North Dakota Preview: Grand Forks Red River
***Photo Credit: Grand Forks Herald*** Grand Forks Red River was a middling team throughout most of last season, showing the potential to be a nightmare matchup on both ends of the floor while struggling to consistently win against teams of…
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Continue Reading***Photo Credit: Grand Forks Herald***
Grand Forks Red River was a middling team throughout most of last season, showing the potential to be a nightmare matchup on both ends of the floor while struggling to consistently win against teams of similar caliber. A strong finish to the year including wins over West Fargo Sheyenne in the EDC Tournament and Mandan in the Class A State Tournament, combined with the return of four starters, has the expectations sky-high for the Roughriders heading into 2019-20.
KEY RETURNERS: Brady Dvorak, Will Obioha, Bryce Enerson, Cole Benson
The Roughriders have four starters including three all-league caliber guys back in the fold.
Dvorak is one of the best two-way guards in the state and averaged 15 points and nearly four assists per game as a junior. He’s a terrific shooter and while he slowed down offensively late last season, his impact on the game still contributes to winning. He had an awesome summer playing AAU with ECI and showed he can effectively run a team at the point and provide top-notch defense.
Obioha stuffed the box score last year as a sophomore and is one of the best prospects in the state. At 6-foot-5, he’s got the athleticism to defend just about any player on the court. His defense on and off the ball make him a weapon and his ability to get to the paint and finish in traffic makes him a matchup problem for a lot of bigs. He’s improving as a shooter and if he can consistently knock down outside shots, he’s a Player-of-the-Year candidate in the EDC.
Enerson’s been a rock-solid piece for the Roughriders each of the last two years and he’ll enter his senior year in a similar role. He averaged 11 points and nearly seven rebounds per game last year and while he isn’t the biggest guy inside, his activity level, smarts and finishing ability allow him to produce consistently and efficiently.
Benson returns after starting last year and while he’s not a featured offensive player, he’s an important cog in the Roughriders’ defensive effort. At 6-foot-4, he’s a tough guy to score on because he uses his length and smarts to get into the passing lanes and stay in front of opposing ball-handlers.
STEPPING INTO NEW ROLES: Kobe Springer, Paine Parks, Khamani Steckler
Springer had some good moments late last season, showing an impressive shooting range and an ability to break a game open with his aggressiveness. He’ll have an opportunity to play a lot more this year even if he isn’t necessarily starting and his ability to score quickly can be a big weapon for a team that plays at a slower, grinding kind of pace.
Steckler saw minutes last year off the bench and gives the team a potential big man who can contend with some of the top bigs around the EDC. He’s an active, skilled guy who won’t need to play a real high-maintenance game, but if he brings consistent energy, can be an anchor in the paint.
Parks is a young guy who figures to step into a rotation spot this winter after seeing bit minutes last year. He’s got the strength, skill and athleticism to stand out at the varsity level and he’ll be in a position to play in a relatively low-wattage role behind some of the veteran guards before taking on more of a featured role in his upperclass years.
SEASON OUTLOOK
The Roughriders have gone to the state tournament each of the last two years with much less experienced and talented teams. This group has been playing varsity now for a few years and while they’ll have to prove they can take a collective step up now with higher expectations, they’ve got what could be one of the best defensive teams in the state. That, along with some impressive high-end talent gives this team a huge ceiling and an opportunity for a special season.