Preseason All-Conference Teams: NICL Central
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Preseason Player of the Year: 2023 Garrett Hempen Garrett Hempen 5'10" | PG Aplington-Parkersburg | 2023 State IA (Aplington-Parkersburg) Take your pick of any of the three Falcons listed on the first team for this honor, but we’ll go with…
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Continue ReadingPreseason Player of the Year: 2023 Garrett Hempen Garrett Hempen 5'10" | PG Aplington-Parkersburg | 2023 State IA (Aplington-Parkersburg)
Take your pick of any of the three Falcons listed on the first team for this honor, but we’ll go with Hempen, who is the team’s leading returning scorer and the team’s lead ball-handler. A-P is once again going to be an explosive offensive team, and Hempen is the catalyst.
First Team
2023 Garrett Hempen Garrett Hempen 5'10" | PG Aplington-Parkersburg | 2023 State IA (Aplington-Parkersburg): 15.6 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.4 steals, 47.4 FG%, 40.5 3P%, 85.2 FT%
A talented lead guard who can score from all three levels or get others involved, Hempen is the engine of the Falcons’ high-powered attack. As he goes, they’ll go.
2024 Gavin Thomas Gavin Thomas 6'1" | SG Aplington-Parkersburg | 2024 State IA (Aplington-Parkersburg): 13.5 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists, 1.6 steals, 47.9 FG%, 39.4 3P%, 83.3 FT%
Another talented three-level scorer for the Falcons, Thomas really came on last year as a sophomore as both a shot creator and playmaker. He has good length, plays with pace, and has a pure stroke. The son of coach Aaron Thomas is a high IQ player who impacts the game at a high level on both ends of the floor.
2023 Martez Wiggley Martez Wiggley 6'4" | PF Aplington-Parkersburg | 2023 State IA (Aplington-Parkersburg): 14.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.4 steals, 1.2 blocks, 55.6 FG%*
A transfer from Waterloo East who can dominate games in the painted area on both ends of the floor, Wiggley will be a massive addition to A-P’s attack. He’s an efficient scorer with great touch and is also a gifted passer.
2024 Camden Davis Camden Davis 6'5" | SF Hudson | 2024 State IA (Hudson): 18.0 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 1.7 steals, 47.2 FG%, 79.5 FT%
The top returning scorer in the division, Davis is a talented 6-2 wing who can get to the bucket and finish, and he’s a reliable free-throw shooter as well. If he improves his perimeter stroke, he could be primed for a monstrous junior season for a Pirates team that will be much improved.
2024 Lyle Olsen Lyle Olsen 6'0" | PG Hudson | 2024 State IA (Hudson): 11.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 2.0 steals, 82.6 FT%
The primary ball-handler for the Pirates, Olsen led the team in assists and steals, and was a solid secondary scoring option.
Second Team
2024 Oliver Thompson (Hudson)
2024 Culin Ugrin Culin Ugrin 6'1" | SG Hudson | 2024 State IA (Hudson)
2024 Eli Ricketts Eli Ricketts 6'1" | SG Denver | 2024 State IA (Denver)
2023 Braxten Johnson (Dike-New Hartford)
2025 Myles Gardner (Columbus Catholic)
Honorable Mentions
2024
Willie Hodges
Willie
Hodges
6'2" | PG
Aplington-Parkersburg | 2024
IA
(Aplington-Parkersburg)
2024
Cooper Hoff
Cooper
Hoff
5'10" | SG
Aplington-Parkersburg | 2024
State
IA
(Aplington-Parkersburg)
2023 Drew Hansen (Hudson)
2024 Leo Christensen (Columbus Catholic)
2023 Benton Bixby (Dike-New Hartford)
2023 Jerek Hall (Dike-New Hartford)
2025 Talen LaFrentz (Denver)