EDC Preview: Part 1

PHD kicks off the conference previews with the Eastern Dakota Conference which is 11 deep so we will break it into two parts and then produce the Conference predictions and pre-season all EDC teams. Basketball is not as far away as people know so we get you started with the October league previews.<h2>Teams</h2>Devils Lake. Returning Starters. Jacob Mertens (6-2, G, 11), Zach Dahlen (6-2, G, 11), Josh Frelich (6-0, G, 12), Hunter Fee (6-2, PF, 11), Nik Desai (5-10, G, 11) Returning Bench Players. Ben Shepherd (6-4, PF, 12) New Talent. Jagger Miller (6-5, PF, 10), Pat Bracken (5-10, G, 11). Trending. Up! Thoughts. After an eight win season where most of the production was from returning players there is no question that the Firebirds should be competing for at least a 500 season. Mertens and Dahlen have become a bit of a decorated pair grabbing expectations while Frelich and Fee have been forgot about a bit but are also experienced contributors. This is a team that will compete with most. Fargo Davies. Returning Starters. Matt Veit (6-0, G, 11), Conor Rayl (5-11, G, 12) Returning Bench Players: Jake Paper (6-4, F, 11), Braydon Olson (6-2, F, 12) New Talent. Johnny Brooks (6-2, SG, 10), Gage Graber (6-4, F, 11), Ty Settness (6-6, C, 11) Trending. Down. Final Thoughts. How far down will be the question. The Eagles lost a lot of talent and while a couple solid guards in Veit and Rayl are back, for them to match last year will be a tough accomplishment. That said, this is a solid program and several current juniors received a ton of tick on the JV. They will still be in the mix, but a 21-6 record will be hard to match. Fargo North. Returning Starters. Kade Hoeg (5-11, PG, 12), Siman Sem (6-3, SG, 11) Returning Bench Players. None New Talent. Cole Swanson (5-10, G, 12). Justin Benson (6-3, F, 12) Trending. Same Final Thoughts. The Spartans were a game under .500 last year as they struggled on the road and most of the rotations was seniors that graduated. That said, they have a new coach in Ted Critchley who had strong teams in the Twin Cities, they have an NDSU signed scorer in Sem, and one of the hardest working guards in the senior class in Hoeg. We think they will be better than last year, as long as the roles are filled around the top guys. Fargo South. Returning Starters. Brent Hovden (6-2, F, 12), Bucky Skiple (6-2, G, 12), Zeb Taber (6-2, F, 12) Returning Bench Players. Cameron Hagen (6-2, F, 12), Felix Cure (6-2, F, 11) New Talent. Austin Rozelle (6-4, PF, 12) Trending. Up? Final Thoughts. How much up who knows but they won three games and bring back three starters so you would think they have to at least double their wins from last year. Is that trending “up” per say? Maybe, maybe not, but they should be somewhat better. GF Central. Returning Starters. Ryan Erickson (6-2, F, 12), Ethan Homer (5-9, G, 12), Aaron Knutson (6-4, PF, 11) Returning Bench Players. Mason Kostecki (5-9, G, 12), Charles Sutton (5-11, G, 10), Adam Grove (6-2, F, 12), New Talent. Jamil Suleiman (6-1, F, 10) Trending. UP I guess Final Thoughts. They won one game. It’s hard to imagine that three starters and five of the top eight come back and they don’t win a few more games. The talent pool isn’t very big though and experience from a 1-21 team can be complicated. GF Red River. Returning Starters. Austin Slaughter (6-6, F, 11), Braedan Hanson (6-7, PF, 12), Mark Toe (5-11, PG, Jr), Tanner Solein (6-4, F, 12), Returning Bench Players. Carson Dennis (6-3, F, 12), Paul Miller (6-6, C, 12) New Talent. Alec Erickson (6-0, G, 11), Cody Robertson (5-8, PG, 11), Tyler Enerson (6-3, F, 11) Trending. Up Final Thoughts. This is a 17 win team that took third in state, is bigger and more athletic than most in state, and returns four starters. The Roughriders are expected to have a really big season based on last year, based on the talent, and based on their potential. People aren’t confident in them because they feel they lack toughness but a lot of those people lost to the Roughriders at state last year.