North Dakota Class B Preseason Top 10
Basketball season is right around the corner. Teams are firing up practice this week and games will be starting in less than two weeks. With that in mind, it’s time to unveil my preseason top-10 rankings. Hillsboro/Central Valley Arguably the…
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Continue ReadingBasketball season is right around the corner. Teams are firing up practice this week and games will be starting in less than two weeks. With that in mind, it’s time to unveil my preseason top-10 rankings.
Hillsboro/Central Valley
Arguably the second-best team in the state last year despite not reaching the state tournament, the Burros return all five starters and will head into the year as the easy top-ranked team in Class B. Carson Henningsgard is the best returning player in Class B and the Burros have a terrific cast of players around him including Landen Reed, Joseph Camrud and Patrick Limke.
Richland
The Colts finished third in last year’s state tournament and return four starters including arguably the best group of guards in Class B. Cole Myers was an all-state guy last year after averaging 18 points and seven rebounds. Carter Lingen is a terrific lead guard who can knock down shots and facilitate. And Gavin Reiland was a 15 point-per-game guy with the athleticism to get to the rim and defend at a high level.
Four Winds/Minnewaukan
The Indians looked like a state-title contender before getting picked off by New Rockford-Sheyenne in the Region 4 Tournament. But Four Winds should be elite this winter as the Indians return all five starters including all-state swingman Doug Yankton. Bronson Walter is a hoss inside and the Indians have an excellent crop of complementary guards in Jaeshaun Shaw, Jayden Yankton and Jaymison Green.
Rugby
Another team that missed out on last year’s state tournament, the Panthers return perhaps the best trio in Class B in Trace Goven, Jaden Hamilton and Devan Michels. Those three combine to average nearly 50 points per game. Isaiah Bundy-Smith looked good in his sophomore year and better over the summer – he could be a breakout guy for them inside. This is a team to be reckoned with in 2019-20.
Kindred
After the top-four teams, there’s a fat second tier of teams that don’t seem all that dissimilar. Kindred was one of the best teams in Class B last year and returns one of the best individual players in the state in 6-foot-8 junior Gavin Keller. He’s joined by solid verteran guards including Andrew Freier and Dawson Schaffer. Don’t be surprised if the Vikings win 20-plus games.
Dickinson Trinity
Dickinson Trinity won with elite defense last year (sometimes in spite of a inconsistent-at-best offense) and the Titans should be terrific on that end of the floor again this winter. Trinity returns a promising trio of guards in Matthew Stafford, Cole Fitterer and Jake Daniel – which should give the Titans a better offense in 2019-20. Seth Herner is back in the frontcourt to anchor the defense.
New Rockford-Sheyenne
The Rockets knocked out Four Winds/Minnewaukan on the way to state last year and won two games in the B last March. Now, they return all-state caliber guard Bo Belquist and solid combo forward Hunter Thompson who nearly combined to average 30 points per game. Nathan Holzwarth is a solid role player and Evan Ulrich could give them a go-to scorer on the post.
Beulah
The Miners have been one of the consistently excellent programs in Class B for years and I’m not betting against them this year. Trey Brandt averaged 11 points and five assists last year as a freshman and he could be one of the best guards in Class B as soon as this winter. Jonah Larson was a double-double guy inside last year, giving the Miners a terrific point guard-big man combo.
Hatton/Northwood
Hatton/Northwood won 17 games a year ago and advanced to the Region 2 semifinals. The Thunder flew under the radar and got lost in the shuffle that was a crazy loaded Region 2. Hatton/Northwood returns all five starters and has the talent to make an extended postseason run. Colton Konschak is one of the best players in the 2021 class. Alex Wolfe is a dynamic shooter on the perimeter and Kelby Azure if a reliable interior presence.
Shiloh Christian
The Skyhawks have been excellent in recent years and while this year’s team has some questions to answer, it’s got Jaden Mitzel, who is a returning all-state forward. Mitzel is a strong, athletic and skilled combo-forward who will put up big numbers as a senior. Trey Brunelle is back in a starting role and watch out for Luke Wanzek as a breakout candidate junior wing.
Next Up: St. John, Dunseith, Thompson, White Shield, Ellendale