North Dakota Preview: West Fargo Sheyenne
West Fargo Sheyenne has emerged as one of the most consistently excellent teams in the EDC in recent years and there’s little doubt the Mustangs will be strong again this year. After looking like a state title contender through the…
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Continue ReadingWest Fargo Sheyenne has emerged as one of the most consistently excellent teams in the EDC in recent years and there’s little doubt the Mustangs will be strong again this year. After looking like a state title contender through the first half of last year, Sheyenne fizzled a bit down the stretch, ultimately missing out on the opportunity to play in the state tournament. With three starters and their sixth man back, the Mustangs have the talent to contend this winter.
KEY RETURNERS: Tyler Terhark, Blake Berg, Chuck Dubois, Zion Dettman
The Mustangs have a really nice core returning and its led by Terhark and Berg, their pair of all-league guards.
Terhark averaged 13 points, six rebounds and better than three assists per game as a junior, playing more of a four-man role for a team that was undersized and perimeter-based. He’s a terrific athlete, possessing the strength, explosiveness and skill to be a matchup nightmare all over the court. He’ll likely slide down into more of a wing spot this year as the Mustangs deploy some bigger kids in the lineups and he’s undoubtedly got the ability to excel in that role.
Berg heads into his third year at the varsity level and after averaging right around 13 points per game last year, he’s going to be relied upon to provide consistent big-time production. He showed a lot of improvement as a shooter over the summer; if that trend continues (he shot 30 percent from 3-point range as a junior), he’ll be a tough guy to stop, as he’s got the quickness and athleticism to get to the rim against just about anybody.
Dettman averaged better than nine points per game off the bench last year, knocking down better than 40 percent of his 3-pointers. He’s got deep range and can be a weapon in that regard but he also showed he can be a lot more than just a shooter. He played AAU with Inspired Athletics and had a lot of good moments as a facilitator and defender. He gives the Mustangs a potentially devastating perimeter trio.
Dubois was a starter last year and while he doesn’t put up big scoring numbers, his 3-point shooting can be valuable providing spacing for guards getting to the rim. He’s a solid screener and off-ball guy and while he’s undersized as a big man, he’s a capable defender.
STEPPING INTO NEW ROLES: Jacksen Moni, Barika Kpeenu, Hussein Mohamed Dominic Dosman, Ja’Heem Leake
The Mustangs have a host of young talent that will be relied upon this winter in complementary fashion.
Moni and Leake provide size and length that the Mustangs didn’t have a lot of a year ago. Moni is a perimeter-based forward who can space the floor. If he plays with consistent toughness and energy, he’s got a chance to be a key piece to this team’s equation. Leake is an active big who can make an impact in the paint and defending the rim. He has the mobility and athleticism to be a reap weapon if he dedicates himself as a screener and rim-runner.
Kpeenu, Dosman and Momamed appear ready to step into complementary roles and earn minutes on the wing. While Berg, Terhark and Dettman will likely gobble up most of those, there’s an opportunity for young guys to develop organically throughout the winter.
SEASON OUTLOOK
The Mustangs will have to replace a few really good seniors who graduated from last year’s team, but the talent back gives them a high ceiling. There’s no shortage of young talent in the program and while getting some of the less-experienced players accustomed to the varsity level, they’ve got a really good group of perimeter players they can rely on in the early-going. In what figures to be a really strong top of the EDC, the Mustangs have the component pieces to contend.