26 Players To Watch: Buckets In The Big Red

Are wondering who you should watch in Lincoln? Look no further, we have all the answers… Read below for North Dakota, Minnesota, and South Dakota players to watch this weekend.

We did an article yesterday on the Arena Basketball Club from Sioux City, IA and we encourage you to check out their players as well.

Player Watchlist

Kaden Christmann Kaden Christmann 6'1" | SG Fargo Shanley | 2024 State ND (2024) |5’10 G| The Next Level Basketball Academy 2023

• Playing up an age group, full-throttle player, skilled in all aspects, plays fearless

Sam Senske Sam Senske 6'5" | SG Hawley | 2023 State MN (2023) |6’5 SF| The Next Level Basketball Academy 2023

• Has a natural feel for the game, old-school skill & crafty moves, pure scorer, deadly from mid-range

Vuciri Hakim Vuciri Hakim 6'4" | SF Shanley | 2023 State ND (2023) |6’5 SF| The Next Level Basketball Academy 2023

• A better athlete than people realize, forces TO’s & makes plays in open court, above the rim finisher

Brogan Madson Brogan Madson 6'1" | PG Mankato East | 2025 State MN (2025) |5’10 G| MN Rise 2023

• Young lefty PG playing up 2 divisions, very impressive shooter, slasher & crafty scorer, STUD

Chet Kloss Chet Kloss 6'6" | PF Eastview | 2023 State MN (2023) |6’6 F| MN Chill Elite 2023

• I like his toughness, shoots it well from deep, gets physical buckets in the paint, boards & D’s up 

Carrington McNeal Carrington McNeal 6'1" | PG Twin Cities Academy | 2022 State MN (2022) |6’3 G| MN Chill Elite 2023

• A 3-level scorer, long and athletic guard that scores quickly, great in transition & up-tempo 

Carmello McNeal Carmello McNeal 6'1" | PG Twin Cities Academy | 2022 State MN (2022) |6’3 G| MN Chill Elite 2023

• Stuck out last weekend with impressive handles, also took 2 charges! Impressive athlete that does it all

Khalif Bettis Khalif Bettis 6'6" | SF Burnsville | 2023 State MN (2023) |6’5 SF| MN Chill Elite 2023

• A quality & consistent scorer, above the rim finisher, has a craftiness to him w/ fadeaways & good feet

Fitz Freeman Fitz Freeman 6'6" | C Robbinsdale Armstrong | 2024 State MN (2024) |6’5 F| MN Chill Elite 2024

• Impressive rim protector, can dominate the boards, impressive athlete with a college-ready body

Drew Balentine Drew Balentine 6'1" | PG Maranatha Christian Academy | 2024 State MN (2024) |5’10 G| MN Chill Elite 2024

• A very nice jump shooter with a smooth floater game, athletic finisher, very tough on-ball D

Ty Swanson Ty Swanson 5'10" | PG Osseo | 2024 State MN (2024) |6’0 G| Northstar Titans 2024 Brodeur

• A great playmaking guard, has smooth handles, smart passer & directs traffic, solid scorer

Myles Thomsen Myles Thomsen 6'2" | SG Spring Lake Park | 2024 State MN (2024) |6’1 G| Northstar Titans 2024 Brodeur

• He is a lights out shooter that can put up points in a hurry, Thomsen is a natural scorer 

Braeden Turk (2024) |6’5 F| Northstar Titans 2024 Brodeur

• A physical long post, he does the dirty work that does not show up in the box score, hard worker

Andre’ Austin Andre’ Austin 6'3" | CG Bismarck | 2025 State ND (2025) |6’1 G| Pack 2023

• Playing up 2 age divisions, athletic slasher, skills are always improving, creative finisher

Mark Fassett Jr Mark Fassett Jr 6'0" | PG Warwick | 2023 ND (2024) |6’0 G| Pack 2023

• He can fill it up from 3, puts up points at all levels, has amazing ball skills & sees the floor well

AJ Akot AJ Akot 6'4" | SF Sioux Falls Washington | 2023 State SD (2023) |6’4 SF| Pentagon Schoolers 17U Walker

• Showed up & out at Battle At The Lakes, highlight athlete, momentum-changing player & intruiging

Cole Peterson Cole Peterson 6'2" | PG Sioux Falls Washington | 2023 State SD (2023) |6’1 G| Pentagon Schoolers 17U Walker

• Team first guy, timely playmaker, serious threat from deep, blue-collar D, desirable intangibles

Matt Eng Matt Eng 6'2" | PG Sioux Falls O'Gorman | 2023 State SD (2023) |6’2 G| Pentagon Schoolers 17U Walker

• One of the top shooters on the PH Circuit, performs every game, smart & skilled, elite talent

Reis Kirschenman Reis Kirschenman 6'5" | C Tea Area | 2023 State SD (2023) |6’4 PF| Pentagon Schoolers 17U Walker

• Bull in a china shop, physical beast, moves well w/out the rock, great screener, top-notch rebounder 

Zander Benz Zander Benz 6'7" | PF O'Gorman | 2023 State SD (2023) |6’7 C| Pentagon Schoolers 17U Walker

• Intriguing interior player, rebounder & active defender, works super hard, unselfish team player

Gavin Muirhead Gavin Muirhead 6'7" | PF O'Gorman | 2023 State SD (2023) |6’7 PF| Pentagon Schoolers 17U Walker

• His stock has shot up on the circuit, crazy dunker and lob-finisher, shot blocker, rising star

Mandalla Mohamed Mandalla Mohamed 6'2" | SG Sioux Falls Washington | 2023 State SD (2023) |6’2 G| Pentagon Schoolers 17U Walker

• Next-level athlete, 2-way player, efficient defender, standout defender, difference-maker

Luke Johnson (2024) |6’4 F| The Next Level Basketball Academy 2024

• A good-sized soph that has improved with each game, a solid post defender and rebounder

Owen Hoyme (2024) |5’11 G| The Next Level Basketball Academy 2024

• Plays scrappy & defends 94-feet, good going to the rim & capable finisher, full-effort every possession

Alex Wetterlin (2025) |6’3 F| The Next Level Basketball Academy 2025

• A zone buster all the way, shoots it great from three-point land, always plays very hard