GPA’17: The Friday 17u Standouts
The Dakota Schoolers have rolled into the elite eight, ECI battled but was knocked out in sweet 16, ECI Selects and Phenom are pushing forward on consolation side.
Jayce Archambault of ECI Prospects (Solen). It’s hard not to like this young man watching him play. There is an ability there that you just feel is capable of exploding at any time but Jayce doesn’t force much. He lets it come to him. And in the second half against the heavily favored Wisconsin Shooters Archambault let it all out by hitting a three off a reversal, making a three while fouled (no call), and then he had an attacking And1 that gave his team the lead.
Garrett Bickett of North Dakota Phenom (Carrington). The five-foot-eleven guard has a shooting stroke that has to be located. I can see this young man getting free and having a monster senior season in Class B. Against the D1 Minnesota Prospects he put up four threes that sunk and helped his team stay with their opponents.
Aaron Fiegen of Dakota Schoolers (Madison). I would say the best way to describe Aaron today would be “quiet killer” in that he took only six shots but made five of them for double-figures and scored all of those shots going at space after Schooler ball movement. Aaron runs as well as any big in this event but also has the soft touch to complete plays with feet set or on the move. The potential is strong with him as Aaron is so versatile. Fiegen also showed a feel for the clutch moment in the nightcap helping put the game away with late foul shots and an attacking touch-in make over a contesting defender (had a dozen for the game).
Trevor Hanson of Dakota Schoolers (Sioux Valley). What I picked up from Aaron today was some resiliency. He missed a couple bunnies, got yelled at by his coach, and responded with a better effort on the glass as the game moved on (seven boards) as well four of six foul shot makes late. Hanson had U of Sioux Falls on the baseline watching (whom he visited this past week) as well as other NSIC programs watching. Knocked out a pair of threes in the Schoolers second game of the day scoring 13 to move his team into the quarter final.
Kemal Hajric of ECI Selects (WF Sheyenne). There are few guys like Kemal that are willing to battle with every breath, and then keep going. He must have had nine offensive rebounds in the win over the Grassroots team he played and then made the two game winning shots for his team. One was after a loose ball and the other after a pivot and head fake. Easy double double and he did it taking every word, blow, and fight his opponents threw at him and then brought it back times two. Tough as nails.
Bartholomew Ogbu of North Dakota Phenom (Shiloh Christian). This NDSU committed football player is still attending all of his basketball games and still giving his team good results. The transformation of his body from last year to this year is incredible. His frame looks college ready now and on the court he uses his agility, body control, and that strength to complete plays around the basket on the move. Had a quick 13 versus the D1 Minnesota Prospects as the opponents didn’t have a guy that was agile enough to move with Ogbu.
Koln Oppold of Dakota Schoolers (SF Christian). One thing you can surely say about Koln is that he will not back down or be intimidated by talent. Went nose to nose with D1 offered Both Gach and matched his 20/9 with 19 points, five boards, and five assists of his own. Both challenged Oppold verbally and Koln responded. What was most impressive was that Oppold did this within the Schooler system so there were no bad shots taken or extra chances needed. Oppold made six of nine shots including three three-pointers, an aggressive one-hand pull-up over Gach, and made all his foul shots. Oppold warrants consideration from a lot of levels of college basketball which is likely why several levels were watching on the baseline. Koln got his team rolling in the Comets Servaty game with a quick ten points out of the game including a pair of triples (14 points for the game).
AJ Plitzuweit of Dakota Schoolers (Vermillion). NDSU recently offered AJ while all the NSIC schools on the baseline (Augustana, USF, Northern State, SMSU, MSMU, etc) are all hoping he comes to them. If there was an efficiency rating of decisions on the basketball court AJ would rank above everyone in just about every game he plays. As efficient as AJ is shooting (6 of 12) for his 16 points he also moves the ball anticipating open players within the framework for his six assists, and he moves off the ball brilliantly.
Hunter Sand of ECI Prospects (Dakota Prairie). Sand continued his hot play against one of the best teams in the event (the Wisconsin Shooters). Hunter hit five threes as the opponents continued to help too far off of him and Hunter would cut sharply off the ball, get space, and drain. Then opponents overplayed him and Sand back cut for more.