AAU Preseason Preview: Iowa Ball Stars 2027
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It’s that time of the year again. It’s AAU Season! This time of the year is always an interesting and excited one. It’s the time where we see new faces in new places, new groups joining together, and a whole…
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Continue ReadingIt’s that time of the year again. It’s AAU Season! This time of the year is always an interesting and excited one. It’s the time where we see new faces in new places, new groups joining together, and a whole lot of action as it pertains to high-level basketball throughout the country.
In this article we highlight the program that is the Iowa Ball Stars and their 2027 team. This is a group that many might not know too much about but let me tell you, if they have sort of connection with each other they are going to be primed for a successful Spring/Summer campaign. This team is one that is mixed with prospects that can hoop at every single position. They have fast PG’s, knock down SG’s, and length to dominate at the Forward/Center positions. I’m excited to see what this team can turn into. They seem to be a group that has a lot of fun on the court and that is something promising to see in today’s day of age.
Schedule –
April 13-14: Hawkeye City Classic- Coralville, Iowa
April 19-21: Windy City Classic – USJN – Milwaukee, Wisconsin
May 4-5: Clash on the Court – Coralville, Iowa
May: Tournament – TBD
June 1-2: Battle Of The Borders – Kansas City, Missouri
June 15-16: Midwest Girls Classic – Ames, Iowa
July 12-15: March to the Arch – USJN – St. Louis, Missouri
July 19-22: Premiere Showcase – USJN – Chicago, Illinois
Ava Fuelling Ava Fuelling 5’3″ | PG Dunkerton | 2027 IA is a top tier PG out of the 2027 Class that had her skill on full display this Varsity high school season and I can’t wait to see what she does while leading her Iowa Ball Stars 2027 Team. Fuelling is a Guard with a good head on her shoulders. She moves effortlessly with the ball in her hands and she is always willing to to make the extra pass to an open teammate after she creates. Other than passing the ball, she can also score it and defend it at a high rate. She has proven that over and over these past 3 months and I expect the same on the road this AAU season.
Highlights
Taylor Vore
Taylor Vore
This team is going to have ever position covered from top to bottom. One of their sharp shooters, who can really let it fly is Taylor Vore of Cedar Falls High School. You may not know too much about Vore at the moment but that is quickly going to change. She is prospect that displays balance and coordinated shot form, no matter when she is letting it go. She is very good at understanding her spacing and what is going to work into her getting a clean look at the basket. This team is going to have some really solid PG’s, so if Vore can get her hands ready and be prepared to let it fly, she should kill it over these next 3-4 months on the road at the 2 spot.
Olivya Johnson
Olivya Johnson
Olivya Johnson of Clear Creek Amana impressed me when I had a chance to see her this past season for the Clippers. She was her teams leader at the JV level, making plays and taking names. She demonstrated a balanced offensive attack, while being pretty skilled across the board. She is someone that you can trust in to get you a bucket when you need it the most. Whether that is off of the dribble or off of the catch, she makes it work. Next Varsity season I expect Johnson to see the Varsity floor. She does too many good things to ignore her play-style and production. The same production I know she can produce this season with the Ball Stars.
The game play that Macey O’Brien Macey O’Brien 5’9″ | CG Waterloo Columbus | 2027 State IA has displayed this Varsity Season with Columbus Catholic was next level and she is only going to get better with experience. O’Brien has length, speed, skill, and athletic ability. She is someone that ALWAYS produces on both sides of the ball and I really have seen anyone that can stop her in 1v1 situations. At this point in a prospects career, they still have a lot of room to grow in this game but O’Brien is on the right path. She is a Top 15 player throughout the 2027 Class in Iowa and that ranking is only going to go up with the time she spends on the floor. As for players in this program with high ceiling, O’Brien’s may be the most promising but we will just have to wait and see about that.
Highlights
Alaysia Williams Alaysia Williams 5'5" | PG Kennedy | 2028 IA
Alaysia Williams Alaysia Williams 5'5" | PG Kennedy | 2028 IA
The only prospect playing up out of the 2028 Class with this team comes to us in the form of future Kennedy PG, Alaysia Williams Alaysia Williams 5’5″ | PG Kennedy | 2028 IA . Williams is a shifty ball handler, crafty play maker near the basket, and really good at finishing at the rim. I’m not sure if Williams will start for this squad but she will see the floor a good amount. With her being a young age and getting this level of experience, it’s only going to make her better. She has displayed that she can do some really impressive things in big moments, I just need to see that a little bit more moving forward. Which I’m sure I will.
Chloe Murphy
Chloe Murphy
I’m assuming that the offense that this team is going to run will be based on a lot of 5-Out or dribble drive. They have premier guards who can do several positive things on the floor when it is evenly spaced out. You might even see this group run 4 Out, 1 In at times so they their post players can get a touch. A prospect that could do really well in this type of system is PG, Chloe Murphy of OABCIG High School. She is a high IQ type player that keeps it simple. She doesn’t ever try to force any action when it’s not there and she is always willing to sacrifice her body for the good of the team without seeking any praise or appreciation. From a coaching perspective, that’s the type of person you want leading your team so I’m excited to see what she can do.
Adysin Kayser
Adysin Kayser
The Center and monster in middle of this team is Adysin Kayser of Independence High School. Just you wait, Kayser is going to be a staple of this Independence program before you know it if she stays on the path she is currently on and she keeps on working. Kayser come in at 6’0 with some athletic ability and natural strength to pair with it. If her team can set her up for success near the basket, she is going to feast this AAU season. Within this team, the Guards are going to be able to create opportunities for the Forwards and Centers. If Kayser gets some more confidence under her belt early on in the year, I’ll be excited to see where she can take things this next winter with Independence.
Scout McCormick
Scout McCormick
Scout McCormick comes from a big program out of Cedar Rapids in the Linn-Mar Lions and she is ready to make a name for herself this next few months. McCormick is going to be another guard that this coaching staff can move around on the floor between positions. I think she would work the best at the 2 or the 3 but sometimes players are forced into different roles and they excel. It all depends on the situation. The versatility of McCormick is definitely going to be the reason that she see’s the floor. She is going to be a do-it-all type Guard for this team and I’m sure that will work in her favor. College coaches love to see prospects that can impact the game without the ball in their hands and I think that McCormick can do that. I will be at this team’s first tournament in Coralville to kick things off in a few weeks. I’m anticipating that they are going to come in, ready to roll! McCormick included.
Sela Rascon
Sela Rascon
This team is loaded with offensive weapons. As long as they have any sort of connection they are going to beat a lot of opposing programs this year. Another Guard for them comes in the form of Sela Rascon. Rascon is an effort type player, that works really hard on the defensive end of the floor. She is talented enough to knock down an open shot or pass to others but she really thrives getting her hands on tips/deflections in the open court. If she is used in the correct way this AAU season, I’m sure she is going to have some eye-opening performances. She works relentlessly and she isn’t afraid to mix it up with bigger opponents. Once she finds her niche with the players around her, she is going to be able to step in and make some positive things happen.
Vanessa Woodsmall
Vanessa Woodsmall
Vanessa Woodsmall is a knock down shooter with active hands. She is a prospect that saw the floor at the Varsity level this past season and she did a great job of making the most of her opportunities when they presented themselves. Every time that Woodsmall takes the floor, she is good for at least 1 three point make and a few steals on the defensive end. On this team, I think she is going to have the same role. She is someone that her teams are going to look to find at the three point line in transition and if not, she is smart enough to move around and cut toward the hoop for a different open look. Her Burlington program proved this Winter that they are on the rise and a big part of that is due to Woodsmall’s production.
Addy Kohagen
Addy Kohagen
Addy Kohagen is a multi-sport athlete, that excels not only on the basketball court but on the track field as well. For this team, Kohagen is going to compete at the Forward position because of her natural length and demeanor. I would say that her best ability is her availability. She is someone that always comes to the ball and she understands when to make herself available for opportunities on the offense end. If she can lock in on the defensive side of things, she is going to be someone we talk about a few times this Spring. She brings a lot of positives to the floor and that’s something that every team needs if they want to compete each contest.