Bismarck City Rankings: Top Forwards
With the grassroots season on hold, there haven’t been any games to examine. That doesn’t mean there’s nothing to talk about though. Who are the best players in the Bismarck area? For the sake of this exercise, the Bismarck area…
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Continue ReadingWith the grassroots season on hold, there haven’t been any games to examine. That doesn’t mean there’s nothing to talk about though.
Who are the best players in the Bismarck area?
For the sake of this exercise, the Bismarck area includes the Bismarck schools, Mandan, Flasher, Underwood and New Salem/Almont.
Here’s a look at the top forwards in the area:
Gunner Swanson, Bismarck
Bismarck was the surprise team in the state and while depth was a major factor, Swanson developed into the alpha as the season went on. The 6-foot-5 wing averaged 14 points and five rebounds. He was second on the team in assists and knocked down 40 percent of his 3-pointers. He’s a big, athletic wing who can get to the paint, guard multiple guys and get hot from distance. If he improves on his efficiency inside the arc, he’s a Player-of-the-Year frontrunner in the WDA.
Zander Albers, Bismarck Legacy
Albers saw a steady increase in playing time during his sophomore season and delivered consistent production on the interior against bigger and older guys, averaging nearly 10 points and six rebounds for a solid Legacy team. He converted better than 53 percent of his shots inside the 3-point line and knocked down threes at a respectable 31 percent rate. If he improves on that number, he’s an inside-outside matchup nightmare.
Treysen Eaglestaff, Bismarck
Eaglestaff was one of the best sophomores in the state last year, averaging better than 12 points per game for a Bismarck team that won the WDA Tournament Championship and reached the Class A Semifinals. At 6-foot-4, Eaglestaff might be more of a swingman given he spends a lot of his time on the perimeter and takes a high percentage of his shots from the 3-point line. He’s a versatile defender with the length and athleticism to guard up or down an opposing lineup. If he takes that typical sophomore-to-junior jump, watch out.
Carter England, Shiloh Christian
Shiloh Christian won another Region 5 title on its way to the state tournament and while a lot of the Skyhawks’ success was because of all-state forward Jaden Mitzel, the development of sophomore big man Carter England was critical. The 6-foot-5 big provided consistent double-figure scoring in a complementary role and was an anchor on the defensive end of the floor. Look for him to put up double-double numbers next year. He’s the next stud at Shiloh.
Justice Coleman, Bismarck Century
Coleman was one his way towards a breakout year for the Patriots, but played in just seven games. He struggled early in the year with his shot, knocking down just 3-of-16 3-pointers and less than 50 percent of his free throws. Given his skill, it’s hard to imagine those numbers wouldn’t have gone up significantly. He’s a skilled combo forward who can handle the ball, get to the rim, make plays and despite his poor percentages, he’s got the ability to knock down shots. Don’t be surprised if he’s one of the 10-15 best players in the WDA next year.
6.Weston Kuhn, New Salem/Almont
New Salem/Almont was one of the best teams in Class B last year and Kuhn’s development into a hoss on the interior was directly related. The 6-foot-4 big man turned in near double-double production and developed into an anchor for one of the best defensive teams in the state. He’s a strong finisher around the rim and will be even more heavily featured offensively next year.