Summer Reset: Iowa Barnstormers 17U
Editor's note: We will be profiling a number of programs and teams ahead of the always-important July schedule getting underway this weekend. We polled program directors and coaches to get their take on their team's performances up until this point.…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingEditor's note: We will be profiling a number of programs and teams ahead of the always-important July schedule getting underway this weekend. We polled program directors and coaches to get their take on their team's performances up until this point. The section below was submitted by Iowa Barnstormers program co-director Greg Stephen.
Best tournament finish(es): Rumble in the Bronx (Semis), KC (Championship Game, including defeating MOKAN Elite earlier in the event), Winning WI Academy event in April, won Midwest Live! in April defeating Martin Brothers in the finals.
Team MVP: Wali Parks, Iowa City West. In our biggest games, Wali has been our best player… and has shot it exceptionally at times this year.
Biggest surprise: Turner Scott, WDM Valley; Ted Brown, Dowling Catholic. We knew Turner and Ted would be outstanding additions to the team, but we didn’t know they would be THIS good… immediately taking leadership roles and meshing with the other guys right from the first practice.
Best defender: Alex Henderson, Iowa City West. One of the most unheralded members of the team (and of Iowa City West), Alex is one of those glue guys that makes the team so much better. We wouldn’t be what we are without him.
Best team moment: Our favorite moment of the year so far was our trip to New York City for the Rumble in the Bronx… the guys really came to play as a team, despite missing Tanner (Lohaus), and they had a great time off the court, visiting the 9/11 Memorial, touring the city on bicycles, etc.
Evaluation of how your team performed in the spring: We’ve gotten off to a tremendous start to the year, but that was an expectation of ours heading into this year. Despite adding a couple new faces to the team, we got off to a great start in Milwaukee, won events in Madison and Des Moines, and performed very well at national events like Spiece Run ‘N Slam, NY2LA Spring Extravaganza, and the Rumble in the Bronx.
July schedule:
July 8-12 ASICS Double Pump Summer Tip-Off in Anaheim, CA
July 15-19 NY2LA Summer Jam in Milwaukee, WI
July 23-26 KC Hardwood Classic in Kansas City, MO
July goals: This has been one of our favorite teams for several years… really excited to see how they perform on the stretch run of their AAU careers. We think we have a chance to win any of the events we’re entered in if some things go our way… and hopefully the guys perform well in front of the coaches that are watching.