After re-writing the Colfax-Mingo record books, senior boys basketball player Jarod Nichols was named to the inaugural Iowa Press Sports Writers Association all-state teams on March 10.
Nichols was a second-team selection in Class 2A after averaging a double-double this season and ranking second in 2A in rebounds per game.
Nichols was a third-teamer in 1A last season by the Iowa Newspaper Association.
The IPSWA formed after the Iowa Newspaper Association disbanded its all-state program this winter. In boys’ basketball, the first, second and third teams all consist of eight players for a total of 24 all-state athletes.
Coaches and media members met in downtown Des Moines to help select the teams on March 10. The first-ever edition of the IPSWA all-state teams were released publicly on March 13.
Muscatine’s Joe Wieskamp won the annual Mr. Basketball honor. Wieskamp averaged 33.7 points and 13.5 rebounds in leading the Muskies to the 4A state tournament for the first time in 20 years.
Wieskamp, a two-time Gatorade Player of the Year in the state of Iowa, is a top-50 national recruit and will play collegiately for the Iowa Hawkeyes.
Nichols and Baxter junior Will Clapper each made the all-substate teams in their respective classes by the Iowa Basketball Coaches Association. Nichols was part of the 2A all-Substate 7 team and Clapper was part of the 1A all-Substate 6 squad.
Nichols is now fourth on Colfax-Mingo’s all-time scoring list after another stellar season on the hardwood.
Nichols averaged 18.8 points, 13 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 52.4 percent from the floor. He made 13 3-pointers, hitting outside shots at a 33-percent clip.
The Tigerhawk senior had 20 double-doubles in 21 games this season. The one game that didn’t end in a double-double had Nichols with eight points and 13 rebounds.
Nichols played at his best against the Tigerhawks’ toughest opponents. He had 16 points and 13 rebounds and then 12 points, 14 rebounds and four assists against 1A state qualifier Lynnville-Sully.
Against a 19-4 Montezuma team, Nichols had 21 points and 11 rebounds and 16 points and 12 rebounds in the two games.
In the Tigerhawks’ only 2A postseason game, Nichols finished with 20 points and 14 rebounds in a loss to PCM.
Nichols finished his career with 1,132 points and a school-record 846 rebounds. His 271 rebounds this season is a single season school record and his 395 points scored ranks sixth all time for a single season.
Clapper has one more season left at Baxter. He led the Bolts to a postseason win in their first-ever season.
Clapper averaged a double-double at 17.5 points and 10.2 rebounds per game while shooting 60 percent from the floor. He also finished with 18 assists, 28 steals and 15 blocks.
To see all the 2018 IPSWA all-state teams, go to iowasportswriters.com.