The Crossroads League coaches released its preseason poll and all-conference teams Tuesday. The teams are stacked with former Indiana high school basketball players.
Bryce Lienhoop was named the preseason conference player of the year. Lienhoop racked up tons of points and rebounds at Columbus East. He's doing the same for St. Francis. Lienhoop was a Third-Team All-American last season. Behind Lienhoop, St. Francis was picked by the coaches to win the Crossroads League this season.
The entire first team is composed of Indiana natives - Mike Bush (South Bend Adams), Jacob Johnson (Mooresville), Wes Stowers (North Central) and Mason Degenkolb (Tipton).
The Crossroads League has been a dominant force in NAIA basketball for the last decade. That success has been based around Indiana natives that had the ability to play at many Division I schools across the country. Instead, those players have landed at the NAIA level. The Crossroads League is one of the toughest NAIA conferences, especially from top to bottom, in the country.