Amari Whiting

[Zstatman]

Couldn't help looking a bit into Amari's background.

She's from a town of 11,000, Burley, in the middle of nowhere Idaho, 170 miles SE of Boise. Her mother, Aman da, was her high school coach, and she was Idaho player of the year twice and won a state title.

What was really interesting to me was that she played on an AAU team coached by Natalie Williams, the mother of Iowa target Nation Williams out of Las Vegas. Natalie was the GM of the Las Vegas Aces of the WNBA so we can assume the AAU team was based there. The question then comes to mind how does someone from small town Idaho end up playing on an AAU team based in Vegas?

Nothing has really been written on how her two years at BYU went, how successful was she, how successful was BYU while she was there? Why did she enter portal after two years?

Then how did her one year at OKie St go? Why the portal again? Fate seems to have played a part, Ameri calls her old AAU coach for advice and she mentions Iowa, Iowa was also already interested, seems too good to be true. Maybe she can get a 5th year in this new age of college sports?

A little concerned her shooting percentages aren't a tad higher, 42% from the field, 32% form deep, 71% from the line, sounds like a good but not great shooter. Defense is her calling card.

 

[Dadman]

Almost a Kylie clone, and that aint all bad. We need a strong bench player that won’t hurt the team, and she appears to check those boxes. A few more like her, and we have next years team.

 

[judzeehawk]

Couldn't help looking a bit into Amari's background.

She's from a town of 11,000, Burley, in the middle of nowhere Idaho, 170 miles SE of Boise. Her mother was her high school coach, and she was Idaho player of the year twice and won a state title.

What was really interesting to me was that she played on an AAU team coached by Natalie Williams, the mother of Iowa target Nation Williams out of Las Vegas. Natalie was the GM of the Las Vegas Aces of the WNBA so we can assume the AAU team was based there. The question then comes to mind how does someone from small town Idaho end up playing on an AAU team based in Vegas?

Nothing has really been written on how her two years at BYU went, how successful was she, how successful was BYU while she was there? Why did she enter portal after two years?

Then how did her one year at OKie St go? Why the portal again? Fate seems to have played a part, Ameri calls her old AAU coach for advice and she mentions Iowa, Iowa was also already interested, seems too good to be true. Maybe she can get a 5th year in this new age of college sports?

A little concerned her shooting percentages aren't a tad higher, 42% from the field, 32% form deep, 71% from the line, sounds like a good but not great shooter. Defense is her calling card.

I read that Ok St's coach is the reason she left. I'm not sure but I thought her mom was the coach at BYU and she was let go?

 

[Zstatman]

Season Averages

season	Team
2023-24	BYU
2024-25	BYU
2025-26	OKST
Career

GP	GS	MIN	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	FG	FG%	3PT	3P%	FT	FT%	PF	OR	DR
33	33	31.6	10.6	4.9	3.7	1.5	0.2	2.9	3.6-9.1	39.7	0.9-3.0	31.0	2.4-4.1	59.3	2.9	0.8	4.1
30	30	32.4	10.3	5.5	3.8	2.0	0.2	2.9	3.8-9.9	38.9	0.6-2.4	26.0	2.0-3.2	62.1	2.4	1.3	4.2
34	34	29.1	9.6	5.9	2.9	1.8	0.4	2.1	3.4-8.1	42.5	1.0-3.1	32.1	1.7-2.4	71.6	2.3	1.7	4.2
97	97	31.0	10.1	5.4	3.5	1.8	0.3	2.6	3.6-9.0	40.3	0.9-2.9	30.1	2.0-3.2	63.3	2.5	1.3	4.2

 

[Zstatman]

I read that Ok St's coach is the reason she left. I'm not sure but I thought her mom was the coach at BYU and she was let go?

You are right, she coached BYU 3 years and left with a 45-51 career record.

When she was hired Amari had committed to Oregon. She flipped to play for her mom.

 

[STILLBUSTER]

Season Averages

season	Team
2023-24	BYU
2024-25	BYU
2025-26	OKST
Career

GP	GS	MIN	PTS	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	FG	FG%	3PT	3P%	FT	FT%	PF	OR	DR
33	33	31.6	10.6	4.9	3.7	1.5	0.2	2.9	3.6-9.1	39.7	0.9-3.0	31.0	2.4-4.1	59.3	2.9	0.8	4.1
30	30	32.4	10.3	5.5	3.8	2.0	0.2	2.9	3.8-9.9	38.9	0.6-2.4	26.0	2.0-3.2	62.1	2.4	1.3	4.2
34	34	29.1	9.6	5.9	2.9	1.8	0.4	2.1	3.4-8.1	42.5	1.0-3.1	32.1	1.7-2.4	71.6	2.3	1.7	4.2
97	97	31.0	10.1	5.4	3.5	1.8	0.3	2.6	3.6-9.0	40.3	0.9-2.9	30.1	2.0-3.2	63.3	2.5	1.3	4.2

If Iowa can get those #s + good D ... That's better than what Kylie produced.

 

[Dadman]

If Iowa can get those #s + good D ... That's better than what Kylie produced.

Yeah, but Kylie had that ncaa tournament experience. Still, a quality bench player cannot be overlooked. We have our starters- we need the back up!

 

[Zstatman]

A couple stats that stand out to me.

Amari has started every single college game she has played in, 97 of them.

She has averaged 31 minutes per game over her career.

Will both of those streaks continue? My gut tells me no, but it would be a nice surprise if she did.

 

[guffus]

I am pretty sure Iowa is going to add more players but based on the 8 players they have right now, I would guess they would average

Chit Chat - 30 minutes
Carnegie - 30 minutes
Stremlow - 30 minutes
Whiting - 20 minutes

Houston - 25 minutes
Wolizko - 20 minutes

Heiden - 30 minutes
Hays - 15 minutes

 

[haydensly]

I'm not sure she doesn't start. The value of a defensive stopper can't be overstated. Kylie Fuerbach rarely left the court this past season, even with some offensive limitations.

 

[guffus]

I'm not sure she doesn't start. The value of a defensive stopper can't be overstated. Kylie Fuerbach rarely left the court this past season, even with some offensive limitations.

So if Whiting starts and plays 30 minutes a game, does that mean Stremlow is coming off the bench and only playing 20 minutes?

 

[haydensly]

So if Whiting starts and plays 30 minutes a game, does that mean Stremlow is coming off the bench and only playing 20 minutes?

I think Stremlow starts at forward. Heiden, McKenna Woliczko and Stremlow in the front court. Chit Chat and Whiting in the backcourt with Dani Carnegie coming off the bench. It probably depends on what is needed in a particular game; maybe JJ goes with different lineups for what is needed.

 

[Hawkboys]

I think Stremlow starts at forward. Heiden, McKenna Woliczko and Stremlow in the front court. Chit Chat and Whiting in the backcourt with Dani Carnegie coming off the bench. It probably depends on what is needed in a particular game; maybe JJ goes with different lineups for what is needed.

Houston?

 

[STILLBUSTER]

I think Stremlow starts at forward. Heiden, McKenna Woliczko and Stremlow in the front court. Chit Chat and Whiting in the backcourt with Dani Carnegie coming off the bench. It probably depends on what is needed in a particular game; maybe JJ goes with different lineups for what is needed.

Sorry but cannot believe DC - ESPN #4 overall portal player who brings 18+ ppg vs SEC competition - is gonna backup anyone. AW brings solid experience and D but she’s a spotty shooter with avg production. She’ll bolster the backcourt but isn’t gonna steal anyone’s starting spot unless Taylor S just craps the bed (not likely)

 

[guffus]

I guess Jan Jensen has gone with the 4 guard lineup before, maybe she will try it again.

 

[haydensly]

We'll see when the time comes. And it probably doesn't matter who starts. There will be minutes to go around.

 

[NorthKCHawk]

Carnegie is going to be the starting combo guard. Put that in pen. I don't see Stremlow losing her starting position. I think there is only 1 starting position up for grabs and it is power forward.

 

[Zstatman]

We'll see when the time comes. And it probably doesn't matter who starts. There will be minutes to go around.

IMO, this is the perfect perspective to have at this point.

It seems logical that Chit Chat and Dani will start at the guards but it's not guaranteed. Maybe Chit Chat comes off the bench for some spark.

Stremlow doesn't have to start, she actually played well coming off the bench last year. If she can hit the 3 she'll be tough doing whatever, in fact, she'll be tough doing whatever regardless.

Does the rookie start at the 4? Who knows. Will Journey have anyting to say about all this? I'd think so. I believe I read where she considers herself a 3 but she's got to hit the 3 to play there.

Maybe Ava or Layla can play some 4?

Right now they have the makings of a really solid rotation. How it all fits together is TBDD and will be fun to watch unfold.

I believe there will be another portal signee, maybe more than one. What will they be looking for and what kind of player will be willing to sign up? Bringing in someone to start seems unlikely at this oint unless they are really, really good. Somebody ithat is willing and able to add some depth on what should be a really good team is they'll be looking for from here on out, IMO.

 

[guffus]

I don't know if bringing in more freshman is an option, but if its possible, that could be a good way to fill out the roster.

 

[CP87]

I don't know if bringing in more freshman is an option, but if its possible, that could be a good way to fill out the roster.

My wife has been obsessing about how they are going to fill out the roster. I am sure there is no money for spots 9 - 12 in the rotation, but you still need those bodies for practice, injuries, foul trouble, etc. But how do you convince someone to ride the bench at Iowa when they could be getting 20+ min/game at a mid-major? It almost has to be someone who wouldn't play significant minutes at Iowa OR at a mid-major, and likes the idea of riding the bench here better than there.

Basically, a person who is more into academics than sports, who likes a particular academic program at Iowa, is generally local and more specifically a Hawkeye fan, and who is smart and a hard worker. You remember back in the day when we brought in Megan Considine mid-season because of a spate of injuries? She was already at the U of Iowa (sophomore), but she was not competing in any sport. She was an important member of the team over the next few years, though she was never part of the rotation. We need to find 4-5 people like that every season to fill out the bench.