Preseason All-Conference Teams: Iowa Star North

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preseason Player of the Year: </strong>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2731685' first='Talan' last='Pletz'] (Janesville)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This division lost quite a bit of production to graduation or transfer, with the top five, and seven of the top eight, scorers from last season gone. Pletz is the lone returnee and will be the go-to option for a Janesville team that will be looking to contend with Dunkerton at the top of the division.</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='2731685' first='Talan' last='Pletz'] (Janesville): 18.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 1.0 steals, 51.8 FG%</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A skilled wing who can create his own look or get his teammates involved, Pletz is the leading returnee in scoring and assists in the division. If Janesville is going to push Dunkerton at the top of the division, it will be on the shoulders of Pletz.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2026 Gunnar Smith (Riceville): 13.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 2.3 steals</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A 6-2 wing who stuffs the stat sheet, Smith will have ample opportunity to put up even bigger numbers this season following the graduation of Johnny Adams, who averaged more than 22 points per game last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2026 Isaac Jones (Janesville): 12.4 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists, 1.0 steals</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The primary running mate for Pletz, Jones is a quick 5-9 guard who can put constant pressure on opposing teams with his speed on both ends of the floor. He handles it well, gets his teammates involved, and can get to the bucket and finish.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2026 Aidan Hesse (Dunkerton): 11.1 points, 4.4 rebounds</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dunkerton is always good, and despite losing four of their top five scorers from last year's team, they should be good again. If they are, it'll be because of Hesse, a versatile combo forward who can score inside and out as well as contribute on the glass on both ends of the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2028 Owen Smith (Riceville): 11.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.3 steals, 57.3 FG%</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smith, a 6-4/6-5 big man, was really productive as a freshman for the Wildcats, leading the team in rebounding and ranking third in scoring. He could average a double-double as a sophomore. </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='2724155' first='Dawson' last='Grady'] (Cedar Ridge Christian)<br>2026 Matthew Krause (Cedar Ridge Christian)<br>2026 Ethan Schaufenbuel (Tripoli)<br>2026 Jacob Woodson (Tripoli)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2425945' first='Cahne' last='Weber'] (Don Bosco)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Honorable Mentions</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2027 Drew Urbanek (Tripoli)<br>2026 Dawson Barnett (Clarksville)<br>2026 Trevor Santee (Janesville)<br>2027 Braxston Bucknell (Tripoli)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2425936' first='Alex' last='Belew'] (Don Bosco)<br>2026 Colin Snyder (Dunkerton)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->