WEC players named to boys' hoop all-state teams

A northwest Iowa athlete has been named Mr. Iowa Basketball 2024 by the Iowa Print Sports Writers Association (IPSWA).

Jesse Van Kalsbeek, of MOC-Floyd Valley, was selected during a meeting of approximately 40 Iowa print sports writers and basketball coaches. Van Kalsbeek averaged 26 points per game for the Dutch, who lost in the Class 3A semifinals at the boys’ state basketball tournament.

Those named to the all-state teams in all four classes were voted on by sports writers and high school basketball coaches who attended the in-person meeting on March 8. Nominations were taken in advance of the meeting online, as well as made during the selection meeting. Only one vote was allowed per class for each newspaper or school.

Two players from the War Eagle Conference were named to the Class 1A all-state teams. Collin Homan, a junior from Remsen St. Mary’s, was named to the first team, and Derek Paulsen, a junior from South O’Brien, landed on the second team.