Ames, IA: The unmistakable smell of fresh cut grass and the sight of cornfields as far as the eye can see was my introduction to Iowa basketball.  Enter the sounds of sharp whistles and squeaking shoes on hardwood floors filling the modern industrial field house at Battle of the Best in Ames, IA July 27-29.  It was a picturesque setting of sweet basketball heaven.  All weekend, I gorged myself with spectacular shots, bullet passes, and smooth crossover the ended with scoop finishes. 

Here are a few athletes I had the pleasure of watching...

2020 5'10" Lauren Jensen G North Tartan EYBL (MN)
You always have a chance to win when Lauren is on your team, and that's just what the North Tartan 16U EYBL team did this weekend...WIN.  The 5'10" point guard led her team with constant communication and big plays from the first whistle of her first game to the last whistle of the championship.  Whether it's with her patented step back three or a hesitation to a pull-up with the shot clock winding down, Lauren seems to extract the deep bellows of disappointment from the opposing crowd.  Her ability to knock down the mid-range and repeatedly take her defender to the basket make Jensen an absolute top player in her class.

2020 5'7" Caitlynn Daniels PG Team Iowa Navy 10th (IA)
Caitlynn is an undiscovered gem... for now.  Her ability to systematically take over a game with all-net threes, step backs from the elbow, and legit no-look dimes will no doubt have her on the radar soon.  She's an elite passer that was able to thread the needle to cutters for some much-needed baskets this weekend. Daniels court vision mixed with her capability to score puts pressure on opponents to play her honest and straight up defensively.  Watch out assist records, Caitlynn Daniels is coming!

2022 6'0" Hannah Stuelke F All Iowa Attack Nike Jones 9th Red (IA)
You better have your running shoes on when defending Hannah.  She is a player that will outwork you and your sub, and there's nothing you can do about it.  Her athletic frame allows her to glide effortlessly up and down the floor.  You would never know she was 2022 competing against older players with her businesslike demeanor and willingness to take hits and create contact.  Stuelke's straight-line drives from the elbow are seemingly impossible to defend because of her ability to jump and finish.  She is a 2-way player, showing she can defend forwards who were sometimes longer and bigger and she can defend guards who were sometimes smaller and quicker.  This young player is someone to keep your GOOD EYE on shortly.

2019 6'2" Emma Ronsiek F South Dakota Attack (SD)
This veteran is no new pup in the travel game.  The South Dakota Attack forward made some noise at this year's Battle of the Best in Ames, IA that could be heard all the way down I-35.  Ronsiek had a smoothness about her game.  She was comfortable handling the ball in the open court after securing needed rebounds while also showing off her advanced footwork in the paint.  Her game features crafty up and under and she effectively uses the drop step to get tough baskets.  She is the very definition of a power forward who can stretch the floor with her capability to shoot behind the arc.  Look for Emma to go out with a bang in her final year at O'Gromo High this coming season.

2021 5'11" Maggie Phipps G All Iowa Attack 10th Nike (IA)
Warning: You do not want to challenge Maggie Phelps in a game of horse.  She is absolutely a clutch player with a gorgeous, picture-perfect stroke.  She managed to hit bomb after bomb from all over the court even after face guard came.  Her extremely high motor allowed her to sustain her pure stroke throughout the game.  Couple that with her high-level draw and kick game, she was not only able to rack up points for herself but for her teammates as well. Phipps is a long ball threat who we should continue to watch over the upcoming years.

2020 6'1" Danielle Winslow W Kansas Elite (KS)
Winslow's combination of athleticism and powerful physique allowed her to get to the rim with ease.  Her springy bounce gave her an edge over like size defenders.  She was also able to consistently stroke the three with range when defenders gave her space.  She earned that space because of her many drives that ended in converted layups.  Danielle repeatedly gave opposing coaches headaches in trying to find a suitable defender for her.  Moving forward she will continue to offer those same unwelcome problems as she is a matchup nightmare.