Preseason Watchlist: EDC

<p>We are in November, which means it is preseason basketball. For hoops enthusiasts, November can be the best time of the year. It is the season of optimism. All of the teams are undefeated, and everyone has high hopes for their squad. The season is ramping up and will be there before we know it. North Dakota Class A boys’ basketball starts practice on November 23rd, and the first games can be played on December 4th. The Eastern Dakota Conference (EDC) is loaded with talented players this year. We are in for a great year of basketball on the eastern side of the state.</p> <p>Alphabetically, here are our players to watch in the EDC:</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="812219" first="Carson" last="Hegerle"] (2022) |6-4 G/F| West Fargo</strong> - Elite level athlete who has been recruited by D1 programs in football. He can score from all over the floor. He is a match-up nightmare with his athleticism and length. Carson is a great defender who can guard almost any position on the floor. Look for him to be an All-Conference player.</p> <p><br /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="731876" first="Jacksen" last="Moni"] (2021) |6-10 F| West Fargo Sheyenne</strong> – A very athletic and skilled player that makes everyone around him better. He can step out and hit from deep. Jacksen has the patience and craftiness in the paint to finish like a seasoned veteran around the rim. He can guard multiple positions on defense and alter shots in the lane. His length and athleticism make him a dynamic defender. Jacksen could be in the running for Mr. Basketball this year in ND.</p> <p><br /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="750185" first="Jah’Heem" last="Leake"] (2021) |6-8 F| West Fargo Sheyenne</strong> – An extremely athletic player that has the flexibility to go inside and outside. He shoots with a high percentage and can score in waves. His athleticism and determination make him an exceptional rebounder as well. His length and athleticism make him a great defender. Jah’Heem can alter shots and deflect passes on the court as a high-level defender. Look for him to grab a double-double in the stat line most nights.</p> <p><br /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="750180" first="Mason" last="Love"] (2021) |6-0 G| Grand Forks Central</strong> - He is an unselfish playmaker and makes everyone around him better. He is a hard worker and has been improving his range and consistency. Mason is a great competitor and is always up for a challenge. Look for him to be one of the top all-around guards in the EDC this year.</p> <p><br /> <strong>Owen Hekner (2021) |6-7 G/F| Fargo Davies</strong> – All-around player that contributes on both ends of the floor. He is a matchup problem, as he can score from inside and outside. For a player with his size, he can fill it up outside the 3-point line. Look for Owen to be in the running for EDC player of the year.</p> <p><br /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="731915" first="Peyton" last="Zaun"] (2021) |6-1 G| Valley City</strong> – Excellent shooter from deep and has the range to get buckets from college range 3’s. His long arms and explosive first step make him an all-around scorer. For being a guard, he blocks a surprising amount of shots. Look for Peyton to be on the leaderboard in the state in 3 pointers made this season.</p> <p><br /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="750184" first="Tyler" last="Tollefson"] (2021) |5-10 G| Wahpeton</strong> – High-level shooter from 3-point land. He had a game last year where a made six 3’s in one game. He also has the quickness to score off the bounce with a nice pull-up game. Tyler can finish around the rim amongst the bigs when needed. Look for Tyler to be on the leaderboard in the state in 3 pointers made this season.</p> <p><br /> <strong>[player_tooltip player_id="731865" first="Will" last="Obioha"] (2021) |6-6 F| Grand Forks Red River</strong> – Extremely explosive going to the basket and finisher around the rim. Will is a great slasher and tough to keep out of the lane. He is also an elite defender that dominates with his strength and size. Look for Will to be in the running for EDC player of the year.</p>