Commitment Report: Cole Dahl (2016)
Oct 19th Update Northern Freeze forward Cole Dahl talked to Northstar Hoops Report last week about recruiting. He said that Army and Air Force were coming in once again to take a look and he had the option to play…
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Continue ReadingOct 19th Update
Northern Freeze forward Cole Dahl talked to Northstar Hoops Report last week about recruiting. He said that Army and Air Force were coming in once again to take a look and he had the option to play division one ball at this programs.
Cole also had the option to play college basketball at pretty much whatever NSIC school he wanted to go to. With double figure division two offers there were many options. The option that Cole liked the best though was in Aberdeen, South Dakota.
“Blessed by the main upstairs to say that I have committed to play basketball and further my education at Northern State,” Cole said.
NSU recently added South Dakota product Gabe King who should team to make an excellent pair with Dahl.
“The visits went great! I'm all done now. It was a great time on each of the campuses. The hospitality at each place was absolutely great. The thing I like most is by visiting schools and showing what they have to offer to me is that I'm finding myself and what matters to me.
“This process has helped me learn a lot. Knowing that I'm going to look back and be grateful.”
After spending so much time considering if he wanted to go to a military academy or not, considering which D2 was the best fit, and wondering if he should wait until the spring, Cole now has made his choice and gets to focus on his final year of high school basketball.
“I’ve never been this excited for basketball! Really looking forward to working with new guys. The biggest challenge will be right away, getting everyone on the grind together, to be the top Section 8A team.”
August 12th, 2015 Update
There are a lot of guys standing tall that want to be wings but they are not. Cole Dahl is the opposite. Cole can be seen handling the ball and playing inside with his high school team out of necessity but with the Comets everything about Cole (skills, the way he moves, etc) say small forward.
Dahl played with the Minnesota Comets this spring and summer and enjoyed his basketball experience.
“I thought my basketball IQ increased and also my defense improved playing with the Comets,” said Dahl. “I loved (Grassroots), the travel, the time with guys building relationships,the exposure was great for our team. Chris (Lewis) and North Star Hoops really helped me to further my career (wherever I end up).”
Dahl enters a key time in his life both basketball and career wise. He is picking a college option and has his most memorable high school season in front of him.
“I'm feeling great about this season,” Dahl said. “The past three years I've been a part of two section games, unfortunately lost them both but I feel this is the year for the guys and I to finish strong and head to state.
“I'm going to have to be a leader like the last three years, run the plays, and be dominant without over doing it and getting my team involved.”
Cole has received double digit scholarship offers from the division two level and now has an offer from Army to join their prep academy for a year and then the varsity squad in the following seasons.
“Recruiting wise, I’ve called some schools respectfully sharing with them they weren't right for me. I’m going to be setting up unofficial and official visits for about six or seven schools I have interest in.
“The Most interested schools are Augustana, Northern State, and Army are the ones calling each week to touch base,” Dahl explained.
June 19th Update
The Minnesota Comets are 18-10 on the season with four events coming up in June and July. Those will be big months for forward Cole Dahl who at 6-foot-7 as a small forward has six offers from the NSIC and more likely on the way.
“The experience with the Comets has been great, love the experience,” said Dahl. “Being it’s my last (Grassroots) season like the others in my class, we have to go out with a bang to make it where we want to be.”
They have a chance to make local impacts in the Great Plains Alliance and SPTS event finals plus the Comets will play in Milwaukee and Louisville In July. With approximately 20 games left to play a lot can happen. Cole wants to do a few things better himself.
“I want to move better off the ball, take it to the hoop more, and make the guys around me better,” Cole said.
His June schedule only has the GPA with the Comets but it’s been packed with several basketball events.
“A lot of high school tournaments coming up in the next weeks, along with an NDSU elite camp, and being invited to other NSIC camps,” Cole said.
“Trying to fit it all in. Want to visit a bunch of schools at the end of June and early July. And maybe a point guard camp put on by Jason Otter in July.”
Offers have come in from Minnesota State-Moorhead, Northern State, Bemidji State, Minot State, Augustana, and most recently the University of Mary. Double figure D1 programs have also made contact in the past and a few new schools are stepping up their interest.
“The newest schools talking to me are Minnesota-Duluth and the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay. Lehigh has been showing more interest and looking to make 2-3 Tournaments in July.”
April 29th, 2015 (RJ)
Cole Dahl is the guy that college coaches instantly pick out of a lay-up line because he is so long, skilled, and agile. The Minnesota Comets 17 and Under talent is in the middle of a key moment in his basketball career, the final spring and summer to impress college coaches.
“My goals this off-season are to improve my pull-up game and making the right game time decisions,” said Dahl on Tuesday.
So far Dahl loves his decision to join the Comets.
“I love the coach and the guys I play with, we are ding well as a team! We're finding our roles we need to fill. It was great to win our tournament over a great Fury team.
“We're all still growing and improving! I'm going to get my exposure to college coaches because of Chris (Lewis). He talks to D1s for me and I've had some new ones call and want to see me more. Glad I'm improving with these guys!”
Dahl has a lot of interest coming in after three weekends with the Comets.
“Northern State, Minnesota State-Moorhead, University of South Dakota is and are wanting to watch, North Dakota State, Augustana, Concordia-St. Paul showing most interest.
“Really think I can play d1, but I'm visiting schools to find the best fit to continue my career and schooling. All good basketball from the schools contacting me, leagues are fun to watch and competitive.”
This past weekend Dahl and the Comets were out east, which has opened the doors to some new college programs.
“Most of them in NSIC are showing strong interest,” said Cole. “St Cloud State has been talking to me more, and some D1s on the east coast.
“I got a call from UMass Lowell. They want tape and are looking to watch again in July. And Elon and Central Connecticut State talked to Chris and said they enjoyed watching.”
March 25th 2015
One of Minnesota’s most intriguing junior frontcourt prospects is Northern Freeze power forward Cole Dahl. Cole led his team to a 16-10 record putting up double-doubles regularly.
“My Junior season went well,” said Dahl. “I feel like I have improved not only with myself but leading the team. But I still can improve.”
Dahl is a humble student athlete but don’t be fooled, he puts up numbers night after night willing to outwork everybody.
“A top moment this year would be 1,000th point and playing well in the games that we needed to win, which was every game (as we wanted),” said Cole.
“We were in fifth in our conference after losing fifth straight and to come back and beat the one seed for the last game of the year was a great improvement for our team and that is when I was in the moment, playing well scoring 25 points and boarding ten on average.”
Now Cole is joining the outstate power Minnesota Comets and Coach Chris Lewis for his 17U Grassroots season.
“My goals for this grassroots season would be definitely to win as many tournaments as possible, show we are a great team but be humble about us and our game. Last year we finished 8th against 70 teams in Kentucky, I want us to be going on all cylinders and rolling into the 1-5th spot at nationals. I’m playing with Comets Lewis.”
And individually what does Cole want to improve?
“My goals are to improve my pull-up game and making the right game time decisions.”
During his junior season Cole received scholarship offers from Minnesota State-Moorhead and Northern State.
“I’m hearing the most from Northern State, Minnesota State-Moorhead, University of South Dakota is and are wanting to watch, North Dakota State, Augustana, and Concordia St. Paul showing most interest,” said Dahl.
“I really think I can play d1, but I'm visiting schools to find the best fit to continue my career and schooling. All play good basketball from the schools contacting me, leagues are fun to watch and are competitive.”
Update from 11/21/14 by Alex Conover
Cole Dahl (#28 in NHR’s class of 2016 rankings) lives in Newfolden, a small community north of Thief River Falls. It’s not as far up as International Falls or Roseau, but… it’s very far up there. We’re talking a drive more than five hours from the Twin Cities.
His school has joined with a few others to form Northern Freeze, a co-op athletic program. I think the name’s appropriate.
“I have to help kids learn and get as far as we can as a team, because it's only gonna help for both this year and next,” the 6-foot-7 forward told NHR. “I'm going to be a leader in many different aspects on the floor. Scoring, rebounding and maybe assists. We're young. The younger guys and myself will probably be the best ones out there along with one senior.”
Being located where he is, Dahl acknowledges that he will probably have to drive (or fly) some kind of significant distance to attend college.
“As of now, I want the best suitable place for me, If I have to move to get to my dream, I'm gonna do it. Five colleges are talking to me when they can during the season: Augustana, Sioux Falls, University of Mary, NDSU, Minot State, and there’s also Northern State a little bit.”
It’s very early to talk AAU, but the first thing Dahl said when we asked him for an update was “I’m playing with Comets next year.” That’s a huge addition for what should be a good 17U squad yet again for Chris Lewis.
Update from 5/9/14
Cole Dahl (#40 in NHR’s class of 2016 rankings) is from Newfolden, Minnesota. There’s a reason why you may have never heard of it; it’s located in the northwest corner of the state. It’s two hours north of Bemidji — that’s pretty far up.
My hunch, however, is that college coaches may be making the trek to Newfolden before long. The town has a potential hidden gem in Cole Dahl, a 6-foot-5 forward who plays for consolidated program Northern Freeze. By his estimation, he racked up 17 PPG and 11 RPG as a sophomore.
Dahl plays AAU ball with Red River Heat, and NHR got the chance to watch them beat a talented JM Rockets team at the Meg Vang Invitational that had a cameo appearance from high 2016 prospect Michael Hurt and 7th grade phenom Matthew Hurt. Dahl did not back down and showed aggression and a high motor throughout the contest. He’s athletic and skilled around the rim with a jumper that’s becoming more consistent.
“Some of those kids are going to go D1 some day, so that was a good battle,” Dahl told NHR after the game. “I’m glad we came out on the good end of it.”
Dahl made his college goals clear to NHR when he was asked.
“I want to go D1. I got some emails looking for addresses from some D2 schools, but that’s about it. I want to go to either NDSU or U of M. I know it’s going to take some heart, but I’ve got it.”
The northern forward plans to work on his left hand and his baseline jumper this AAU season.