Border Battle: Saturday Morning Standouts

<p>ECI and West Central United are putting on this AAU tournament. Games are being played at Concordia College in Moorhead and Discovery Middle School in Fargo. I was at Concordia watching the 16U and 17U teams. Memorial Auditorium is a great venue to watch basketball. I was able to watch some great players and teams Saturday morning and evening. In this article, we will look at the players that stood out in the morning. </p> <p>Alphabetically here are the standouts from Saturday morning:</p> <p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1200275" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/dixsonA-crop-3024x1986-1621742274-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1129974" first="Alijah" last="Dixson"] (2022) |5-11 G| ECI Selects/Enderlin</strong> - He is a smooth and quick guard. Dixson showed off many slick finger rolls. I like the tempo he plays with. Alijah is a hardworking and tough on-ball defender. Look for him to continue to grow his game and have an excellent season next year with the Eagles.  </p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/coleholzer-crop-2225x1461-1621740009.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1200267" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/coleholzer-crop-2225x1461-1621740009-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1144578" first="Cole" last="Holzer"] (2024) |6-5 F| Master Basketball Academy/Central Cass</strong> - He has a sweet stroke from outside. This lefty has the potential to be an elite "stretch-4". He is playing up a level in AAU, but he fits right in. Holzer has nothing but upside. He has a great feel for the game and he is very unselfish. Cole does the little things that coaches love. I expect him to keep maturing and to refine his skills. Look out for Holzer!</p> <p><strong>Colton Hagen (2023) |6-2 G| ECI Selects/Moorhead</strong> - He was hitting jumper after jumper. Colton can light the nets on fire. He shot it extremely well in the second half of the game I watched. Hagen sees the floor well and finds the open man. </p> <p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1200282" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/ewentzz-crop-3024x1986-1621743174-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1111173" first="Eric" last="Wentz"] (2022) |6-2 G| ECI Prospects/Minot</strong> - He has excellent shooting form. Eric plays with an edge. He is a top-notch defender on and off the ball. Wentz will be one of the best players in the WDA next season. </p> <p><strong><a href="https://www.ecibasketball.com/roster_players/45148319?subseason=734698">[player_tooltip player_id="812236" first="Keauno" last="Newton"]</a> (2022) |6-3 F| ECI Selects/Devils Lake</strong> - He is a very athletic player. Keauno is a physical wing/forward. He attacks the rim with an attitude. Newton is a stud athlete. I like that he does not force his shot. It looks like he has a bright future at Devils Lake. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1167890" first="Malaki" last="Sik"] (2023) |6-3 F| ECI Selects/Williston</strong> - He is an outstanding athlete. Malaki looked very good this morning. His mid-range jumper looked impressive. I liked his effort. He should be a tough player in the WDA next season. </p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/maxfroslie-crop-3024x1986-1621739089.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1200256" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/maxfroslie-crop-3024x1986-1621739089-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1167651" first="Max" last="Froslie"] (2023) |6-7 F| ECI Selects/Fargo Davies</strong> - His length and wingspan are tremendous. Max has good feet and a nice feel for the game. He alters and blocks shots. He moves well and is an active player. I like his handles for a big man. Froslie will be a big piece of the puzzle for Davies next season. I am predicting that he keeps improving over the summer and he continues developing/polishing his game.  </p> <p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1200285" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/polson-crop-3024x1986-1621743298-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="812227" first="Paul" last="Olson"] (2022) |6-3 G| ECI Prospects/Kindred</strong> - He finished well around the basket today. He is a super athletic player that can jump out of the gym! Paul is very explosive. Besides being a highlight dunker, Paul blocks shots and grabs O-boards. He is starting to become a complete player. Paul will be a top player in Region-1 next year. </p> <p><strong>Rylan Lason (2023) |6-0 G| ECI Selects/Moorhead</strong> - He is an athletic slasher. I like his aggressiveness. He really "attacks" the basket. He looked like a superior athlete compared to the opposing players this morning.  </p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/samkobbervig-crop-800x526-1614787417.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1143389" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/samkobbervig-crop-800x526-1614787417-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1111886" first="Sam" last="Kobbervig"] (2023) |6-1 G| Master Basketball Academy/Central Cass</strong> - He is a cool customer on the court. It seems like he never gets rattled. Sam plays with a great demeanor. Kobbervig has a picture-perfect jump shot. I am expecting big things from him next season with the squirrels. </p> <p><strong><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-b88u0q r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0">Welcome </span></strong><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-poiln3 r-b88u0q r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0"><strong>Muhoza (2023) |6-4 F| ND Tropics/West Fargo</strong> - He is an impressive athlete. Muhoza runs and jumps well. He has a very long wingspan. He has a bright future with a large upside. He has good hands and feet. I want to keep an eye on him and see if he breaks into the varsity rotation for West Fargo in the coming school year. </span></p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/zachB-crop-3024x1986-1621739910.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1200265" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/zachB-crop-3024x1986-1621739910-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a></p> <p><strong>Zach Bredman (2023) |5-10 G| MN Shock/Barnesville</strong> - He is a crafty guard with some nice moves. I like the way he changes speeds when he has the ball in his hands. Zach is a smooth finisher. Bredman looks like he will be a quality player in the HOL next year. </p> <p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1200279" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/zh-crop-3024x1986-1621742522-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1046357" first="Zach" last="Hendrickson"] (2022) |6-0 G| ECI Selects/Our Redeemer’s</strong> - He is a serious 3-point threat. Zach has a very nice shot with good elevation and shooting touch. He has good handles and a quick first step. I was impressed with his hustle plays this morning. </p>