ND Phenom 16U: AAU Briefing
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Take a close look at these 2023 players! They had a highly successful spring and summer that was highlighted by a HUGE Championship victory at the Fantastic 40 in Las Vegas, NV! Look out for these guys early in the…
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Continue ReadingTake a close look at these 2023 players! They had a highly successful spring and summer that was highlighted by a HUGE Championship victory at the Fantastic 40 in Las Vegas, NV! Look out for these guys early in the season as they will all be impact players on their high school teams. If this group sticks together they will be one of the best in the Midwest in the 17U Division.
Comments from Director Jordan Maurer
“Prior to the season, I wrote that “our 16U is a group that has the potential to be one of the best teams Phenom has produced.” I feel that this group lived up to that billing. Coach Ware did a great job of getting the players to buy into an old-school inside-out offensive scheme that involved sharing the ball and prioritizing high percentage shots for everyone, while also challenging every player to be great defensively and bring maximum effort at all times. We split with the teams that I would consider the class of the SPTS going 1-1 against Comets, Heat, and Schoolers while beating Fury in our only match-up. We were able to win the Sanford Pentagon Summer Slam and the Fantastic 40. The Fantastic 40 Championship Game is quite possibly the best basketball our group played this season and was against a Las Vegas Punishers team led by a 6’9″ F with 11 D1 offers; and while up 3 at halftime, a 17-22 showing from the field catapulted us to a big win to end our season. A North Dakota team winning a tournament of that magnitude happens rarely, if ever. 5 of the players on the 2023 team have received college basketball scholarship offers heading into their junior season, with 3 receiving fairly significant Division 1 interest. We look forward to following the players on their respective high school teams and are excited to get to work in April 2022.”
ROSTER
Darik Dissette Darik Dissette 6'4" | SG Minot | 2023 State #300 Nation ND and Ryan Larson Ryan Larson 6'3" | SG Jamestown | 2024 State ND helped us out in a few events.
Jaxon Kellogg Jaxon Kellogg 6'3" | PG Bismarck Legacy | 2023 State ND |6-3 G| Bismarck Legacy
Jaxon really improved his ability to impact games without taking many shots. We tasked him with running a team with a lot of talented scorers. He showed great leadership in his willingness to accept a playmaking role and dominate in it. Our team would not have been able to have the successes that we did without him accepting that role. Jaxon has all of the physical tools needed to be a lockdown defender and he improved upon this tremendously over the course of the season. He also improved his overall leadership skills. The biggest thing that stands out about me to Jaxon is his willingness to do things that other basketball players will not do. Jaxon is a winner and the best PG in the class of 2023 in North Dakota. He has been in touch with numerous collegiate basketball coaches and I look forward to seeing how he helps Legacy this season after missing the 2020-2021 season due to NDHSAA transfer rules.
Tyler Birst Tyler Birst 6'0" | PG Bismarck Century | 2023 State ND |6-0 G| Bismarck Century
In previous seasons Tyler struggled to contain penetration, but that was not the case this season. He made needed adjustments to improve his total body strength which allowed him to contain better defensively. He did a nice job providing solid minutes at the point and taking care of the ball. Tyler also showed some ability to score the basketball and make perimeter shots. Tyler will continue to improve his body and his skill set and will make a coach at the next level happy.
Tahrye Frank Tahrye Frank 6'0" | SG Mandan | 2023 State ND |6-0 G| Mandan
Tahrye played the spring portion of the season. He showed an improved ability to score the basketball when compared to previous seasons. Tahrye missed the summer session and we look forward to following him this fall in the football season and wish him the best of luck as he pursues a collegiate football career.
Anthony Doppler Anthony Doppler 6'4" | SG Bismarck Century | 2023 State ND |6-4 G| Bismarck Century
Anthony showed big strides from start to finish. He has always been known as a shooter and scorer, but he impressed many with his ability to rebound, pass, and guard. He showed good balance in scoring and facilitating. Anthony is considered the top guard in the 2023 class in ND for a reason and he lived up to that billing. Anthony is receiving interest from schools in the Northern Sun, ASUN, Big Sky, Summit League, and Southern, at this stage of his career, Anthony is as talented as any guard that has played for the Phenom and we look forward to seeing how he continues to progress and where his character, talent, and work ethic will take him.
Maddox Doppler Maddox Doppler 6'5" | PF Bismarck St. Mary's | 2023 State ND |6-5 F| St. Mary’s
Maddox has always been stout defensively. He showed improved decision-making and ball security as the season progressed. Maddox has the potential to be a very solid player and improved time in the gym will give him a better opportunity to find more success.
William Ware William Ware 6'7" | SF Bismarck Century | 2023 State ND |6-7 F| Bismarck Century
William missed the majority of the season with an injury. He showed some ability to score from all 3 levels before being sidelined. William oozes potential. At 6’7″, long, and athletic does not come along often in this state. He is a gym rat who will continue to get better. William is an offered player who will continue to develop his body and will stay a tough 2-way match-up.
Carson Yale Carson Yale 6'9" | PF Des Lacs Burlington | 2023 State ND |6-8 F| Des Lacs Burlington
Carson may have been our most improved player. Carson transitioned from being a 6’8″ player who shot a lot of 3’s to a 6’8″ athletic player who guarded up and down the lineup and was a double-double threat game in and out. He played his best basketball at the end of the season. He changed his mindset and became tenacious on the defensive end and on the glass. Carson has a very high upside and there is a lot to like. 6’8″ in socks with the ability to shoot the 3, go dunk on someone, and guard up and down a lineup is not super common in basketball. If he can consistently put it all together, I think he will have a lot of options at multiple levels when he makes his collegiate decision.
Ryan Erikson Ryan Erikson 6'10" | C Bismarck Century | 2023 State ND | 6-9 F| Bismarck Century
Wow. If you want to talk about improvement, Ryan Erikson Ryan Erikson 6'10" | C Bismarck Century | 2023 State ND may be the poster child. Ryan completely changed his body from 2020 to 2021. Ryan lost over 40 pounds, became lighter on his feet, added the ability to hedge ball screens, added the ability to take players off the bounce. Ryan outplayed his match-up almost every game this season. Not only did he change his body but he changed his mindset. Ryan was very comfortable getting 20 points and 15 rebounds, but also was willing to hit the mismatch, hit open cutters, and do the little things that it takes to win games. Ryan had numerous games with 4 or more assists and you do not see that very often with players who are such gifted scorers. Ryan will continue to improve his explosiveness, lateral quickness, and total body strength as he enters the 2021-2022 season as the top big man in Class A ND. Ryan is a player who may not pass the “eye test” because he does not play above the rim and dunk on people, but neither did/does the reigning NBA MVP. That player shows that there is a place in basketball for a player who can play on the block, off the block, shoot, rebound, and pass, and Ryan checks all of those boxes, and some coaches are starting to take notice of this.
Bryer Kaczynski Bryer Kaczynski 7'0" | C Wyndmere/Lidgerwood | 2023 State ND |6-11 F| Wyndmere/Lidgerwood
Bryer was very timid at the start of the season. He improved as a finisher and shot blocker as the season progressed. Bryer is very, very long, and his best basketball is ahead of him. As a 6’11″ 16-year-old with a 7’2″ wingspan, Bryer is a very interesting prospect. I look forward to seeing how he can transform his body over the next 8 months. I think he will be much more comfortable next season now that he has an idea of what to expect from a pace of play and physicality standpoint.
SCHEDULE
Sanford Pentagon Spring Jam (Sioux Falls, SD) April 24-25
Sanford Pentagon Tournament Series (Omaha, NE) May 1-2
Sanford Pentagon Tournament Series (Minneapolis, MN) May 15-16
Sanford Pentagon Summer Slam (Sioux Falls, SD) July 10-11
Sanford Pentagon Tournament Series (Sioux Falls, SD) July 16-18
Pangos Cream of the Crop (Indianapolis, IN) July 23-25
Fantastic 40 (Las Vegas, NV) August 5-8
RECOGNITIONS
Best Rebounder: Ryan Erikson Ryan Erikson 6'10" | C Bismarck Century | 2023 State ND , Jaxon Kellogg Jaxon Kellogg 6'3" | PG Bismarck Legacy | 2023 State ND , Ryan Erikson Ryan Erikson 6'10" | C Bismarck Century | 2023 State ND
Top Scorer: Anthony Doppler Anthony Doppler 6'4" | SG Bismarck Century | 2023 State ND , Ryan Erikson Ryan Erikson 6'10" | C Bismarck Century | 2023 State ND
Defensive stopper: Jaxon Kellogg Jaxon Kellogg 6'3" | PG Bismarck Legacy | 2023 State ND , William Ware William Ware 6'7" | SF Bismarck Century | 2023 State ND
Most Improved: Ryan Erikson Ryan Erikson 6'10" | C Bismarck Century | 2023 State ND , Carson Yale Carson Yale 6'9" | PF Des Lacs Burlington | 2023 State ND
Hardest Worker: All
Most Unselfish: Tyler Birst Tyler Birst 6'0" | PG Bismarck Century | 2023 State ND , Maddox Doppler Maddox Doppler 6'5" | PF Bismarck St. Mary's | 2023 State ND , Ryan Erikson Ryan Erikson 6'10" | C Bismarck Century | 2023 State ND
Mr. Positive: Tyler Birst Tyler Birst 6'0" | PG Bismarck Century | 2023 State ND , Anthony Doppler Anthony Doppler 6'4" | SG Bismarck Century | 2023 State ND , Bryer Kaczynski Bryer Kaczynski 7'0" | C Wyndmere/Lidgerwood | 2023 State ND
Mr. Gritt: Jaxon Kellogg Jaxon Kellogg 6'3" | PG Bismarck Legacy | 2023 State ND
Best Rim Protector: Ryan Erikson Ryan Erikson 6'10" | C Bismarck Century | 2023 State ND , Bryer Kaczynski Bryer Kaczynski 7'0" | C Wyndmere/Lidgerwood | 2023 State ND , Carson Yale Carson Yale 6'9" | PF Des Lacs Burlington | 2023 State ND
Offensive MVP – Anthony Doppler Anthony Doppler 6'4" | SG Bismarck Century | 2023 State ND , Ryan Erikson Ryan Erikson 6'10" | C Bismarck Century | 2023 State ND
Defensive MVP – Jaxon Kellogg Jaxon Kellogg 6'3" | PG Bismarck Legacy | 2023 State ND , Carson Yale Carson Yale 6'9" | PF Des Lacs Burlington | 2023 State ND