Pentagon Schoolers 16U National Team: Season Write-up
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Sioux Falls, SD – This group is full of college prospects! Joe Sayler Joe Sayler 6'4" | SG White River | 2023 State #295 Nation SD has committed to SDSU, and there are many more players from this squad that will…
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Continue ReadingSioux Falls, SD – This group is full of college prospects! Joe Sayler Joe Sayler 6'4" | SG White River | 2023 State #295 Nation SD has committed to SDSU, and there are many more players from this squad that will go on to sign with college programs. Read below to find out about the Schoolers from the 16U National Team.
The Schooler program and director of Teams Taylor Fechner, of the Sanford Pentagon, put together a really nice group to compete with some of the best teams in the midwest this year for coach Buster Vincents squad. This group of talented young men finished the 2021 club season with a (24-7) overall record and a (10-1) mark in the Sanford Pentagon Tournament Series (SPTS). The 16U Schoolers Nationals claimed rights to the SPTS regular-season title within league play and entered Tournament action as the top seed. In the SPTS Tournament, the Schoolers fell in the title game to MN Fury Antl 84-81 in a thrilling double-overtime game.
These guys established themselves as a high-scoring (80ppg), fast-paced team. They play with a great spacing template and have an energy-creating ball movement style of play that led to an astonishing amount of assists at 19 of them per game.
Team Comments from Coach Buster Vincent
“I am really proud of our guys! We have 7 starters on this team and every one of those guys would give up a starting spot for their fellow teammates to have that role, It’s what makes us special. Just a bunch of unselfish dudes who like to compete and win games.”
Where do I start? How about Spencer Barr Spencer Barr 5'11" | PG Aberdeen Central | 2023 State SD that guy will do anything to help the team. Or the fact that we have the best player in the League in Joe Sayler Joe Sayler 6'4" | SG White River | 2023 State #295 Nation SD . The list of guys and their abilities on the basketball court is deep and wide with this group.
It has been such an honor to take the credit from these guys when they win games and so easy to just point the blame at them when we lose. Of course, I am only kidding!!! But my point is, teams are only as good as the players and we have a pretty darn good team! The success of this group and the success they will have in the future both as a team and individually is because of the countless hours they put into this game and into the development of their skill sets. As the coach, I am just their biggest fan from the best seat in the gym. We really challenged these guys to chart and stat their success and development this summer. Shooting challenges, time charts, individual workouts, and then utilizing the full scope of the Sanford Pentagon and its training staff and resources. Our entire team is made up of guys who are committed to becoming the best basketball player and teammate they can be while developing lifelong friendships and memories.”
ROSTER
Joe Sayler Joe Sayler 6'4" | SG White River | 2023 State #295 Nation SD 6’3 White River – 21.2 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 3.4 apg, 1 spg
The SDSU commit led the schoolers in points this summer with 658. Joe has shown us all why the Jackrabbits believed in him at such a young age with his play this summer and he has possibly established himself as the best player in SD regardless of class. He has an ability to take games over and be impressive to the toughest of critics.
Oliver Vincent Oliver Vincent 6'1" | PG Sioux Valley | 2023 State SD 6’1 Sioux Valley – 18.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 6.7 apg, 1.9 spg
He may be the best in the game when it comes to finishing at the rim and creating open looks for his teammates. Oli led the schoolers in assists this summer with almost 7 per contest and charges taken on the defensive end at 12. He is the ultimate competitor on the basketball floor and plays much bigger than his frame making him very difficult to defend.
Elliot Whitney Elliot Whitney 6'0" | CG Sioux Falls Lincoln | 2023 State SD (2023) 6’0 SF Lincoln – 10.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 2.6 apg, 1.5 spg
Elliot has really improved over the summer in many facets of the game. Everyone knew he could shoot, but he really started to show that he is quite good with the ball in his hands. Elliot will be a huge asset to Lincoln this year at the guard position and will continue to prove he can do much more than just shoot the ball.
Spencer Barr Spencer Barr 5'11" | PG Aberdeen Central | 2023 State SD 6’1 Aberdeen Central – 8.2 ppg, 3 rpg, 2.8 apg, 2.1 spg
The hardest worker on the court every time he steps foot on the hardwood. Spencer led the schoolers on the defensive end with 63 steals this summer 2.1 per contest. He was tasked with many roles and positions to help mold the schoolers this summer and excelled at all of them. He was everything from a PG to a 4 man when the team played with five guards on the floor at times.
Damon Wilkinson Damon Wilkinson 6'10" | C De Smet | 2023 State SD 6’8 De Smet – 6.7 ppg, 8.1 rpg, 0.4 apg, 1.5 bpg
Damon has really developed his ability to make a move and finish with a guy on his back this year. His footwork is much improved as evident in his drop-step, and up-&-under moves. We have noticed his ability to seal opposite and also to create space by reverse and forward pivots while having better toughness with the ball. He led the schoolers on the glass this season with 8.1RPG.
Porter Ihnen 6’4 Lennox – 8.4 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.3 apg, 0.6 spg
*Playing up a year (2024 class). Porter is a crafty southpaw that joined the 16U National Team after Spencer Fernholz Spencer Fernholz 6'4" | SF Miller | 2023 State SD tore his ACL. In fourteen games of action Porter helped the schoolers from the left wing to a 10-4 record. Porter rebounds well as a bigger guard and can play several positions on the floor to create match problems for opposing teams.
Jacob Vandeweerd Jacob Vandeweerd 6'8" | PF Canton | 2023 State SD 6’8 Canton – 4.6 rpg, 6 rpg, 1.9 bpg, 0.4 apg
Jacob is a monster at protecting the rim. He led the National team in blocks with 57 this summer. Jacob runs the floor really well for a big guy which helped space the floor for the Schoolers and lead to many easy baskets. Jacob plays hard at both ends and has a nice touch on the ball to 20ft.
Spencer Fernholz Spencer Fernholz 6'4" | SF Miller | 2023 State SD (2023) 6’3 Miller – 6.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 0.3 apg, 1.4 bpg
Spencer was playing his best basketball of the season when he suffered a torn ACL injury in Minneapolis which sidelined him for the remainder of the summer. Spencer is super bouncy and athletic and we look forward to monitoring his return to play progress.
Steele Morgan Steele Morgan 6'5" | PF Mitchell | 2023 State SD 6’4 Mitchell – 3.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 0.4 spg, 0.3 apg
Steele plays hard and rebounds really well. He can play a guard position if needed and also go down and bang with the bigs. Steele will really be a huge X factor for the Kernels this winter when he joins back up with his Mitchell teammates.
Aiden Jensen Aiden Jensen 6'9" | PF Madison | 2023 State SD 6’8 Madison – 2.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 0.6 bpg, 0.3 apg
Aiden has really improved this summer. He has the size to take smaller guards into the blk and post them up and he has the shooting ability to hit the 3-ball. His length helped create issues on the defensive side of the ball.
Over the last two years together, the core group of this schoolers squad has forged a very impressive record of 54 wins and only 8 losses together. The 16U National team was once again lead by two 1st team All-state selections in Joe Sayler Joe Sayler 6'4" | SG White River | 2023 State #295 Nation SD and Oliver Vincent Oliver Vincent 6'1" | PG Sioux Valley | 2023 State SD . Anchoring the group down low was a pair of giants in Damon Wilkinson Damon Wilkinson 6'10" | C De Smet | 2023 State SD and Jacob Vandeweerd Jacob Vandeweerd 6'8" | PF Canton | 2023 State SD both standing at 6’8 and powering in at an impressive 240 pounds. Joining these four in the lineup was 6’4 Porter Ihnen. This group never lost a beat with their first two substitutions bringing in PG and defensive stud Spencer Barr Spencer Barr 5'11" | PG Aberdeen Central | 2023 State SD and shooter Elliot Whitney Elliot Whitney 6'0" | CG Sioux Falls Lincoln | 2023 State SD . Aiden Jensen Aiden Jensen 6'9" | PF Madison | 2023 State SD and Steele Morgan Steele Morgan 6'5" | PF Mitchell | 2023 State SD round out the roster.
RECOGNITIONS
Best Rebounder: Damon Wilkinson Damon Wilkinson 6'10" | C De Smet | 2023 State SD
Top Scorers: Joe Sayler Joe Sayler 6'4" | SG White River | 2023 State #295 Nation SD & Oliver Vincent Oliver Vincent 6'1" | PG Sioux Valley | 2023 State SD
Defensive stopper: Spencer Barr Spencer Barr 5'11" | PG Aberdeen Central | 2023 State SD
Most Improved: Damon Wilkinson Damon Wilkinson 6'10" | C De Smet | 2023 State SD
Hardest worker: Spencer Barr Spencer Barr 5'11" | PG Aberdeen Central | 2023 State SD
Mr. Positive: Spencer Fernholz Spencer Fernholz 6'4" | SF Miller | 2023 State SD
Mr. Grit: Steele Morgan Steele Morgan 6'5" | PF Mitchell | 2023 State SD
Most Unselfish/Assist Man: Oliver Vincent Oliver Vincent 6'1" | PG Sioux Valley | 2023 State SD & Spencer Barr Spencer Barr 5'11" | PG Aberdeen Central | 2023 State SD
Best Rim protector/Shot Blocker: Jacob Vandeweerd Jacob Vandeweerd 6'8" | PF Canton | 2023 State SD
Mr. Creative: Elliot Whitney Elliot Whitney 6'0" | CG Sioux Falls Lincoln | 2023 State SD
SCHEDULE
Spring Jam Sioux Falls- April 24-25th
SPTS Omaha (OSA)- May 1-2nd
SPTS Minneapolis (Heat)- May 15-16th
Great Plains Alliance St. Cloud (Comets)- June 24-26th
Summer Slam Sioux Falls – July 9-11th
SPTS Finals (Schoolers) Sioux Falls – July 16-19th
Nike Hardwood Classic Kansas City- July 23-25th