Basketball players from Des Moines

John Francis Dee, Jr. (September 12, 1923 – April 24, 1999) was head basketball coach at the University of Alabama from 1953 to 1956 and the University of Notre Dame from 1964 to 1971.

Ward B. "Hoot" Gibson Jr. (December 5, 1921 – February 1, 1958) was an American professional basketball player. He played for several teams in the National Basketball League (NBL) and National Basketball Association (NBA).Gibson was killed in a car accident in his hometown of Des Moines, Iowa when he lost control of the vehicle he was driving and hit a tree. He was survived by his wife, Vonnie.

Jack Oxenrider (December 1, 1922 – April 6, 2004) was an American football, baseball, and basketball player and coach. He played for one season with the St. Joseph Outlaws of the Professional Basketball League of America. Oxenrider served as the head football, basketball, and baseball at his alma mater, William Penn University during the 1948–49 academic year.