Preseason All-Conference: Missouri River
Player of the Year: 2018 Van Rees, Sioux City East
You can’t go wrong with either of East’s standouts, or Heelan’s star Elijah Hazekamp as the Player of the Year pick here. But we’ll go with Rees, who led the league in scoring and was second in rebounding last season for the Black Raiders, who figure to be the team to beat in the MRC again this year.
First Team
2018 Van Rees, Sioux City East (20.8 points, 11.8 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 57.0 FG%, 163 FTM)
The league’s leading scorer and second leading rebounder last year, Rees, a recent Wayne State commit, is a walking double-double for a Black Raiders team that will be among the best in 4A.
2018 Elijah Hazekamp, Sioux City Heelan (17.7 points, 12.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 48.7 FG%, 87.1 FT%)
The North Dakota commit, like Rees, is a walking double-double who was second in the league in scoring and led it in rebounding. A versatile combo forward with the ability to score from anywhere on the court, don’t be surprised to see Hazekamp lead the Crusaders back to the 3A state tournament.
2019 Aidan Vanderloo, Sioux City East (16.8 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 52.8 FG%, 55.3 3P%, 87.7 FT%)
A dead-eye shooter who posted remarkable efficiency numbers last year (53-55-88), Vanderloo pairs with Van Rees to give East one of the state’s best one-two punches.
2018 Troy Houghton, Council Bluffs, Abraham Lincoln (13.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.5 steals, 1.7 blocks, 49.8 FG%)
A versatile wing who is one of the state’s best perimeter defenders, Houghton is an elite two-way player who will look to keep the Lynx competitive with the league’s top-tier teams like East and Heelan.
2019 Conner Groves, Sergeant Bluff-Luton (10.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 70 3PM)
No player in the MRC knocked down more 3s last season than the junior sharpshooter, who is an all-around stat-sheet stuffer. His numbers will skyrocket this year as the only returnee among the Warriors’ top four scorers from a year ago.
Second Team
2019 Trent Frerichs, Sioux City North
2018 Jack Boever, Sioux City Heelan
2019 Cliff McRay, Sioux City West
2018 Preston Fant, Council Bluffs, Abraham Lincoln
2019 Robert Mosey, Sioux City North
Honorable Mentions
2020 Jaleque Dunson, Sioux City East
2019 Nick Opsahl, Sioux City North
2018 Colin Kasperbauer, Sioux City Heelan
2018 DeSean Foy, Sioux City West
2018 Sam Hildahl, Sioux City East
2019 Cameron Lukavsky, Council Bluffs, Thomas Jefferson
2018 Ty Boekelman, Sergeant Bluff-Luton
2018 Jeremiah Bor Khat, Sergeant Bluff-Luton