Heartland Athletic Conference Preview
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Should be an exciting battle for the HAC title this season. Conference Commentary Top Ten: Lincoln Pius X Pius should be entrenched in most people’s preseason top ten in Class A. They return the best mix of talent and experience…
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Continue ReadingShould be an exciting battle for the HAC title this season.
Conference Commentary
Top Ten: Lincoln Pius X
Pius should be entrenched in most people’s preseason top ten in Class A. They return the best mix of talent and experience in the conference. Recent Summit League commits, Sam and Jack Hastreiter Jack Hastreiter 6'6" | PF Lincoln Pius | 2022 State NE , are the stars of this squad that went 18-4 last season. Coach Spicka always makes sure his kids play hard and play the right way. Could the Thunderbolts now bring home a Class A title after winning the Class B crown just a few seasons ago?
Top Ten Potential: Grand Island, Lincoln Northeast, Lincoln Southwest, Lincoln Northstar
Isaac Traudt Isaac Traudt 6'9" | SF Grand Island | 2022 State #45 Nation NE will be unstoppable and he should have an improved supporting cast this season, they should do much better than their 12-11 season previously. Lincoln Northeast will surprise people with improvement all the way down the roster. The Beard/Bazil duo will cause a lot of problems for teams this year. Lincoln Southwest is already in some folk’s top ten and I understand completely. Rylan Smith Rylan Smith 6'1" | PG Lincoln Southwest | 2023 State NE will be amongst the best playmakers in the state and will be surrounded by shooters. (Obligatory spot where I make sure to mention Ben Hunzeker Ben Hunzeker 6'3" | SG Lincoln Southwest | 2022 State NE is one of the best players in the conference.) Northstar is deep with young talent that could make a jump this season, they’ll look to build on their 12-10 season last year.
Compete with Most: Lincoln East, Kearney, Lincoln High
The Spartans have a solid group of guards and if their bigs can take another step, I might be rating them too low. Kearney is well-coached and is one of the toughest places to play in the state of Nebraska. Jack Mundorf Jack Mundorf 6'0" | PG Kearney | 2022 State NE is also a solid guard that should keep the Bearcats competing hard. The Links are another team that might surprise some people, they will have some great length and shot-blocking this year. They also have some bucket getters in Collin Nick Collin Nick 6'5" | PF Lincoln High | 2023 State NE and Marcellus McCulley. After winning only one game last season, you can expect the Links to pick up a few more W’s than last year.
Rebuilding: Columbus, Fremont, Norfolk, Lincoln Southeast
These teams will be dealing with either a new coach or just a very young squad. Southeast has some intriguing talent in Wade Voss Wade Voss 6'5" | PF Lincoln Southeast | 2023 State NE , Bangot Dak Bangot Dak 6'3" | SF Lincoln Southeast | 2023 State NE , and Taye Moore Taye Moore 5'9" | PG Lincoln Southeast | 2024 State NE . They’ll be great building blocks for years to come.
21-22 Conference Predictions
- Lincoln Pius X
- Lincoln Southwest
- Grand Island
- Lincoln Northstar
- Lincoln Northeast
- Lincoln East
- Kearney
- Lincoln High
- Lincoln Southeast
- Fremont
- Norfolk
- Columbus
Preseason HAC Player of the Year
Isaac Traudt Isaac Traudt 6'9" | SF Grand Island | 2022 State #45 Nation NE (Grand Island)
Preseason All-HAC Team
(Note: I chose 6 players per team regardless of what position they play.)
First Team
- Sam Hastreiter Sam Hastreiter 6'6" | PF Lincoln Pius | 2022 State NE (Pius X)
- Jack Hastreiter Jack Hastreiter 6'6" | PF Lincoln Pius | 2022 State NE (Pius X)
- Isaac Traudt Isaac Traudt 6'9" | SF Grand Island | 2022 State #45 Nation NE (Grand Island)
- Ben Hunzeker Ben Hunzeker 6'3" | SG Lincoln Southwest | 2022 State NE (Lincoln Southwest)
- Brennon Clemmons Jr (Lincoln Northstar)
- Porter Bazil Porter Bazil 6'3" | SF Lincoln Northeast | 2023 State NE (Lincoln Northeast)
Second Team
- Brayden McPhail Brayden McPhail 5'10" | PG Lincoln East | 2022 State NE (Lincoln East)
- Zander Beard Zander Beard 6'0" | PG Lincoln Northeast | 2022 State NE (Lincoln Northeast)
- Rylan Smith Rylan Smith 6'1" | PG Lincoln Southwest | 2023 State NE (Lincoln Southwest)
- Wade Voss Wade Voss 6'5" | PF Lincoln Southeast | 2023 State NE (Lincoln Southeast)
- Jared Bohrer Jared Bohrer 5'10" | CG Lincoln Pius | 2022 State NE (Pius X)
- Jake Hilkemann Jake Hilkemann 6'4" | SF Lincoln Southeast | 2024 State NE (Lincoln Northstar)