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 (17-6 last season, 43.0% of scoring returning): </strong>The J-Hawks lost one of the best players in school history in Jack Miller, who averaged 26 points a game last season, but the cupboard isn't bare. [player_tooltip player_id='1839807' first='Ryan' last='Treptow'] (17.0, 4.2 assists) will probably lead the division in scoring this season. He's a quick guard who can score from all three levels and play with or without the ball in his hands. He shoots it well from 3-point range, creates quality looks off the bounce, and is a pest on the defensive end. [player_tooltip player_id='2820112' first='Landon' last='Vogel'] (9.7, 35.6 3P%) gives them some more perimeter shooting, and Nic Moore (1.6) saw a fair amount of time last season and will step into a bigger role. Joe Smeins has done a really nice job with this program, and they should be considered the team to beat in the division until proven otherwise. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Oelwein (8-15, 55.8%):</strong> Walking double-double [player_tooltip player_id='2398026' first='Conall' last='Sauser'] (14.3, 10.0 rebounds) returns to lead the Huskies, who could be improved this winter. Sauser is an efficient interior option, shooting over 53% from the floor, and he's great on the glass on both ends of the floor. Brady Burkhart (7.9) will have the ball in his hands a ton as the lead playmaker, and Dylan Hamilton (3.4, 37.2 3P%) could step into a bigger role as a perimeter scorer. If the Huskies can find some shooting to help space the floor for Sauser, they could be dangerous.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sumner-Fredericksburg (10-14, 58.9%):</strong> Leading scorer and playmaker Tatum Nuss (12.6, 4.1 assists) returns to lead the Cougars, a team that played just under .500 following the holiday break last season. Nuss is a capable shooter, but he's at his best when he's attacking the rim and putting pressure on the defense with his dribble. Gavin Trask (7.3, 7.3 rebounds) was really productive as a sophomore, blocking 1.5 shots a game and providing some real rim protection, and [player_tooltip player_id='2381214' first='Liam' last='Steege'] (5.1) will provide some additional scoring and playmaking. This is a group that really improved as the season progressed last season, and they should be looking to build on that positive momentum. They could challenge Union and Jesup at the top of the division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Union (11-12, 56.2%): </strong>The Knights got off to a great start last season, going 7-2 before the holiday break, a stretch that included a 17-point win over Jesup. They struggled after the hiatus, going just 4-10 post-break, but eight of those losses came by single digits, including five by a single possession. Simply put, this group was really, really close to putting together a pretty special year. They lost their leading scorer from that group, but bring back a pair of double-figure scorers in [player_tooltip player_id='1726227' first='Caden' last='Sorensen'] (15.4, 4.2 assists) and [player_tooltip player_id='2617480' first='Cameron' last='Mullen'] (10.3), who will give the Knights the best backcourt in the division. Also returning is [player_tooltip player_id='2679273' first='Maddux' last='DeWinter'] (6.3, 4.4 assists), a reliable playmaker in the backcourt who gives them another ball-handler (2.49 assist-to-turnover ratio) who can initiate the offense and create plays. If some pieces who were on the roster last year can adjust well to their increased roles this group could unseat Jesup at the top of the division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Wapsie Valley (3-19, 74.0%): </strong>The Warriors had their first season with fewer than 12 wins since the 2015-16 season last year, but they should rebound nicely this year. Juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2519981' first='Briggs' last='Boehme'] (14.1, 4.2 assists) and [player_tooltip player_id='1884756' first='Tanner' last='Bergmann'] (11.3, 7.9 rebounds, 1.6 blocks) give them a dynamic inside-out tandem that should lead to marked improvement, and sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='2530657' first='Landen' last='Moulds'] (5.9) provides some more perimeter scoring and playmaking. Bergmann should be one of the best two-way big men in the conference, coming off a great spring and summer with Drive Pro, and if his development continues, he could be one of the most intriguing young prospects in the state. Wapsie should be much better this season, getting back closer to the success they've become accustomed to.</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. Union<br>3. Sumner-Fredericksburg<br>4. Wapsie Valley<br>5. Oelwein</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis: </strong>Jesup and Union look like the top two teams in the division this season, and the head-to-head meetings probably ultimately determine the division. The rest of the teams in the division won't be easy outs, however, as each has a player that can be a difficult matchup for opposing teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Preseason Player of the Year</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1839807' first='Ryan' last='Treptow'] (Jesup): </strong>This division looks pretty wide open this season, and there are a number of viable candidates for this honor. Treptow should put up huge numbers on both ends of the floor as the primary scorer for the J-Hawks, who are as good a bet as any to take home the division crown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1839807' first='Ryan' last='Treptow'] (Jesup)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2820112' first='Landon' last='Vogel'] (Jesup)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1726227' first='Caden' last='Sorensen'] (Union)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2617480' first='Cameron' last='Mullen'] (Union)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2679273' first='Maddux' last='DeWinter'] (Union)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1943626' first='Sawyer' last='Spence'] (Union)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2398026' first='Conall' last='Sauser'] (Oelwein)<br>2025 Brady Burkhart (Oelwein)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2519981' first='Briggs' last='Boehme'] (Wapsie Valley)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1884756' first='Tanner' last='Bergmann'] (Wapsie Valley)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2530657' first='Landen' last='Moulds'] (Wapsie Valley)<br>2027 Braden Bantz (Wapsie Valley)<br>2025 Tatum Nuss (Sumner-Fredericksburg)<br>2026 Gavin Trask (Sumner-Fredericksburg)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2381214' first='Liam' last='Steege'] (Sumner-Fredericksburg)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->