Looking Ahead: Top Returners to 1A Div. II

<p>It’s football playoff time! That means basketball season is about a month off. Basketball practices will be tipping off soon. So it’s time to start looking ahead to the season. Let’s start with a look at the top returners by class.</p> <p>The majority of the all-state players at the 1A Div. II level are coming back. Nine non-seniors (including three sophomores) were among the 15 players on the all-state teams in 1A Div. II.</p> <p>Here are the top returners to 1A Div. II:</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1080198" first="Jaxson" last="Brandl"], 6-foot-1 guard, 2023, Tribune:</p> <p>Brandl has had an amazing first two-years en route to a historic career. He has averaged approximately 20 points and 10 rebounds for the two seasons combined. He is a versatile and athletic baller who is a presence at the defensive end.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1212165" first="Alec" last="Carlson"], 6-foot-1 guard, 2023, Pawnee Heights:</p> <p>Brandl and Carlson are on parallel paths as brilliant 2023s who have already had impactful careers. Carlson was one of the top scorers in the state, with 23.3 points per game to go with 8.5 rebounds as a sophomore. He joined Brandl as the two sophomores on the first team of 1A Div. II.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1076414" first="Emmitt" last="Jueneman"], 6-foot-1 guard, 2022, Hanover (pictured):</p> <p>Jueneman may not have put up quite the same numbers as Brandl and Carlson, but he plays on a loaded team – the best in the state. Therefore, he didn’t always have to produce huge numbers, but he did what was most important: Win. Guiding the Wildcats to the state title, Jueneman averaged 18.3 points, 4.0 assists and 3.6 steals per game. Jueneman takes on top summer competition, demonstrating that he can do it against all levels.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1212166" first="Jett" last="Vincent"], 6-foot guard, 2023, Wheatland-Grinnell:</p> <p>A third sophomore on the all state teams last year, Vincent did some of everything, turning in a stat line of 13.4 points, 6.5 boards, 1.4 assists and 1.7 steals.</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1195613" first="Dylan" last="Van Laeys"], 6-foot-4 forward, 2022, Logan-Palco:</p> <p>Van Laeys is perhaps the top big man returning to the Div. II level of 1A. He’s long and active, a double-double threat every time out. Last year he 11.4 points and 11.3 rebounds.</p> <p>Other top returners to 1A Div. II:</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1195614" first="Jared" last="Eitzman"], Beloit-St. John’s</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1195615" first="Damian" last="Foster"], Waverly</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1195612" first="Xander" last="Newberry"], Attica</p> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="1195621" first="Bailey" last="Sides"], Northern Valley</p>