Preseason All-Conference Teams: NICL West

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preseason Player of the Year:</strong> 2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2413534' first='Judd' last='Jirovsky'] (Grundy Center)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grundy Center has run this division for quite some time, and despite a lot of losses to graduation, this is still their division to lose in large part because of Jirovsky, a dynamic scorer and playmaker who can do everything on the floor.</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='2413534' first='Judd' last='Jirovsky'] (Grundy Center): 11.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 2.1 steals, 54.2 FG%, 45.2 3P%</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jirovsky has been a really good complementary player in his sophomore and junior seasons for the Spartans, and he'll have a chance to shine as a senior after they lost nearly everyone to graduation. A future Stanford golfer, he's a high IQ, skilled guard who can shoot it, create off the bounce, and control the glass. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2026 Bo Starr (AGWSR): 13.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.2 steals, 1.1 blocks</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A 6-3 forward who can stuff the stat sheet, Starr led the Cougars in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, and blocks as a junior. He's the focal point of the attack on both ends of the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2026 Blake Neuroth (East Marshall): 12.8 points, 1.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 1.2 steals, 48.3 3P%, 82.6 FT%</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A big-time shooter, Neuroth knocked down nearly 50% of his 3-point attempts as a junior for the Mustangs and led the team in scoring. The 'Stangs return quite a bit from last year's team and could be a team that pushes Grundy Center at the top of the division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2617513' first='Jake' last='Balvanz'] (South Hardin): 10.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.1 steals</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Balvanz was second on the team in scoring last season and will take on a bigger scoring load as a senior following the graduation of Traven Wheeler. A quick guard who can get to the rim or knock down shots off the catch, he's also a solid secondary playmaker. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2906538' first='Cael' last='Curphy'] (East Marshall): 11.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.3 steals, 58.3 FG%</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Three Mustangs were under consideration for this final spot on the first team, but we gave the nod to Curphy, who shot 58% from the floor and made an impact 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='2809470' first='Jackson' last='Bidwell'] (East Marshall)<br>2026 Cody Weaver (East Marshall)<br>2026 Sam Benson (South Hardin)<br>2026 Brayden Davis (Grundy Center)<br>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2828851' first='Chayton' last='Smith'] (AGWSR)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Honorable Mentions</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2026 Hudson Clark (Gladbrook-Reinbeck)<br>2026 Owen Larson (South Hardin)<br>2026 Blake Williams (AGWSR)<br>2026 Trevor Mathern (Gladbrook-Reinbeck)<br>2027 Jaxson Boswell (East Marshall)<br>2026 Preston Dolash (South Hardin)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->