ND State Track: Basketball Standouts
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The 2022 North Dakota State Track meet is in the books. It is time to look back on which basketball players from Class A showed up and showed out at the State meet. We have a mix of seniors down…
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Continue ReadingThe 2022 North Dakota State Track meet is in the books. It is time to look back on which basketball players from Class A showed up and showed out at the State meet. We have a mix of seniors down to freshmen that made some noise at the final meet of the year. We tell you how they did at the State meet and then make a few comments on them as a basketball players. Congratulations to everyone on a great Track & Field season!
STATE TRACK Class A – Basketball Standouts
Carson Hegerle Carson Hegerle 6'3" | SG West Fargo | 2022 State ND (2022) |6-3 SG| West Fargo
100 Meter Dash (1st) 10.91-200 Meter Dash (1st) 21.61-4×100 Relay (3rd) 42.90-4×200 Relay (2nd) 4:28.42
He was an All-EDC and All-State basketball player and Carson led the Packers to a runner-up finish at the State Tournament. Carson was a 1-man fast break and one of the most exciting players in ND to watch this winter. Carson could slash and score with the best in ND. He was also a tough defender. Hegerle will be taking his talents to NDSU to play football.
Parker Nelson Parker Nelson 5'11" | SG West Fargo | 2022 State ND (2022) |5’11 SG| West Fargo
400 Meter Dash (7th) 50.49 – 4×200 Relay (2nd) 1:28.42
This lefty was a key player for the Packers and Parker helped West Fargo reach the State Championship game. Nelson was a hard worker and a stiff defender. I liked the NRG and the passion that Nelson played with. He was aggressive off the bounce and he finished at the rack or kicked to an open Packer. He will be missed at West Fargo.
Carter Byron Carter Byron 6'7" | PF Grand Forks Red River | 2023 State ND (2023) |6’7 PF| Grand Forks Red River
110 Meter Hurdles (9th) 15.98 – 4×200 (8th) 1:3137
Byron should be a starter next year for the talented Roughriders. They will likely be one of the best squads in the State. His length will provide rebounding and rim protection. Byron is a tough matchup with his size and flexibility. He can score in the paint and hit triples. His teammates must love it when Carter pulls the opposing team’s Big out to the perimeter. Expect Byron and the Roughriders to be one of the best in Class A next basketball season.
Isiah St. Romain Isiah St. Romain 6'3" | SG Williston | 2024 ND (2024) |6’3 SG| Williston
4×400 (3rd) 3:24.78 – Long Jump (5th) 21-4
He had a stellar high school season. St. Romain averaged an eye-popping 19 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 3.3 apg, 2.5 spg. Isiah was super productive all year long and he was selected as an All-WDA Player. St. Romain has been hoopin this spring with ECI in AAU ball. He has proved to be very effective and has been meshing well with his new teammates. St. Romain is an all-star athlete and a playmaker. Isiah is currently the #7th ranked Prospect in the PHD Rankings for North Dakota. He is one of the best-kept secrets in ND.
Preston Lemar Preston Lemar 6'3" | SG Bismarck | 2024 State ND (2024) |6’2 G| Bismarck
4×800 (8th) 8:14. 36 – Javelin Throw (5th) 167-05
He does a very nice job in the Demon system of fast-tempo, defensive pressure, trapping, and aggressive play. Preston showed flashes of being elite on the defensive end. Lemar was arguably the best defender at the top of the Demon press. Preston is fantastic at creating chaos! On the offensive end, Lemar was great on the offensive glass and he improved at getting to the rack off the bounce. When I watched him this winter, Lemar impressed me by grabbing O-boards and he played very hard. He will be one of the top Demons next season. For AAU hoops, Preston is playing with ND Attack.
Hudsen Sheldon Hudsen Sheldon 6'2" | SG Mandan | 2025 State ND (2025) |6-0 G| Mandan
High Jump (4th) 6-2
He is obviously a stud athlete if he is placing 4th in the high jump at the State Class A meet as a 9th grader. Very few freshmen can compete athletically with juniors and seniors. Hudsen is a multi-sport athlete that standouts out in everything that he does. On the hardwood, Sheldon is super skilled. When you add his athleticism and skill together you get a scary basketball player!
Aiden Jacobson Aiden Jacobson 6'0" | SG Valley City | 2023 State ND (2023) |6’0 G| Valley City
High Jump (5th) 6-0
He plays very hard on the basketball court and Aiden will do whatever it takes to win. Jacobson works his tail off on the defensive end of the floor. It is obvious that Jacobson is an athletic basketball player as he placed in the high jump at State. For AAU basketball, Aiden is playing with ECI. He has had a nice spring so far and I expect him to keep that going into the summer. Jacobson is a team player, plays with grit, and he does many of the little things that do not show up in the box score.
Michael Nhial Michael Nhial 6'7" | SF West Fargo Sheyenne | 2022 State ND (2022) |6’7 SF| West Fargo Sheyenne
High Jump (7th) 6-0 – Triple Jump (4th) 43-09.75
He had a phenomenal senior season in hoops. Big Mike has signed with Northern State and he will be headed to Aberdeen for hoops next school year. Nhial was All-EDC, EDC Senior Athlete of the Year, All-State, and a Mr. Basketball Finalist. Mike also led the Mustangs to the State Semifinals. Nihal averaged 20.2 ppg and 9.5 rpg this year.
Grayson Schaeffer Grayson Schaeffer 6'5" | SF Minot | 2025 State ND (2025) |6’5 F| Minot
Long Jump (7th) 21-2.25 – Triple Jump (8th) 42-10.25
Wow, what an athlete! It is crazy that he placed in two events as a frosh at State T&F. Schaeffer is no stranger to success. He helped Minot win the State Championship in high school ball. I saw Grayson play this spring and I was super impressed. He is a big-time stock riser in the 2025 class. Schaeffer plays AAU ball with ECI and this stud athlete has been a playmaker. Besides sticking out as an athlete, Schaeffer is skilled and tough. Get to know this youngster’s name!
Dylan Beyl Dylan Beyl 6'2" | SG West Fargo Sheyenne | 2023 State ND (2023) |6’2 SG| West Fargo Sheyenne
Triple Jump (5th) 42-11.75
On the basketball court, Beyl sticks out as an athlete. Dylan will be a new name on the block in the EDC next year. The Mustangs lose a bunch of senior talent and Dylan is primed to step in. Beyl works his tail off and he is skilled. I am looking forward to see what the future brings to this athletic Mustang.
Logan Arason Logan Arason 6'4" | PF Grand Forks Red River | 2023 State ND (2023) |6’4 PF| Grand Forks Red River
Discus Throw (1st) 170-7 – Javelin Throw (2nd) 179-03
Talk about a strong and powerful athlete! Besides being a top thrower in the State, Logan is also a D1 football prospect. In basketball, Logan will be a brute force for the Roughriders on both ends of the floor next season. He will be a key cog in Red Rivers success. He is also super gifted at taking charges. It is no secret that Arason is a star multi-sport athlete!
Ethan Manock Ethan Manock 6'4" | PF Wahpeton | 2023 State ND (2023) |6’4 PF| Wahpeton
Javelin (1st) 180-01 – Discus (2nd) 158-02
Here we have another powerful athlete. Manock is not just a powerful thrower, he is a ferocious dunker and a walking double-double! This season in high school hoops, Ethan averaged11.5 ppg, 11.5 rpg, and 1.9 bpg. Ethan led Class A in rebounds per game and he was second in the State in blocks per game. Look for Manock to be one of the best forwards in ND next season.
Aaron Grubb Aaron Grubb 6'3" | PF Mandan | 2022 State ND (2022) |6’3 F| Mandan
Javelin Throw (6th) 161-05
He was a workhorse in basketball. Grubb does the dirty work and he had a great senior season. He plays physically and Aaron is not afraid of contact. Grubb helped the Braves reach the State Tournament. He was an All-WDA and a Second Team All-State Player. Grubb averaged an impressive 17.5 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 2.5 apg, and 1.5 spg.
Ethan Stotz Ethan Stotz 6'1" | SF Bismarck | 2022 State ND (2022) |6’1 SF| Bismarck
Javelin Throw (8th) 155-04
He played a vital role in the Demons run to the State Tournament. Stotz was an efficient player that rarely missed a shot. Ethan shot a mind-boggling 70.1 FG% this season! Ethan averaged a cool 8.7 ppg and 5.9 rpg. I loved the way Ethan moved without the ball and how he reacted to the defense. When he got the ball near the basket, everyone knew it was almost a guaranteed bucket! He was also a tireless worker that gave his all on the boards and on defense. Stotz will be missed by BHS