Oskaloosa May Be The New Basketball Capitol Of Iowa

Xavier Foster (left) and Cole Henry (right) (file photo)

Oskaloosa, Iowa – It’s been a very special year of basketball in Oskaloosa. The William Penn Statesmen Men’s Basketball team started off the preseason ranked number one by some media outlets.

Penn started off the season ranked #3 in the coaches poll of NAIA Division 1, but just last week laid claim to the top spot.

Oskaloosa High School Boys Basketball was lurking in the shadows, ready to make their presence known to Class 3A in the State of Iowa. After defeating the former number one team Norwalk, the Indians took the top spot.

The two teams share more than just the same community, and ranking within their respective divisions, they share a history that finds its way into William Penn University.

Oskaloosa Indians Head Coach Ryan Parker referred to Oskaloosa as the Mecca of basketball in Iowa right now. “It’s one of those things I don’t think happens very often.”

Cole Henry goes to the hoop against Indianola.

Parker puts some of the success being experienced to the popularity of the sport within Oskaloosa. “It’s actually pretty cool to have, I’ll use the word elite, programs right now. You can probably go to a game any Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, or Saturday night and see some really good basketball.”

“It’s crazy when you really sit down and think about it,” says Parker of the success. “I think sometimes we get caught up in next game, what’s the scouting report, the next practice and stuff. But when you really sit back or take a step back and look at it, you’re like, number one in the entire country, number one in the entire Class 3A in Iowa. I mean, we talked to our guys about living in the moment, and talking about it because that stuff doesn’t happen very often, and now you’ve got two of them [teams] that are enjoying it.”

William Penn Men’s Basketball 2013 with Cole Henry in dark shirt. (file photo)

William Penn University Head Men’s Basketball Coach John Henry spoke about the special position his team is in. Henry also has a close connection to the Oskaloosa Indians team, where his son, Cole Henry, is making a name for himself on the floor.

“It’s an exciting time,” says Henry. “I think everybody’s enjoying it except for my wife. She gets highly stressed and has high anxiety over both teams, but it’s a dream come true.”

“We’re enjoying it,” says Henry of the spotlight on his team. “You’d rather be ranked number one than number twenty.”

“Players all over the world, coaches all over the world, from the beginning of the sport, can coach their whole lives and not be number one. Why not enjoy it,” said Henry. “You’ll never forget the time.”

Xavier Foster (center left) with his father DaJuan Foster (center right) during an Indians game this year. (file photo)

For Coach Henry, “Even being the dad of one of the players, you field a lot of questions about the Osky team, and the excitement in the air in the entire community for that team is great. I just hope that the boys enjoy it. It’s the time of their lives.”

The two teams have a lot of roots back to William Penn. Besides Henry and his son Cole, Oskaloosa has DaJuan Foster and Xavier Foster on their roster as well. DaJuan had been an assistant coach with Coach Henry at William Penn. DaJuan also played for William Penn as well. DaJuan then joined the Indians staff as his son Xavier moved up and started playing last year for the Indians.

The Fosters also called the campus of William Penn home for some time when DaJuan and his wife Kristi ran the dorms.

Other William Penn connections to the Oskaloosa Indias program include Austin Hafner, who is the son of William Penn Head Football Coach Todd Hafner. Spencer Tucker is the son of William Penn Men’s Golf Head Coach Steve Tucker.

Cole Henry rides the William Penn team bus back into Oskaloosa after the team returned home from a runner-up finish in the NAIA Championship game in 2013.

The Oskaloosa Indians Head Coach was also a player for the William Penn Men’s Basketball team and then coached as well.

“It’s an exciting time with both being mixed together,” said Henry. “The community is alive with basketball fever.”

At the Henry’s home, it’s exciting to share that excitement together. “As a father and son, you can’t do any better than that in basketball. Now you can finish it, and both win championships. Lord willing, if that’s what it’s supposed to be, that’ll be great. If not, we’re just enjoying this time right now.”