Iowa Women's Basketball Signing Day Primer

National Signing Day is upon us for basketball and it’s going to be a full day for the Iowa women’s basketball team, as they are set to have five players officially sign their letter of intent. The Hawkeyes have earn commitments from four ESPN top 100 prospects. There are still 18 uncommitted prospect in the top 100, but Iowa currently leads the way with four commits. UCLA, Texas and USC each have three top 100 commits. With that, we take a look at all five Iowa commits and hear how some of them are planning to celebrate signing day.

6’5 C Ava Heiden – Sherwood, Oregon

Ranking: Four-Star, #36 player in the country and #5 C in the country by ESPN

Chose Iowa over: Utah, Oregon State and Washington

As a sophomore in 2021, Ava averaged 10.0 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.5 blocks per game for a Sherwood Lady Bowmen team that went 15-10 and won the Pacific Conference. She was named Pacific Conference Player of the Year.

Last season as a junior in 2022, her year was cut short due to an ankle injury that ended her season after just seven games. In those seven games, Ava was averaging 12 points, 11 rebounds, three assists and two blocks per game.

How Heiden plans to spend Signing Day…

“I will be signing at Sherwood High School at 3:30 pm on November 8th. My family will be there, along with my AAU and high school coaches, and my teammates from Northwest Select and Sherwood. After I sign, I’ll celebrate by spending the night with with my family by having a nice dinner.”

Why she chose Iowa over other schools…

“After visiting many schools and meeting a lot of great people during my recruiting process, I knew that I wanted to be a Hawkeye during my initial visit. The coaches, players, and staff all seemed to truly have our best interest in mind- both academically and athletically. My official visit this fall just further solidified my decision after getting to spend a few days with my future teammates.”

6’1 G Teagan Mallegni – McFarland, WI

Ranking: Four-Star, #64 player in the country by ESPN, #2 in WI by Prep Girls Hoops

Chose Iowa over: Ohio State, Oregon, Duke, North Carolina, Kansas and Wisconsin

During her sophomore season in 2022, she was second in the state of Wisconsin, averaging 29.0 points per game, while also pulling down 8.9 boards per game. Her season highlight was a 62-point performance against East Troy. She was named Rock Valley Conference Player of the Year.

Last season, as a junior for McFarland High School, Mallegni averaged 24.5 points, 11.9 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 4.1 steals and 1.7 blocks per game for a Spartans team that won the Rock Valley Conference Championship. She was named Rock Valley Conference Player of the Year for the second straight season and was a First Team AP All-State selection.

How Mallegni plans to spend Signing Day…

“Our school has all signings in the library for the school to come to during our advisory, so I will be doing that on Thursday with all of my classmates and teachers. Also, my teammate is signing with Cornell tomorrow, so after our first game, we are going to celebrate our commitments that way too.”

“I’ve wanted to play college basketball forever, so I can’t believe that this happening. It shows how much work I’ve put in to be in this position and I am so grateful to have this opportunity. The people that have supported me through everything with me during this time is really important to me.”

Why she chose Iowa over other schools…

“I chose Iowa because of the culture around the basketball program, along with the coaching staff. They are all amazing people and I can’t wait to have the opportunity for them to coach me. They are all so supportive and welcoming and they worked tirelessly to make a connection early, which is something I really appreciate. I think also the engagement of the community is really cool to see and is something I’ve always wanted to play for.”

5’9 PG Callie Levin – Solon, IA

Ranking: #2 in Iowa by Prep Girls Hoops

Chose Iowa over: Iowa State, Utah, Drake, Purdue, Oklahoma State, Arkansas and Marquette

As a sophomore in 2021 for Solon, Levin averaged averaged 21.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 4.3 steals per game for a Spartans team that went 15-8. She led all freshman in the state in scoring (436 pts) during the 2020-21 season and then was second in the state among all sophomores with 483 points for the 2021-22 season.

As a junior for the Spartans last season, Callie averaged 18.2 points, 5.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 3.7 steals per game for a Solon team that advanced all the way to the 3A State semifinals.

How Levin plans to spend Signing Day…

“I’m planning on signing this Wednesday during lunch at my school! A ton of my classmates will be there, coaches, and my whole family. I’m really excited to finally get it down on paper that I’m going to be a Hawkeye. It’s crazy that I’m a senior now and going to officially be a Hawk! It’ll definitely be super special to sign in front of all my friends and family.”

Why she chose Iowa over other schools…

“Iowa was on the top of my list ever since I decided I wanted to play basketball is college. I dreamed of being on the team ever since I was a little girl. The coaching staff is amazing, the atmosphere and culture they have created there is second to none. Iowa is so special and there’s no where else I’d rather spend my next 4 years at then the University of Iowa.”

5’8 G Taylor Stremlow – Verona, WI

Ranking: Four-Star, #88 player in the country by ESPN, #4 player in WI by Prep Girls Hoops

Chose Iowa over: Illinois, Penn State and Wisconsin

Other notable offers: Iowa State, Kansas State, Marquette, Minnesota, DePaul and Toledo

As a freshman at Verona in 2020, Taylor averaged 11.6 points, 6.0 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game for a Wildcats team that made it to the WIAA DI State Tournament. She went for 18 points, eight rebounds and four assists in state semifinal game. She missed her entire sophomore year in 2021 due to fractured bone in her foot.

Stremlow got back on the court with her Wisconsin Flight Elite AAU team in the summer of 2022 and was impressive in her games back from injury. Last winter, as a junior for Verona, Taylor average an unbelievable averaged 16.9 points, 10 rebounds, 9.0 assists, and 7.0 steals per game for a Wildcats team that won the Big Eight Championship and reached the sectional semifinals. She was on of 11 girls to be named First Team WBCA All-State.

How Stremlow plans to spend Signing Day…

“”I’ll be signing after school around 4 at my high school! Lots of family and friends will be there and my team- We plan on going to eat after practice and celebrating the signing.”

“I’m so excited. I’ve felt like apart of the hawk family since that first visit, but making it official really means a lot and shows how far I’ve come and that all the hard work so far has paid off.”

Why she chose Iowa over other schools…

“I’ve said it before and will say it again; the people. Coaches, teammates, staff, fans, and everyone else are what drew me to the school and program. Along with being dang good at basketball and playing a fun fast pace style. I’ve grown more and more sure of my decision with each visit and phone call and that’s a really great feeling.”

5’8 G Aaliyah Guyton – Peoria, IL

Ranking: Four-Star, #57 player in the country by ESPN, #1 in IL by Prep Girls Hoops

Chose Iowa over: Illinois, Nebraska, Michigan State and Pittsburgh

Other notable offers: Ohio State, Wisconsin, Mississippi State, Missouri, Vanderbilt and DePaul

As a sophomore at Peoria in 2021, Guyton averaged 20.2 points, 3.4 assists, 2.7 assists and 2.0 steal per game for a Lions team that went 25-4. She was named Big 12 Conference Player of the Year, while was a unanimous All-Big 12 First Team selection and an IBCA First Team All-State selection.

This past year as a junior in 2022, Aaliyah averaged 21.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists for a Lions team that finished in third-place at the Illinois Class 3A State Tournament. She has been named Peoria State Journal Player of the Year each of the last two seasons.