Ella Otten was someone that Bishop Heelan could rely in this season, even if they didn’t need to. Otten is a 5’8 SG with a sweet shooting stroke and great situational awareness. She can handle while attacking off the dribble for either a look at the bucket herself or for a crafty assist. This ability makes it possible for her to move between the 1, 2, or even 3, depending on who is with her on the court at that given time. Bishop is going to come back as the 4A favorites this upcoming season and I can’t wait to see how they handle that coming off of a State run the year before.

Ella Otten Ella Otten 5'8" | SG/PG Bishop Heelan | 2028 State IA came into Iowa this Winter and showed her worth right away for Bishop Heelan at the PG/SG. Otten was raved about prior to the season because she was coming into join this Powerhouse program and she already held a few D1 offers. Otten lived up to this hype, demonstrating that she was one of the best guards in the State at the 4A level right away. She made easy plays on offense as a scoring threat and creator, she defended her own position well enough that it was notable, and she made the simple tasks on the floor look REALLY easy – when in reality that might not always have been the case. Not to mention, she showed off her impressive one dribble pull up from all offensive levels and she was willing to sacrifice her body for the good of the team without a hesitation. All in all, when you combined all of this you get a gamer that is dedicated to being the best version of herself on the court and that is the main reason she moves into the Top 10 in this Update. Her dedication and hard work continues to pay off. Now let’s see how far it can take her.

The Bishop Heelan Crusaders are the top dog in Class 4A for a reason, and Ella Otten Ella Otten 5'8" | SG/PG Bishop Heelan | 2028 State IA can take some of the credit for helping them get there. The super sophomore has had a breakout year in Iowa — she’s scoring at an excellent rate from inside the arc and out (55% eFG), creates energy with assists and steals, and keeps turnovers to a minimum (2.04 A/TO) — what more could you ask for from one of your top guards? With upperclassmen teammates Trishelle Miller Trishelle Miller 5'10" | CG Bishop Heelan Catholic | 2026 State IA and Melina Snoozy Melina Snoozy 5'11" | CG/SG Bishop Heelan Catholic | 2027 State #86 Nation IA leading the way, I predict Ella Otten Ella Otten 5'8" | SG/PG Bishop Heelan | 2028 State IA will be the next man up that gives Heelan that extra spark. Otten hast the potential to be the next elite player from Heelan following their 2026 tourney run.

A newcomer to Bishop Heelan High School this season, Ella Otten Ella Otten 5'8" | SG/PG Bishop Heelan | 2028 State IA , has exploded on to the scene in Western Iowa hoops. The 5’8″ combo guard brings size and depth at Heelan’s point guard position, strong ball-handling skills, and a quick trigger from behind the arc. The sophomore plays with experience and precision — she’s averaging 14.6 points per game and is scoring at an elite clip (50% FG and 44% 3PT). With a strong supporting cast and impressive play from Otten this year, all eyes are on the Heelan Crusaders to finish their currently-undefeated season with a bang this year at the State Tournament. I would also have my eyes on Otten to make waves through 2026 and into this summer’s AAU competition.

You could say that Ella Otten Ella Otten 5'8" | SG/PG Bishop Heelan | 2028 State IA has been the most impactful transfer this season for Bishop Heelan. Otten, a 5’7 PG, had a handful of Division-1 offers coming into this season and she has been playing productively with one of the best teams out of the state of Iowa at this time so I’m sure that interest is continuing to grow. Otten is a coordinated guard with savvy-ness to her game. She is very controlled off the dribble, getting to her spots whenever she wants for a pull up jumper. She can also get downhill to the bucket in the blink of an eye or pull it out to hit a three pointer from deep. If BH pulls this thing out this Winter in the 4A Class, I’m sure Otten will have her finger prints all over it. 

Ella Otten Ella Otten 5'8" | SG/PG Bishop Heelan | 2028 State IA of Bishop Heelan had her coming out party yesterday when her team beat Pius X from Nebraska by a slim margin. Otten came into this Winter as a transfer out of SD. She has been someone that has been playing Varsity basketball since she was in middle school and now she has come to Iowa to show that she can compete at a high rate. Otten was the team’s main producer in the first half yesterday. She started off the contest on fire and that helped them stay in it because when things tipped off, Pius X jumped out to an early lead but the play of Otten kept things close until others from BH stepped up to seal the deal. The Crusaders only walked away with a narrow 2 point victory in the end but more importantly this game was a good wake up call for a group out of Iowa that has some easy sledding until the Playoff’s arise in 2026.

Ella Otten Ella Otten 5'8" | SG/PG Bishop Heelan | 2028 State IA is now in Iowa and she is ready to take the state by storm over these next few weeks! Otten is a D1 level talent with a lot of promise to her play-style. She seems to love and thrive with her step back game as she is very good at creating space for herself into her jumper almost anywhere on the floor. She is also sound enough that she can get to any offensive level she wants to score a majority of the time. Defensively, she is also someone to note. She makes smart moves on that side of the ball – usually leading to steals or deflections in one way or another. We see Otten do her thing at this event. She made multiple step back jumpers, she was getting steals in bucket load (literally), all while being a sound teammate to those around her.

Ella Otten Ella Otten 5'8" | SG/PG Bishop Heelan | 2028 State IA of Bishop Heelan High School is new to the girls basketball scene within this state but she is starting to slowly gain a reputation as being a top-notch baller. Otten is a quick guard with a better than average skill-set for her position. She is one that is tough to stay in-front of in the open court and she is always a willing passer to those around her. This Winter for BH, this is going to be a vital piece in their success. If Otten is used correctly and plays to her full capabilities, BH should finish as the 4A Class State Champs this Winter but we will see.

We have recently mentioned Ella Otten Ella Otten 5'8" | SG/PG Bishop Heelan | 2028 State IA as being a hooper out of the 2028 Class to note moving into this Winter as she transfers in from South Dakota. To start the month of August, Otten received an offer from D2 – Wayne State on her unofficial visit there. Otten is one of those that has been playing varsity ball for two years now with the rules in place in her home state of South Dakota and she is going to be a huge addition to Bishop Heelan as they attempt to go for a 4A State Title this Winter. Otten is as good as advertised. She will be able to play off of the ball or as her team’s PG this Winter wherever they need her. Something that will help take the pressure off the current players they have, making everyone a little looser and dangerous on both ends. If they play their cards right, they should hoist the 4A trophy when things come to a close in Des Moines but we will see.

There will be a few teams this Winter that will have a chance to compete for the 4A State Title but I think the group that is most prepared to bring home the hardware is Bishop Heelan out of Sioux City. BH will bring back their impressive guard play from year’s past, while saying hello to 2028 transfer – Ellie Otten out of South Dakota. Otten is already a two year varsity starter, putting up impressive numbers not only as a freshman but as an 8th grader as well at Dakota Valley High School. During these two years of action, Otten averaged 16 PPG, 3 RPG, 3 APG, and 2.5 SPG. all while shooting at over 40% from the field. This transfer route from SD to Iowa is becoming more and more popular. We saw Melina Snoozy Melina Snoozy 5'11" | CG/SG Bishop Heelan Catholic | 2027 State #86 Nation IA do it a few years back and now this with another talented player.