Pentagon Schoolers 17U Dwight: Team Profile

This Schoolers squad has a great roster with athletes, shooters, size, and unselfish players. Pentagon Schoolers 17U Dwight are official members of the Prep Hoops Circuit and I can not wait to watch them play throughout the summer/spring. Kansas City is the location of the first PH that they will be playing in. Prep Hoops live is on April 22-24. I will be in the front row watching this team hoop, I am excited to see how this roster gels together. This event is during the "Live Period", the Schoolers will be competing against top competition from across the country and the gym will be stocked full of college coaches.

Take a look below for information on Pentagon Schoolers 17U Dwight and information on the Schooler program as a whole.

Team Overview

Name: Pentagon Schoolers Walker 17U

City/State: Sioux Falls, SD

Coach Walker, was a multi-sport athlete from California in high school. He played football and basketball in college. He began coaching AAU hoops in 2015. He currently coaches at SF Jefferson as a high school girl’s assistant. Coach Walker also is a Power Basketball Academy Specialist. Dwight is one of the top individual & group trainers in the Sioux Falls area. Walker is a great tactician and a student of the game, he will serve well as the coach for the Schoolers.

When asked about his most memorable moment from his playing career, coach Walker says: "There is not just one specific moment that stands out. I always loved to compete with the guys, practice was some of the best moments for me because that’s where I truly believed teams got better and where they worked the hardest."

Schoolers 17U Dwight - Roster

(All players are current juniors)

Ayden Klein Ayden Klein 5'11" | SG MOC-Floyd Valley | 2023 State IA |6-0 G| MOC-Floyd Valley

He is a fast and physical guard that competes very hard on every single possession. Ayden is a facilitator and a creator. On his way to the basket, Klein will drop dimes and get to the rim for buckets. He can also knock down perimeter jumpers on a consistent basis.

Jonah Kocer Jonah Kocer 6'1" | PG Tea Area | 2023 State SD |6-1 G| Tea Area

He is a silky-smooth player with a very high basketball IQ. His skills will translate well with the style of play that this team will play. Kocer will be one of the top defenders for the Schoolers. Look for him to be a contributor on both ends of the floor.

Gavin Muirhead Gavin Muirhead 6'7" | PF O'Gorman | 2023 State SD |6-7 F| O’Gorman

He is long, lanky, and super athletic. Gavin can jump out of the gym and finish above the rim with explosiveness. Muirhead is a good defender with tons of upside. He will be a rim protector and a valuable rebounder.

Elliot Whitney Elliot Whitney 6'0" | CG Sioux Falls Lincoln | 2023 State SD |6-0 G| Sioux Falls Lincoln

He had a breakout season in high school ball. Whitney showed that he can be a volume scorer when needed. Elliot can run the 1, direct traffic, and dish assists. Whitney is a hard worker that will do whatever is asked of him. He can also fill it up from deep as he is a knock-down shooter.

Tate VanOtterloo Tate VanOtterloo 6'5" | SF Beresford | 2023 SD |6-4 G/F| Beresford

He can score in a hurry and he is an impressive athlete. Tate will be a long wing that can score going downhill and from the perimeter. Get ready to see impressive plays from VanOtterloo in the open court. He is a dynamic player and finisher in transition. VanOtterloo is primed to have a breakout AAU season.

AJ Akot AJ Akot 6'4" | SF Sioux Falls Washington | 2023 State SD |6-4 F| O’Gorman

He is long, rangy, and a smooth athlete. Akot will be a solid defender and rebounder. He is a quicker jumper with an impressive hang time. Akot will be a versatile defender that can guard on the wing and matchup on the inside. On offense, AJ can also play multiple positions. He will be a playmaker and a creator for this squad.

Zander Benz Zander Benz 6'4" | PF O’gorman | 2023 State SD |6-7 F| O’Gorman

He has the height, long arms, and mobility to be a nice rim protector & rebounder for the Schoolers. He, Muirhead, and Kirschenman will be the anchors down low on D for this squad. Benz will provide scoring around the basket. The big man will also be able to stretch the defense by cashing in triples.

Reis Kirschenman Reis Kirschenman 6'5" | C Tea Area | 2023 State SD |6-4 F| Tea Area

He will be a bulldog for this team. Reis is a phenomenal rebounder and an extremely hard worker. He will provide physicality, toughness, and a competitive edge for this team.

Cole Peterson Cole Peterson 6'2" | PG Sioux Falls Washington | 2023 State SD |6-1 G| Sioux Falls Washington

He will help stretch the court as a 3-point shooter. Peterson is a great communicator that will be a good on-ball defender and help defender. Cole is another unselfish player that looks to get others involved first before his shot.

Matt Eng Matt Eng 6'0" | PG O’gorman | 2023 State SD |6-2 G| O’Gorman

He is one of the best 3-point shooters in all of South Dakota. Eng is a playmaker that can create his own shot and he will also set up others for good looks. Look for him to be a primary ball-handler and a big-point scorer on a consistent basis. Matt is a nice-sized guard and an underrated athlete. Expect Eng’s stock to rise throughout the AAU campaign.

Mandalla Mohamed Mandalla Mohamed 6'2" | SG Sioux Falls Washington | 2023 State SD |6-2 G| Sioux Falls Washington

He is very unselfish and is truly a pass-first player. Mandalla sees the floor really well and he can score at all three levels. He is a lockdown defender with a high hoops IQ. Mohamed is a good rebounder that is long and athletic.

Schedule

EVENT	DATES	LOCATION
Prep Hoops Live	April 22-24	Lawrence, KS
Battle at the Lakes	May 6-8	Minneapolis, MN
Buckets in the Big Red	May 20-22	Lincoln, NE
Pentagon Hardwood Classic	June 4-5	Sioux Falls, SD
Great Plains Alliance	June 29-30	St. Cloud, MN
Pentagon Summer Slam	July 8-10	Sioux Falls, SD
Prep Hoops Hard Work Finals	July 15-17	Minneapolis, MN
Pentagon Tournament Finals	July 22-24	Sioux Falls, SD

Pentagon Schooler Breakdown

The Dakota Schoolers are in their 32nd season as an AAU program. They transitioned to the Pentagon Schoolers once the Sanford Pentagon became their home. The Dakota Schoolers were founded by Paul Seville. A couple of the big names name in the Schooler alumni are Mike Miller and Chad Greenway.

The Schoolers currently have 20 teams, 5th grade through 17U (boys & girls). In the winter months, the Schoolers have 12 teams, 5th-7th grade.

Recent D1 players in college basketball and commits include: A.J. Plitzuweit (USD), Justin Hohn (UC Irvine), and Kalen Garry Kalen Garry 6'3" | SG DeSmet | 2022 State SD (SDSU).

We asked the Schoolers Team Coordinator, Taylor Fechner who some of the current players are that might be on the same path toward college ball and he said this: " Joe Sayler Joe Sayler 6'4" | SG White River | 2023 State #295 Nation SD (SDSU commit), Oliver Vincent Oliver Vincent 6'1" | PG Sioux Valley | 2023 State SD , Matt Eng Matt Eng 6'0" | PG O’gorman | 2023 State SD , Matt Anderson Matt Anderson 6'6" | SF Canton | 2024 State SD , Alec Squires Alec Squires 6'10" | C Sioux Valley | 2024 State #280 Nation SD , Sam Almas Sam Almas 6'2" | SG Tea Area | 2024 State SD , Tad Tjaden Tad Tjaden 6'6" | SF/PF Dell Rapids | 2025 State SD , and many more".

When asked about a couple of underrated players in the Schooler program, Fechner has this to say:

Randy Rosenquist Randy Rosenquist 6'0" | PG Dakota Valley | 2023 State SD (2023) |6-0 G| Dakota Valley - "Fastest kid in the gym, always in the right place on defense, finds the open guy. Always puts himself in the right place. Really high basketball IQ. Good shooter. He creates scoring runs."

Sam Almas Sam Almas 6'2" | SG Tea Area | 2024 State SD (2024) |6-2 G| Tea Area - "Extremely athletic, long and lanky, quick, good shooter, solid on ball defender."

Schooler Wrap Up

The Schoolers want to continue to build off the success that Paul Seville has built over the first 30 years of the program. They want to give kids an opportunity to be successful, have fun, and prepare them for the next level. Most importantly, the Schoolers want to surround players with great teammates and coaches that will help them be successful fathers, mothers, parents, and caring people with high character.

The goal for the Pentagon Schoolers is to empower athletes through basketball, as well as installing community leadership skills. This will help create well-rounded individuals.