Preseason All-Conference: WaMaC West
Player of the Year: 2018 Grant Dirks, Center Point-Urbana
Last year’s leading scorer and second leading rebounder is the safe bet to lead the division in both this year, and his Stormin’ Pointers are the West’s team to beat.
First Team
2018 Grant Dirks, Center Point-Urbana (20.6 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, 57.0 FG%)
A highly skilled and versatile forward who has steadily improved his all-around skill set, Dirks is the focal point for a CPU team that could be a borderline top 10 team in 3A, and is the team to beat in the division. He’s efficient, plays on both ends, and has the talent and diversity to score from anywhere.
2018 Spencer Touro, Benton Community (18.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.9 steals, 83 3PM, 46.4 3P%)
If someone is going to steal the scoring crown from Dirks, it’ll be Benton’s high-scoring guard. Touro is a fantastic shooter who actually was better from behind the arc last year (46.4%) than he was from the floor (44.5%). He’s among the leading returnees in assists and steals as well.
2018 Gabe Shields, South Tama (11.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 49.5 FG%, 40.9 3P%)
The leading scorer for a South Tama team that could surprise some people this winter, Shields is a versatile scorer who can get the job done at all three levels.
2018 Chase Zielke, Marion (12.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists)
The 6-0 scoring guard will have the ball in his hands even more this season following the graduation of Baylor Fish, who led the team in assists last year. Zielke’s numbers will skyrocket if he can improve his efficiency (39.3 FG% last year).
2018 Dylan Harris, Center Point-Urbana (12.2 points, 2.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists)
The division’s leading returning assist man, Harris will be the driving force behind CPU’s attack this winter after they lost JoJo Frost to graduation. A dangerous perimeter shooter who is capable of getting hot from the arc, he’ll pair with Dirks to give the Pointers the best one-two punch in the division.
Second Team
2018 Mitchell McCauley, Center Point-Urbana
2019 Sean Geertsema, Independence
2018 Luke Wiebel, Benton Community
2018 Brandon Blythe, Williamsburg
2018 Ben Subbert, Williamsburg
Honorable Mentions
2019 Keith Keahna, South Tama
2018 Justin Bartz, Vinton-Shellsburg
2018 Koal Marshall, Benton Community
2018 Lucas Schlesselman, Williamsburg
2019 Trevor Paulsen, Marion
2018 Zach Snyder, Independence
2020 Tyler Schrepfer, Clear Creek-Amana
2018 Nathan Lasley, South Tama