Conference Preview: NICL East

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>The Teams</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jesup (19-6, 23.5% of scoring returning): </strong>The J-Hawks lost a ton of production to graduation, losing four of their top five scorers, including a tandem in Carson Lienau and Corbin Fuelling that combined to average over 37 points a night. But they bring back talented junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1153046' first='Jack' last='Miller'] (14.9), so the cupboard isn't bare for Joe Smiens. Miller is a dynamic three-level scorer who is capable of dropping 30+ on any given night. He's a great ball-handler who can break down a defense and get to the rim, and he has unlimited range as well as the ability to get others involved. The only other returnee with significant playing experience is senior Brevin Dahl (3.8), so there will be a ton of new faces getting acclimated to major varsity minutes, but Miller is good enough to keep this team afloat until they're ready.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Oelwein (3-19, 63.1%): </strong>The Huskies lost leading scorer Cole Hamilton to graduation but bring back the next three from last year's team in senior Carter Jeanes (9.1), sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2398026' first='Conall' last='Sauser'] (9.0), and junior Garet Kiel (5.5), so they have a trio of experienced pieces to build around. Sauser was very productive as a freshman, leading the team in rebounding and shooting 53% from the floor, while Kiel is the team's top perimeter shooting threat. Oelwein will probably still struggle to compete against the upper-level teams in the NICL, but they should be more competitive against the middle of the league this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sumner-Fredericksburg (9-13, 28.7%): </strong>The Cougars lost their top two scorers from last year's team, a duo that combined to average over 35 points a night, so they'll have some major holes to fill this season. Junior guard Jaymison Howard (6.0) and senior wing Kade Mitchell (5.5) are the top returnees. Howard figures to have the ball in his hands quite a bit this season and they'll need Mitchell and junior forward Achilles Quigley (3.2) to become mainstays on the glass. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Union (12-11, 33.7%): </strong>Senior guard Ty Lorenzen (10.3) is the top returnee for the Knights. He'll serve as the team's primary ball-handler and scoring threat, especially early on as they break in a number of new pieces. Junior forward Logan Rosauer (7.1, 5.9 rebounds) was second on the team in rebounding and is a physical presence in the paint who can control the glass on both ends of the floor. Last year was the best year Union has had since 2008-09, but it will be difficult for them to replicate this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Wapsie Valley (17-6, 49.2%): </strong>Three starters return for the Warriors in seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1240097' first='Andrew' last='Westpfahl'] (10.0), [player_tooltip player_id='956883' first='Mason' last='Harter'] (9.9), and [player_tooltip player_id='1469836' first='Casey' last='O'Donnell'] (7.8), giving Wapsie arguably the best trio to build around in the division. Westpfahl is the team's top ball-handler and perimeter shooting threat, while O'Donnell is a slashing wing who is at his best getting to the rim. Harter is a throwback big man who dominates on the glass on both ends of the floor and protects the paint defensively. This group should be strong defensively and on the glass, and if they can find a reliable perimeter shooter to put around the trio, they can win the division. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Projected Order of Finish</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. Jesup<br>2. Wapsie Valley<br>3. Union<br>4. Sumner-Fredericksburg<br>5. Oelwein</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis: </strong>Wapsie brings more back than Jesup does, but the J-Hawks have the best player in the division in Miller and their up-tempo system should be difficult for teams in the division to keep pace with. Wapsie Valley will be a dangerous team in 1A postseason play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Preseason Player of the Year</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"align":"right","id":1656105,"sizeSlug":"medium","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image alignright size-medium"><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/09/23-Jack-Miller-scaled-crop-1707x1121-1668026211.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/09/23-Jack-Miller-scaled-crop-1707x1121-1668026211-300x197.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1656105" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1153046' first='Jack' last='Miller'], Jesup: </strong>Miller is the top returning scorer in the division and should have an opportunity to have a huge junior season after the J-Hawks lost a lot of production to graduation. He's a dynamic three-level scorer and playmaker. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1153046' first='Jack' last='Miller'], Jesup<br>2023 Brevin Dahl, Jesup<br>2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1240097' first='Andrew' last='Westpfahl'], Wapsie Valley<br>2023 [player_tooltip player_id='956883' first='Mason' last='Harter'], Wapsie Valley<br>2023 [player_tooltip player_id='1469836' first='Casey' last='O'Donnell'], Wapsie Valley<br>2023 Ty Lorenzen, Union<br>2024 Logan Rosauer, Union<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2398026' first='Conall' last='Sauser'], Oelwein<br>2023 Carter Jeanes, Oelwein<br>2025 Garet Kiel, Oelwein<br>2023 Carson Cox, Oelwein<br>2024 Jaymison Howard, Sumner-Fredericksburg<br>2023 Kade Mitchell, Sumner-Fredericksburg<br>2024 Achilles Quigley, Sumner-Fredericksburg</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->