PHIA Exclusive: Iowa Barnstormers Ink Deal to Play in adidas Gauntlet Gold Division
Over the course of the last decade, the Iowa Barnstormers have proven themselves to be not only the premier grassroots program in the state, but one of the top programs in the Midwest. They’ve routinely found themselves in Elite Eights and Final Fours at big-time events, at all age levels, alongside several shoe-sponsored teams. Now, the Barnstormers can join the list of shoe-sponsored teams.
In a deal inked earlier this week, the Barnstormers will now be sponsored by adidas, and will be participating in the adidas Gauntlet Gold Division, the top division in adidas’ grassroots league.
“Last year we played in the adidas Silver division, and we thought it was a neat opportunity because it was a chance to earn something,” program co-director Greg Stephen said. “We went down to Dallas that first week and our 2019s won it. We went to Atlanta the following weekend and our 2018 class won it, and the 2019s finished second in the Gold Division after being asked to move up after a team dropped out. Both teams then got invited to the Gauntlet Finale in Spartanburg, South Carolina and played well there.”
“And based on our performance in those events, adidas promised us they would be doing something. You know, logistically it takes a while to get contracts in place and stuff like that, but we’re ready to announce that we’ll be playing in the adidas Gold Division for the next few years,” Stephen said.
No team from Iowa has played in a shoe-sponsored league since the summers of 2011 and 2012.
“It’s been a long time coming,” program co-director Jamie Johnson said. “It just goes to show that we have been one of the top programs in the country for the past several years now and it’s nice to be recognized by a major company like adidas. I think I can speak for all of us in our program when I say that we are excited to hit the circuit this spring to see how far we can take it.”
After All-Iowa Attack and Martin Brothers played in the Nike EYBL previously, the Barnstormers will become the first team from Iowa to play in adidas’ league.
“This is where we want to be. Obviously Nike and Under Armour both have really great leagues going, but based on our experience in the adidas things last year, I think it’s a great fit for our kids from Iowa, it’s great exposure and they really do a nice job of supporting our program,” Stephen said. “We’ve had other opportunities in the past to work with Nike or Under Armour, but adidas is where we really want to be at. Obviously Nike is a top dog in apparel and sponsorship in the NBA, but adidas has been huge in grassroots for years. All the way back to Sonny Vaccaro, the ABCD camps. Heck, even LeBron played with adidas in high school.”
All three high school level teams will play in the Gauntlet, and with that comes much more travel than they’ve done in previous years.
“They’ll all go to either Dallas or Los Angeles the first weekend of that first live period, they (adidas) haven’t decided which one yet. The following weekend, we’ll be in Atlanta, then there’s an event Memorial Day weekend in Chicago,” Stephen explained.
“Based on how each team does during those first three events, they then invite teams down to Spartanburg for the Gauntlet Finale. They invited eight 15U teams, 16 16U teams and 16 17U teams last year, I’d assume it’ll be similar this year,” Stephen said. The summer will conclude with the program’s annual trip to Milwaukee for the NY2LA Summer Jam, followed by a trip to Las Vegas for the adidas Summer Championships.
“It should be something really cool, it’s something that our kids have really bought into. It’s an opportunity to play against some of the best teams in the country,” Stephen said. “And to be honest, as part of the sponsorship we get a lot of extra gear, some travel money, they’re really doing some great things to help support our program.”
“We’ve had some pretty good years in the past, and this gives us a chance to have some even better years moving forward,” Stephen continued.
In addition to playing in the Gauntlet against top-notch competition (and in front of a much larger number of college coaches during those critical live periods), being part of a shoe-sponsored league could lead to other opportunities as well.
“Beyond the stuff that we will play in, it gives our kids a better opportunity to get into some of the other events they run, those big elite camps, stuff like the NBPA camp. I think a lot of people forget about those types of opportunities, but that’s a big factor as well,” Stephen said. “We’re really excited about it.”
“Iowa finally has a sponsored program on a major circuit again after many years without representation. We’re proud to be the program that gets a shot to represent the state on the national scene,” Johnson added.