Summer Jam Review: Iowa’s 2021 Teams
With the June AAU period in the books, I am going to start pushing out (finally) our coverage from Summer Jam in Minnesota from June 14-16. Instead of the typical evaluation lists I am going to attempt something that I…
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Continue ReadingWith the June AAU period in the books, I am going to start pushing out (finally) our coverage from Summer Jam in Minnesota from June 14-16. Instead of the typical evaluation lists I am going to attempt something that I have never done before on either the boys or girls side. Below, I will be listing each 2020 team from Iowa that I saw at Summer Jam, along with their roster *that was present for the game I saw*. Therefore, these aren’t complete rosters but rather just who played in the game that I watched. For example, MN Rise Martin had six kids on one day against Beyond Ball 24K but I noticed on the next day they had their full lineup — I would only include on their roster the six players that I saw.
I will list notes on five players from each team that I haven’t talked about much this summer. If that isn’t possible, I will just talk about the five players who I thought played the best during the weekend (see All Iowa Attack EYBL). The rosters are not in any particular order except with the committed players listed first.
All Iowa Attack EYBL
Name |
Class |
HT |
POS |
High School |
Commitment |
2022 |
Hannah Stuelke |
6’ |
PF |
Cedar Rapids Washington |
Iowa |
2021 |
Katie Dinnebier |
5’7 |
PG |
Waukee |
|
2021 |
Riley Wright |
5’10 |
SF |
Marion |
|
2021 |
Ashley Iiams |
6’ |
PF |
Ames |
|
2021 |
Caroline Waite |
5’2 |
PG |
Ames |
|
2022 |
Jada Gyamfi |
6’1 |
PF |
Urbandale |
|
2022 |
Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda |
5’9 |
SG |
O’Gorman (SD) |
|
2022 |
Ava Hawthorne |
5’9 |
PG |
Gilbert |
|
2022 |
Rylie Kruse |
5’10 |
SF |
Southeast Polk |
To put it lightly, All Iowa Attack rolled through their opponents to a Summer Jam Championship. They were on a roll all weekend long, kind of like they have been all summer long. Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda has transformed her game all summer long. I first saw her in April and she was a little raw but still effective with all of her length. Now she has started to add skill while still being an impactful and lengthy player. Her transformation has been quite a sight from a player with a lot of potential to someone who is being a legitimate prospect with her added skill. Caroline Waite was shooting the ball really well and is still one of the premier scorers in the state. She is finishing at the rim a lot better now and her energy on the court continues to shine. A scoring guard who has a great feel for the game and good passing ability, Waite has a potential to score 20 points in every game. Rylie Kruse has been consistently flying under the radar this season as a wing who provides a nice scoring touch off the bench. An unorthodox shooting motion that goes in pretty much every single time I watch her play. Kruse is going to be counted on this upcoming season to help spell some key graduations. Jada Gyamfi is starting to find her groove and she continues to get better. One of the top players in the class, Gyamfi is starting to dominate alongside Stuelke. Probably more of a wing, Gyamfi is versatile enough to play the stretch four spot and defend well. A very good shot blocker who stops everything in the paint. Ashley Iiams has also played really well this summer and I saw her this weekend knock down a ton of jumpers. A versatile stretch four, Iiams has range well beyond the arc but can also play on the inside. A solid rebounder who can grabs balls that come off the rim not in her area. This is a group that is just so talented and put together that I won’t be surprised if they don’t lose a game in July.
Kingdom Hoops
Name |
Class |
HT |
POS |
High School |
Commitment |
2021 |
Aaliyah Williams |
5’6 |
PG |
Des Moines East |
|
2021 |
Maggie Wilkins |
5’7 |
PG |
Knoxville |
|
2021 |
Jackie Pippett |
6’ |
PF |
Ankeny Centennial |
|
2021 |
Lizzie Strom |
5’10 |
SF |
Ankeny Centennial |
|
2021 |
Katie Fogarty |
5’9 |
SF |
Bondurant-Farrar |
|
2022 |
Elle Street |
5’9 |
SG |
Ankeny Centennial |
|
2022 |
Brianna Fields |
5’10 |
PF |
Creston |
|
2023 |
Jenna Pitz |
5’7 |
PG |
Ankeny |
Kingdom Hoops didn’t have their entire lineup here for the game I saw and a few of their missing players were some of their better players. One of the most intriguing players on this team is the youngest. Jenna Pitz is going to be a freshman that comes in next year and impacts the game quickly at Ankeny. She has a good feel for the game, a solid motor, and is a wiry strong lead guard. Pitz is a very intriguing prospect with her length and ball handling ability in traffic. Will need to gain a little strength but that is going to come as she matures through high school. During the weekend I thought that Maggie Wilkins played very well and was knocking down shots with some consistency. She’s a quick guard who is starting to pick her spots a little better and score it better. Wilkins has started to better read the defense and picks her spots this summer. Aaliyah Williams is a true gym rat. She played fairly well this weekend and is starting to turn the corner from a player into a prospect. She’s a strong guard who is a good on-ball defender. Williams is a player who is a treat to watch because she has such a passion for the game and a knowledge of it. Definitely a scholarship level player in the future. Katie Fogarty was also a player who impressed a lot this weekend. She showcased her mobility and ability to score at the rim. I really like her willingness to pass the ball but also to score it when she needs to. Starting to incorporate a very good jumper into her game as well. Brianna Fields has been a bright spot to this team as a post player. She has a solid back to the basket game and her ability to score the ball is solid in the mid-post area. Very good knowledge of the game and a mobile worker on the floor.
Lady Martin Brothers
Name |
Class |
HT |
POS |
High School |
Commitment |
2021 |
Alicia Garcia |
6’1 |
C |
Muscatine |
Northern Iowa |
2021 |
Audrey Koch |
5’10 |
SF |
Iowa City West |
|
2021 |
Anaya Barney |
5’10 |
SG |
Cedar Falls |
|
2021 |
Abbie Draper |
6’ |
PF |
Waverly Shell Rock |
|
2021 |
Ella Van Weelden |
6’ |
SF |
Marion |
|
2021 |
Sasha Koenig |
5’5 |
PG |
West Branch |
|
2021 |
Zoey Long |
5’5 |
SG |
Muscatine |
|
2021 |
Samantha Scott |
5’9 |
SF |
North Scott |
This is a team loaded with talent and although they fell short at Summer Jam they were able to show me a few new things. Audrey Koch is continuing to have a really good summer. Her scoring ability and length continue to standout at a high level and she is starting to become one of the best players in the 2021 class. Her shot has gotten more consistent and is really starting to show everyone that she can play at an elite level. Koch’s ability to shoot the ball and also drive it has started to catch the attention of numerous schools this spring. Sasha Koenig has continued to impress as the main ball-hander and lead guard for this group. She’s a quick and balanced guard who knows how to run the offense and manage all the pieces in this group. A guard in the class who can really run an offense as well as score the ball. Anaya Barney has also been very good this year much like Koch. I think Barney is probably a little more of a guard, but has close to the same skillset as Koch. She’s a very good playmaker and a player who can score at all three levels. I would assume that her recruiting starts to take off sooner rather than later. Ella Van Weelden has really impressed me this summer after seeing her a few times in the high school season. She’s an athletic wing who is one of the most vocal players that I have heard. Tough player for her size and never takes a play off. She really knows the game of basketball and her play this summer has been a nice addition to this Lady Martin Brothers program. Abbie Draper has continuously shown me new skills in her game this year. She’s a very well built forward who is going to bounce between the three and four spot. Her versatility will also allow her to play the two-guard spot as well. Draper has a very good feel for the game and has been scoring the ball very well this season. She’s going to come into her own this season and really lead her high school team. A tremendous talent whose game is becoming more diverse.