiate seasons along with 62 made three-point attempts.
As a freshman, Schwieger started all 31 of his appearances and was named the MVC Freshman of the Year as he was just fourth freshman in the conference to average at least 13 points and five rebounds per contest since 1992-93.
Overall, he led all MVC freshmen in points per game (13.2) and rebounds per game (5.4). He scored in double-figures 21 times and recorded a pair of double-doubles.
During his sophomore campaign, Schwieger was an All-MVC Second-Team selection along with being named to the MVC Most Improved Team, as he averaged 15.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game in 34 starts. He ranked sixth in the league in scoring average, led the league in rebounding average, ranked eighth in field-goal percentage (.489), fourth in free-throw percentage (.850) and first in blocked shots (68, 2.00 per game). Additionally, his 10 double-doubles led all MVC players.
In the final week of the regular season, he was named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week and a Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week as he scored 21 points along with tallying three blocks against Bradley before a 33-point, 18-rebound, five assist performance against UIC.
It marked just the third 30-15-5 performance by a MVC player in conference history, as Schwieger joined Larry Bird (March 24, 1979) and Oscar Robertson (March 31, 1959) to reach those numbers in a single game.
Schwieger finished MVC Tournament action with 13 blocks – tied for the second-most in Arch Madness since 1984 – as his 945 total points through his first two seasons were the second-most by a Valpo player in program history.
Career Honors
"Cooper is a multi-dimensional offensive player," said head coach Steve Forbes. "He can score both facing the basket and with his back to the basket. I love his competitiveness and desire to improve, much like all the successful portal players we've had during our time at Wake Forest. He has the same trajectory as Jake LaRavia, who transferred to Wake from Indiana State after his sophomore year. Freshman of the Year in the Missouri Valley and 2nd Team All-Valley as a sophomore. We are so excited that Cooper chose to be a Demon Deacon!"
In his two seasons at Valparaiso, Schwieger started all 65 of his appearances, averaging 14.5 points per game along with 6.7 rebounds and 96 total blocks. The Overland Park, Kan., native shot 49.4 percent from the field in his first two collegiate seasons along with 62 made three-point attempts.
As a freshman, Schwieger started all 31 of his appearances and was named the MVC Freshman of the Year as he was just fourth freshman in the conference to average at least 13 points and five rebounds per contest since 1992-93.
Overall, he led all MVC freshmen in points per game (13.2) and rebounds per game (5.4). He scored in double-figures 21 times and recorded a pair of double-doubles.
During his sophomore campaign, Schwieger was an All-MVC Second-Team selection along with being named to the MVC Most Improved Team, as he averaged 15.8 points and 7.8 rebounds per game in 34 starts. He ranked sixth in the league in scoring average, led the league in rebounding average, ranked eighth in field-goal percentage (.489), fourth in free-throw percentage (.850) and first in blocked shots (68, 2.00 per game). Additionally, his 10 double-doubles led all MVC players.
In the final week of the regular season, he was named the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week and a Oscar Robertson National Player of the Week as he scored 21 points along with tallying three blocks against Bradley before a 33-point, 18-rebound, five assist performance against UIC.
It marked just the third 30-15-5 performance by a MVC player in conference history, as Schwieger joined Larry Bird (March 24, 1979) and Oscar Robertson (March 31, 1959) to reach those numbers in a single game.
Schwieger finished MVC Tournament action with 13 blocks – tied for the second-most in Arch Madness since 1984 – as his 945 total points through his first two seasons were the second-most by a Valpo player in program history.
Career Honors
- 2024-25 All-Missouri Valley Second Team
- 2024-25 Missouri Valley Most-Improved Team
- 2023-24 Missouri Valley Freshman of the Year
- 2023-24 Missouri Valley All-Freshman Team
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