Elite basketball prep school opens this new Des Moines campus
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Iowa United Basketball starts classes in its new facility in the 7400 block of Southwest 22nd Street in Des Moines on Sept. 2. Photo: Parker Czipar, courtesy of Iowa United Basketball
A private basketball prep school set to begin classes next week at a new campus on Des Moines' south side is gaining national attention after a video showcasing its advanced facilities went viral.
Why it matters: The program reflects how prep sports are shifting toward professional-style development — with international recruiting, full-time coaching staffs, NIL opportunities and facilities rivaling Division I universities.
Catch up quick: Iowa United Basketball was founded by Mark Scharnberg, who is also the president of his family business, Katecho, a contract manufacturer specializing in medical and cosmetic products.
- He's investing his own money into the school, telling Axios he "could probably have bought a private island and built myself a mansion for what I spent."
Behind the scenes: It's a Christian school that came together over the last three years with Scharnberg in the process of buying and taking over Oakmore Academy, a multi-sport training and education center near Merle Hay Mall that his boys attended.
- Everything will operate as Iowa United Basketball, Scharnberg said.
State of play: The school's new facilities are in a renovated 73,000-square-foot warehouse near the Des Moines airport that includes basketball courts, a performance training center and locker rooms with digital displays.
- Its roster includes 24 high-level student athletes who were recruited globally and taught by about a dozen trainers or educators.
Zoom in: Scharnberg compares Iowa United to European-style academies, where scholastics and athletics are run separately.
- Training and schooling will be done in shifting blocks of time, with many days running more than 10 hours.
Driving the news: A video recently posted by Cullen Honohan, a prominent basketball content creator, said Iowa United Basketball is the state's most expensive high school.
- The 20-minute video goes inside the facility, ultimately concluding that it is a five-star, one-of-a-kind operation.
What they're saying: The "most expensive" label is a bit misleading because the players all receive full scholarships. Scharnberg says he's investing about $150,000 per athlete per year.
- He's betting on expansion of academics, documentary/sponsorship money, NIL partnerships and fundraising to make Iowa United financially sustainable.
What's next: Six four-bedroom apartments are being constructed for the students, who are currently living in nearby apartments.
- Scharnberg and his family will live in a separate 3,500-square-foot home on the property and help care for the students when the school's housing is completed by early next year.