Fargo City Rankings: Top Forwards
With the grassroots season on hold, there haven’t been any games to examine. That doesn’t mean there’s nothing to talk about though. Who are the best players in the Fargo area? For the sake of this exercise, the Fargo area…
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Continue ReadingWith the grassroots season on hold, there haven’t been any games to examine. That doesn’t mean there’s nothing to talk about though.
Who are the best players in the Fargo area?
For the sake of this exercise, the Fargo area includes the Fargo and West Fargo schools, the Casselton schools (Northern and Central Cass), Kindred and Richland.
Here’s a look at the top forwards in the area:
1.Owen Hekner, Fargo Davies
Hekner is one of the top prospects in the state and will go into his senior year as one of the favorites to be the Player-of-the-Year in the EDC. The 6-foot-6 forward is a knockdown 3-point shooter (44 percent from distance as a junior) but has more depth to his game than just sniping. He’s an impactful off-ball defender who can rebound out of area and while he’s not the quickest off the bounce, he’s a competent secondary playmaker. He averaged 11 points and six rebounds on a loaded Fargo Davies team. Don’t be surprised if those numbers shoot up significantly next year.
2.Noah Swenson, Oak Grove
Swenson dragged a young Oak Grove towards competence last year, averaging 18 points and nine rebounds while being at the top of every opposing team’s scouting report and surrounded by very little perimeter shooting. He’s not much of an outside shooting threat, but he’s a hoss on the glass, has a soft touch in the midrange and gets to the free throw line nearly eight times per game (where he shoots a solid 77 percent). His motor runs hot, he plays a lot bigger than his listed 6-foot-5 measurables and he’s got a nice array of moves in the low post. As far as college prospects go, he might not have the same kind of “upside” as a few guys below him on this list, but he’s a stud at the high school level and should be on college radars.
3.Jacksen Moni, West Fargo Sheyenne
Moni was productive on both ends of the floor for a West Fargo Sheyenne team that reached the state semifinals and looked like the favorite to win a state title. At 6-foot-9, Moni is a moldable piece of clay projecting to the college level. He’s smart. That shows up especially on the defensive end where he’s excellent as a position defender. And he’s a good passer especially for a young big. His offensive game is work in progress. He’s not a great outside shooter (26 percent from the 3-point line), but he’s more of a pop guy than a role guy by nature and can go through spurts where he looks like an ideal floor-spacing big. I’m curious to see what he can do as a senior. Another year in Sheyenne’s strength and conditioning program (if he takes advantage) could be huge for him and he’ll be the focal piece in their attack next year. He could put up huge numbers.
4.Gavin Keller, Kindred
Another guy who looks the part as a prospect for the next level. Keller is 6-foot-9 with long arms and a skillset for the perimeter. He’s got good form on his outside shot and while he’s skinny, he can cause problems in the paint on both ends of the floor. He was inconsistent offensively as a junior for the Vikings, but he’s undoubtedly a difference-maker especially on the defensive end, where his length and mobility allow him to defend smaller guys while also protecting the rim. He’s a guy who is definitely hurt by the lack of AAU exposure in the spring and he looked good last summer playing with ECI.
5.Carter Birrenkott, West Fargo
Birrenkott is a solidly-built, athletic power forward who will head into his senior year with two years of starting experience. As a junior, Birrenkott was solid if unspectacular (not unlike the rest of the Packers’ top players), averaging 12.5 points and 5.3 rebounds. He’s strong in the paint, has solid footwork and quickness and is at his best when he can work in the mid and high posts.
6.Joshua Dixon, Central Cass
This ranking might be entirely too low for Dixon, as he’s gone toe-to-toe with guys higher on this list and done better at times. From a prospect perspective, it’s hard to know what Dixon’s future looks like at this moment because he doesn’t have great height. At 6-foot-3, he’s built more like a wing, but he does his best work in the mid and high posts. He’s been a stud for a good Central Cass team the last few seasons and has all-state potential in his senior year – if he does that, this ranking is definitely too low.
7.Jah’Heem Leake, West Fargo Sheyenne
Leake has all the physical tools to be a double-double machine. He’s 6-foot-8, explosive, strong, long and can jump. He had his share of growing pains in his first year at the varsity level for West Fargo Sheyenne, but clearly got more comfortable the more he played. He’s coming along. The game doesn’t have to be complicated. He can be a weapon as a screener, rim-runner, offensive rebounder and defensive presence if he is in tune with the details and schemes. He’s going to have to make the transition from ‘energy big off the bench’ to ‘reliable starter’ which isn’t always as easy as one might think, but he’s got potential to be a force.