Way-Too-Early Season Preview: Grand Forks Central
Grand Forks Central looked like one of the surprise teams in the EDC through the first half of the 2019-20 season – highlighted by a win over Fargo Davies – before struggling down the stretch. The Knights graduate six seniors…
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Continue ReadingGrand Forks Central looked like one of the surprise teams in the EDC through the first half of the 2019-20 season – highlighted by a win over Fargo Davies – before struggling down the stretch. The Knights graduate six seniors including five of their top eight guys, but return three all-league caliber players. What can the Knights expect for 2020-21?
Go-To Guy: Mason Gravseth Mason Gravseth 6'3" | SF Grand Forks Central | 2021 State ND
Gravseth has been one of the better bigs in the EDC each of the last two years and should be among the best overall players as a senior. The 6-foot-3 center averaged 11.6 points and 8.1 rebounds. He should get more touches and shots this year as the clear go-to guy, and his ability to finish and rebound both ends of the floor allow him to produce consistently independent of other factors.
Breakout Candidate: Sam Strandell
Grand Forks Central ran a short rotation last year and are losing five guys who played more than 10 minutes per game. With that in mind, there are going to be a lot of available minutes going around to guys who haven’t played much varsity ball yet. Strandell is one who figures to get a good shot at big minutes on the wing as a junior. He was one of two sophomores on the team a year ago and saw sparing minutes off the bench.
Question: Can the Knights Turn the Corner?
Grand Forks Central looked like it was on track to competing in the middle of the EDC last year before seemingly hitting a wall and fizzling down the stretch. With Gravseth plus multi-year starters in Mason Love Mason Love 5'10" | PG Grand Forks Central | 2021 State ND and Alex Barbot Alex Barbot 6'3" | SG Grand Forks Central | 2021 State ND all still around, there’s still a good amount of experience to field a competitive outfit. Is there enough around those guys? And have those guys taken the next step to become high-end players in the league?
Season Outlook
In an EDC that figures to be somewhat down – or at least heavily turned over due to graduation of so many top players – there seems to be an opportunity for Grand Forks Central to be better than it’s been in recent years. The depth may be a question mark, as there are only three guys who played significant varsity minutes a year ago. But Gravseth is one of the best players in the EDC. Barbot was a double-figure scorer and one of the top shooters in the league. And Mason Love Mason Love 5'10" | PG Grand Forks Central | 2021 State ND is a three-year starting point guard who can make plays. This team has a good chance to improve on it’s 8-14 campaign a year ago.