Prospect Spotlight: Katie Dinnebier (2021)

One of the top players in the 2021 class came into this year as a relatively unknown player. Katie Dinnebier rose very quickly up our rankings and now sits at #2, just behind Grace Larkins. Dinnebier tore her ACL just two games into her freshman year and proceeded to miss the rest of the season. This past high season was Dinnebier's first real taste of high school basketball and she scored 12.9 points a game while shooting 44 percent from behind the arc. She wasn't fully healthy until about the middle of the summer where her game really started to take off. Dinnebier is one of the top point guards in the state regardless of class. The combination of speed, skill, athleticism, and defense make her one of the top players in the 2021 class. This summer she has really showcased her ability on the AAU circuit running with All Iowa Attack. Dinnebier played with the 2021 group that won all stops on the EYBL circuit culminating in a national championship in Chicago in the middle of July. After the EYBL events were over, Dinnebier moved up to the top EYBL team to gain experience playing against the bigger and stronger players. "Summer went great," Dinnebier said. "Our team was undefeated in 10th grade, and we continue to grow as players. I have loved getting to know my coaches and teammates more and more as the season progresses. Playing in the EYBL circuit has been amazing and has helped improve my game. It is a great experience getting to play against the best of the best." Even though Dinnebier has had such a successful season, she is still hard at work on her game. She is a gym rat and is always looking to refine her craft. As this summer progressed along you could she the improvements that she was making within her game. Now in the off season, she is still working on refining certain things in her game. "I’m working most on creating my own shot off the dribble and giving myself space," Dinnebier said. "I am also working on a quicker release." This upcoming high school season will be a big one for her. It will be the first year that she is fully healthy and Waukee will be contending with the loss of three key seniors (Anna Brown, Loyola-Chicago; Paityn Rau, Northwest Missouri State; and Jori Nieman) who combined for 36.0 of Waukee's 71.6 points per game last season. Dinnebier is in store for a big year and will look to lead Waukee back to the state tournament. "My goals for high school are continue to grow my basketball IQ and to also be a leader on my team," Dinnebier says.