Idaho Stags
More Than a Team. A Program Built for Your Growth.
Idaho Stags is a youth club basketball program in Nampa, Idaho, for boys and girls in grades 3–12. Serious players across the Treasure Valley come here to refine their game, compete at a high level, and prepare for the next level.
2026 Season Tryouts
Three sessions on August 8 — find your player's time.
9
Years
75+
Teams Fielded
350+
Players Developed
3–12
Grades, Boys & Girls
The Idaho Stags Pillars
2026 Season Tryouts
August 8, 2026 · Skyview High School · 2026 Season · October–February
Boys, 3rd–6th grade
Girls, 3rd–5th grade
Boys 7th–8th grade / Girls 6th–8th grade
The 2026 season runs October through February, with exact dates depending on your team's level and grade. Tryout fee: $20. Season fees are invoiced after tryouts, only for players who make a team.
What to Expect
What a season with Idaho Stags looks like for Treasure Valley families.
Skill Development Every Week
Every player gets a dedicated weekly shooting workout on top of two team practices. Players also train speed and agility through the club's partnership with Mettle Sports.
Sound Team Basketball
Idaho Stags teaches the team-basketball principles founder Ricky Bower learned playing for Dick Bennett at Wisconsin, alongside elite individual skill development.
Built for the Treasure Valley
Idaho Stags fields teams for boys and girls from 3rd grade through high school, for families across Nampa, Caldwell, Meridian, Boise, and Kuna.
See Our Players in Action
Training, competing, and building lifelong memories
A Program Built for Every Stage
A clear path of development at every age and stage
Grades 3–5
Fundamentals first — ball handling, footwork, passing, and love of the game.
Grades 6–8
Competitive readiness — basketball IQ, team concepts, strength & conditioning.
High School
Advanced training and high-level competition for players pushing toward the next level. High school teams (grades 9–12) play a separate season — tryouts are announced separately.
About Idaho Stags
Idaho Stags is a premier basketball club in Idaho's Treasure Valley, dedicated to developing competitive players and teams. We pair a sound team-basketball philosophy with elite individual skill development, challenging every player to reach their full potential — as an athlete and as a person.
Our approach is rooted in principles founder Ricky Bower learned playing for Dick Bennett at Wisconsin, where he was recruited by Tony Bennett, who went on to win a national championship as head coach at Virginia. That lineage uniquely positions Idaho Stags to prepare Treasure Valley youth for the next level.
We place a special emphasis on shooting. Every player gets a dedicated weekly shooting workout on top of two team practices, led by Bower, who set multiple three-point shooting records in college.
Through a partnership with Mettle Sports, players also train speed and agility with certified trainers in the same facility where the team practices.
Founded in 2017, the club has grown quickly and now fields competitive and developmental teams for grades 3–12 across the Treasure Valley. High school teams (grades 9–12) play a separate season, currently in progress.
Choose Your Path
Programs for every skill level and commitment
2026 Season Tryouts
Reserve your spot for August 8 tryouts at Skyview High School — grades 3–8, boys & girls.
$20
per tryout
Not sure which program is right for your athlete?
Meet the Founder
Dedicated to developing the next generation of players
Ricky Bower
Idaho native and founder of the Idaho Stags. A Skyview High School charter-class product and Adidas Mr. Basketball for the State of Idaho, Ricky played Division I basketball at Wisconsin and BYU, and was inducted into the Skyview Athletics Hall of Fame in 2011.
About the Founder
Ricky grew up in the Treasure Valley and was part of Skyview High School's charter class. As a senior he was named Adidas Mr. Basketball for the State of Idaho, leading the state in both scoring and assists. He still holds the 6A Southern Idaho Conference scoring record at 26.3 points per game.
He went on to play collegiately for the Ricks College Vikings, the Wisconsin Badgers, and the BYU Cougars. At Ricks College, his team won Region 18 and placed 8th in the nation; Ricky was named the Region 18 tournament MVP and earned national all-tournament honors alongside Shawn Marion and Steve Francis.
At Wisconsin, his team was ranked in the Top 25 all season, and Ricky was named ESPN Player of the Game against Temple and Ohio State. His 2002–03 BYU team was a regular-season co-champion of the Mountain West and earned an NCAA tournament appearance against UConn.
In 2011, Ricky was inducted into the Skyview Athletics Hall of Fame.
Career Highlights
Idaho Stags — Program Facts
Idaho Stags is a youth club basketball program in Nampa, Idaho, serving boys and girls in grades 3–12 across the Treasure Valley — including Nampa, Caldwell, Meridian, Boise, and Kuna.
What is Idaho Stags?
Idaho Stags is a Treasure Valley youth basketball club founded in 2017 by Ricky Bower, offering competitive and developmental teams for boys and girls in grades 3–12. The program's motto is “More Than a Team. A Program Built for Your Growth.”
When are Idaho Stags 2026 tryouts?
Idaho Stags 2026 tryouts are on Saturday, August 8, 2026 at Skyview High School in Nampa, Idaho. Boys in grades 3–6 try out from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM, girls in grades 3–5 from 12:15 to 1:00 PM, and boys grades 7–8 with girls grades 6–8 from 1:15 to 2:45 PM.
Where are the tryouts held?
Tryouts are held at Skyview High School in Nampa, Idaho, in the heart of the Treasure Valley. Idaho Stags trains in the Nampa area.
How much do Idaho Stags tryouts cost?
The Idaho Stags tryout fee is $20, paid when you reserve a tryout spot. Season fees are invoiced after tryouts and only for players who make a team.
What ages and grades can join?
Idaho Stags supports both boys and girls across grades 3–12, with skills-development and competitive teams. Each tryout lists the specific season and grades it’s for — check the program you’re interested in for the details.
Does Idaho Stags have high school teams?
Yes. Idaho Stags fields competitive high school teams that compete both locally and nationally. Through its collaboration with Utah Gold, Idaho Stags gives players access to the EYCL and MadeHoops circuits. Team information and tryouts are posted under Programs.
How do I register with or contact Idaho Stags?
Reserve a tryout spot using the Register button on this page, then email Team@IdahoStags.com with questions. You can also follow @idahostags on Instagram and Facebook.
Last updated: July 2026
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Everything you need to know before joining
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