Small-School Section 7 Top Forwards

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It’s never too early for too-early-season. With fall sports and school underway, it’s only a matter of time before the winter sports season is upon us. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With that in mind, here’s a look at some of the top forwards in the small schools in Section 7</span></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774781" first="Brady" last="Watrin"], Moose Lake-Willow River</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Watrin is one of the top two-way players in Section 7AA and a catalyst for a MLWR outfit that won 23 games and averaged better than 80 points per game. He’s an explosive slasher who can get to the rim and finish in traffic, he is dynamic in transition and has nice touch from the perimeter. And he’s one of the best defensive players in the area. </span></p> <p><strong>Riley Fischer, Esko</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fischer enjoyed a breakout season with the Eskomos last winter, averaging better than 12 points per game while providing an interior presence. He’s an athletic slasher who causes matchup problems for a lot of people because of his activity level, athleticism and skill. Don’t be surprised if he’s a 20 point-per-game guy this winter. </span></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="957625" first="Jeff" last="Lorenz"], Nashwauk-Keewatin</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lorenz and his brother, Jack, form one of the best frontcourt pairings in the state. Jeff emerged as an excellent complementary offensive player last year for the Spartans, helping his team reach the Section 7A championship before the season was cut short. He’s a strong finisher in transition, can play through contact and get into the paint and he’s a defensive presence all over the floor. </span></p> <p><strong>Jack Lorenz, Nashwauk-Keewatin</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The other half of the Lorenz brother duo that should keep the Spartans among the contenders in Region 7A. Jack is a force in the post and finishes everything around the rim. He’s an anchor defensively as well and his role is particularly important because of the aggressive, pressure-heavy defensive style that the Spartans deploy. </span></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="957214" first="Hunter" last="Hannuksula"], Mesabi East</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hannuksula is one of the most athletic and productive players in Section 7AA, averaging 24 points per game. He was the bright spot for a Mesabi East team that won just nine games. He’s a dynamic slasher who can create his shot, get to the rim and finish with authority. </span></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774793" first="Darius" last="Goggleye"], North Woods</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Goggleye’s been a double-figure scorer for the Panthers each of the last two years, pairing with [player_tooltip player_id="846206" first="Trevor" last="Morrison"] to form one of the best interior duos in the area. He’ll be one of the go-to guys for North Woods this winter and with his combination of size, athleticism and skill, he’s got a chance to be a double-double guy for a team that should contend for another state tournament berth. </span></p>