Preseason All-Conference Teams: NICL West

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preseason Player of the Year:</strong> 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1478357' first='Jalen' last='Kirkpatrick'] (Grundy Center)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grundy Center should be considered a pretty heavy favorite in this division, and Kirkpatrick is the Spartans' best player, making him a pretty easy selection for this honor heading into the season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>First Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1478357' first='Jalen' last='Kirkpatrick'] (Grundy Center): 16.5 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.2 steals, 49.0 FG%, 41.2 3P%</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A versatile 6-6 wing who can impact the game in a number of ways, Kirkpatrick is the leading returning scorer in the division and will be the focal point of a Grundy Center attack that should be the best in the league. He can create for himself and his teammates, score inside and out, and defend multiple positions. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759911' first='Tiernan' last='Vokes'] (Grundy Center): 12.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.2 steals, 53.4 FG%, 42.1 3P%</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A long 6-4 wing who can really shoot it from deep, Vokes buried over 42% of his 3-point attempts as a sophomore for the Spartans while also contributing in nearly every other category on the stat sheet. He's a key piece in a loaded 2025 class at Grundy Center. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2024 Landen Neuroth (East Marshall): 13.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.1 steals, 49.1 FG%</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Neuroth is a 5-10 guard who loves to attack the rim, with nearly 91% of his shot attempts coming from inside the arc last season. He puts pressure on opposing defenses with his combination of speed and ball-handling. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='2377884' first='Lane' last='Luiken'] (South Hardin): 11.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 37.9 3P%</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Luiken was the Tigers' best perimeter shooting threat last season and will be the focal point of the offensive attack this year after four double-figure scorers graduated. He can shoot it off the dribble or the catch and displayed some solid secondary playmaking ability as well last season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2397276' first='Drew' last='Eilers'] (Gladbrook-Reinbeck): 7.3 points, 8.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.0 steals, 57.1 FG%</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the top three scorers from last year's team graduated, there will be a lot of open opportunities for Eilers, an efficient 6-3/6-4 big man. He has soft hands and good touch around the rim, and the offense will need to flow through him and Isaac Clark this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Second Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759941' first='Brayden' last='Wallis'] (Grundy Center)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='2325346' first='Tate' last='Jirovsky'] (Grundy Center)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2024 Isaac Clark (Gladbrook-Reinbeck)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 Brody Zinkula (Grundy Center)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2024 Colin Gordon (Grundy Center)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Honorable Mentions</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2024 Gabe Nederhoff (AGWSR)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2511486' first='Traven' last='Wheeler'] (South Hardin)<br>2024 Austin Vaverka (Gladbrook-Reinbeck)<br>2025 Leland Hamilton-Youngbird (East Marshall)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->