Preseason All-Conference Teams: Hawkeye Ten

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preseason Player of the Year: </strong>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765503' first='Brock' last='Badding'] (Kuemper Catholic)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You could make good arguments for any of the Kuemper players listed on the first team for this honor, as the Knights should pretty much control the league this year. We'll side with Badding, the floor-stretching guard with a flamethrower for a right hand. His ability to get scorching hot from deep and carry the team for stretches offensively is extremely valuable. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>First Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765503' first='Brock' last='Badding'] (Kuemper Catholic): 13.0 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.3 steals, 48.8 FG%, 45.8 3P%, 81.2 FT%</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of the best shooters in the state, Badding had a really good sophomore year, and then followed that up with a great spring and summer in which he showcased improvement as a ball-handler and shot creator. If those attributes carry into the high school season, he could be one of the most dynamic offensive players in 2A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765513' first='Ryan' last='Clair'] (Kuemper Catholic): 18.7 points, 10.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.5 steals, 1.1 blocks, 62.3 FG%*</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clair put up huge numbers as a sophomore at East Sac County, averaging a double-double and showing the ability to control the paint on both ends of the floor with his size and athleticism. He'll give the Knights an athletic big man who can dominate the glass and score around the rim.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1874784' first='Jake' last='Hoyt'] (Creston): 14.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.2 steals, 1.2 blocks, 50.4 FG%</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The leading returning scorer in the league, Hoyt is a long, athletic, versatile wing who uses that length to impact the game in a big way on both ends. He can put the ball on the floor and attack the bucket, he's really good on the glass, and he's a versatile defender who can move his feet on the perimeter or protect the rim.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765504' first='Nicolas' last='Ballenger'] (St. Albert): 13.5 points, 2.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.6 steals</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A sharpshooting guard with a quick trigger and unlimited range, Ballenger led the Falcons in scoring as a sophomore and flashed more improvement as both a shooter and shot creator throughout the spring and summer. He looks like he's primed for a big junior year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759944' first='Carson' last='Kanne'] (Kuemper Catholic): 9.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 1.9 steals, 4.06 assist-to-turnover, 49.4 FG%, 39.2 3P%, 90.9 FT%</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The floor general for the Knights, Kanne paces one of the best offensive attacks in the state. He does a fantastic job setting his teammates up and protecting the ball, as evidenced by his better than 4.0 assist-to-turnover ratio as a junior. He's a high IQ lead guard who impacts the game in a significant way on both ends of the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Second Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2413616' first='Gavin' last='McLaren'] (Atlantic)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1951817' first='Tregan' last='Beiter'] (Kuemper Catholic)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2519974' first='Jack' last='Badding'] (Kuemper Catholic)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2389681' first='Ayden' last='Gibson'] (Glenwood)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 Josef Reisz (Harlan)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Honorable Mentions</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 Owen Marshall (St. Albert)<br>2026 Ty Paulson (Lewis Central)<br>2025 Drew Schroeder (Glenwood)<br>2026 Sam Kline (Clarinda)<br>2025 Joseph Hughes (St. Albert)<br>2025 Dalton Athen (Shenandoah)<br>2027 Joey O'Rourke (Shenandoah)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2731811' first='Jack' last='Johnson'] (Glenwood)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2420798' first='Griffin' last='Glynn'] (Kuemper Catholic)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2420805' first='Dylan' last='Schon'] (Kuemper Catholic)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->