North Dakota Preview: Minot
The Minot Magicians went into last year as arguably the most talented team in Class A but ultimately were eliminated in the WDA Tournament, short of a state tournament berth. With almost the entire team graduating, Minot is heading into…
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Continue ReadingThe Minot Magicians went into last year as arguably the most talented team in Class A but ultimately were eliminated in the WDA Tournament, short of a state tournament berth. With almost the entire team graduating, Minot is heading into a season with a lot of unknown. Minot never lacks for athletes though, and the expectations will never be low. The good news is that the Magicians have one of the best point guards in the state to lead the way.
Key Returners: Deonte Martinez Deonte Martinez 5'10" | PG Minot | 2021 State ND
Martinez was an all-league point guard as a junior, averaging nearly 15 points, five rebounds and five assists while shooting better than 50 percent from the field. He’s one of the best point guards in the state and gets it done on both ends of the floor. He puts pressure on opposing ballhandlers and does a good job limiting dribble penetration. He’s an excellent slasher who makes the game easier for his teammates. And he can balance scoring with facilitating.
Stepping Into New Roles: Darik Dissette Darik Dissette 6'4" | SG Minot | 2023 State #300 Nation ND , Michael Ross, Kade Butz, RaShawn Wilcox
With six out of the top seven guys graduating, Minot is facing wholesale turnover. That ultimately means there are going to be a lot of new faces and players vying for minutes. That could mean a number of underclassmen have opportunities to step into roles.
Dissette saw rotation minutes as a freshman and showed flashes of being a player capable of making a big impact as easy as this season. He’s an athletic combo guard who has good size and skill. He’s a solid playmaker, gets to the rim well and is proficient from the mid-range.
Ross saw fringe minutes last year and gives the Magicians an athletic swingman with some size at 6-foot-2.
Butz and Wilcox both saw mop up minutes as juniors and figure to ascend into more prominent roles as seniors.
Season Outlook
Minot is heading into the year facing quite a bit of turnover and unknown. That unknown doesn’t mean there isn’t talent in the program, as the Magicians had an incredibly experienced and senior-heavy group a year ago – a rotation that would be hard to crack for any underclassman. Just because we don’t know the names of all the players yet, doesn’t mean it’s safe to bet Minot is headed towards a down year. Martinez and Dissette could be one of the best backcourts in the state – that’s a good starting point for anybody.