CY Select Wolves: The Total Package

<img class="alignnone wp-image-274608" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/pgh/uploads/2021/04/Molly-Joyce1.jpg" alt="" width="461" height="307" /> This is the feature on the third, in a series of many, AAU programs in the state of Iowa. This AAU grassroots program that I will be discussing here is truly the real deal. Their variety and wide range of opportunities they provide for youth female basketball players goes above and beyond the call of duty. They take total pride and priority in the overall person each player is off the court, while also making sure the athlete is perfecting their craft, improving their basketball skills, and is becoming the best player she can be. This organization is the CY Select Wolves program that is based in Des Moines, Iowa. They have girls teams in all grade levels, starting from 3rd grade through 11th grade (pre-senior year). This elite AAU program has also seen outstanding development and advancement over the years, and has risen to be one of the top AAU girls programs in the state of Iowa. Since they just have girls teams in their program, that makes them 100% focused on the female baller and establishes a foundation of pomoting and elevating girls basketball in the state of Iowa and around the country. Beginning in 2005, the CY Select Wolves started in Ames, Iowa with just one roster of eleven boys. Over the course of fifteen years, the Wolves have drastically evolved into a premier AAU girls program serving players of families from over 35 school districts. “The Wolves program is a true player development program and focuses on the whole athlete. At the end of a player’s career with us, true success is defined by the whole experience they have as a Wolves player not only on the court, but off the court as well. We strive to empower young women through the game of basketball.” The CY Select Wolves program holds skills training sessions, as well as camps to assist players in taking their game to a whole new level and to become more knowledgeable of the game on both ends of the court. Charles Young, the Founder, Owner, and Coach of the CY Select Wolves AAU program; has been with the program since Day 1 and has been the pivotal reason in the success and advancement of the organization. He has provided great opportunities for these female players to become better overall players in each dimension of their game, enhance their basketball IQ, showcase their talent to college coaches, and has placed a huge emphasis on these girls not only thriving on the court, but also off the court in life as they grow and get older. He’s definitely running a top-notch program in every aspect of the game of basketball; as well as in life, and this shows that he wants what is best for each individual player as basketball players and people. His coaches that coach all of the teams within the program are also terrific leaders, and are following in his footsteps. Ashley Adams, the Program Director and Coach of the CY Select Wolves, has set the tone and stage for the program in virtually every dimension of the organization. She has been a tremendous role model for all of the players, and has been a great inspiration to each of them. She is the mastermind of fostering and acknowledging all the athletes, and has been a successful leader not only on the court, but off the court as well. She has established all of the regular and annual events they hold within the program, and has been a main reason for the program's admiration, popularity, and prominent image they have around the state of Iowa. There is no doubt she has had a sincere impact on each player both mentally and emotionally. She has the capability to relate to each athlete, and can put herself in their shoes. She will continue to make this program an even better one as the years go on with her leadership skills, attitude, knowledge, and contagious personality. The CY Select Wolves have a tab on their website of a “Newsletter” icon. After you click, you will see several monthly newsletters that the CY Select Wolves program have shared, starting with the most recent in April of 2021, going all the way back to April of 2019. These newsletters display recent information about players and teams, pictures of players, news about upcoming tournaments and events, as well as inspiring feature stories on players within the program. This establishes a great sense of comradery within the program, makes people and coaches aware of what the program has to offer, and is a thrilling way to promote the whole organization. Their “5 Pillars of CY Select Basketball model” of Commitment, Development, Discipline, Heart, and Empowerment speaks volume of what kind of high character, ethical, and moral program we got going over in Des Moines. The organization holds regular “Wolfpack” events for players and families, which incorporates a mentorship opportunity for the older players to serve as leaders and to be involved in supporting the younger players within the program. This is an excellent way to create a cohesive, collaborative, and ecstatic atmosphere for every player in the program. The younger players can learn new stuff from the veteran players, and this will allow everyone to make connections and build relationships; while becoming better overall players. This definitely creates a “winning team environment” where all players of all grade levels are having a positive impact on the game of basketball. The CY Select Wolves AAU program has produced some outstanding female basketball players around the state of Iowa that have gone on to be tremendous college ballers at all levels. All of the teams will be traveling to some prestigious, high-level tournaments this spring/summer and will be getting the opportunity to showcase their talent and skill, while bringing back home some hardware. They also will be playing in the inaugural season of the Prep Girls Hoops Circuit this year with their high school teams. Each CY Select Wolves team has already started to make their mark on the circuit by beating some of the top teams they have faced. All four of their teams will contend for a championship at the end of May. They played in Milwaukee April 9th-11th and in Omaha April 17th-18th. They will finish off the circuit with a stop in Council Bluffs May 14th-16th, and then conclude with the finals May 28th-30th. There is some loaded talent at all positions on every team in the CY Select Wolves AAU program. A couple of players to watch this 2021 AAU season within the program as we blast off into the spring/summer circuit are [player_tooltip player_id="63582" first="Meg" last="Reitz"] (W, 2022), [player_tooltip player_id="63019" first="Audi" last="Crooks"] (C, 2023), [player_tooltip player_id="127623" first="Katy" last="Reyerson"] (F, 2023), [player_tooltip player_id="63033" first="Molly" last="Joyce"] (G, 2023), and [player_tooltip player_id="246101" first="Aaliyah" last="Riley"] (G, 2024). These are five talented players with a tremendous skill set that will be making some noise this AAU season that college coaches need to pay close attention to and watch. This AAU program is the definition of “the full package.” We hear about basketball players and athletes of all sports having the full package, but very rarely do we hear about individual programs and organizations that do. The CY Select Wolves program does a great job of commanding values of excellence of the total person, and striving for greatness in its players in all elements of life. This organization proves to all people that there is more to life than a sport. The kind of person you are, the difference you make, and the effect you have on each person you come across as you go throughout your daily life is much more important than dribbling a basketball down a court, shooting a 3-pointer, finishing an unbelievable AND1, getting an assist, winning a state championship, making it to Nationals, being named to an all-tournament team, getting an all-state honor, etc. The CY Select Wolves AAU organization will continue to evolve and become more noticeable at the national level around the U.S. in years to come, and there is no doubt about that. The high caliber ability they are bringing into the program is going to make the organization a lethal, country-wide AAU program in upcoming years. Please follow and keep up to date on games and tournaments of this AAU organization, as they produce some high level players with a lot of natural talent, skill, basketball IQ, and athleticism. Their website can be found at <a href="https://cyselect.com/">https://cyselect.com/</a>. You can also follow the program on social media at: @CYSelectWolves, @cyselect, #CYWolfpack, and CY Select Wolves.