North Dakota Preview: Class B 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 B…
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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 B
Steele Hansen Steele Hansen 5'10" | SF Oakes | 2021 State ND and Garret Meehl Garret Meehl 5'11" | PG Oakes | 2021 State ND , Oakes
Oakes is going to be a top-10 team in Class B and perhaps the favorite in Region 3 in large part because of the dynamic backcourt pairing of Hansen and Meehl. Hansen averaged 19 points and 10 rebounds while shooting better than 50 percent from the field and 36 percent from the 3-point line. If he improves his free throw shooting percentage (63%), he could easily average 20-plus points per game. Hansen stuffed the stat sheet too, averaging better than 17 points, six rebounds and nearly five assists while shooting 34 percent from the 3-point line. Those two guys get it done on both ends of the court too. If they can cut down on their turnovers (7.2 combined per game), they are going to lead Oakes to a lot of wins.
Trey Brandt Trey Brandt 6'1" | PG Beulah | 2022 State ND , Dawson Zuroff and Nathan Battest, Beulah
Beulah will be ranked in the top-three whenever the polls come out and the perimeter core of Brandt, Zuroff and Battest is as good as it gets. Brandt earned all-state honors as a sophomore, averaging 21 points, six rebounds and four assists and should only be better as an upperclassman. Zuroff is a well-rounded swingman who started playing a lot better towards the end of the season after transferring over from Glen Ullin/Hebron. He averaged about nine points per game last year – expect that number to go up quite a bit as a senior. And Battest is one of the top two-way guards in the region and while he doesn’t score a ton, he’s a terrific facilitator and utility guy.
Stevan Garza Stevan Garza 6'2" | SG Grafton | 2021 State ND , Justin Garza and Brandon Albrecht, Grafton
Grafton will be the favorite in Region 2 when the season starts and there aren’t many perimeter cores better than the group the Spoilers bring to the table. Stevan Garza Stevan Garza 6'2" | SG Grafton | 2021 State ND has a chance to be an all-state guy after averaging 19 points, seven rebounds and four assists as a junior. He’s as good as any lead guard in Class B. Brandon Albrecht is one of the top pure shooters in the state and should be an all-region guy. And Justin Garza averaged 12 points and three assists a game last year, providing solid shot-making, complementary ballhandling and feisty perimeter defense.
JaeShaun Shaw and Jayden Yankton, Four Winds/Minnewaukan
The Indians are losing a two-time all-state wing but still return what should be the No. 1 team in Class B thanks to guys like Shaw and Yankton each heading into their third years as starters. Shaw is one of the best two-way guards in Class B, and is capable of erasing the opposing team’s top scorer routinely. He’s a solid complementary scorer who will have the ball in his hands more this season. Yankton had a terrific sophomore year last year, averaging better than 12 points per game and could be the team’s top scorer as an upperclassman. He’s a strong long-range shooter who can get to the rim – and he too is a terrific perimeter defender.
Zach Hendrickson and William Sanders, Our Redeemer’s
Our Redeemer’s has reached the Region 6 championship game each of the last two years and might be the favorite to win the thing this season. Two multi-year starters in the backcourt is going to be a strength for them, as Hendrickson and Sanders are both all-region caliber guys. Hendrickson’s been one of the best players in the region each of the last two years and is one of the most dynamic all around scorers in the state. Sanders emerged last year as a defensive ace at the point guard spot and his ability to run the show gives the Knights a steadying presence.