<p><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><strong>Preseason Player of the Year:</strong> </span>2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1158450" first="Dallas" last="Kluender"], Woodbury Central</p>
<p>The Wildcats are the team to beat in the conference this year, and Kluender, a walking double-double, is the biggest reason why. He's a stat-sheet stuffer.</p>
<p> </p>
<h4>First Team</h4>
<p><strong>2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1158450" first="Dallas" last="Kluender"], Woodbury Central: 20.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.5 steals, 54.2 FG%</strong></p>
<p>The 6-4 big man is the league's leading returning scorer and rebounder, and he led the Wildcats in assists and steals as well last season. He's an efficient scorer around the bucket who can also occasionally step out and knock down a 3.</p>
<p><strong>2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1156190" first="Cade" last="Harriman"], Ridge View: 14.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.9 steals, 46.8 FG%, 76.7 FT%</strong></p>
<p>A 5-11 scoring guard, Harriman has a chance to see his scoring numbers absolutely explode this year following the graduations of five of the top six scorers from last year. He's at his best when he's playing downhill and attacking, but he's also a capable 3-point shooter for the Raptors.</p>
<p><strong>2022 Jackson Howe, Kingsley-Pierson: 14.1 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.9 steals</strong></p>
<p>A scoring guard who thrives on his ability to get to the bucket for finishes, Howe's 125 free-throw attempts rank second among returnees in the conference behind only Kluender. </p>
<p><strong>2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1167707" first="Beckett" last="DeJean"], OABCIG: 13.4 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.0 steals, 50.4 FG%</strong></p>
<p>An athletic 6-2 lead guard, DeJean will take over primary scoring and ball-handling responsibilities for the Falcons this year following the graduation of older brother Cooper. Beckett is a great athlete who can get to the rim for finishes and he sees the floor well.</p>
<p><strong>2022 Owen Collison, West Monona: 12.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.4 steals</strong></p>
<p>A 6-3 wing who led the Spartans in scoring last season, Collison could see his numbers spike if he can become a bit more efficient this season.</p>
<p> </p>
<h4>Second Team</h4>
<p>2023 Isaac Stadsvold, Lawton-Bronson</p>
<p>2023 Landon Blatchford, West Monona</p>
<p>2022 [player_tooltip player_id="1163642" first="Aidan" last="O’Mara"], Woodbury Central</p>
<p>2022 Kodaik Nelson, West Monona</p>
<p>2022 Easton Harms, OABCIG</p>
<p> </p>
<h4>Honorable Mentions</h4>
<p>2022 Malakie Christopherson, Kingsley-Pierson<br />
2023 Elijah Claeys, Siouxland Christian<br />
2022 Joey Thelander, Lawton-Bronson<br />
2024 [player_tooltip player_id="1172816" first="Anthony" last="Newquist"], MVAOCOU<br />
2023 [player_tooltip player_id="1240096" first="Conner" last="Beelner"], Kingsley-Pierson<br />
<br />
</p>
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue Reading
Already a subscriber?
Log in