Way-Too-Early Season Preview: Minot
The Minot Magicians went into last year as arguably the most talented team in Class A and halfway through the season, it looked as if they were the favorite to contend/win a state title. They struggled to maintain that level…
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Continue ReadingThe Minot Magicians went into last year as arguably the most talented team in Class A and halfway through the season, it looked as if they were the favorite to contend/win a state title. They struggled to maintain that level of play through February and ultimately were eliminated in the WDA Tournament, short of a state tournament berth. With almost the entire rotation graduating, Minot could find itself in a rebuilding season.
Go-To Guy: Deonte Martinez Deonte Martinez 5'10" | PG Minot | 2021 State ND
Martinez is the lone returner of significance for the Magicians and he gives them an elite-level talent. The 5-foot-10 point guard put up strong numbers last year, averaging better than 14 points while leading the WDA in assists and converting on better than 50 percent of his shot attempts. He averaged 21.3 points on 14 shots per game in the WDA Tournament last year, illustrating his ability to fill it up. And while he’s not real tall, he’s an excellent finisher in traffic, and does a good job defensively at the point of attack. He’ll have the ball in his hands a ton next winter, and if Minot is good, he’ll be the primary reason why.
Breakout Candidate: Darik Dissette
Dissette started seeing regular rotation minutes towards the end of his freshman season for the Magicians, logging double-digit minutes in each of their last two games in the postseason. The 6-foot-1 guard put up modest numbers, but showed he’s got the chops on both ends of the floor to be an impact guy. And he’s looked good in summer grassroots action. He’s a big, athletic guard who can get to the rim. There will probably still be some growing pains given it’s hard to produce consistently in the WDA as an underclassman, but he’s got the talent to be an all-league guy.
Question: Can Martinez Carry the Load?
Minot is going into next year with two guys who saw regular varsity action and Marinez is the only one who has been generally productive. With so much roster turnover and collective inexperience, it’s going to Martinez’s show. He’s arguably the best point guard in the WDA, and he’s going to have a ton of responsibility. What kind of numbers can he put up? I could see him leading the WDA in scoring and assists.
Season Outlook
Minot is heading into a year with more question marks than it’s had in a long time. The Magicians aren’t unlike a lot of WDA teams in that regard. There’s a lot of turnover across the league and after the top two teams, Bismarck and Jamestown, there figures to be a lot of parity. Minot has a lot of questions, but it’s got an elite talent in Marinez – which is as good a starting point as any team’s got.