Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

IOWA CITY – On nearly every team a tandem of all-state, Division I recruits would be squarely at the center of the spotlight.

At City High the dynamic backcourt duo of Aubrey Joens and Rose Nkumu has spent much of the past two seasons playing in the shadows.

It takes a special type of star to steal the spotlight from players the caliber of Joens and Nkumu.

Reigning Miss Iowa Basketball Ashley Joens was that player.

The current Iowa State freshman averaged 30.7 points and 11.4 rebounds per game a year ago in one of the best seasons ever for an Iowa prep.

“I told people last year it is like losing three quality starters,” 20-year City High coach Bill McTaggart said of losing Ashley Joens. “That’s as close a comparison as you can make.”

The loss of Ashley Joens leaves a sizeable void in the lineup for the defending 5A runner-up Little Hawks.

It also creates some space in the spot light for Nkumu and Aubrey Joens star.

“It’s really nice to have that role where you can step up and show what you are capable of,” Nkumu said. “Last year I think you got to see a little bit of that from us. It was great having Ashley be one our main scorer but this year I think it will illuminate some of those pieces that were a little hidden in the past. It will definitely give us a good chance to step up and show what we’ve got.”

Nkumu and the younger Joens have proved the past two seasons they are more than capable of handling expanded roles.

Already two-year starters the two junior guards will get their opportunity to star this season.

“We have to step up and take a different, bigger role because (Ashley) was the leader of our team and did a lot for us so I have to try to step up and fill that role for us,” Aubrey Joens said. “I think it opens up a lot of different things and gives us all a different perspective. It’s going to give us all a lot of opportunities since she was one of our main players.”

Nkumu and Aubrey Joens are each coming off the best seasons of their careers.  

Aubrey Joens averaged 12.8 points and 2.8 rebounds per game while Nkumu averaged 13.2 points and 3.1 assists last year as City High won 25 straight games before a loss to West High in the state title game.

For City High to repeat its success from last season Nkumu and Joens will likely need to build on their strong sophomore seasons.

“We definitely have the same expectations for ourselves we just know that we have to push a little harder and play at a faster pace this year but we all know we are capable of doing it,” Nkumu said. “I think it will really show this year the different components of our team and how each person can contribute.”

Nkumu and Joens join fellow junior guard Paige Rocca as returning starters and combine to give the Little Hawks one of the top backcourts in the state.

Rocca average 8.8 points and shot 37 percent from 3-point range in her first season as a full-time varsity starter.

Sophomore Ella Cook also returns after averaging 3.6 points per game as a freshman.

“All five of our starters can all handle the basketball and they can all shoot the 3,” McTaggart said. “I think we’ve got enough players where teams can’t gimmick us. We have a lot of kids that can step up if teams are going to try to take out one or two players.”

With Nkumu, Aubrey Joens and Rocca all proven scorers replacing the points loss with the graduate of Ashley Joens isn’t a huge issue at City High.

Finding a way to pick up the rebounding and defensive voids left by the departed 6-foot Joens is a little more concerning.

“We are going to ask them to try to pick up the rebounding,” McTaggart said. “Ashley was such a good rebounder, that is the area where we are going to probably miss her the most is on the boards.”

Aubrey Joens and Nukumu combined to average 5.4 rebounds per game last season.

As much as that duo will be asked it up as scorers they will need to improve their rebounding total even more.

“Everybody has to crash the boards and rebound the best they can,” Aubrey Joens said. “Most teams are going to be taller than us so we have to be able to rebound.”

Aubrey Joens will play more in the front court than she has in the past.

At 5-foot-9 the Iowa State commit will be among the tallest City High players.

Nkumu, a lightning quick 5-foot-8 point guard will be used all over the court on the defensive end.

The plan is for the Little Hawks to have five players on the court at all times that can play any position in a fast-paced, up-tempo style that suits Joens and Nkumu perfectly.

“We have to have interchangeable roles,” Nkumu said. “We have been working a lot on ball movement and playing with a fast pace. I think this year that will be our strong suit. We all know how to play at a fast pace and when we get the ball moving we are really tough to defend.”