Signing Report: Connor Hellebust (2016)

<h2>Signing Day</h2>University of Mary Head Coach Joe Kittel is only a few exhibition games into his career as the Marauder leader but things are off a to a great start.Bismarck Demon guard Connor Hellebust is considered the best senior guard in the state and may best overall senior in the state. Where is Connor headed? To the University of Mary. Hellebust made it official yesterday by signing his letter of intent and Kittel is excited about it. "We are thrilled that Connor and his family have decided to be a part of our program," said Kittell. "He is an excellent young man and player. "We feel like Connor will have a great season for Bismarck High School head coach Jordan Wilhelm, himself a former Marauders basketball player. It feels great when you can get a player of Connor's ability and character in your back yard." The University of Mary produced a press release after the signing of Connor and top 25 Minnesota talent Matt Kreklow yesterday it provides the following about the game of Hellebust (6-foot-1, 175 pounds): An all-WDA selection as a junior, Connor Hellebust is a multi-sport athlete at Bismarck High School. As a point guard for the Demons in 2014-15, he scored a team-high 14.2 points per game and averaged 2.2 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game. Hellebust also made 81.8 percent of his free throws, shot 40.5 percent from the field and 36.8 percent behind the arc as BHS finished 17-7. He tied a school record last season by sinking 14 free throws in one game. Hellebust also plays football and baseball. The son of Marlene Hellebust and Glen Hellebust, Connor is currently undecided on a major at U-Mary. <h2>August 12th Update</h2>Connor Hellebust was the biggest off-season stock booster of anybody in North Dakota. He went from a solid player to the guard getting the most recruiting attention in the senior class. Overall, ECI was a strong experience. “I thought it went really good,” Connor said of his year with ECI. “I feel like I played my best the final tournament. I've learned that you have to be aggressive the whole game. It's helped me on every part of my game.” “I've met some guys and became really good friends with them cause of AAU. It's really cool having guys on the team from all around the state. Then playing against them during the season makes it really fun.” Hellebust and the Bismarck Demons went 17-7 last winter but a lot of seniors have graduated from the program. Connor led the team scoring 14.2 points per game shooting 82 percent from the foul line and 37 percent at the arc. Problem is the next three top scorers graduated. That said, fellow seniors-to-be Seth Siverson and Brayden Thomas (fifth and sixth leading scorers) will help Connor as they work to fulfill their goals. “My expectations are to get back on track and get to the state tournament,” Hellebust stated. By the time Connor sees the ball tip for the first time in his senior season he will likely have picked his future college. “University of Mary is on me the most,” Connor said. “I got a call from Minot state a while back and a letter from Sioux Falls for a camp a couple of weeks ago. And there's a couple NAIAs calling me now as well.” <h2>May 5th</h2>Six-foot guard Connor Hellebust of ECI has been one of the more impressive ECI talents this year as the six foot guard has attacked the rim with a ferocious approach throughout April. “It's been going pretty good this spring with ECI, we had a rough last tournament though,” said Hellebust. ECI has played in three tournaments so far competing in St. Cloud, Bloomington, and Hopkins, Minnesota. They went 1-2 in the last event and had last weekend off to prepare for their next two weekends of play. PHD will see ECI this weekend in Session 2 of the SPTS in Omaha, and then the following weekend ECI hosts their own tournament up in North Dakota. “We need to be more efficient on offense and have less turnovers,” said Hellebust on what needs to happen for his team to improve. Hellebust is guard that is going to start getting more and more attention as spring enters the summer. He averaged 14.2 points per game as a junior shooting 37 percent at the arc, 82 percent at the foul line, and 41 percent overall. He’s on the radar of several schools including two most recently, “I’ve heard from Concordia College (Moorhead) and I got a call from the University of Mary.” <h2>Feb 24, 2015</h2>Bismarck and Bismarck Century engage in the final game of the regular season on Thursday. It’s been a good year for both squads as Century is on top of the WDA with a 14-1 league mark and 18-4 record overall. The Century Patriots beat the Demons by 14 points the first game which is a reason Bismarck is a couple teams behind Century at 12-3 in league play, and 16-4 overall. Winning 80 percent of their games, it’s been a big year for six foot junior guard Connor Hellebust and his squad. “Our season has been pretty successful so far, we lost some tough games that I felt we could have won,” Connor said. “To accomplish our goal I think we need to score around the basket and lock the paint up and do a much better job getting boards.” Those are things the team needs to do Thursday as well as next week when the West Regional tournament is played at the Bismarck Civic Center. Hellebust leads the squad at 14.8 points per game shooting 41 percent from the floor, 39 percent at the arc, and 82 percent at the foul line. “I like the way my game has grown this year because I'm getting to the basket and hitting 15 foot jumpers,” Connor said. “My favorite thing I've got a lot better on this year is shooting the ball of the dribble.” Hellebust is becoming known for his nasty pull-up jumpers. He’s also a clutch foul shooter and a three point weapon. One of the best in state. We at PHD expect Connor to be a recruit that D3s really take a liking to and NAIA schools consider strongly after watching him in AAU. “I haven't been talked to by any colleges yet but I'm playing ECI again this spring and summer,” said Connor.