Success on the hardwood…. And the gridiron
Article from Brian Jerzak at NorthstarFootballNews.com
Earlier this month, northstarfootballnews.com highlighted some of the best football players who have also had success on the wrestling mat. To continue highlighting some of the top football-playing multi-sport athletes, today we highlight the top football players in the 2019 class who also excels on the basketball court. On the football side of things, all the athletes are ranked in the top 50 by NFN. As far as the hardwood, everyone on this list is in the top 250 on our sister website, prephoops.com. I will not pretend to be a high school basketball expert, so I will lean on the expertise of prephoops.com’s Ryan James and some of his analysis.
Travis Yohnke – Parkers Prairie TE/PF
Ranked 8th by NFN/146th by prephoops
“I have been more aggressive this year than in the past,” Yohnke told James. “Instead of looking to get an assist I am looking to drive to the hoop and also knock in the mid-range jump shot. My moves in the lost have improved greatly. I’m using my size to score.”
He also uses his size on the football field, but despite his size, he can get deep and has soft hands – helping him to rack up over 1800 yards receiving in three years of football.
DeVonne Harris – Big Lake DE/PF
Ranked 9th by NFN/68th by prephoops
Harris has already made his mark in the Big Lake basketball record books. In his junior year, he collected the 4th most blocks in a season in Big Lake history – moving his sophomore total down a spot in the record book to 7th place. His junior year he also got on the boards at nearly a record pace, grabbing the 4th most rebounds in program history.
On the football field, he is a two-way player who can block and catch from the tight end spot and can use his length and athletic ability to cause offensive tackles all kinds of problems at defensive end.
David Roddy – Breck QB/PF
Ranked 13th by NFN/5th by prephoops
One of the best all-around athletes in the 2019 class, Roddy led Breck basketball in scoring (25.4 points), rebounding (12.4), assists (5), steals, and blocks.
As a quarterback, he can use his big frame to shrug off defenders and stand tall in the pocket, but he can also move well in the pocket both to run and to by time to utilize his big arm. Roddy can throw it downfield but also has nice touch on his mid-range throws.
Nasir El-Amin – Minneapolis North WR/PG
Ranked 17th by NFN/53th by prephoops
“Nasir El-Amin who had 14 points, five assists, and five rebounds,” James wrote after watching El-Amin. “If basketball had hockey assists he would have had about another eight. Nasir’s initial pass against the Breck zone was consistently the right read opening the floor, Nasir’s attacks moved the zone allowing for kick-outs, shots, and passes to cutters, and he also did a great job rotating the ball at the top of the key.”
At wide receiver, El-Amin makes great adjustments on the ball. He has a good combination of size and speed and can hurt defenses with his deep routes as well as his willingness to go over the middle.
Bennett Otto – Champlin Park QB/SG
Ranked 19th by NFN/17th by prephoops
“Champlin Park wing Bennett Otto scored 17 a game this winter and followed that up playing a solid role with the Howard Pulley Panthers,” James wrote on prephoops.com. “Otto also recently received a scholarship offer from Augustana.”
Otto missed his junior season with an injury, but when healthy, he can make all the throws on the football field and is mobile enough to run the option as well.
Marcus Shepley – Burnsville ATH/SF
Ranked 23rd by NFN/66th by prephoops
“I’m continuing to improve my game in all aspects but the two things I have focused on this past year is shooting and helping my team win,” Shepley told James. “My confidence as a shooter increased a lot this past year, and I feel like that sort of paves the road for my shooting ability which I’m excited to see fall into place.”
Shepley has scored 734 points in his three-year career
On the football field, Shepley can do a little bit of everything. He has excellent hands and can catch everything. The Blaze soon to be senior has the speed to get downfield. He has excellent instincts at defensive back and can also return punts.
Adam Weed – Farmington DB/SG
Ranked 24th by NFN/237th by prephoops
“6-foot-1 guard Adam Weed caught fire late in the game totaling a team-high 14 points, and all of them came in the second half,” James said after watching Weed. “Weed scored at the arc, off the dribble from mid-range, he caught and hit from mid-range, and made foul shots.”
He is also one of Farmington’s most reliable defenders usually locking down one side to the field at corner. He has good instincts on the defensive side of the ball. If he gets his hands on the ball, he can take it the distance. On offense, Weed is a deep threat who Farmington often took home run shots with.
Eli Mostaert – Lakeville North DL/PF
Ranked 26th by NFN/158 by prephoops
Mostaert is a solid post defender with quick hands. He has a nice screen and roll game but is not afraid to take the outside shot. For a bigger player, he has a nice touch around the basket.
On the football field, he is about as versatile as football players come. Primarily a defensive end, he will also line up at linebacker, a standup defensive end, at fullback and tight end.
Mitchell Stanchina – Northfield ATH/PF
Ranked 40th by NFN/234th by prephoops
“This year I’ve become much stronger and physical in the paint, Stanchina told James. “My rebounding has also improved from previous years. I’ve also gained confidence in my game by playing at the varsity level since I was a freshman.”
A two-way player on the football field, Stanchina will be a three-year starter as a defensive back is a Swiss Army knife of a player on offense.
“I think I did the little things right – blocking, faking, stuff that doesn’t show up in the stats,” Stanchina told NFN. “I still think I got my yards and touchdowns.”
Omar Brown – Minneapolis North DB/SF
Ranked 45th by NFN/168 by prephoops
“Minneapolis North forward Omar Brown is one of the toughest defenders in the state of Minnesota,” James said of Brown. “He’s also one of the hardest workers on the floor that you will see, and it’s unlikely that anyone would debate those things as Omar is that good.”
On the football field, Brown is a lockdown corner with a nose for the ball. When he gets his hands on the ball, he is a threat to take it the distance. That athletic ability translates to the offensive side of the ball too. Brown lines up out wide as well as in the backfield for the Polars.