Preseason All-Conference Teams: NICL West

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preseason Player of the Year: </strong>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1478357' first='Jalen' last='Kirkpatrick'] (Grundy Center)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Spartans and Gladbrook-Reinbeck are without a doubt the top two teams in the division, as you can see with the first team selections. Kirkpatrick is the best two-way player in the league, and is the best player on the best team in the league, making him a pretty easy selection here. </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='1478357' first='Jalen' last='Kirkpatrick'] (Grundy Center): 16.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 1.4 steals, 53.6 FG%, 39.2 3P%</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A long, lanky wing who impacts the game in a major way on both ends of the floor with his combination of size, length, and athleticism, Kirkpatrick is a highly efficient three-level scorer who plays really well without the ball in his hands. He gets his shot off whenever he wants with his size, shooting over defenders, but he also doesn't force anything.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2397981' first='Michael' last='Boyd'] (Gladbrook-Reinbeck): 14.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.2 steals, 1.7 blocks, 55.5 FG%</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A long, mobile forward who can score efficiently around the rim or step out and stretch the floor, Boyd led the Rebels in scoring and is also a skilled passer and shot blocker. If the Rebels are going to unseat Grundy Center at the top of the division, Boyd will be the catalyst. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2397276' first='Drew' last='Eilers'] (Gladbrook-Reinbeck): 12.3 points, 10.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.0 steals, 65.4 FG%</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eilers is an extremely efficient 6-4 forward who does a majority of his damage inside the painted area. He's a walking double-double who controls the glass on both ends of the floor and does a great job keeping the ball high after pulling down rebounds.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759911' first='Tiernan' last='Vokes'] (Grundy Center): 10.4 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.1 steals</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Vokes is a glue guy for the Spartans, a do-it-all guard who can create plays off the dribble, get to the bucket for finishes of his own, and he's really, really good on the glass from his perimeter spot.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2511486' first='Traven' last='Wheeler'] (South Hardin): 13.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.1 steals, 1.3 blocks, 62.7 FG%</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Wheeler had an impressive junior year for the Tigers, finishing second on the team in scoring and leading the way in rebounding. He's an athletic, mobile forward who finishes extremely well around the rim and does a great job on the glass 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 Bo Starr (AGWSR)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 Jaxson Drury (South Hardin)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2425910' first='Leland' last='Hamilton-Youngbird'] (East Marshall)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2413534' first='Judd' last='Jirovsky'] (Grundy Center)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='1759941' first='Brayden' last='Wallis'] (Grundy Center)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Honorable Mentions</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2026 Jackson Bidwell (East Marshall)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2820164' first='Austen' last='Mathern'] (Gladbrook-Reinbeck)<br>2026 Blake Willems (AGWSR)<br>2026 Hudson Clark (Gladbrook-Reinbeck)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2204862' first='Brandon' last='Mathern'] (Gladbrook-Reinbeck)<br>2025 [player_tooltip player_id='2820148' first='Ryker' last='Thoren'] (Grundy Center)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->