North Dakota Season Preview: Class A Top Frontcourts
It’s never too early for way-too-early season. With fall sports in full stride and coming up on the midway point, the winter season will be upon us before we know it. With that in mind, here’s a look at some…
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Continue ReadingIt’s never too early for way-too-early season. With fall sports in full stride and coming up on the midway point, the winter season will be upon us before we know it.
With that in mind, here’s a look at some of the top frontcourts in Class A:
Fargo Davies: Cole Hage, Cam Van Dam, Owen Hektner and Nate Hensel
The Eagles went to the state title game a year ago and graduated a multi-year starting big man, but they’ll still have one of the most talented front lines in the state. Cole Hage and Cam Van Dam are two of the best players in the EDC while Hektner could be a big breakout guy as a junior. Hage is one of the most talented scorers in the league and could improve on his 13 points and seven rebounds with greater influence on the offense. Van Dam stuffs the box score and is one of the best defenders in the state. Hensel provides muscle off the bench and does a good job rebounding, defending and finishing at the rim.
West Fargo: Hunter Lyman and Carter Birrenkott
The Packers are one of the most talented teams in the state and will contend for a state tournament berth thanks. Their frontcourt duo of Lyman and Birrenkott will play a big part in that. Lyman averaged 11 points and eight rebounds as a junior while Birrenkott put up better than nine per game as a sophomore and while they’ve got big shoes to fill as Luke Lennon’s 21 points and 10 rebounds are gone, they are both capable of taking on bigger roles.
Minot: Easton Larson, Derry Lentz and Caden Johnson
The Magicians don’t just have a lot of talent in the backcourt. Their frontcourt could be the best in the WDA when it comes to depth and diversity. Easton Larson averaged 10 points and just under seven rebounds per game last year and those numbers should go up this winter. He had a really good summer and has the talent to be a dominant player. Johnson is 6-foot-9 and has the motor and mobility to be a force on both ends of the floor if he plays the right kind of role and Lentz is a solid 3-point shooter.
Grand Forks Red River: Will Obioha, Khamani Steckler and Bryce Enerson
The Roughriders will have huge expectations this winter and a big reason why is their frontcourt has a ton of talent. Will Obioha has the tools to be the Player-of-the-Year in the EDC. He does a lot of things well and after averaging 12 points, six rebounds and three assists a year ago, expect his numbers to take another jump as he enters his upperclass years. Enerson has been a rock-solid contributor for each of the last two state tournament teams and averaged better than 11 points and seven rebounds per game as a junior. He fills in perfectly as the third scoring option. Steckler played a little bit as a sophomore and could be an X-Factor this winter as he’s got the size and athleticism to contend with a lot of the top bigs in the league.