The True Sleepers of Minnesota High School Basketball: NW Minnesota
Today at Prep Hoops Minnesota we continue the “True Sleepers Series” in the state of Minnesota. Guys that are truly under the radar. Northwest Minnesota kids are next!
Again student athletes, if you play for a top 5/6 17u program in Minnesota, have earned all conference honors, and have played a big role for one of the more recognized high schools in Minnesota, you aren’t a sleeper! It may make you feel better and it may motivate you to call yourself that, but these are the real sleepers in northwest Minnesota!
Jacob Bettcher of Detroit Lakes. The 6-foot-2 guard ranks with the better defenders out there plus he’s coming off of a 13 point per game junior season. Bettcher is very good using his athletic frame to get the ball to space and produce. The Lakers were 16-12 last year and Jacob hopes to push his team to a similar record at least.
Davonte Edwards of Ortonville. Tyson Powell gets a lot of the attention as an athletic 20 point per game scorer but there should also be room to talk about Edwards, a 6-foot-5 frontcourt player that averaged 16.4 points and 10.7 rebounds a game as a junior. Quick feet and a nice mid-range touch.
Nick Garmer of Crookston. A 5-foot-11 point guard who does a bit of everything for the Pirates, Garmer will not only play point and distribute for 4-5 assists a game but he’s a double figure scorer that led his team in boards last year at seven a contest. A tough, do-it-all player.
Noah Glad of Hawley. The Nuggets won 15 games last year but pulled some huge upsets and have most of their talent coming back. Jayden Carlisle and his 15 points/4 boards/4 assists returns (and is headed to the college level) but also back is Glad who scored 17 points a game with eight boards last winter. Glad is one of the hardest workers in the state which has helped his skills, numbers, and now he’s also become a much more explosive player.
Drew Hagen of Moorhead. Drew isn’t exactly an unknown but what many may not know is that this Spuds guard is now a strong 6-foot-5 with skills and the ability to make shots in many different ways. Hagen gave his team a dozen points, four boards, and three assists a game but now he’s a few inches bigger and ready to become a name prospect.
Scott Johnson of Ashby. At 18 points a game last year and already with 1,000 points in the books Johnson is one of the best shooters people don’t know about yet . Ashby has four starters and three double figure scorers back so they are a team to watch.
Parker Keep of Rothsay. Parker is 6-foot-6, long, and aggressive leading to his near 11 rebounds a game as a junior. Parker also blocks three shots a game but doesn’t look to score much. Think Northern Minnesota’s version of Ben Wallace in terms of effort, board numbers, and defense.
Spencer Konecne of Bemidji. At 6-foot-9 Spencer gave the Lumberjacks 12 points and eight boards a contest as a junior for a 17-9 team. Along with fellow seniors Ryan Bieberdorf and Kade Peterson, Konecne lead an experienced team that could certainly surprise Minnesota because they have the potential to make the top ten this winter. Spencer gets up and down the floor well and is a quality shot changer/shot blocker as well.
Nathan Leitner of DGF. Leitner stands 6-foot-3 and he put together a 16.8 point and 9.1 rebound per game season as a junior. Nathan is an efficient producer who is the first guy on the floor to make the right pass but often is the guy completing the plays as well. Leitner and Aiden Leach will lead the team this winter.
Adnew Stueven of Northome/Kelliher. At six feet tall Adnew is on the verge of having a triple double with his name by it. He scored 20 points a game last year with eight plus boards, four steals, and four assists a game. Stueven pushes the pace as a major transition threat and one of the better players at the Section 8A level.
Sam Votava of East Grand Forks. One of the top sophomores in the state that hasn’t quite hit the statewide radar yet is Sam Votava of EGF. Don’t worry, soon he will be on the radar of many. Votava is coming off of a 14.4 point, 6.1 assist, and 5 rebound a game season as a freshman. Yes Sam did that as a freshman and now even bigger things are expected.