The Rotation: Minot
Minot was one of the top teams in the state last season, going 17-3 in the regular season before losing to Bismarck Century and Mandan in the WDA Tournament. The Magicians were one of the top offensive teams in Class A, averaging 76 points per game while hitting nearly 10 3-pointers per game. With three double figure scorers gone to graduation, the Magicians will need some internal growth to continue their winning ways.
Must be Replaced: Chandler Albertson, Lofton Klabunde, Peyton Lamoureaux
Chandler Albertson was the go-to guy for Minot, averaging 15.7 points per game while knocking down 43 percent of his triples as a senior. Lamoureaux led the team in 3-point makes and averaged 12.5 points per game while Klabunde averaged 12 points and 5.5 rebounds.
Key Returners: Jaxon Gunville, Alex Schimke
There’s certainly still talent in the cupboard for the Magicians and it starts in the backcourt as Jaxon Gunville and Alex Schimke are both back after strong 2017-18 seasons. Gunville averaged 10.4 points and knocked down 51 triples at a 45 percent clip. He’s one of the top juniors in the state and should see an expanded role. Schimke led the team in assists per game at just less than four per contest and averaged 10.4 points in a complementary role.
Stepping Into Bigger Roles: Devin Mikell, Easton Larson
Mikell led the team in rebounding last year, grabbing 6.8 per game while chipping in 8.3 points. He’s not a great outside shooter but he does a great job on the glass and making himself available for his teammates. He’ll be asked to do more of that this year. Larson averaged 4.4 points per game as a sophomore and gives the team another presence in the paint.
Season Outlook
Minot is consistently one of the best teams in the state and that doesn’t look like it’ll change anytime soon. Gunville and Schimke give the team a potent backcourt while Mikell provides experience up front. If Gunville takes a step forward as a go-to scorer and Larson takes that typical sophomore-to-junior jump, the Magicians will have an ideal balance of inside and outside production. With a number of teams in the WDA seemingly headed towards mini-rebuilds or at least retooling seasons, Minot should be well-positioned to contend for a state tournament berth and more.