Preseason All-Conference Teams: Iowa Star North

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preseason Player of the Year:</strong> 2028 [player_tooltip player_id='3562510' first='Owen' last='Smith'] (Riceville)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The usual contenders in the North were hit pretty hard by graduation, which could open the door for a team like Riceville, which hasn't finished above .500 since the 2009-10 season. Smith, a 6-4 forward, is the dominant leader of the Wildcats.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>First Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='3562510' first='Owen' last='Smith'] (Riceville): 22.3 points, 12.4 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.8 steals, 1.6 blocks, 53.7 FG%</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Smith was absolutely dominant as a sophomore for the Wildcats, averaging an efficient double-double while also showcasing his versatility on the defensive end. If Riceville is going to end their long above-.500 drought, he'll be the reason why.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2396063' first='Braiden' last='Lauritzen'] (Dunkerton): 14.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.3 steals</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>One of two double-figure scorers to return for the Raiders, Lauritzen will have the ball in his hands a ton as a senior after leading the team in assists last winter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2027 Drew Urbanek (Tripoli): 12.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.2 steals</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Urbanek was second on the Panthers in scoring last season and led the team in assists. Following the graduations of both of the other double-figure scorers from last year's group, he'll be asked to carry a pretty heavy scoring load this winter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2796398' first='Shiloh' last='Schuety'] (Dunkerton): 10.1 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.0 assists</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A 6-2 forward with a non-stop motor and soft hands, Schuety was a force both in the paint and on the glass last season for the Raiders, and he'll step into an even bigger role as a junior following the graduations of a pair of double-figure scorers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2027 Harley Barnett (Clarksville): 9.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Clarksville won just four games last season, but Barnett was a bright spot. He's an athletic forward who is a nightly threat to pick up a double-double. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Second Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2027 Briggs Hoodjer (Clarksville)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='3620478' first='Ryan' last='Steils'] (Don Bosco)<br>2028 Boden Miller (Clarksville)<br>2029 Charlie Steils (Don Bosco)<br>2027 Brendan Meaney (Janesville)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Honorable Mentions</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2027 DJ Jackson (Cedar Ridge Christian)<br>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2822674' first='Evan' last='Schares'] (Don Bosco)<br>2029 Hayden Koenigsfeld (Rockford)<br>2027 Sam Boehmer (Rockford)<br>2028 Blake Baethke (Riceville)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->