NHR All Sophomore Team
Minnesota’s sophomore class had a big impact on the state tournament this past weekend. Just think back to Saturday when you saw Braham’s Ryan Larson, DeLaSalle’s Gabe Kalscheur, and Fergus Falls guard Nathan Rund playing leading roles while others were…
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Continue ReadingMinnesota’s sophomore class had a big impact on the state tournament this past weekend. Just think back to Saturday when you saw Braham’s Ryan Larson, DeLaSalle’s Gabe Kalscheur, and Fergus Falls guard Nathan Rund playing leading roles while others were key contributors as well. Here is the NHR All Sophomore Team for 2015-16.
First Team
Tre Jones (Apple Valley). Jones gave the Eagles 16 points, seven assists, and just over six rebounds a contest for a team that was 30-2. Jones shot nearly 60 percent from the floor for the season including 37 percent at the arc and shooting 80 plus percent from the foul line. The Eagle leader had a 3.5 to 1 assist to turnover ratio
Gabe Kalschuer (DeLaSalle). The 6-foot-2/6-foot-3 guard averaged 19.5 points per game this season growing as a shooter both off the bounce and with his feet set. Grabbed 4.7 rebounds a game for the Class AAA state champions and was third on the team in assists. Was a go to scorer often along with teammate Goanar Mar.
Nathan Rund (Fergus Falls). Maybe one of the toughest backcourt players you will see mentally and physically. Led his team to runner up in Class AAA and the coaches he competed against raved about his play. Led the team in scoring (17.5 a game), steals (63), was third in assists, third in rebounding, and shot 85 percent at the foul line and made 45 percent of his field goals but really turned it up in the post-season.
Daniel Oturo (Creting-Derham Hall). In a year that was expected to be a bridge season Daniel Oturo led a group of young players to 20 wins while averaging a dominant 16.8 points and 14.6 rebounds a game inside with nearly three blocks a contest. Oturo continues to grow in every way and is on the verge of his recruitment breaking out.
Race Thompson (Armstrong). Armstrong had a tough end to the season but Race led the team with 15 points per game and 7-8 rebounds a night playing a variety of roles and positions and regularly defending the opponents top big or forward. Thompson had a season high 29 against Irondale and was in double figures in 20 games this year.
Second Team
Matt Todd (Monticello). Led the Magic back to state and the moment people will always remember is his 35 point explosion in the second half against Rogers when he hit eight treys. Averaged 21 points, 6.1 assist, and 3.6 rebounds a game this season hitting on 36 percent of his treys, 91 percent of his free throws, and having a 2 to 1 assist to turnover ratio despite always having the ball.
Owen King (Caledonia). The top player on a 28 win team that ranked near the top of Class AA all year long Owen scored 19.6 points per contest with 6.4 assists and 5.5 rebounds a night. Shot a brilliant 55 percent from the floor and nearly 43 percent at the arc on 164 attempts this season.
Ryan Larson (Braham). Put up 17 points a contest and handled the ball for the Class AA state champion both pushing the pace and hitting perimeter shots. The only non-senior on a senior dominated team Larson was the pace pusher for the best Class AA squad in Minnesota.
JaVonni Bickham (Minnehaha Academy). The Red Hawks won 23 games this year led by the 19.1 points and just under nine boards a contest for a top ten Class AA team that played the top schedule in the class. Had a season high against St. Croix Prep and then 31 against Northfield and Minneapolis South. High percentage finished who was next to impossible to guard inside.
Adam Trapp (Esko). The 7-foot-2 center helped his team get to state for the fourth straight year and Adam led the team in scoring (14.3 points per game), rebounding (7.1 a night), blocks (117 for the season in 30 games), and field goal percentage (shot 59 percent for the year) as he still develops on a team that plays at a deliberate but slower pace.
Shae Mitchell (Lakeville South). The 6-foot-6 Cougar wing produced 16.5 points and a team high 7 rebounds a game this season who went 18-10 and are on the doorstep of a big 2016-17 if everybody can stay healthy. Really started playing well towards the end of the year when he had 56 points combined in back to back games against Eagan and Eastview.
Third Team
Zach Theisen (Osseo). Zach was the leading scorer on one of the most balanced top ranked teams I’ve ever seen until he was injured late in the year. Put up 13 points a game shooting nearly 43 percent from the arc on 160 attempts (63 percent of his shots were at the arc) and 47 percent overall. Smart player who only took between 8-9 shots a game and they were usually the right attempt.
Goodnews Kpegeol (N St. Paul). Helped led the North Polars from 6 wins to 24 as the second leading scorer (11.5 a game), leader in assists, leader in steals, was second in blocks, and third in rebounding. Played a lot of lead guard for the Polars and overall do some of everything.
Odell Wilson IV (Mpls North). The tough and respected 6-foot-5 post gave North 12.2 points and four boards a game shooting 54 percent from the floor. So respected for his consistency that he was chosen to the all tournament team at state after helping bring the Polars another state title.
Calvin Wishart (Delano). Wishart was the leading scorer for a 22-6 team and Wishart scored 18.7 points a contest while also leading the squad in assists. Wishart broke the 20 point barrier 14 times including his 40 point explosion against Orono in the section semi-finals.
Jarvis Thomas (Tartan). Thomas averaged 11 points a game this year for the Titans playing in the post on a balanced them that went 24-5. An explosive player around the basket Jarvis had a season high 26 against Hastings. Went from scoring in double figures twice in the first nine games to scoring 20 plus in four of the last six games.
Fourth Team
Anthony Davis (Hopkins). Came off the bench for the deepest team in the state and put up 8.6 points a game in about 19 minutes a contest. Shot an incredible 68 percent from the floor as most of his attempts were on the move slashing to the rim.
Sage Booker (DeLaSalle). The Islander defender improved all season and gave the Islanders a third/four scoring option as he became more comfortable offensively. Booker was an excellent defender all season and 7-8 points a night.
Breyvn-Spann Ford (St. Cloud Tech). Brevyn led his team in scoring (14), rebounding (8), and assists (3) as the Tigers were above .500 while being a young and developing team. Breyvn had 16 in the section final.
Anders Nelson (Edina). The Hornets won 18 games this year and Nelson scored just over 15 points a game and was second on the team in assists. Teamed nicely with Walt McGrory and they will be difficult to deal with next season.
Beijan Newbern (Robbinsdale Cooper). Athletic Hawks talent that was a key part in the team winning 18 games. Beijan averaged 15 points and six rebounds a game playing next to his brother Melvin.
Fifth Team
Kyler Kluge (Eden Prairie). Kluge became a key part of the EP attack early averaging 7.3 points, three boards, and two assists, shooting 35 percent from the arc for a state tournament team.
Mitchell Weber (St. Clair). The 6-foot-5 post put up 15.6 points and 8.6 rebounds a game this year shooting 56 percent from the floor for a 22 win team that made the state tournament.
Mitchell Plombom (St. Cloud Cathedral). Mitch made an excellent team with Michael Schaefer (also a sophomore) totaling several double-doubles this season leading the team in boards.
Tanner Vogel (Springfield). Springfield lead guard that created for himself and others putting up strong numbers. Team has a bright future.
Duoth Gach (Austin). Led Austin with 14 points a contest scoring in a variety of ways for a 22-6 team that was better than expected.
Sixth Team
Mike Coble (Byron). The Bears were just above .500 for the season and Coble scored 15 plus points per game.
Cody Landwehr (Sauk Rapids-Rice). Gave the Storm 11 points a contest and seven rebounds a game while playing the tough guy role.
Harrison Christensen (Fergus Falls). Scored 13 a game and gave the state runner-up Otters strong performances on both ends throughout the season.
Michael Shaefer (St. Cloud Cathedral). Led Cathedral in scoring at nearly 20 points a contest as a sharp shooter all season.
Camden Jackson (Sauk Rapids-Rice). Jackson was the lead guard for a 16 win team that giving his team 15 points and 5-6 assists a game.
Michael Jones (Woodbury). Jones gave the Royals nearly a dozen points a nice teaming with a young group to win 24 games.
Charlie Jacob (Totino-Grace). When he was healthy the Eagles were tough to beat. Scored 13 points a contest and led the team in assists.
Cire Mayfied (St. Louis Park). A key piece to St. Louis Park and their resurgence this year Mayfield scored over 11 a night.