The Next Level Basketball Academy 14U: Breakdown
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Today we are inspecting The Next Level Basketball Academy (NLBA) 14U squad. We could call this an international team since they had a player from Canada on the team! The rest of the team was made up of Class A…
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Continue ReadingToday we are inspecting The Next Level Basketball Academy (NLBA) 14U squad. We could call this an international team since they had a player from Canada on the team! The rest of the team was made up of Class A kids from Fargo/WF and two Class B ballers Oak Grove. NLBA had a fun and successful season and they won a Championship at a tournament in Minneapolis. They had size, speed, and athleticism. This group bought into their roles which made for a great squad for Jared Bledsoe to coach. They executed well in the halfcourt and scored on sets like a mature basketball team. They saw intriguing skill development and some of the players even grew a couple of inches during the season. Look out for these players in the near future! Look below for the NLBA roster and player comments.
NLBA 14U
Karter Koenig Karter Koenig 6'0" | SG Oak Grove Lutheran | 2026 State ND |5’7 G| Oak Grove
He stood out as an excellent catch-n-shoot player. He knocked down 3-pointers consistently throughout the AAU season. Koenig has been in the NLBA program for 2-3 years and is always improving. In Omaha, Karter caught fire and hit 8 three-pointers in a single game. He gets going in a hurry from beyond the arc! Koenig is a very coachable player that always has a smile on his face. Look out for this Grover, he is a dangerous shooting guard.
Ayden Monson Ayden Monson 5'7" | PG Fargo Davies | 2026 ND |5’7 G| Fargo Davies
This Eagle is a floor general that understood the offense like a veteran. Monson always knows when to attack and when the pull back the reins. He became a great communicator with his teammates this season. His handles are also much improved. Ayden made hay in transition with pull-up 3’s. Ayden has been in the NLBA for multiple years and is constantly growing as a player. NLBA knows how to develop players and Monson is a prime example.
Zion Unarse |5’7 G| Winnipeg
The Canadian kid made a commitment to playing in the States and he always made practices and tournaments. Zion loves the game of basketball and he has a deep passion for hoops. He also puts in the work on his own to improve. This PG is shifty with the ball in his hands. Unarse is crafty and he can create his own shot. His pull-up game in transition was very effective. He is a very skilled player that dropped no looks dimes and he also made the extra pass. Zion has an exciting future in hoops.
Noah Meidinger Noah Meidinger 6'0" | SF Oak Grove | 2026 State ND |5’8 G| Oak Grove
This Grover is a combo-guard. Noah is a scrappy athlete that plays hard. He was solid all season while hitting open 3-pointers. Meidinger was also productive in transition situations. He is a high-energy player that always brings the juice. Noah was an excellent asset to the NLBA team.
Sean Le’Shoure Sean Le’Shoure 5'9" | SG Grand Forks Red River | 2026 State ND |5’8 G| Grand Forks Red River
He was one of the best athletes on the NLBA team. This Roughrider is very fast going up and down the court. He was one of the top perimeter defenders and was scrappy all over the court on the defensive side of the ball. Sean did a nice job of attacking off the bounce. He has intriguing potential as a SG/wing player.
Corbyn Fallingstad Corbyn Fallingstad 6'6" | PF Fargo South | 2026 State ND |6’4 F| Fargo South
This Bruin is an athlete! By the end of the summer, Corbyn was dunking and throwing it down! Fallingsted gave NLBA a nice post presence and he was a solid interior player. He did good work on the offensive end with his back to the basket. Look out for this good-sized athlete from South.
Kayson Bernstien Kayson Bernstien 6'6" | PF West Fargo Sheyenne | 2026 State ND |6’3 F| West Fargo Sheyenne
He was the starting “5” for NLBA. Kayson is a long low-post that rebounds with aggression. He can also play as a forward and make things happen as a playmaker. Bernstien looked good ripping on the wing, taking 1 or 2 dribbles and hitting the shot. He provided a tough post presence on the defensive side by blocking shots and rebounding. Kayson is another Mustang to keep your eyes on.
Jaylen Runnels Jaylen Runnels 5'11" | SG Fargo South | 2026 ND |5’8 G| Fargo South
He came off an injury to start the season, Jaylen’s confidence grew greatly over the AAU campaign. Runnels is quick, scrappy, and he runs the floor hard. He created steals in transition and knocked down triples. Keep track of this Bruin as he has plenty of potential.