Recruiting Report: Josh Sipes (2018)
Josh Sipes missed about half of the grassroots season due to a stress fracture in his foot. He made the most of the time he had though.
Sipes, a 6-foot-3 shooting guard from Bismarck Century, spent the grassroots season playing with ECI Prospects, arguably the top team in North Dakota.
“It was a really good experience,” Sipes said. “I love playing with the guys. It’s a great atmosphere. I get better and it’s great to play against such great competition. I think I improved my game a lot.”
ECI Prospects combines a lot of the top players all over North Dakota and plays against some of the best teams in the midwest. That experience helped Sipes develop into the player he is now.
“It’s another level of play,” said Sipes. “In the Bismarck area there might be a few guys that can play at a high level and with skill and athleticism. You play against teams full of them with the Comets or the Fury. Guys who can play above the rim or shoot the lights out and they have good team chemistry. It’s awesome to play against those teams, see how good you are and where you are at.”
Sipes’ best skill is his defense, as he’s a top-notch defender on the perimter. He averaged better than 13 points per game as a junior for a top-flight Bismarck Century squad and has improved as a shooter and ball handler.
“Defend the ball, that’s the prime thing I’ve been taught,” said Sipes. “Defense wins games and defense leads to good offense. I’ve improved my 3-point shot a great deal too. One thing I need to continue improving is my ball handling.”
Sipes has drawn a lot of interest from the Division II and NAIA Schools in North Dakota and recently visited Minot State. He’s also got offers from University of Mary and Valley City State as well. He’s planning on majoring in nursing and said that academics would play a big role in his decision ultimately.