Preseason All-Conference Teams: North Central

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preseason Player of the Year:</strong> 2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1288917' first='Ben' last='Helmers'] (Algona)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Helmers is a bouncy, athletic combo guard who can play with or without the ball in his hands. He's a talented playmaker and versatile defender who is probably the best all-around player in the league. </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='1288917' first='Ben' last='Helmers'] (Algona): 18.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 2.1 steals, 1.3 blocks, 53.5 FG%, 37.6 3P%</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A shifty athlete who stuffs the stat sheet in a variety of ways, Helmers can do a little bit of everything on the floor for the Bulldogs, who will battle it out with Clear Lake, Humbolt, and Webster City at the top of the NCC.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1381416' first='Thomas' last='Meyer'] (Clear Lake): 14.6 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 1.2 steals, 71.4 FG%</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Meyer is a sought after prospect on the gridiron, holding offers from Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas State, and Wisconsin, among others. Many of the same traits that make him a valued prospect on the football field stand out on the hardwood. He's a mobile big man with great hands and athleticism. He's an extremely efficient offensive weapon who finishes above the rim and controls the glass on both ends of the floor. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1171692' first='Scott' last='Harr'] (Hampton-Dumont-CAL): 21.4 points, 13.1 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.2 steals, 56.7 FG%</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Harr was a double-double machine last season for the Bulldogs, using his big, physical 6-5 frame to control the glass on both ends of the floor and dominate games as an interior scorer. He's a good all-around offensive weapon who also sees the floor well and is a good passer out of the post. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1938208' first='Evan' last='Hatcher'] (Humboldt): 13.6 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 52.3 FG%, 45.8 3P%, 82.7 FT%</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A 6-2 forward who finishes around the rim efficiently, controls the glass, and can really stretch the floor, Hatcher is able to provide some versatility on both ends of the floor for the Wildcats.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1751221' first='Sam' last='Mericle'] (St. Edmond): 17.6 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A 6-1 guard who can score from all three levels, Mericle had a great junior year for the Gaels as a versatile scoring threat. Following the graduation of Jackson Palmer, who also averaged north of 17 points a game, Mericle's numbers could skyrocket. </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='1484419' first='Alex' last='Manske'] (Algona)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='2284843' first='Briar' last='Klaver'] (Webster City)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>224 Carson Nesheim (Clarion-Goldfield-Dows)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='2325311' first='Cael' last='Stephany'] (Clear Lake)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 Elliot Carlson (Humboldt)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Honorable Mentions</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='1587393' first='Landon' last='Welp'] (Algona)<br>2024 Jaden Damiano (Iowa Falls-Alden)<br>2025 Carter Weaver (Iowa Falls-Alden)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2886785' first='Evan' last='Allie'] (Algona)<br>2026 Jack McElroy (St. Edmond)<br>2024 JT Laufersweiler (St. Edmond)<br>2024 Braden Doering (Webster City)<br>2024 Caden Hankins (Clarion-Goldfield-Dows)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759906' first='Titan' last='Schmitt'] (Clear Lake)<br>2024 Corey Dettmann (Humboldt)<br>2025 Calvin Hutchinson (Iowa Falls-Alden)<br>2024 Nick Regan (Iowa Falls-Alden)<br>2024 Tucker Heeren (Hampton-Dumont-CAL)<br>2024 [player_tooltip player_id='2325304' first='Dylan' last='Litzel'] (Clear Lake)<br>2027 Cason Riser (Clear Lake)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->