Former Iowa women’s basketball head coach Lisa Bluder may have put down the clipboard, but five-star prospect Addie Deal never wavered on her decision to become a Hawkeye.

Deal, a combo guard, is the top-ranked player in California by ESPN and is playing at the prestigious Mater Dei High School — that’s produced the likes of Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinart and Katie Lou Samuelson of the Indiana Fever.

Deal received offers from Arizona, Stanford, Iowa State, Ohio State, and Indiana, among many other schools, but she chose to continue her basketball career with the Iowa Hawkeyes upon seeing the environment each player grows in.

“Just seeing the girls and seeing the culture that they brought, how they cared about each other on and off the court, that really drew me in even more than the coaching staff,” Deal said. “I already loved the way they played basketball. And when I saw in-person how much of a family culture it was, that’s when I was like ‘Oh my gosh, I can really see myself here.’”

Deal was eased into basketball growing up from the start. Her dad played basketball at then-NAIA school Spring Hill College in Mobile, Alabama, now a Division II school.

She began playing around the same time her older brother started, and she even played on the same teams as him up until the seventh grade.

Her experiences growing up turned her into a young star entering high school. She played her freshman season at Pacifica Christian High School in Orange County before transferring to Mater Dei — where she blew up and arrived on the national women’s basketball scene.

Deal played under Kevin Kiernan her first two years with the school. Kiernan, the all-time winningest coach in California high school girl’s basketball history, stepped down after last season to become the school’s athletic director.

His successor is Jody Wynn, a former USC basketball player and Division I coach for 25 years. She spent time as the head coach at the University of Washington and Long Beach State and was an assistant coach at USC and Pepperdine University.

Now at the high school level, she’s grateful to work with Deal, as a person and as a ball player.

“Addie is the ultimate teammate,” Wynn said. “Addie is someone that everybody loves, that everybody trusts, that everybody respects … She plays both sides of the ball with purpose, intent, and energy. She’s fun to play with.

“She’s extremely talented and not cocky or arrogant at all,” Wynn added. “She just plays the game with joy, passion and a lot of energy … And I think because of who she is as a person is why she’s such a  great teammate.”

During the summer, Deal plays with the Cal Stars of the Nike Elite Youth Basketball League — commonly known as the EYBL, a circuit that has produced some of the best college and professional basketball talent in the country. Some of the best players in each respective class play in that league, with many players picking up offers after these sessions.

She was named to the Nike Girls EYBL Session III Third Team after averaging 10.4 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.6 assists last summer. And in March, prior to the 2024 EYBL season, Deal announced her commitment to Iowa.

“I love the way that they play — very fast, very up-tempo, a lot of good shooters,” Deal said. The beautiful thing is Deal fits into that very mold, constantly looking for an open shot and taking it confidently when she finds it. Her footwork gives even the most persistent defenders a challenge staying in front.

“I always had said that she would fit in beautifully with the style of play that Lisa coaches,” Wynn said.

Bluder is a beloved figure in Iowa City after serving as the Iowa women’s basketball head coach for 24 years. Right by her side through it all was Jan Jensen, serving as her lead assistant.

Jensen was an easy choice to become her successor once Bluder announced her retirement, and she works just as well for Deal’s plans.

“Jan was obviously a very well-respected assistant coach for a number of years, and she earned that reward to be named the head coach for Iowa,” Wynn said. “Jan is really an extension of Lisa.”

Iowa has been in contact with the California native since she was a freshman in high school, and Jensen was the main contact in the recruiting process.

During this time, Deal visited Iowa City on unofficial visits when visiting her brother at Grinnell College, which is about an hour away from the university.

The relationship the two built through the recruiting process made Deal feel secure in her commitment despite expecting Bluder to be her head coach.

“I got to know [Jensen] really well [through the recruitment],” Deal said. “It speaks volumes about how Jan took over the position, and not a single person has transferred out. Not a single commit has decommitted. I think that just shows how amazing she’s going to be and how much we trust in her and believe in her.”

And while she’s eager to begin her collegiate career, her eyes are set on capping off an illustrious high school career with a state championship.

California is a hotbed for basketball talent, meaning there’s no easy road to a title. But with a player of Deal’s caliber, the Monarchs are confident in their chances.

“We’re going to have a great year,” Wynn said. “We just want to keep her healthy, and we’re excited for her to help lead us. We have big, big goals and dreams of winning a California state championship, and it’s a tall task ahead.”