Preseason All-Conference Teams: Bluegrass

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Preseason Player of the Year:</strong> 2026 Declan DeJong (Moravia)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>DeJong, a 6-2/6-3 forward, is the only returnee in the league to average a double-double last season, and the scary thing about his numbers is that he didn't even shoot it that well from the floor (37.7%). If he can get up into the 40s from the field, he could put up some ridiculous numbers for a Mohawks team looking to contend for the Bluegrass title.</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 Declan DeJong (Moravia): 13.0 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 2.0 steals</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It figures to probably be Moravia and Ankeny Christian atop the league again this season, and if the Mohawks are going to unseat the Eagles at the top of the conference it'll be because DeJong takes another step forward. After averaging a double-double last season, he could still become a more efficient scorer, and if he does, watch out Bluegrass. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2026 Gavyn Jellison (Seymour): 17.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 3.0 steals, 1.9 blocks, 46.0 FG%</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jellison is the top returning scorer in the conference, coming off a strong junior year in which he led the Warriors in scoring, rebounding, and blocks per game. A 6-3 wing who can score from all three levels, he'll once again be one of the top players in the conference and in Class 1A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2026 Cameron Swarts (Moulton-Udell): 16.1 points, 9.6 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 2.1 steals, 1.1 blocks</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Swarts has been one of the most productive players in the Bluegrass for the last three years. An athletic, versatile player who can impact the game on both ends of the floor in a major way, he's asked to do everything for the Eagles, accounting for over 40% of their scoring last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765540' first='Holden' last='Roberts'] (Twin Cedars): 15.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 1.2 steals, 48.8 FG%, 42.6 3P%, 78.3 FT%</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Sabers have a chance to make a leap up the Bluegrass standing this season, and if they do, it'll be because of Roberts, one of the most efficient players in the conference. He can score inside and out, creating looks off the dribble for himself and his teammates. He led the Sabers in scoring, rebounding, and assists last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2906492' first='Jed' last='Rood'] (Ankeny Christian): 12.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.3 steals, 45.9 FG%</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>ACA is the constant in the Bluegrass Conference, always at the top of the league no matter how much they lost to graduation. Rood is the lone returning scorer among the top four and will be asked to shoulder a pretty heavy load if the Eagles are going to try and win another conference crown.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Second Team</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2026 Lane Flesher (Mormon Trail)<br>2026 Callon Spurgeon (Seymour)<br>2026 Kelan Stevenson (Lamoni)<br>2026 Owen Whittington (Diagonal)<br>2026 Levi Evans (Mormon Trail)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Honorable Mentions</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2026 Reece Chiabotta (Melcher-Dallas)<br>2027 AJ Clarke (Murray)<br>2028 Casen Woodward (Moravia)<br>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2714974' first='Drayden' last='Miller'] (Seymour)<br>2027 Chase Hanes (Moravia)<br>2027 Marcus Pedersen (Ankeny Christian)<br>2028 Noah Arnold (Mormon Trail)<br>2028 Tyson Lloyd (Lamoni)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->