Postseason Report: WDA Breakout Players
Unless something unforeseen occurs, the basketball season has come and gone. There’s a lot to unpack from the last four months of hoops though and before we turn our attention to the AAU and offseason scene, let’s look back at…
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Continue ReadingUnless something unforeseen occurs, the basketball season has come and gone. There’s a lot to unpack from the last four months of hoops though and before we turn our attention to the AAU and offseason scene, let’s look back at the season that was.
Here are some the biggest breakout players from the 2019-20 season:
Brooks Carroll, Jamestown
Carroll was one of the best players in the WDA and top shooters in the state in his first varsity season, averaging 14.7 points and 5.7 rebounds. Carroll knocked down 47 percent of his 3-point attempts and was phenomenal in the WDA Tournament, averaging nearly 22 points per game.
Gunner Swanson, Bismarck
Swanson emerged as the go-to guy for the Demons last year, averaging 14 points per game while knocking down better than 40 percent of his 3-pointers. The 6-foot-5 swingman is a weapon on both ends of the floor, defending multiple positions, forcing action offensively, shooting and finishing at a high rate.
Jayce Lowman, Mandan
The Braves needed newcomers to step up and Lowman was a logical candidate to do so. The junior swingman was excellent in his junior year, averaging 14 points per game while knocking down nearly 40 percent of his 3-pointers. He served as a very solid No. 2 scoring option and improved as a defender and playmaker as the year went along.
Zander Albers, Bismarck Legacy
Bismarck Legacy dealt with myriad injuries last season, creating opportunities for players to step into new roles. Albers did that, averaging 9.6 points and 5.7 rebounds while stepping his game up late in the year to the tune of 10.9 points and 6.0 rebounds over the final 10 games of the regular season.
Wil Olson, Williston
Olson took a huge jump in production between his junior and senior year, averaging 17 points per game – up from 6.8 points per game as a junior. His efficiency was strong, as he knocked down 36 percent of his 3-pointers while rebounding and playmaking at a solid rate.
Five More Breakout Guys
Keith Levin, Jamestown
A key cog in the Bluejays run to the state semifinals, Levin averaged 10.5 points and 11 rebounds in the postseason. He finished the year averaging nine points and eight rebounds per game, establishing himself as a quality two-way interior presence.
Kobe Krenz, Dickinson
Krenz was a solid scorer last year, averaging better than 16 points per game as a junior, but he took his game to another level as a senior. The 5-foot-10 senior guard averaged 23 points and just under six rebounds per game, helping lead the Midgets to the state tournament. He’s a high-volume 3-point shooter who proved he can fill it up with the best of them, and score at a high rate.
Logan Schaubert, Bismarck
Schaubert was one of many breakout guys for the Demons. The 6-foot-1 forward averaged 10.3 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. His numbers could probably be higher if he wasn’t on a team that plays 11 guys 10-plus minutes. He’ll have a chance to take another leap next year.
Tristin Davis, Turtle Mountain
Turtle Mountain was playing without its best player all of last year, which created an opportunity for Davis to shine. The junior guard averaged 15.4 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. He could be in position to put up monster numbers next year.
Evan Gross, Bismarck St. Mary’s
Gross emerged as a viable No. 2 scorer as a sophomore for the Saints, averaging 12 points per game before missing some time later in the year. He’ll take on a bigger role as an upperclassmen and could be the go-to guy for a team that could be better than expected next year.