IOWA CITY - Cedar Rapids Prairie senior Matt MacDougall likes everything about the University of Northern Iowa.

He likes the school, he likes the basketball program and he likes the fact it's not too far away from home.

He'll like the Panthers even more if UNI Coach Ben Jacobson offers him a chance to join the basketball program next season as a preferred walk-on.

"I really want to go to UNI," MacDougall said Wednesday night after playing in the second annual Eastern Iowa All-Star game at Iowa City West High School.

"It's away from home, but it's not super far away," he said. "I like the campus. I really like the whole school."

Northern Iowa lost in the second round of the NIT on Sunday and now the UNI coaches are turning their full attention to the recruiting trail. That includes MacDougall, a 6-foot-4 guard who was named third team all-state after averaging 14.3 points and 6.4 rebounds.

"They're talking," he confirmed. "I'll just have to wait and see."

MacDougall has already been admitted to UNI as a student. Now he'd like to be welcomed as a student-athlete as well. He's excited about the possibility of playing for the Panthers in the Missouri Valley Conference.

"That would be my dream," he said.

Playing for Northern Iowa is Plan A, but MacDougall has an attractive Plan B as well. He said Creighton Coach Greg McDermott has "pretty much" offered him a spot with the Bluejays as a preferred walk-on next season. Creighton reached the second round of the NCAA tournament last week before losing to North Carolina.

Northern Iowa and Creighton are not offering scholarships at this point, but it's not unusual for a preferred walk-on to receive a scholarship at some point during his college career.

Cedar Rapids Jefferson guard Taylor Olson and Kennedy forward Josiah Coleman also played in the Eastern Iowa All-Star game. Both of them have a chance to play Division I basketball next season, but both are still shopping and sifting offers.

Olson, a 6-foot-1 point guard, has Coppin State, South Dakota and Missouri State on his list of possible schools. Coleman, 6-5, lists Coppin State, Wyoming, Sacramento State, Iowa Western Community College and Kirkwood Community College.

Coleman said he has a pretty good idea where he's heading, but wants to wait a few weeks before making a final decision.

Olson played a strong game Wednesday night and helped direct the North team to a 73-70 victory over the South squad. He scored only six points, but made several nifty passes and showed why he made second team all-state this year.

Kevin Hosch from Xavier High School scored nine points for the North team. Hosch, 6-4, will be joining the UNI football program next season. Elliott Christians from Kennedy scored eight points for the North squad and Coleman had seven points.

Jerel Moore of Iowa City High led the South squad with 19 points. MacDougall finished with four points.

Katlyn Andersen of Xavier scored 14 points as the North team topped the South, 72-53, in the girls all-star game and was named the Most Valuable Player. Courtney Strait of Kennedy scored 10 points for the North and won the 3-point shooting contest.

Emily Walvoord of Xavier contributed eight points for the North squad and Dani Peyton of Marion High School scored seven points for the North. Jazz Royster of Cedar Rapids Washington scored seven points for the South squad.

The second annual Eastern Iowa All-Star Games featured many of the top seniors from this part of the state.

BOYS ALL-STAR GAME
Individual Point Totals

NORTH (73): Riley McCarron (Wahlert) 7, Taylor Olson (Jefferson) 6, Jon Blumberg (Charles City) 4, Jake May (Wahlert) 10, Connor Coleman (Waverly-Shell Rock) 5, Jesse Hendrickson (Waverly-Shell Rock) 6, Josiah Coleman (Kennedy) 7, Kevin Hosch (Xavier) 9, Cam James (Western Dubuque) 11, Elliott Christians (Kennedy) 8.

SOUTH (70): Joe Scott (Davenport West) 10, Ben Knake (Lisbon) 4, Demetrius Butler (Davenport Central) 11, Mick Donohoe (Williamsburg) 5, Jordan Ashton (Mount Pleasant) 5, Matt MacDougall (Prairie) 4, Jake Gylten (Iowa City West) 3, Jerel Moore (Iowa City High) 19, Zach Burnham (Davenport Central) 9, Mitch Haferbier (Northeast Goose Lake) 0.

GIRLS ALL-STAR GAME
Individual Point Totals

NORTH (72): Dani Peyton (Marion) 7, Mullen Wacker (Waukon) 10, Courtney Strait (Kennedy) 10, Katlyn Andersen (Xavier) 14, Brittani Graves (Hempstead) 6, Allie Wirth (Cedar Falls) 5, Emily Walvoord (Xavier) 8, Carly Pagel (Sumner-Fredericksburg) 12.

SOOUTH (53): Brianna Sturtz (Iowa City West) 0, Taylor Doermann (Tipton) 7, Tatum Klein (Iowa City West) 6, Erika Massner (Wapello) 2, Makenzie Zeitler (Van Buren) 6, Zoe Dutchik (Iowa City Regina) 9, Jazz Royster (Washington) 7, Larissa Brewer (Clinton) 6, Melissa Alger (Lisbon) 10.