AAU Preseason Preview: Iowa Ball Stars 2026

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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 lot of action as it pertains to high-level basketball throughout the country.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In this article we highlight the program that is the [program_tooltip program_id='715891' first='Iowa' last='Ball Stars']&nbsp;and their 2026 team. This is a roster that brings together some players from all over the state. It's filled with lightning fast Point Guards, high level Shooting Guards, and some tall Fowards/Centers. They only have eight within this group but I do know they will be playing up a player or two from their 15U team for part of the season, giving them a total of 9-10 to compete with. I think this is the perfect number for an AAU team. Taking into consideration the time on the clock each half and timeouts given, this gives everyone a good amount of time on the floor, while also giving them an adequate break.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Thanks for tuning in and enjoy!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Schedule - </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>April 13-14:&nbsp;</strong>Hawkeye City Classic- Coralville, Iowa</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>April 19-21:</strong>&nbsp;Windy City Classic – USJN – Milwaukee, Wisconsin&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>May 4-5:</strong>&nbsp;Clash on the Court – Coralville, Iowa</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>May:&nbsp;</strong>Tournament – TBD&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>June 1-2:</strong>&nbsp;Battle Of The Borders – Kansas City, Missouri</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>June 15-16:</strong>&nbsp;Midwest Girls Classic – Ames, Iowa&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>July 12-15:</strong>&nbsp;March to the Arch – USJN – St. Louis, Missouri&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>July 19-22:</strong>&nbsp;Premiere Showcase – USJN – Chicago, Illinois</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["595151"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='595151' first='Rowan' last='Jacobi'] of Springville High School is going to be an enforcer for this group and I can't wait to see how she does. Jacobi is a handful in the middle for anyone that matches up with her natural size at 6'2. She has length, strength to finish through contact near the hoop, coordination with quick footwork, while also being a sniper when shooting the basketball. She has demonstrated that she can knock down several different shots from the midrange or deep off the catch on offense, more times than not. Defensively, she is going to be the player looked on to be their presence in paint at times and she will also be asked to step out to defend the perimeter.  As long as she can stay in position, opponents are going to have a really tough time with this match up. If she plays straight up and out of foul trouble, she is going to feast in several different aspects over these next few months.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["782503"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"A prospect at the Guard position that can do a little bit of everything is [player_tooltip player_id='839372' first='Sophia' last='Keys'] of Columbus Catholic High School. Keys can be moved around at the 1, 2 or 3 spot and handle any challenge that is put in her way. That could be a tough matchup defensively or a certain job offensively. It's really whatever the coaching staff and team needs at that given time. Other then that, she has demonstrated that she is very, very good off the dribble. The way that she can create is next level with the ability to finish in a plethora of different ways once she gets to the basket. Keys is coming off a Sophomore season that she did really well in, contributing every single night. I hope she can take this momentum and ride it into a great season with this group. Something that more than doable at this time.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["782505"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='782505' first='Grace' last='Richter'] comes to us from Maquoketa Valley High School and is someone else to know from this roster. Richter is a Forward, that gets down the floor in a hurry. She excels in the categories of Rebounding and being someone that opposing teams need to pay attention to on every possession or else she will have a double-double before halftime. This is a prospect that is going to do the dirty work for the rest of her team without the expectation of appreciation, no matter who she is playing with. She moves well for her size and she has a presence down low more times than not. I'm sure she is going to be tasked with bringing some energy each game, something that is expected at this point from what I'm seeing. If she can do that and stay relentless on the glass, she is going to have some really meaningful games over these next few months.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["582812"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"The second tallest player on this team and their other enforcer is [player_tooltip player_id='582812' first='Kaelin' last='Knipp']. Knipp has height, strong arms, balance, coordination, and high energy. She is very good at running from rim-to-rim, doing her work early on in a possession. She is great in the middle whenever her team runs a zone defensively as she usually has size on most of her matchups. She can also post up with her back to the basket or she can step out and hit a three if she has time offensively. This team really has only two main prospects that others will need to worry about in the middle and Knipp is definitely one of them. If Jacobi ever gets in foul trouble, Knipp is going to have to step up and be their leader in the paint. She has demonstrated over the past few years at the high school level that this is doable but obviously this team would love to play with both their bigs if they have the choice.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["891720"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='891720' first='Emma' last='Bose'] is a 5'10 Forward, that can shoot the ball from around the perimeter or take her defender off of her dribble at an efficient rate. She is very active on the glass on both sides of the floor but especially on the offensive end. Every time a shot goes up, she just seems to know where the rebound is going to be land. This AAU season she will have a lot of moments where she will be in charge of guarding the best offensive player on the opposing team. If she can lock in and stay confident in her own abilities, she is going to put together a really nice season for this Ball Stars team.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["891721"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"The twin sister of [player_tooltip player_id='891720' first='Emma' last='Bose'], is Jaden and don't get it twisted, she is just as solid of a prospect as Emma. Jaden is your facilitator at the Guard position. She is very good at attack the basket, especially off of the dribble. Once she gets there, she can finish with either hand on any side of the basket. Defensively, she is just solid. She makes things seem easy and she is very good at staying in front of her matchup. Overall, she has a smart play-style and that's evident. She is going to be looked up to as an important piece to this team's puzzle when they might need someone to make to play. With what she has demonstrated throughout the past year, that is something that is definitely do-able.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["891722"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"One of the best abilities that [player_tooltip player_id='891722' first='Lexi' last='Dietker'] brings to the floor is that she can really anticipate where her opponent is going with the ball or where they are about to throw it in real time. I've only had a chance see Dieter play a few times but each time she made her presence known in one way or another. Usually by dominating on the defensive side of the ball, leading to a ton of offensive for herself and others on her team. For this group, she will compete at the Combo Guard position and I'm sure she will thrive. She seems to have a smart head on her shoulders and she doesn't ever force unneeded action. As long as she keeps that up, everyone is going to shine because of it. Something that recruiters look for when scouting a prospect is their ability to make the others around them better, Dietker possesses that ability.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["832216"],"_player_evaluations_7_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_7_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_7_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='832216' first='Kylee' last='Pexa'] is one of the only 2027's that will be playing up and for good reason. Pexa is a crafty and shifty Guard, that can do a number of different positive things on the floor. She is someone that can knock down shots a high rate, she can get into the teeth of the defense at Will off the dribble, and she can create for the others around her at a high rate. On a team with this sort of roster, it would not surprise me if she ended up being one of their best prospects over the next few months. She has the raw ability and talent to compete at a high level, no matter what she is trying to accomplish. Her defense is also something that should be mentioned. In most contests I've seen her in, she EATS on defense with her active hands and knowledge of where the ball is going to be thrown. With the athletes that are being placed around her, she could shine when it comes down to it. I'll need to see how she fairs this first weekend but if it is anything like her past Varsity season at Dunkerton, she is going to do really well and her stock will continue to rise as we move into the future.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":8,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6618880617afa"} /-->