Preseason All-Conference Teams: MVC Mississippi

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preseason Player of the Year: </strong>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1381412' first='Davis' last='Kern'] (Linn-Mar)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Mississippi Division is definitely the more loaded division in the MVC this year, and strong arguments could be made for four of the players on the first team for this honor. That said, we expect Linn-Mar to be the team to beat in the division this season, and Kern is their best player. The future South Dakota State forward stuffs the stat sheet and is one of the most dominant all-around offensive players in the state. </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='1381412' first='Davis' last='Kern'] (Linn-Mar): 22.7 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 2.3 blocks, 56.6 FG%, 44.7 3P%, 79.9 FT%</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Kern is one of the best two-way players in the state, a dominant scorer who can take smaller defenders onto the block and feast, or step out and stretch the floor with one of the most pure strokes of any player out there. He'll put up some ridiculous numbers as a senior for the Lions. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1381414' first='Jack' last='McCaffery'] (Iowa City West): 16.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.9 blocks, 48.7 FG%, 80.5 FT%</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A Butler commit, the youngest McCaffery boy is a big wing at 6-8/6-9 with a huge wingspan, silky stroke from 3-point range, and a great feel for the game. He has fantastic vision and is a talented playmaker in addition to his ability to score inside and out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1381415' first='Trey' last='McKowen'] (Kennedy): 13.3 points, 2.1 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 2.7 steals, 51.4 FG%, 38.5 3P%, 75.0 FT%</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A do-it-all guard who doesn't back down from anyone, McKowen stuffs the stat sheet in a variety of ways for the Cougars. He'll be asked to be the senior leader this season after the Cougs lost a ton of production to graduation. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1172887' first='Tevin' last='Schultz'] (Senior): 14.5 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 60.3 FG%</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Schultz is a highly efficient 6-7/6-8 forward who can score inside and out, showing advanced footwork and moves on the block as well as a pure stroke from 3-point range. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1484413' first='Payson' last='Nietert'] (Linn-Mar): 10.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.0 steals, 37.3 3P%, 85.7 FT%</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A big wing with great size at 6-6, Nietert is a really good shooter from 3-point range, using his size and high release to get his shot off against anyone. He moves really well without the ball in his hands and has unlimited range. He's a really nice complement to Kern, Matson, and Wright as a spot-up shooter who can also provide some versatility on the defensive end. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Second Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2118611' first='Jerimiah' last='Washpun'] (Liberty)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1978144' first='Zander' last='Murray'] (Xavier)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765536' first='Cooper' last='Porter'] (Senior)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1381427' first='Trey' last='Wright'] (Linn-Mar)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1514455' first='Mason' last='Matson'] (Linn-Mar)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Honorable Mentions</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1361499' first='Lorenzo' last='Pino'] (Xavier)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2204878' first='Kaleb' last='Wilgenbusch'] (Xavier)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765554' first='AJ' last='Evans'] (Xavier)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1288921' first='Maddoc' last='Coapstick'] (Liberty)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765555' first='Drake' last='Medinger'] (Senior)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1381404' first='Josh' last='Brauer'] (Senior)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1381411' first='Jalen' last='Johnson'] (Senior)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765527' first='Julian' last='Manson'] (Iowa City West)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2511548' first='Aaron' last='Kraft'] (Western Dubuque)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1381406' first='Landon' last='Deiters'] (Kennedy)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2164515' first='Jaxson' last='Bean'] (Kennedy)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->