North Dakota Preview: Class A Top Backcourts
It’s never too early for too-early-season. With fall sports and school underway, it’s only a matter of time before the winter sports season is upon us. With that in mind, here’s a look at the top backcourts in Class A:…
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Continue ReadingIt’s never too early for too-early-season. With fall sports and school underway, it’s only a matter of time before the winter sports season is upon us.
With that in mind, here’s a look at the top backcourts in Class A:
Keagen Woodbury and Nick Kupfer Nick Kupfer 6'2" | SG Bismarck Legacy | 2021 State ND , Bismarck Legacy
Bismarck Legacy has the look of a top-five team in Class A heading into the winter and a pair of multi-year starters in the backcourt is a big reason why. Woodbury took his game to another level last year, averaging 11.5 points and just less than four assists, taking on a lead role for a team ravaged by injuries. Kupfer missed most of his junior year with an injury but was solid upon return to the lineup late in the season, averaging better than 10 points per game. Both guys started as sophomores on the Sabers’ state-tournament team and if they can both make marginal improvements as shooters, they’ve got a chance to lead Legacy a long ways.
Jayce Lowman Jayce Lowman 6'3" | SG Mandan | 2021 State ND and Tyler Thilmony, Mandan
Mandan is losing a very good senior core but the Braves will return an excellent perimeter core led by Lowman and Thilmony. Lowman averaged 14 points per game as a junior, emerging as one of the best wings in the WDA last year and he showed over the summer that there’s more to his game than he’s shown so far. He’s a skilled playmaker and shot-creator who should excel with the ball in hands more often. Thilmony is a quality playmaker as well, and showed especially later on last year that he’s capable of generating points with his jumper and by getting to the paint. Don’t be surprised if these two guys have Mandan in the mix for a top-four finish in the WDA.
Alex Barbot Alex Barbot 6'3" | SG Grand Forks Central | 2021 State ND and Mason Love Mason Love 5'10" | PG Grand Forks Central | 2021 State ND , Grand Forks Central
Grand Forks Central is going to rely heavily on three multi-year starters this upcoming season and two of them are in the backcourt with Barbot and Love. Barbot is one of the top volume 3-point shooters in the league and averaged better than 11 points per game as a junior. He should have even more opportunity to put up points as a senior. Love is a quality floor general who can defend and make plays, and if he can improve his efficiency a little bit, he’ll be in the mix as one of the best point guards in the EDC.
Ian Ely Ian Ely 5'11" | PG Bismarck Century | 2021 State ND and Anthony Doppler, Bismarck Century
Bismarck Century was uncharacteristically down last year and while the Patriots are losing their leading scorer, the backcourt tandem of Ely and Doppler has the talent to ascend in a big way. Ely started and averaged about 12 points per game as a junior, and had a solid summer playing with ECI. He’ll need to shoot it like he did over the summer. Speaking of shooting it well over the summer, Doppler emerged as a flamethrower in the first few tournaments with ND Phenom and while he’s heading into just his sophomore season, he’s got the scoring chops to be one of the best players in the league.
Braden DeKeyser Braden DeKeyser 6'3" | SF Fargo Shanley | 2021 State ND and Emmet Kenney, Fargo Shanley
Fargo Shanley’s season expectations took a hit when Patrick Bath transferred to Totino-Grace (Minn.) but if the Deacons are going to be competitive in an inexperienced EDC, it’ll be because of their guard tandem of DeKeyser and Kenney. DeKeyser was a double-figure scorer as a sophomore and key perimeter component on last year’s state tournament team while Kenney has been a solid rotation player each of the last two years.