North Dakota Super Team’s
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While watching AAU games the amount of talent on a single team can be amazing. Or watch the Brooklyn Nets and their “Super Team”. College basketball has turned into a different animal with the Transfer-Portal and players are moving all…
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Continue ReadingWhile watching AAU games the amount of talent on a single team can be amazing. Or watch the Brooklyn Nets and their “Super Team”. College basketball has turned into a different animal with the Transfer-Portal and players are moving all around the country. With all of that going on, I thought it would be interesting to create a “Super Team” out of North Dakota players. Below I will make “Super Teams” out of the 2021, 2022, and 2023, classes of North Dakota players. Let’s have some fun with it and imagine how they would fit together.
2021
Starting 5
Deonte Martinez Deonte Martinez 5'10" | PG Minot | 2021 State ND |5-10 G| Minot – Committed to BSU for hoops.
Jesse White Jesse White 5'11" | PG White Shield | 2021 State ND |5-11 G| White Shield – Committed to NDSCS for hoops.
Jah’Heem Leake Jah’Heem Leake 6'8" | C West Fargo Sheyenne | 2021 State ND |6-8 F| West Fargo Sheyenne – Committed to NDSCS for hoops
Carter Birrenkott Carter Birrenkott 6'5" | PF West Fargo | 2021 State ND |6-5 F| West Fargo – Committed to MSUM (Moorhead) for football.
Jacksen Moni Jacksen Moni 6'9" | PF West Fargo Sheyenne | 2021 State ND |6-9 F| West Fargo Sheyenne – Committed to Northern State for hoops.
Reserves
Owen Hektner Owen Hektner 6'6" | SF Fargo Davies | 2021 State ND |6-7 F| Fargo Davies – Committed to MSUM (Moorhead) for hoops.
Gunner Swanson Gunner Swanson 6'5" | SF Bismarck | 2021 State ND |6-5 F| Bismarck – Committed to the University of Mary.
Aiden Rebel Aiden Rebel 6'4" | SG New England | 2021 State ND |6-5 G| New England – College hoops are TBA.
The talent level and size on this team would be insane. Martinez and White are both excellent ball handlers, creators, and passers. They can also be elite scorers when needed. If you put them on the court at the same time, they would be fun to watch. Both players are smart and unselfish, they would do marvelous things on the hardwood. Leake would be my first choice at the 3-guard because of his length, athleticism, and versatility. His explosiveness and supreme athletic ability would overwhelm all opposing guards. Birrenkott at the 4 would be amazing. His entire senior season he was the focal point of the opposing team’s defensive strategy. Put him in between Leake and Moni, LOOKOUT! This frontcourt would be unstoppable. Everyone would get single coverage because of how talented everyone is and teams could not double-team, if they did it would be a nightmare. Moni would thrive on this team. He is a big, tough, skilled post. One of his best assets is making other players better. Add Jacksen on this team and they would be flawless. His passing ability would lead to easy baskets for others. Out of the starting 5, White is the most talented 3-point shooter. When you look at the reserves for this team, all of them are studly shooters from the 3-point arc. Hektner is a physical presence that can hurt you all over the court. I love his size and ability to rise over defenders for shots. Owen is versatile enough that he could fill in at the 2-5. Swanson would be the “3 and D” guy on this squad. He would be tasked with locking up the opposing team’s best guard, spreading the floor, drilling 3’s, and scoring in transition. Rebel is a big guard with all the tools. He could play the 1-3 positions and excel at them all. Rebel would thrive in a situation like this. He went through his senior year double or tripled every game. Imagine if only 1 person guars him? Look at this team’s size, length, and shot-blocking ability. Nobody would dare enter the lane! I know this is just a “what if” situation. But man, they sure would be something to watch.
2022
Starting 5
Trey Brandt Trey Brandt 6'1" | PG Beulah | 2022 State ND |6-1 G| Beulah
Carson Hegerle Carson Hegerle 6'3" | SG West Fargo | 2022 State ND |6-3 G| West Fargo
Treysen Eaglestaff Treysen Eaglestaff 6'5" | SF Bismark | 2022 State ND |6-5 F| Bismarck
Joe Hurlburt Joe Hurlburt 6'10" | PF Enderlin | 2022 State #147 Nation MN |6-9 F| Enderlin – Committed to Colorado.
Dominic Dosmann Dominic Dosmann 6'8" | PF WF Sheyenne | 2022 State ND |6-8 F| West Fargo Sheyenne
Reserves
Michael Nhial Michael Nhial 6'7" | SF West Fargo Sheyenne | 2022 State ND |6-7 G/F| West Fargo Sheyenne
Eric Wentz Eric Wentz 6'2" | SG Minot | 2022 State ND |6-3 G| Minot
Ian Motschenbacher Ian Motschenbacher 6'1" | PG Fargo Davies | 2022 State ND |6-1 G| Fargo Davies
This would be the perfect team. Trey Brandt Trey Brandt 6'1" | PG Beulah | 2022 State ND would run this team like a Swiss Watch. He would facilitate and score when needed. Mega-athlete Hegerle would be a potent scoring weapon on the wing and in transition. He would also be a D-stopper. Eaglestaff and Hurlburt would be the dynamic duo. They both have a great feel for the game and can score in bunches. Dosman made this starting 5 because there are so many shots that can go around. Domonic would know his role and thrive in this position. His job would be to do the little things and make gritty plays. He has the head, size, and athleticism to fit in with this team. Coming off the bench you would have more scoring options, toughness and flexibiltly. Nhial could play the 2-4 positions and offer plenty of scoring and length for boards and rim protection. Wentz would be the X-factor off the bench. He is a clutch performer and cold stone scorer in clutch situations. He is also a top-notch perimeter defender. Lastly, you would have Motschenbacher who would be the backup PG and could also play off the ball at the 2. Ian is as tough as a player as I have seen in a long time. He can be a potent scorer and playmaker. Again, this is a “what if” situation. But, just think for a minute how fun it would be to watch this group of players work together on the court. It would be epic!
2023
Starting 5
Zach Kraft Zach Kraft 6'2" | PG Grand Forks Red River | 2023 State ND (2023) |6-0 G| Grand Forks Red River
Anthony Doppler Anthony Doppler 6'4" | SG Bismarck Century | 2023 State ND (2023) |6-3 G| Bismarck Century
Ayden Stainbrook Ayden Stainbrook 6'5" | SF North Border | 2023 State ND (2023) |6-4 F| North Border
Conner Kraft Conner Kraft 6'5" | PF Shanley | 2023 State ND (2023) |6-6 F| Fargo Shanley
Ryan Erickson (2023) |6-8 F| Bismarck Century
Reserves
Mitchell Leas Mitchell Leas 6'0" | PG Rolla | 2023 State ND (2023) |6-0 G| Rolla
William Ware William Ware 6'7" | SF Bismarck Century | 2023 State ND (2023) |6-7 F| Bismarck Century
Ethan Manock Ethan Manock 6'4" | PF Wahpeton | 2023 State ND (2023) |6-4 F| Wahpeton
This group of sophomores would make a stellar team. These ballers would fit perfectly together like puzzle pieces to make a delightful basketball picture. This group would be very big, powerful, and athletic. Everyone on the team except the two pg’s can play over the rim and slam dunk with authority. Zach would run the point for this squad and lead them to the promised lands. He plays effortlessly with slick handles, efficient passes, and deadly 3-pointers. Doppler would be a big scorer for this group with college-level 3’s and slashing to the rim for buckets. Stainbrook would bring length, smarts, and high-level shooting. Conner would be an eraser on defense. He would also dunk and out-physical most bigs. Erickson would be the do-it-all big man. He would not force anything, but he would impose his will on the D when his team needed something. He would be the anchor down low. Lease would come off the bench and be a cool customer. He is an elite shooter. Lease could also play off the ball and spread the floor by cashing in triples. Ware is a freak athlete that would be a rim protector and a rebounder. He could play the 3-5. He can also be a dynamic scorer by getting downhill and making moves around the basket. Manock would be a 4-5 with many power moves. He would do great on the boards and offer up thunderous dunks. This would be another fun group of North Dakota Hoopsters. Let your imagination run wild and think about how great this team would be!