Pella Christian Boys Basketball Excited for Next Season

Returners provide optimism despite key departures

Mar. 12, 2026 at 3:58pm

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Despite graduating several key players, the Pella Christian boys basketball team is excited about the returning players they have for the 2026-2027 season. Head coach Joe Steinkamp says the team has a lot of size, versatility, and different ways they can play, and he's eager to see how the young players step up to fill the holes left by graduation.

Why it matters

Pella Christian has been a consistent contender in boys basketball, and maintaining that success despite roster turnover is crucial for the program. The team's ability to develop young talent and find new contributors will be important for their continued competitiveness in the coming season.

The details

Pella Christian had 17 players see game action this past season, and 12 of them are set to return next winter. While the team is losing five key members to graduation, coach Steinkamp is excited about the potential of the junior and sophomore classes. He notes the team has a lot of size, versatility, and different ways they can play, and he's eager to see how the young players step up to fill the holes left by the departing seniors.

  • Pella Christian finished the 2025-2026 season with a 14-11 overall record.
  • The 2026-2027 season will be the next campaign for the Pella Christian boys basketball team.

The players

Joe Steinkamp

The head coach of the Pella Christian boys basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“We're excited about our young guys. They've got a lot of work to do, but even as we talk now, we've got guys in the gym, which is exciting. The beauty of what we have coming back I think is that we have a lot of size, a lot of versatility, and a lot of different ways we can play. And to be honest with you, I don't know who will end up being in the rotation next year. I think it's really going to come down to how hard guys work in the off season, how much they play, how much better they get, but I'm excited. I love their attitudes, I love their willingness to get in the weight room and lift and work out, and do those types of things.”

— Joe Steinkamp, Head Coach

The takeaway

Pella Christian's boys basketball team is poised for a strong season despite losing key contributors, as the returning players and young talent provide optimism for the program's continued competitiveness in the coming year.