Conference Preview: NICL Central

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>The Teams</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Aplington-Parkersburg (20-3 last season, 65.2% of scoring returning): </strong>Aaron Thomas has built A-P into a dominant program, averaging 20 wins a year over the last 11 seasons, and with top of their top three scorers coming back, they should be considered the favorite in the division again this year. They're led by senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1765547' first='Benny' last='Waller'] (20.1, 38.8 3P%), a dynamic three-level scorer who can fill it up from anywhere on the floor. He was really good as a junior and should be even better in his final go-around. Sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='2594659' first='Tyler' last='Wedeking'] (12.6, 41.2 3P%) gives them another really talented shooter in the backcourt, allowing Waller some additional space to operate with his ability to stretch the floor. Sully Janssen (4.1), Trevan Thomas (2.0), and Wes Shirk (1.5) are the other returnees with notable experience. With Waller and Wedeking leading the charge, and a program that has been as consistent as anyone, A-P will be a factor in 2A again this season and is the best team in the Central.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Columbus Catholic (9-14, 73.7%): </strong>The Sailors were always going to be a team that could be projected to take a leap this season, bringing back standout wing [player_tooltip player_id='2629262' first='Amani' last='Robinson'] (17.2, 11.3 rebounds) and a slew of juniors who saw a lot of time last season. Then they added a pair of talented transfers in [player_tooltip player_id='2425904' first='Eli' last='Evans'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2828804' first='Griffin' last='Frost'], which raised the floor and the ceiling for this group. Evans averaged 26.0 points, 10.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 2.0 steals, and 1.2 blocks on 43-38-77 shooting at Cedar Ridge Christian last season, and while the jump up to Columbus Catholic is a jump in competition, he has proven his numbers aren't just a product of weak competition with his play in the summer. He'll pair with Robinson to give the Sailors one of the best one-two punches in the NICL as a whole. Frost didn't play varsity minutes at Cedar Falls, but this is a significant drop in competition from what he's used to and should be able to step in and make an impact on both ends of the floor with his length and talent. Evans and Robinson will be great, Frost is a nice complementary piece, and juniors Owen Hosch (9.3) and Bryce Noland (6.0) are reliable scoring threats as well. If the Sailors can defend, they can make some noise. The offensive pieces are most certainly in place.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Denver (19-5, 46.5%): </strong>Another program that has become a pretty consistent contender over the last decade, Denver will be led by junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2724157' first='Quintin' last='Honn'] (11.5, 42.0 3P%), a high-level shooting threat who can play with or without the ball in his hands. They lost their leading scorer, and two of their top three, leaving Honn as the top returnee, but he's not alone. Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2729418' first='Jackson' last='Joerger'] (9.0) is another skilled scoring threat, and senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2887816' first='Myles' last='Matthias'] (8.2) can create plays off the dribble. The Cyclones usually have pretty good depth, and that should be the case again this year, something that will give them an edge over the competition on a nearly nightly basis. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Dike-New Hartford (13-11, 14.8%): </strong>Nobody in the division was hit harder by graduation than the Wolverines, losing their top three, and five of their top six scorers from last year's team. That leaves senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2768534' first='Jaiden' last='Soppe'] (4.7) as the top returning option, joined by Dawson Dietrick (2.9, 3.1 rebounds) in the paint. D-NH only has one year in the Bound era (dating back to 2008-09) in which they've won single digit games, so they're going to find pieces to fill in the gaps alongside Soppe and Dietrick, that's just what happens at this school. But they aren't going to be a true contender in the division this winter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hudson (5-17, 65.0%):</strong> After a fantastic run in 2023-24, the Pirates knew they were going to take a step back in 2024-25, and they did. They lost their leading scorer from last year's team, but bring back everyone else, so there is some reason for optimism heading into this season. Sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id='2772327' first='Tade' last='Roberts'] (10.8, 7.0 rebounds, 1.5 blocks) was really good as a freshman and will be the focal point for the attack for the next three years. He can score inside and out as well as protect the rim defensively. Jackson Nesteby (6.0), Blake Delagardelle (5.5), and Anderson Yoder (5.4) are the other reliable returning scorers alongside Roberts, and the 2027 and 2028 classes in general at Hudson look to be pretty strong. Expect the Pirates to be more competitive this season, with eyes on 2026-27 as the next chance for them to make some serious noise.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Projected Order of Finish</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>1. Aplington-Parkersburg<br>2. Denver<br>3. Columbus Catholic<br>4. Hudson<br>5. Dike-New Hartford</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Analysis: </strong>With Waller and Wedeking leading the charge, A-P looks like the team to beat in the Central Division. Denver will once again be pretty good, Columbus Catholic could be a surprise team, and Hudson should be improved. There isn't a bad team in this division.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Preseason Player of the Year</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765547' first='Benny' last='Waller'] (Aplington-Parkersburg):</strong> The Falcons look like the favorite in the division, and Waller is their best player, making this a pretty straight forward selection. This is a division that is going to be loaded with talent, and the race for POY and the division crown will both be fun to watch unfold.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>Players to Watch</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='1765547' first='Benny' last='Waller'] (Aplington-Parkersburg)<br>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2594659' first='Tyler' last='Wedeking'] (Aplington-Parkersburg)<br>2026 Sully Jansen (Aplington-Parkersburg)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2629262' first='Amani' last='Robinson'] (Columbus Catholic)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2425904' first='Eli' last='Evans'] (Columbus Catholic)<br>2027 Owen Hosch (Columbus Catholic)<br>2027 Bryce Noland (Columbus Catholic)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2828804' first='Griffin' last='Frost'] (Columbus Catholic)<br>2027 Thomas Fereday (Columbus Catholic)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2724157' first='Quintin' last='Honn'] (Denver)<br>2027 [player_tooltip player_id='2729418' first='Jackson' last='Joerger'] (Denver)<br>2026 [player_tooltip player_id='2887816' first='Myles' last='Matthias'] (Denver)<br>2028 [player_tooltip player_id='2772327' first='Tade' last='Roberts'] (Hudson)<br>2027 Jackson Nesteby (Hudson)<br>2027 Blake Delagadelle (Hudson)<br>2026 Anderson Yoder (Hudson)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->