We have officially closed the book on the 2025-26 Iowa girls high school basketball season with the crowning of state champions and individual all-state and player of the year awards being handed out by High School on SI.
Now, we take a sneak peek towards 2026-27 with a look at some of the top junior players in Iowa girls high school basketball. All numbers are from those listed on Bound.
Iowa Girls High School Basketball: Top Returning Juniors
Melina Snoozy, Sioux City Bishop Heelan
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Snoozy was dominant this past winter again, averaging 21.2 points to lead all juniors while adding eight rebounds, three assists and over two steals per game.
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Kylee Pexa, Dunkerton
In addition to her 19 points a game, Pexa contributed almost five steals, five assists and 3.5 rebounds a game.
Ainley Ulrich, North Union
Ulrich nearly helped the Warriors reach the state tournament this past year after posting 20 points with five rebounds and 2.4 steals per game.
Izzy Gilbertson, Mount Ayr
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At nearly 21 points and over nine rebounds per game, Gilbertson is a tough opponent to slow down. She also blocked four shots a night with 3.6 assists and 3.6 steals.
Maryn Franken, Sioux Center
Franken posted 20 points per game with nearly nine rebounds while also averaging six steals, three assists and a block to her stat line.
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Taryn Petersen, Exira-EHK
Petersen was just a shade under 20 points per game for her team, adding in over six steals, five assists and four rebounds.
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Cora Sauer, Lake Mills
Lake Mills went as Sauer did, reaching the regional final before falling to Bishop Garrigan. She contributed 19.7 points, six rebounds, almost four steals and just under four assists a game.
Lizzy Frazell, Waverly-Shell Rock
Frazell and the Go-Hawks continue to make a strong statement, as she finished the year averaging 19 points, six rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks.
Addy Wolfswinkel, Cherokee Washington
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Wolfswinkel recently committed to Omaha to play volleyball, but she is strong on the basketball court as well, averaging 19 points, six rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.5 steals.
Maggie McChesney, Glenwood
In addition to her 19.5 points per game, McChesney averaged eight rebounds, 3.5 steals, three assists and over a block.
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KeaOnna Worley, Cedar Rapids Prairie
Watch out for a big senior season from Worley after producing 18 points, nearly five assists, over four rebounds and two steals.
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Graclyn Eastman, Bishop Garrigan
Eastman and the Golden Bears reached the finals this past season in Class 1A, as she averaged 17 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks, three steals and two assists.
Katie Muller, Dowling Catholic
The Maroons will lean heavily on Muller next year, as she steps in for sister Ellie Muller. This past year, she averaged 16.5 points, six rebounds, 3.6 assists and a steal.
Fayth Sullivan, North Polk
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Sullivan and the Comets made it back to state after she averaged 16 points, nine rebounds, three steals and three assists.
On the eve of the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft, Iowa basketball’s Bennett Stirtz has been talked about on several mock draft boards as potentially being the Hawkeyes’ first opening-round selection since Kris Murray was chosen No. 23 overall by the Sacramento Kings in 2023.
As the 6-foot-4, 190-pounder from Liberty, Missouri, prepares to join a collection of future stars in the NBA draft green room on Tuesday night, CBS Sports’ most recent NBA mock draft projects the former Hawkeye to slide to the back of the first round and be selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers at the No. 29 overall slot.
Here is what CBS Sports’ Cameron Salerno had to say about his projection for Stirtz:
One of the point guards is bound to slide a bit on draft night. I could see that being Stirtz. The Iowa star has had an incredible rise from playing at the Division II level to being a likely first-round pick. This would be a BPA (best player available) pick from the Cavs.
In his one season with the Hawkeyes after transferring from Drake, Stirtz was the centerpiece of Iowa’s historic March Madness run that saw the program reach the Elite Eight for the first time since 1987, averaging 19.8 points and 4.4 assists per game on 47.7% field goal shooting and 35.8% 3-point shooting in his 37 games played.
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While a slide for Stirtz is not ideal given his immense talent, falling to a Cavaliers squad that has appeared in back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals is certainly not something to scoff at.
With a 36-year-old James Harden at the starting point guard position alongside 32-year-old Dennis Schroder, the Cavaliers will likely look for more youth at the position to add alongside Craige Porter Jr. and 2025 2nd-round pick Tyrese Proctor.
The first round of the 2026 NBA Draft will be nationally broadcast on ABC from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY, with coverage beginning at 7 p.m. CT on June 23.
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Iowa Realtors Association data shows the number of Iowa home sales in May jumped 17.3% compared to April.
Iowa Realtors President Erik Melloy says Iowa’s housing market was active and balanced in May. Homes were on the market for about 10 days, compared to 12 days in April. The median sales price for a home in May was $260,000. That’s 5.1% higher than April.
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The number of pending home sales was up 4.1% in May compared to the same month a year ago. The Realtors report tracks the sale of Iowa condos and townhomes, too, and shows both a reduction in the median time on the market and an increase in the number of closed sales of condos and townhomes in May.
The Iowa State Cyclones men’s basketball team has been on fire on the recruiting trail in recent weeks, putting together one of the top-ranked recruiting classes in the country.
T.J. Otzelberger has three players who have committed to the program in the Class of 2027. First, it was Josiah Harrington, who committed in September 2024 and has not wavered. Next, it was Donovan Davis, who committed on May 6, and then Jack Kohnen, who committed on June 13.
Those are three high-upside players who are all four-star recruits ranked inside the top 100 in the Class of 2027. Recently, 247Sports updated its player rankings, and all three Iowa State commits saw their rankings change.
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Davis is no longer the highest-ranked player in the Cyclones class. He was previously ranked No. 44 but slipped slightly to No. 47. Securing his commitment was an impressive feat because the lead recruiter, JR Blount, accepted the head coaching position with the San Diego Toreros in the middle of it.
Iowa State commits see rankings change
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Freedom High School’s Donovan Davis (24) shoots the ball against Milwaukee Academy of Science during the WIAA Division 3 state championship game on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. Milwaukee Academy of Science won the game, 57-54. | Tork Mason / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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Alas, that didn’t stop Otzelberger from sealing the deal. He was involved in the recruitment along with Nate Schmidt and Thomas Pollard. New assistant coaches Tim Buckley and Allan Hanson helped get things over the finish line as well.
The highest-ranked recruit in this class for the Cyclones is now Harrington. He was No. 48 previously and has moved up to No. 43. The in-state recruit has been performing at a high level for Brad Beal Elite in the Nike EYBL this year.
A product of North Scott, he is making a great impression with his defensive impact in the Nike EYBL. When playing with his high school team, he showcases incredible offensive ability, capable of scoring at all three levels.
Jack Kohnen sees biggest jump in rankings
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Slinger’s Jack Kohnen (3) dunks during the WIAA D2 sectional semifinal game against Port Washington at Cedarburg High School in Cedarburg, Wisconsin, March 12, 2026. Slinger won the game, 62-33. | Scott Ash / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Last but not least is Kohnen, who experienced the biggest jump in the rankings. He was ranked No. 81 previously but jumped all the way to No. 64 in the latest update. An elite shooter, Kohnen has an advanced offensive game.
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He is an excellent spot-up shooter but has some great shotmaking ability in his game off the dribble as well. His playmaking is what makes his game so intriguing on that end of the floor because he operates as the point guard on his high school team at Slinger.
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With a game developed well beyond his years, Kohnen has some real upside as an offensive hub. He has the size to see over defenses and advanced reads that make him very difficult to gameplan against.
