ND 2024 Rankings Review: Breakout Players
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The 2024 updated rankings came out last week. In this article, we are taking a look at players from the rankings that we believe will have a breakout season this winter. See below for players that should be on your…
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Continue ReadingThe 2024 updated rankings came out last week. In this article, we are taking a look at players from the rankings that we believe will have a breakout season this winter. See below for players that should be on your radar. If we are correct, they will shoot up the rankings in the next update. These players all have loads of potential and we think that they are in the right situation to have an impact this year.
Breakout Players
Caleb Duerr Caleb Duerr 6'4" | SG West Fargo Sheyenne | 2024 ND |6’4 SG| West Fargo Sheyenne
He is the starting QB for the 4-1 Mustangs who are ranked #2 in the 11AA. Duerr has been fantastic all fall and he is playing like an All-State football player. Expect him to come into the basketball season full of confidence. He saw some varsity burn last season but not a ton. If Caleb is as good as we project him to be, he should be on the court this winter all the time unless he is getting a quick rest or is in foul trouble. I am predicting an All-EDC type season from Duerr. He is a long and strong athlete that will be able to overpower opposing guards when slashing to the rim. He can also drain jumpers. Duerr will be a tough and reliable defender. He will also be productive on the boards. Look for Caleb to be the go-to guy for the Mustangs this year. Can he lead Sheyenne back to the illustrious State Tournament?
Jace Jochim Jace Jochim 6'2" | SG Linton/HMB | 2024 State ND |6’0 SG| Linton-HMB
This kid can light the nets on fire! Jochim is a cold-blooded assassin from behind the arc. I will not be slightly surprised if he leads Region 3 in scoring this year. He gets hot in a hurry like a microwave and his range runs deep. This summer at a team camp, Jace hit 10 triples in one game. The Lions looked good as a team this summer and they took care of business. The Linton ballers hit the weight room hard and they all packed on muscle. They do not have a ton of height but they have plenty of shooters. Jochim will be the premier threat. I like how free and organic his shot looks. He puts little effort into his release and it’s always accurate. Jochim has a hair trigger and he moves well without the ball. I have also seen him put up points off the bounce. When he doesn’t have a good look, Jochim can create for others. Look out for Jochim and the Lions this winter!
Isaiah Williams Isaiah Williams 5'10" | PG Lutheran | 2024 CO |5’11 PG| Horace
This will be the Hawks first season competing in the EDC at the varsity level and Williams will be the floor general. Zay will be the man directing traffic and taking care of the ball. I imagine that most teams will pressure the young Hawks, and Zay will see the opposing team’s top on-ball defender. From what I have seen, Williams has the tools, skills, and handles to handle pressure. I like how he changes speeds, he seems to know when to slow down and when to speed things up. I like how he manages the game and minimizes TO’s. Zay is a creative player that likes to get his teammates involved. He can also hit the open jumper and score at the rack. I envision him being a scrappy defender that will get deflections and dive on the floor for loose balls. It is going to be a fun year in the EDC and Horace will be a team to watch every night. Everyone wants to see how the “new” team will fit into the EDC. Look out for the Williams to Fish connection for the Hawks, those two have the potential to be a dynamic duo.
Landon Moser Landon Moser 6'1" | PG Northern Cass | 2024 State ND |6’1 PG| Northern Cass
He had a solid sophomore season and if you watched Moser play, you could tell that he was one year away from being a stud. This kid is a gym rat that is always working on his craft. Landon played very well this summer with his high school team and he was a standout with ND Attack. I watched him play at The Battle At The Lakes, and he was easily one of the top players on the court against great athletes. He will be the straw that stirs the drink for the Jags. Moser knows how to get his teammates involved and engaged. He is also a prolific scorer when needed. I like his all-around scoring ability and his outside jumper is silky smooth. Northern Cass is young and does not have much size. Therefore, Moser will get every team’s best defender and he will often be double-teamed. However, he is skilled, smart, and an underrated athlete. Expect Landon to put up big numbers and for him to be a top guard in Region 1 this year.
Lucas Kupfer Lucas Kupfer 6'5" | SF Bismarck Legacy | 2024 State ND |6’5 SF| Bismarck Legacy
He played a few minutes late in the season for the Sabers but I suspect that Kupfer will start this year. He had a great spring & summer with ECI and he showed that he can compete against quality competition. Lucas is a lefty, so he has that advantage when it comes to attacking the basket. He is a great slasher/penetrator. I like his finishing ability. Kupfer finishes with a smooth finger roll, soft floaters, runners, and soft kisses off the glass. He will also get up and WHAM it. I have seen a few impressive 2-handed slams from the Legacy kid. Do not forget that his older brother is a D1 football player, Lucas has athleticism in his blood. Kupfer is not just a slasher, he can spread the floor and cash triples. He is very intriguing as a defender with his length and athleticism. I think the Sabers will be a top 3-5 team in the WDA this year and one of the top defensive teams in Class A. The Sabers have the squad to make a serious run at getting to State and predict Kuper to be an All-WDA player.