Player Watchlist: ND Class B Region 6

There is no clear favorite in Region 6 this season. District 11 and District 12 are balanced with no team head and shoulders above everyone. Do not get me wrong, there are many talented teams and players. We just have a deep Region. It is going to be a fun one. It makes it a little more special when so many teams feel like they have a chance to go somewhere in the playoffs. Read on to find out who made the Player Watchlist.

REGION 6 TEAMS

Bottineau Braves, Drake-Anamoose Raiders, Nedrose Cardinals, Rugby Panthers, TGU Titans, Velva Aggies, Westhope/Newburg Sioux, Bishop Ryan Lions, Des Lacs-Burlington Lakers, Glenburn Panthers, Berthold Bombers, Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood Mavericks, Our Redeemer’s Knights, South Prairie Royals, Surrey Mustangs.

Region 6 Preseason Player Of the Year

Zach Hendrickson Zach Hendrickson 6'0" | PG Our Redeemer's | 2022 State ND (2022) |6-0 PG| Our Redeemer’s

He was 2nd Team All-State last season. Hendrickson is one of the best point guards in the state of North Dakota. Zach is also one of the best shooters in the state. Hendrickson is an excellent teammate, a tremendous scorer, explosive in transition, and an elite ball handler. Zach went over the 1,000 point mark halfway through last season. He will likely be the ORCS All-Time Leading Scorer by the end of the season. Zach is a must-watch player, get ready for a monster season for Mr. Hendrickson. 

Region 6 Player Watchlist

(alphabetically ordered)

Ben Schepp Ben Schepp 6'1" | CG Velva | 2025 State ND (2025) |6-1 PG| Velva

This young point guard is an incredible athlete. Schepp will be tasked with being the straw that stirs the drink for the Aggies. He should do a nice job of taking care of the ball and he will grow his game a ton as the lead guard. Ben has a high ceiling as a young guard. 

Brady Feller Brady Feller 6'2" | SG Bishop Ryan | 2023 State ND (2023) |6-1 G| Minot Ryan

He is one of the best guards in the 2023 Class. Expect him to be an All-Region 6 player at the end of the season. Feller is a stud offensive player. Brady can shoot the lights out and he can get to the rim off the bounce. Look for Feller to put up big points this season. 

Brody Schneibel (2023) |6-3 F| Rugby

He was getting 16 plus minutes a night on last year’s Region Champ team before a knee injury ended his season in late January. Brody is a strong athlete. Schneibel was the quarterback for the Panther football team. In hoops, Brody can face up and drill 15-foot jumpers. Schneibel and Foster will be a tough frontcourt group for most teams to deal with. Erik will be a major factor in Rugby’s ability to get back to the Big Dance. 

Carson Haerer Carson Haerer 6'0" | PG Bottineau | 2024 State ND (2024) |6-1 G| Bottineau

He is a pure shooter, plain and simple. Carson’s shooting form is near perfect and his release is soft as a feather. Haerer will fill-it-up from beyond the arc. He has all the ball skills that you could ask for in a lead guard. I like his demeanor and the tempo he plays with. Carson has the talent to be an All-Region Player this season. 

Carson Yale Carson Yale 6'9" | PF Des Lacs Burlington | 2023 State ND (2023) |6-7 F| Des Lacs-Burlington

He suffered an injury this summer/fall. His time of return is fluid. Everyone hopes his recovery is quick and that Carson comes back full strength. Yale’s stock really jumped up this spring and summer. Scouts and college coaches really started to take notice of Carson. It will be a great day when he gets back on the court. 

Connor Thompson Connor Thompson 6'2" | SG Bishop Ryan | 2023 State ND (2023) |6-2 SG| Bishop Ryan

He would have been one of the better players in this Region. However, Conner had an injury and his return is questionable. Everyone wishes you a speedy and healthy recovery. 

Devin Heinze (2022) |6-2 G/F| Glenburn

He will be the hardest working player every night for the Panthers. Last season Devin played inside. This season Heinze will do it all. He will be a positionless basketball player. At times, Devin will play the point and bring the ball up. Other times he will be on the wing hitting 3-pointers. He also will get his fair share of points in the lane. Devin’s court vision is great and he looks to create for others. Heinze is also an excellent rebounder. Get ready for this do-it-all player to have a high-quality senior season.  

Erik Foster Erik Foster 6'5" | PF Rugby | 2023 State ND (2023) |6-5 SF| Rugby

Foster will be ready to perform as an All-Region player in his junior season. I watched him this past weekend and Erik looked great shooting the ball from mid-range. If he gets space for the 15-foot jumper, Foster will knock it down. Once teams crowd him, I expect Erik to attack the basket and to score at the rim. Erik will also be one of the best rebounders in Region 6. His length, grit, and toughness will make him one of the best defenders. 

Ian Johnson Ian Johnson 6'5" | SF Minot Ryan | 2023 State ND (2023) |6-4 G/F| Bishop Ryan

Expect him to take on a bigger role this season. I saw Ian play this weekend, and I was very impressed. He is a versatile player that can post up, slash, and hit jumpers. His length and athleticism make him an intriguing defender. Johnson will be able to guard virtually every position. I envision Ian being a productive rebounder this season. Ian should score at a good clip this season. If he gets a traditional big on him, Ian will thrive off the bounce. If he gets a smaller player matched up then Johnson will take him to the block. It is going to be a fun and interesting year for the Lions. Johnson could have a breakout season. 

Jacob Undlin (2022) |6-4 F| Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood

At 6’4″ with long arms, Jacob will be a rim protector. Undlin is also a good jumper, so he should average a good amount of rebounds. With his length and leaping ability, Jacob could surprise some people in his senior season. 

Joe Roberts (2022) |6-0 G| Nedrose

He is a game-changer when he has the rock. Joe is a pure shooter! Roberts can nail any shot on the court. When needed Joe can create his own looks. Many teams will chase or double Roberts, so they can keep the ball out of his hands. Roberts and Heinert will be a dynamic duo for the Cardinals this season. 

Joe Savelkoul (2022) |6-1 G| Mohall-Langsford-Sherwood

He was an All-District 12 selection last season. He will be one of the main ballhandlers for the Mavericks. Joe is a smart player and he will be the team’s leader. Expect his scoring opportunities to increase and for his numbers to take a nice jump this season.  

Kaden Chadwick Kaden Chadwick 6'5" | C Velva | 2022 State ND (2022) |6-6 PF| Velva

He has committed to NDSU for football. Last season stats: 11 ppg and 8rpg. He is a huge, strong, and athletic BIG. Chadwick is an unselfish passer out of the post. Kaden has very good hands. Chadwick will anchor the Aggie defense. He excels in high and low post situations. Kaden will be the leader of the squad for Velva. 

Lance Pitner (2022) |6-1 G| South Prairie

He is a nice athlete with good speed. Lance has a good head on his shoulders with a good sense for the game. Pitner was a big factor in every win last year for South Prairie. He is a fun player to watch that does great on the defensive end. Last season stats: 8 ppg, 2 rpb, 1 spg. Those numbers don’t do him justice, Lance does all the little things that help his team and they do not show up in the stat sheet. 

Logan Harner (2023) |5-9 PG| Rugby

He will be running the show and directing traffic for the Panthers this season. Harner has great handles and he is an excellent defender. As the season progresses, look for Logan’s scoring numbers to rise up. 

Mitch Heinert Mitch Heinert 6'5" | PF Nedrose | 2023 State ND (2023) |6-6 PF| Nedrose

He is getting back to being healthy and Mitch should have a very productive season. Heinert is an extremely athletic player. He has a high motor that never stops. Mitch has a great skillset on both ends of the court. Heinert can finish around the rim with power or touch. He can also step out and knock down jumpers. Over time, Mitch has developed a quick first step that allows him to take defenders off the bounce. It is easy to say that Heinert is a mismatch problem. Oh yeah, he also dominates on the boards!

Reggie Bruner Reggie Bruner 6'0" | SG Velva | 2025 State ND (2025) |5-11 SG| Velva

He is an up-and-coming player for the Aggies. Reggie is a natural ball player with good instincts. He is a crafty kid with a bright future in basketball.  

Rylan Olson Rylan Olson 6'5" | SG Des Lacs Burlington | 2023 State ND (2023) |6-3 SG| Des Lacs-Burlington

He is a super athletic lefty and a long player. Olson will need to take on a new role as a leader and a scorer. Mayo is gone to Surrey and Yale is injured. It is now Rylan’s time to shine. He shoots it well from beyond the arc. With his length and athleticism, Olson should be able to get his shot off with regularity. On the defensive side, Rylan is a great on-ball defender with his length and impressive physical tools. Olson will come into the season as an underrated player and people will soon realize that he is a DUDE. 

Steele Olson (2022) |5-8 G| Mohall-Lansford-Sherwood

He shoots it well from the perimeter. Olson will be a gamer and a clutch performer for the Mavs this year. Steele can space the floor and he shoots the best when spotting up. 

Ty Hughes Ty Hughes 5'11" | SG Des Lacs Burlington | 2024 ND (2024) |5-10 G| Des Lacs-Burlington

He is very solid when it comes to his fundamentals. Ty has excellent patience around the rim. Hughes is crafty, smart, and he takes what the defense gives him. He is a hard-nosed defender that does not back down. Hughes will do the dirty work that makes his team better. 

Walker Braaten Walker Braaten 6'4" | CG Westhope/Newburg | 2025 State ND (2025) |6-0 G| Westhope-Newberg

Last season stats: 22.1 ppg, 2 apg, 7.7 rpg, 3.6 spg. He hit 99 three-pointers last season and in one game he hit 10. His game-high was 38 points. Walker is on another level when it comes to shooting and scoring. Expect Walker to be bigger and strong this season. I would imagine he will attack more and get to the rim at a regular pace. It is going to be fun to see what kind of damage Walker does this season. Braaten is a special player, make sure you see him play this season. 

Will Mayo Will Mayo 6'6" | PF Surrey | 2023 State ND (2023) |6-1 PF| Surrey

This will be his first season with the Mustangs. How he will adjust to new teammates and a new coach will be interesting. Mayo is a big and tough post player. Will is not afraid of contact, his physical presence will be huge for Surrey. His rebounding and rim-protecting might be more important than his scoring for the Mustangs. I expect Mayo to average a double-double this season and to be one of the best low-post players in Class B.