North Dakota Preview: Fargo North
The Fargo North Spartans were a tough team to figure out last year. They had their share of impressive wins and put scares into some of the best teams in the state. But they were also maddeningly inconsistent. They bring…
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Continue ReadingThe Fargo North Spartans were a tough team to figure out last year. They had their share of impressive wins and put scares into some of the best teams in the state. But they were also maddeningly inconsistent. They bring back what might be the best backcourt in the EDC and could make a run towards the top (or the top of the middle) of the league this winter.
KEY RETURNERS: Cayden Rickard, Carson Critchley, Carter Peratt, Blayne Anderson
Rickard is arguably the best point in the state and could be the leading scorer in the EDC this winter. He averaged 17 points and three assists as a junior, showcasing the ability to pile up points in explosive fashion. He was terrific over the summer, showing defensive chops and an improved floor game. He’s a potential Player-of-the-Year guy in the league.
Critchley is one of the best shooters in the EDC, knocking down nearly 40 percent of his 3-point attempts last season while averaging 11 points per game. He had a solid summer and has drawn interest from a number of local colleges. He’ll have an opportunity to do more on the offensive end this year, but also should be in line to do more damage from deep with good shot-creating guards on the floor with him.
Peratt started and averaged seven points and five rebounds per game last year. He’s an athletic forward who will play a big role as a defender and finisher. Anderson came off the bench last year and averaged about five points per game. He’s a capable scorer and had a handful of really nice games a year ago. He’ll likely get first crack at a starting nod on the wing.
STEPPING INTO NEW ROLES: Luke Loberg, Aiden Carlson, Alijah Armstrong, Jalen May,
Armstrong is a guy the Spartans are excited about and it’s easy to see why. He’s an explosive, shifty lead guard who can get into the paint and finish at a high rate. When he wants to be, he’s an impactful defender on the ball and can provide North some serious juice pushing the tempo and making plays. He could be a breakout guy this winter.
Carlson, Loberg and May will all have chances to earn rotation and fringe starter minutes this year in the frontcourt. North is going to be an undersized team this winter and while it may make sense to play more guards, the Spartans will need a few of those young bigs to step up and make an impact.
QUESTION: Can the Spartans get production from the frontcourt?
Fargo North will not be short on backcourt depth and with Critchley and Rickard in particular, they’ll have all-league caliber guys mopping up a big chunk of minutes. Anderson, Armstrong and even Peratt are guys the Spartans can lean on this winter. They struggled on the defensive end and on the glass last season and if they are going to improve in those areas, they’ll need some of the young frontcourt pieces to take steps forward.
SEASON OUTLOOK
The Spartans won nine games last year and mixed in some really impressive performances with confounding losses. This team has the talent to win 12-15 games and compete for a top-fourish finish in the EDC. Rickard could be the Player-of-the-Year in the league and they’ve got the guard talent to give teams a lot of headaches.