Way-Too-Early Class A Rankings
Fall sports are right around the corner. Assuming there are no hiccups, that means the winter sports season isn’t as far off as it might feel. Here’s a way-too-early look at the top teams in Class A Jamestown The Bluejays…
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Continue ReadingFall sports are right around the corner. Assuming there are no hiccups, that means the winter sports season isn’t as far off as it might feel.
Here’s a way-too-early look at the top teams in Class A
Jamestown
The Bluejays will go into the season ranked atop the polls for the second year in a row after reaching the WDA championship game and state semifinals with essentially the team they’ll take into 2020-21. Carson Lamp Carson Lamp 6'0" | SG Jamestown | 2021 State ND is an early favorite to be the Player-of-the-Year. Brooks Carroll Brooks Carroll 6'3" | SF Jamestown | 2021 State ND averaged better than 21 points per game in the postseason. Keith Levin Keith Levin 6'6" | PF Jamestown | 2021 State ND is one of the best big guys in the state and there are solid complementary pieces including Jacob Hilgemann Jacob Hilgemann 6'2" | SG Jamestown | 2021 State ND and Shea Carroll Shea Carroll 5'10" | PG Jamestown | 2021 State ND .
Bismarck
The Demons unleashed waves of depth and athleticism on opponents last year on the way to a WDA Tournament championship and trip to the state semifinals before the state tournament was canceled early. Bismarck graduates five seniors but returns its four top scorers including all-league wing Gunner Swanson Gunner Swanson 6'5" | SF Bismarck | 2021 State ND and one of the best point guards in the league in Max Tschosik Max Tschosik 5'9" | PG Bismarck | 2021 State ND . Logan Schaubert Logan Schaubert 6'2" | SG Bismarck | 2021 State ND returns as one of the top 3-point shooters and Treysen Eaglestaff has massive potential on the wing.
Bismarck Legacy
The Sabers round out a loaded top-three in the WDA for the preseason. Despite dealing with injuries up and down their lineup, the Sabers won 15 games and had a shot to get to the state tournament. They graduate their leading scorer, but return a terrific core led by senior point guard Keagen Woodbury and senior swingman Nick Kupfer Nick Kupfer 6'2" | SG Bismarck Legacy | 2021 State ND (who missed most of his junior season). Lyric Hoffman should be back after missing his junior year with an injury. And Ben Patton, Zander Albers, Logan Wetzel Logan Wetzel 6'3" | SG Bismarck Legacy | 2022 State ND and Joe Buzalsky round out what should be a deep and balanced rotation.
West Fargo Sheyenne
The Mustangs are losing their top three perimeter scorers, so this one requires some projection, but the frontcourt group of Jacksen Moni Jacksen Moni 6'9" | PF West Fargo Sheyenne | 2021 State ND , Jah’Heem Leake Jah’Heem Leake 6'8" | C West Fargo Sheyenne | 2021 State ND , Dominic Dosmann and Michael Nhial is the best in the state. Barika Kpeenu Barika Kpeenu 5'11" | PG West Fargo Sheyenne | 2021 State ND was rock-solid off the bench last year and ascends into a starting role. And guys like Ben Manson, Gage Anderson and Trent Freih Trent Freih 6'2" | SG West Fago Sheyenne | 2022 State ND should provide solid perimeter depth. The Mustangs have the potential to be the best defensive team in the state.
Fargo Davies
The Eagles are losing an awful lot, but this is largely a bet on internal development of young guys in the program – and a huge amount of uncertainty and turnover around the state. Owen Hektner Owen Hektner 6'6" | SF Fargo Davies | 2021 State ND is one of the top two-way players in the state. Latrel Davis is a talented senior swingman. And the young talent is bountiful as guys like Ian Motschenbacher Ian Motschenbacher 6'1" | PG Fargo Davies | 2022 State ND , Ryan Drummond and Raymond Brown will have ample opportunity to shine.
Bismarck Century
The Patriots had a down year in 2019-20 due to an inexperienced roster exacerbated by injuries. There’s room for variance here, as the team that struggled miserably to score consistently last year loses the one guy who did so. But there are talented players back who should be improved. Ian Ely Ian Ely 5'11" | PG Bismarck Century | 2021 State ND has the talent to be one of the better lead guards. Justice Coleman Justice Coleman 6'3" | SF Bismarck Century | 2021 State ND is an all-league talent if healthy. Anthony Doppler could be one of the best shooters in the league. And the frontcourt with Jordan LeBeau, Ryan Erikson and Andrew Leingang could be outstanding defensively.
Mandan
The Braves graduate two elite players but return a solid perimeter core led by Jayce Lowman Jayce Lowman 6'3" | SG Mandan | 2021 State ND . Lowman’s got a chance to be a Player-of-the-Year guy in the WDA. Tyler Thilmony and Jacob Pierce had good moments last year and give the Braves solid ballhandlers and creators. They’ll need to figure out some things in the frontcourt, but there’s still plenty of talent to be one of the top teams in the WDA.
West Fargo
The Packers were perplexing last year, struggling to achieve any sort of consistency. They return two all-league caliber guys in Carson Hegerle Carson Hegerle 6'3" | SG West Fargo | 2022 State ND and Carter Birrenkott Carter Birrenkott 6'5" | PF West Fargo | 2021 State ND , along with several rotation guys like Brett Limke Brett Limke 6'1" | PG West Fargo | 2022 State ND , Joel Pease and Noah Daniel. Parker Nelson is another guy who figures to see a significant uptick in opportunity. The Packers will need some individual development especially in the shooting department, but the talent is there for an improved season.
Minot
The Magicians are graduating a huge chunk of their core from a year ago including an all-stater on the wing. But they return perhaps the best point guard in the state in Deonte Martinez Deonte Martinez 5'10" | PG Minot | 2021 State ND and have sophomore guard Darik Dissette who should give them a terrific one-two punch.
Bismarck St. Mary’s
The Saints only won five games a year ago, but the young talent is there for them to take a significant step forward. Evan Gross was very good in limited action as a sophomore. Jackson Uhler had some good moments as a sophomore. Nich Schumacher saw a lot of time as a sophomore. Ben Morman and Nate Fedorchak are promising prospects as well. The Saints have the talent to take a big step forward.