Class AA Title Contender Series: Sioux Falls Washington

<p>The Warriors went 13-7 last year and expect to improve in the winter of 2020-21. What will the line-up look like? PHD breaks it down. </p> <p><strong>Moving On</strong>:  Washington had a rough start last year but their senior class came together and had a run in February to become a sate contender.  Four starters have graduated and these are players that started all season.  [player_tooltip player_id="988911" first="Kemmer" last="Schramm"] was a reliant three point shooter and his nine points a game has graduated.  Top defender [player_tooltip player_id="988909" first="Dagen" last="Schramm"], the brother of Kemmer, also graduated.  [player_tooltip player_id="988883" first="Nate" last="Gilbertson"] scored 11 a game a season ago, he’s also graduated.  Leading scorer and rebounder [player_tooltip player_id="879084" first="Ganin" last="Thompson"] is now at Michigan State after leading the team with 13.1 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.  </p> <p><strong>Returning Starters</strong>:  There is one, <strong>Elijah Williams</strong>.  Williams is a six-foot-one guard that can play both the lead guard spot and off the ball.  He led Washington in assists last season and was one of the top scorers on the team.  On the ball, off the ball, Williams has the ability to push for All State status while being a lead playmaker.  </p> <p><strong><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/11JosephUttecht.jpg"><img class="alignright wp-image-1077258 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/11JosephUttecht-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a>Reserves Playing a Bigger Role:  </strong>This is a big list of quality players.  Junior point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="812201" first="Mikele" last="Kambalo"]</strong>, senior guard <strong>Akok Aguer</strong>, junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="968171" first="Tommy" last="Peterson"]</strong>, junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="968154" first="Joe" last="Uttecht"]</strong>, and senior <strong>Tahj Mossburg</strong>.  Kammablo, Aguer, and Mossburg all had excellent summers.  Kambalo ran the point position for the SD Venom, a team that competed against the best squads in the Midwest and often beat some of the best teams in the Midwest.  He was a playmaker on and off the ball with some of the quickest handles around.  Aguer provided some of the best full court defending/attacking basketball we saw this summer (playing with Bartlett Force) and Mossburg was a rock around the basket playing for SD Network. He surely has double-double potential.   Uttecht had an excellent performance at the recent Prep Hoops Expo passing the basketball and reading defenses. </p> <p>This is a core of talent - Uttecht, Kambalo, Williams, and Aguer - that will rank with the elite backcourts in the state.  Washington can send quick, athletic, intelligent guards at teams in waves.  Peterson is a forward and Mossburg will play around the basket, but both are agile players that can move with this group of guards. </p> <p><strong>Potentials from the JV:  </strong>Two frontcourt names to keep an eye on from the JV are 210 pound strong junior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="968192" first="Patrick" last="Osborn"]e</strong> and massive 6-foot-9, 310 pound sophomore center <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="963745" first="Kael" last="Miedema"]</strong>.  This pair will likely move right into frontcourt roles with Osborne being the player they will use against some rugged forwards and Miedema of course will be the player Washington forces other bigs to try and score over.  Six-foot-4, 200 pound junior forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="968205" first="Ben" last="Burgers"]</strong> is another one to watch.  </p> <p><strong>Final Thoughts</strong>:  The mix of talent at Washington is very intriguing.  They will have some of the quickest and smartest group of players in Class AA.  Their backcourt ranks with the best, there are guys like Mossburg and Aguer that we think will make a big jump, and there is strength and size that could be used up front.  Williams and Kambalo rank with the best players in the state and Miedema is a player that comes with some expectations based on his potential at his size. </p>