Small-School Section 8 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 8</span></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774759" first="Finn" last="Diggins"], Perham</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Diggins is already committed to play football at NDSU after high school, but he’ll also get one more winter to terrorize Heart O’Lakes Conference. You can pencil in 20 points and 10 rebounds before the game even starts as his ability to score from all over the floor, rebound with authority and defend bigger or smaller guys makes him one of the best players in Class AA. Perham should be one of the best teams in Class AA and Diggins has all-state potential.</span></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774786" first="Delwyn" last="Holthusen"], Red Lake</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Holthusen put up video-game numbers as a junior for the Warriors, averaging 26 points and 17 rebounds, plus five combined blocks and steals. He’s one of the most efficient players in the state, shooting 60 percent from the field plus 70 percent from the free throw line (nearly 10 attempts per game). At 6-foot-6, he’s a beast inside and plays with great strength and energy, controlling the paint on both ends of the court. The Warriors should have better balance this winter, so Holthusen might not put up those insane numbers he did last year, but he’s the most impactful player in Section 8A. </span></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="774868" first="Chance" last="Fazio"], Fergus Falls</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fazio’s game has grown substantially in the last few years, as he’s gone from a guy who didn’t seem to know how to play with his size, to a guy who plays with consistent force in the paint. He’s aggressive seeking contact and establishing post position and he’s got pretty footwork and a soft touch. Fergus Falls will probably be the favorite in Section 8AA this winter and Fazio presents problems for just about everybody. </span></p> <p><strong>LeRoy Fairbanks, Cass Lake-Bena</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fairbanks was a key guy for the Panthers last winter in a complementary role on the wing. He enjoyed an awesome grassroots season, showing that there’s a go-to caliber player waiting for more opportunity. Fairbanks has the size at 6-foot-4 and the skill to put up huge numbers offensively. He’s a strong perimeter shooter and can get to the mid-range, finish at the rim and play both on and off the ball. </span></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="962228" first="Owen" last="Leach"], Dilworth-Glyndon-Felton</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Leach was an all-league player in the Heart O’Lakes as a freshman. He’s one of the most intriguing prospects in the area, because at 6-foot-5, he’s got the skill and athleticism to cause all sorts of problems on the wing for people. He’s a good shooter, an excellent slasher and can play on or off the ball. Don’t be surprised if he puts up monster numbers this winter. </span></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="958828" first="Kaden" last="Zenzen"], Barnesville</strong></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Zenzen is an active, athletic big who plays with terrific energy and can control the game on both ends of the floor. He’s a terrific rebounder in and out of his area and can defend just about anybody on the floor. Barnesville won 17 games a year ago and should be strong again in 2020-21. </span></p>