AAU Team Preview: Iowa Battlers 16U S40

<!-- 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.&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In this article, we cover an up and coming program that has some a handful of high ranking prospects from across the state of Iowa in all age groups. This program is one that has been on the up and up the past few seasons and for good reasons. They do things the right way. They try to build up their prospects from a young age and keep them within their system where they feel comfortable.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><em>Thanks for tuning in and enjoy!</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Schedule –&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>April 19-21:</strong>&nbsp;S40: Session 1 – Frisco, Texas&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>May 10-12:</strong>&nbsp;S40: Windy City – Bedford Park, Illinois</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>May 17-19:</strong>&nbsp;Des Moines Event – Des Moines, Iowa</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>May 24-26:</strong>&nbsp;PGH Midwest Extravaganza – Chicago, Illinois</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>June 21-23:&nbsp;</strong>North Tartan Summer Jam – Minneapolis, Minnesota&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>July 11-15:</strong>&nbsp;S40: Session 1&amp;2 – Hamilton, Ohio</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>July 19-22:</strong>&nbsp;S40: Finals – Louisville, Kentucky</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["644557"],"_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='644557' first='Ari' last='Phillips'] is coming off of a Freshman year to remember. Phillips saw the floor in moderation and more toward the end of the season for her Johnston Dragons as they went undefeated, bringing home a 5A State Title to Johnson High School. Phillips is a Combo Guard, who can pass, score, rebound, and defend at a high rate. She is the #2 ranked prospect out of the 2027 Class in Iowa and she is primed for a successful AAU season ahead. For all intents and purposes, Phillips is a D1 level talent, that should be getting a lot of love of the next few years. She is certain good enough to play at that level in the future, if she continues to expand her game, the sky is truly the limit for a prospect like this.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["644558"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='644558' first='Daya' last='Phillips'], twin sister of [player_tooltip player_id='644557' first='Ari' last='Phillips'], is someone that is also very talented on the basketball court in a number of ways. Daya had the same situation unfold this past high school season. She saw the floor sparingly to start the season but by the end of the year, she was seeing some solid time on a team that basically competed with five college level prospects. I have a feeling that everyone around the country is going to figure out that the Phillip sisters are legit these next 6 months, if they don't already. Daya's ability to make others around her better, while displaying skill of her own is impressive. As long as they continue to lock in and keep things simple as they get older, they are going to receive a lot of interest from the next level. There is no doubt about that.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["667952"],"_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":"Another prospect that played for the 5A champion Johnston Dragons this past season was [player_tooltip player_id='667952' first='Jaliyah' last='Kinnetz-Jenkins'] and she was someone that was a crucial part to her groups success. Kinnetz has a quick play-style, that gets down the floor in a hurry. She is the type of player that can step up and run the PG position for her team or she can produce from the Wing spot if there is another player who can run the Point. This Battlers team is going to play 4-5 Gaurds, that can either score off the catch or off the dribble at a high rate. They will have a ton of players that are interchangeable in their positions on the floor so as long as they work together, they are all going to shine.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["686893"],"_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":"One of the taller and more physically dominant prospects that this group will bring to the floor is [player_tooltip player_id='686893' first='Cassidy' last='Danburg']. Danburg already stands at 6'1 with coordination, balance, physical prowess, and a ton of heart when she is out there competing. With the guard play that this team will have, Danburg is going to have to play their 4/5. She is going to be able to score off of the creating from their Guard play at Will. Teams will end up having to over-help on the drive, leaving Danburg open within the holes of the defense. As long as she can capitalize on her opportunities, she could FEAST this next 3-4 months on the road. This weekend they will travel to Bryan, Texas to show what they can really do and I can't wait to sit down to watch.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["777231"],"_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='777231' first='Fayth' last='Sullivan'] has it. Sullivan is a 2027 prospect playing up but you would never be able to tell by the looks of it. When you break down Sullivan's play-style, it's smooth. If it weren't for the Phillips sisters on this team, the star 2027 player would be Sullivan. Offensively, she is quick off of her first step and she can create space out of thin air. When she is put into 1v1 situations, she kills it with the ability to adapt to almost any given situation. I've talked to a handful of college coaches already at all levels and frankly, they love Sullivan and what she can do. Her progression over the next few years will be crucial but from everything we have seen up until this point, she is on the trajectory to end her high school career as one of the best overall prospects in her Class in Iowa.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["766212"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='766212' first='Maddy' last='Rice'] is going to be a Guard on this team that is asked to produce off of the ball. Their offense is suited for their Guards to really eat in several different ways and I think that Rice is the type of player that can produce without having the ball in her hands at all times. Rice has solid size, better than average coordination, and she can score it from all three levels, especially shooting it from three. She may not be the prospect that you see shoot and say that she is, u0022lights outu0022, from deep but she certain can fill up the bucket in quite a hurry. When others create off the dribble and create opportunities for her from deep, she usually does a good job of making the most of those situations with a bucket from behind the three point line in some sort of way. Rice will have a great season this Spring as long as she finds her niche. If she can do that and find where she fits within this group, she is going to do well.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["686894"],"_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":"[player_tooltip player_id='686894' first='Leah' last='Janulewicz'] will be another Guard for this team, that is going to be tasked with running their offense and leading their defense. Janulewicz is coming off of a high school season in which she displayed quick feet, active hands, and a lot of knowledge of this game. More time than not, she was getting her hands on a ton of tips/deflections, usually leading to transition buckets for her team on the other side of the floor. She has demonstrated that once she gets these steals, she is a willing passer in the open court to a fellow teammate that may be open up ahead. I have a feeling that Janulewicz is going to do really well on this team this Spring/Summer. She has the pieces around her to get a lot of easy buckets while going to the rim. As long as she locks in on defense, it will be tough for Coach Edwards to pull her off of the floor when it matters.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_7_player":["894102"],"_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":"The thing that separates [player_tooltip player_id='894102' first='Taryne' last='Werstein'] from others out of her age group is the mental side of the game. Werstein has the ability to step up and knock down some shots off of the ball but I think her best ability is creating for others, while playing off of that creation. What I mean by that is, she is very good at making a pass and then cutting into open space, giving herself an easy look at the hoop in some sort of way. If she isn't doing that, she is showing that she can be moved around the floor to play any Guard position asked of her. She can move between the 1, 2, or 3, depending on who is around her on the court. If she needs to she can run Point or she can move over to play off of the ball. This is another situation that if she can find her place on this team, she is going to do really well on the road this next few months.","_player_evaluations_7_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_8_player":["894101"],"_player_evaluations_8_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_8_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_8_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='894101' first='Jaden' last='Crews'] is a lefty, who is a strong driver when going to the hole off of the dribble. Crews has the ability to make a lot happen when she puts the ball on the floor. She has demonstrated that she can get to almost any spot she wants, while being an efficient finisher once she gets near the basket. Defensively, she has a physical presence that doesn't shy away from contact. All in all, she is a work-horse. Someone that doesn't shy away from conflict or a challenge, instead she accepts those things and tries to go to work every-time she laces up her kicks.","_player_evaluations_8_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":9,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-661fdc52cbfbe"} /-->