Before we get to the 2026 Outside the Huddle All-Area Team and our end-of-year awards, Bounce wanted to take some time and take a last glance at area conferences and hand out some league-specific metaphorical hardware.
Today, we look at the NECC.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Austin Schlabach, Westview
Austin Schlabach turned in a dynamic season for Westview, establishing himself as one of the most complete guards in Northeast Indiana as he helped lead the Warriors to the state finals. He averaged 19.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.6 steals and 1 block per game, showcasing his ability to impact the game in virtually every phase. His scoring punch was consistent all year, frequently pushing into the 20-point range and even delivering standout performances like a 25-point outing against Concord and a 33-point effort in a regional win, reinforcing his role as one of the Warriors’ go-to offensive weapons.
Beyond scoring, Schlabach’s all-around production made him the engine of a Westview team that enjoyed a dominant season and deep postseason run with just two losses overall. His playmaking ability stood out in particular, as he hovered around six assists per game while also contributing strong rebounding numbers for a guard and making plays defensively. That versatility paired with his leadership help to power Westview to one of the best records in the region, with Schlabach consistently setting the tone on both ends of the floor.
HONORABLE MENTION: Kaden Grau (Westview), Matthew Holsopple (Fairfield), Ryan Stuckey (Angola), Niles Knox (Angola), Nick Freeman (Central Noble), Nolan Baker (Eastside)
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Ryan Stuckey, Angola
If you know Bounce’s awards and OTH history, you know MVP means something different than Player of the Year. MVP to us is someone who is legit the most valuable to their team and overall success of that program.
Ryan Stuckey put together a highly impactful 2025-2026 season for Angola. The senior guard/forward averaged 13.8 points, 9.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 2 steals and 1 block per game, stuffing the stat sheet nightly while serving as a do-it-all presence for Angola. His ability to control the glass stood out in particular, as he led the team in rebounding while also pacing the Hornets in assists and steals, showcasing his all-around influence in every phase of the game.
Beyond the numbers, Stuckey’s physicality, versatility and consistency helped anchor Angola’s lineup, with performances like double-digit scoring outings and strong interior play reinforcing his role as one of the team’s most indispensable pieces throughout the season
HONORABLE MENTION: Kaden Grau (Westview), Daniel Yoder (Westview), Parker Smith (Fairfield), Cade Bachelor (Prairie Heights), Keyan Arroyo (Lakeland), Carter Coffman (Garrett), Nick Freeman (Central Noble), Nolan Baker (Eastside), Nolan Kelly (West Noble)
BREAKOUT/MOST IMPROVED PLAYER: Koltyn Frye, Fairfield
If you know Bounce, you know he is a sucker for players who were primarily JV players one year and then the next year they are right in the thick of being the best player on their varsity team. Frye is one of those guys who went from a tough JV out to often leading the Falcons offensively.
Koltyn Frye emerged as a key young piece for Fairfield during the 2025-2026 season, showing steady growth and versatility for the Falcons. The sophomore averaged 7.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game, contributing across the board while continuing to develop his overall game against strong NECC competition . His ability to impact multiple areas was evident throughout the season, as he often took on secondary playmaking responsibilities while also being active defensively.
Frye also flashed his upside in key moments, including a 17-point performance against Goshen and multiple games where he helped facilitate the offense. Frye positioned himself as a player to watch within the program moving forward.
HONORABLE MENTION: Daniel Yoder (Westview), Cru Weber (Angola), Levi Cook (Lakeland), Ayden O’Neal (Garrett), Leroy Ruckman (Eastside), Aiden Replogle (West Noble), Josiah Morales (Churubusco)
COACH OF THE YEAR: Chandler Prible, Westview
Westview’s season was one of the most dominant in Northeast Indiana, as the Warriors established themselves as a clear powerhouse from start to finish, finishing with an overall record of 27-2. They rolled to an undefeated run through the NECC, finishing perfect in conference play. Along the way, Westview consistently overwhelmed opponents, highlighted by lopsided wins, while also proving their toughness in close games such as a 68-65 win over Angola and a 59-58 thriller against Blackhawk Christian. The Warriors played just 6 games in single digits all year, going 5-1 in those contests.
The Warriors carried that momentum into the postseason, adding a sectional and regional championship on their way to a deep state tournament run that ended as a state runner-up finish. Along the way, Prible continued to show why his program has been dominant in the conference since he took over as he now sits at 82-25 in four years leading the Warriors.
HONORABLE MENTION: Brodie Garber (Fairfield), Bryan Weber (Angola)
EARLY 2026-27 CONFERENCE CHAMP PICK: Westview Warriors
See everything above and that should be a bit of an indicator on why everyone in the NECC is likely chasing Westview again next season.
Austin Schlabach returns as one of the area’s top players, as he will be an Indiana Junior All-Star this offseason. Chandler Prible returns as one of the most successful coaches in the program’s history and that is saying something at Westview. On top of those two, which is already major, the Warriors return nearly a full team from their 27-2 state runner up squad. They will have to find some ways to try and fill the shoes of graduating Kaden Grau and that will be far from easy. That said, the Warriors have a bounty of strong players where that can help replace Grau’s numbers by committee with the hope that multi-year varsity guys can step up into his leadership presence.
Daniel Yoder, Kaine Reinhold, Bryce Yoder and Pierce Yoder were all massive parts of this team and the Class 2A state title game. There were times this past season that Daniel Yoder looked like the best player on the floor for Westview, so his return alongside Schlabach is massive. There are also plenty of young players who got some varsity time and a more than steady junior varsity team that will help fill in any gaps in this well oiled machine.
These opinions represent those of Bounce and Outside the Huddle. No opinions expressed on Outside the Huddle represent those of any of our advertisers. Follow Bounce on Twitter at Bounce_OTH
Be the first to comment