The Des Moines metro is stepping into the national spotlight this summer as it plays host to a one-of-a-kind basketball tournament celebrating the beloved underhand, or “granny-style,” shooting technique. According to Radio Iowa, the metro area is welcoming competitors from across the country for this distinctive national hoops event — a fun and inclusive celebration of a shooting style that has charmed basketball fans for generations.
Granny-style shooting, in which players arc the ball underhand toward the basket, has long been a topic of fascination in basketball circles. Bringing a national tournament built around the technique to the Des Moines area puts the metro on the map as a destination for creative and community-centered athletic events.
The tournament is just one sign of a busy and vibrant summer in the Des Moines area. Separately, Iowa Public Radio reports that a nonprofit dedicated to helping previously incarcerated men rebuild their lives is expanding its operations to Des Moines — a meaningful step forward for community support and second-chance opportunities in the city.
The organization’s expansion brings fresh resources and programming to Des Moines residents who are working to reintegrate into their communities after incarceration. Nonprofits like this one play a vital role in strengthening the social fabric of a city, and Des Moines is set to benefit from their proven model of support and mentorship.
Together, these two stories reflect a Des Moines community that is active, welcoming, and committed to bringing people together — whether on the basketball court or in the broader work of building a more connected and compassionate city. It’s shaping up to be a summer worth celebrating in central Iowa.
Sources: Radio Iowa, Iowa Public Radio
