Class A State Tournament: WDA Players to Watch
The Class A State Tournament field is set and will get underway Thursday. Here are some of the top players to watch Boden Skunberg, Jamestown This one is a complete wildcard but if Skunberg is playing, he’s obviously THE player…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe Class A State Tournament field is set and will get underway Thursday.
Here are some of the top players to watch
Boden Skunberg, Jamestown
This one is a complete wildcard but if Skunberg is playing, he’s obviously THE player to watch. The 6-foot-5 guard has been the best player in the state the last two years and despite dealing with several ailments this year, he averaged 28 points and 10 rebounds. He didn’t play in the WDA Tournament because of a hand injury and his status for the state tournament is unclear. If he plays, it’s unlikely that he’s 100 percent, but it could be enough to tip the scales in the Bluejays favor when it comes to competing for a state championship.
Elijah Klein, Mandan
Perhaps the best big man in the WDA this year, Klein didn’t make massive statistical improvements from his junior year to his senior year, but he’s a force who can dominate when he gets touches. He had three double-doubles in the WDA Tournament, averaging 21 points and 13.7 rebounds. Him going against the Fargo Davies frontcourt is going to be fun to watch Thursday.
Jaiden Wright, Dickinson
Wright has been awesome all season for the Midgets and in the mix for a first-team all-state nod. After playing arguably his worst game of hte season in a win over Williston, Wright came back with 19 points and 17 rebounds in the state-tournament sealing win over Minot. Wright averaged 13 points and 8.3 rebounds in the WDA Tournament and 20.3 points and 5.9 rebounds during the regular season.
Brooks Carroll, Jamestown
Carroll’s been a breakout star for the Bluejays this year and he was terrific in the WDA Tournament, averaging 21.7 points and 5.3 rebounds. He knocked down a ridiculous 17 of 25 3-point attempts in the three games and has been a sniper all season. He’s long, athletic wing who knows how to get open, has a quick release from deep and can get to the rim if he’s forced to put the ball on the ground.
Gunner Swanson, Bismarck
Swanson shot the ball poorly in the WDA Tournament, but averaged better than 13 points and five rebounds, helping the Demons reach the state tournament. He’s been the team’s best and most consistent offensive presence, using his size to get to the rim while also knocking down 40 percent of his 3-pointers.
Carson Lamp, Jamestown
Lamp had some huge moments in the WDA tournament helping the Bluejays reach the title game without Skunberg. The 6-foot junior guard averaged 16.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists in the three-game stretch and has proven he can produce at a high level independent of Skunberg on the floor.
Jaxton Wiest, Mandan
It took Wiest some time to get into rhythm working his way back from a shoulder injury, but he’s been superb over the second half of the season. The senior lead guard averaged 17.3 points per game and shot nearly 60 percent from the field in the WDA Tournament. Even when Wiest isn’t shooting well, he’s an impact player because of his ability to defend at a high level and make good decisions.
Keith Levin, Jamestown
Levin’s emerged as a rock-solid piece for Jamestown over the second half of the season, anchoring the defense and producing near double-double production consistently. In the WDA Tournament, the 6-foot-5 junior big averaged 12 points and 11.7 rebounds.
Kobe Krenz, Dickinson
Krenz is the leading scorer for the Midgets and one of the best scorers in the state. The senior guard averaged 24 points per game in the regular season and after a brutal opening-round loss to Mandan in which he scored just three points, he bounced back with 28 points and nine rebounds in the win over Williston and 11 points and 10 rebounds in the win over Minot.
Jayce Lowman, Mandan
Lowman’s been a breakout guy for the Braves as a junior, averaging nearly 15 points per game while knocking down better than 40 percent of his 3-pointers. Lowman was excellent in the WDA Tournament as well, averaging 14.7 points per game while playing quality defense on the wing.
Max Tschosik, Bismarck
Bismarck plays an incredible amount of guys but Tschosik is their most consistent minute-getter at the point guard spot. He averaged 10.7 points per game in the WDA Tournament (one par with his season numbers) and he’s arguably the team’s best perimeter shooter and shot-creator and he does a great job on the defensive end of the floor.