Red Cloud – Team Preview

In this piece, we are checking out the Crusaders from Red Cloud. They had an excellent season in 2021-2022 and made it to the SoDak 16. The Crusaders bring back everyone and they should be considered serious contenders in Class A. Christian McGhee is the head coach of the Crusaders. Red Cloud will be a talented team but they play in Region 7, which is full of talented teams. It is going to be a fun season and Red Cloud should be a team that is high on your watchlist! See below for much more info on the Crusaders!

2021-2022 Team Stats

PPG: 62 FG%: 42 3FG%: 33 FT%: 61 RPG: 25.8 APG: 8.4 SPG: 8.6 TOPG: 13.8

Red Cloud Off-Season

The Crusaders had a great off-season of hoops. Red Cloud participated in 3 team camps and a league. Many of the Red Cloud players were also involved AAU. The Crusaders were busy with basketball this past summer! They had more players participate in summer workouts than they have had in a long time. The Crusaders are a hungry group after the way last season ended. Look out for this squad!

Returning Players

Adriano Rama Adriano Rama 5'10" | PG Lakota Tech | 2023 SD (2023) |6’0 G| – 15.5 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.7 apg, 2.3 spg, 41 FG%

He is the leader and captain of the Crusaders. Adriano is an extremely hard worker and wants to win. He can score at all 3 levels very consistently and he can defend the other team’s best guys if need be. Rama is one of the better rebounders on this team as well. He does a little bit of everything for Red Cloud.

Josiah Cottier Josiah Cottier 5'11" | SG Marty | 2023 SD (2023) |6’0 G| – 8.6 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 1.5 apg, 1.1 spg, 34 FG%

He is another vocal leader for the Crusaders. Josiah brings energy and intensity 100% of the time. He is the best perimeter defender for Red Cloud. Cottier has put in the time and has become a quality threat from beyond the 3-point arc.

Jules Ecoffey Jules Ecoffey 6'1" | SG Red Cloud | 2023 State SD (2023) |6’2 F| – 9.3 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 1.2 apg, 1 spg, 38 FG%, 32 3FG%

He is very versatile on the basketball court. Jules can play anywhere from 2-5 for the Crusaders. Ecoffey can also guard anybody on the floor which helps in a big way. Jules is the best athlete on the Red Cloud squad. He will be an exciting player to watch this winter.

Haedyn Haas Haedyn Haas 5'11" | SG Red Cloud | 2023 State SD (2023) |5’11 G| – 11.5 ppg, 1.7 rpg, .8 apg, 1 spg, 49 FG%, 44 3FG%

He can fill it up from the outside. Haedyn should be in the conversation as one of the top shooters in the state of South Dakota. Haas is very consistent with his jump shot and his play on the basketball court.

Gabriel Brooks (2023) |6’4 C| 3.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg, .2 apg, 52 FG%

He has worked himself into being a starter for the Crusaders. Brooks is the best rebounder and paint defender for Red Cloud. Gabriel has really worked hard to increase his shooting range. This will make Red Cloud a team that is very hard to defend.

Monty Montileaux (2024) |6’1 G| – 4 ppg, 2.9 apg, .7 apg, 41 FG%

He brings scoring off the bench for Red Cloud. Monty does a nice job of guarding the opposing team’s top shooters. He does what is asked of him to the best of his ability. Expect Monty to be a starter for Red Cloud in some games this season depending on match-ups. 

Nick Zuniga (2023) |5’11 G| – 2.5 ppg, 1.3 rpg, .5 apg, 40 FG%

He is a very tough kid. Nick is a great on-ball defender and he has a nice feel for the game. Zuniga shoots the ball very well and gets in the lane on the regular.

Nate LeBeaux (2024) |6’2 F| – 2.3 ppg, 2 rpg, .6 apg, 41 FG%

He can play anywhere on the court from 3-5 for the Crusaders. Nate can guard BIGs as well as slide his feet and guard perimeter guys. LeBeaux can really shoot the ball and provide a nice scoring punch.

Coach Christian McGhee comments on last season

“Last season didn’t end the way we wanted it to. Ecoffey wasn’t able to play in the SoDak 16 game against Winner due to vertigo which really hurt our team. We had a pretty good season, but we return everybody so we are looking to be one of the best teams in the State.” 

McGhee talks about the Crusader style of basketball

“Our style is uptempo. We like to play fast both offensively and defensively. We usually press most of the game but this year we will press a little more strategically.” 

Coach McGhee comments on Red Cloud rivals

“Our biggest rival schools now are probably Lakota Tech and St. Thomas More.“

“Lakota Tech is the new high school which most of the Pine Ridge school kids went to which is why it is Lakota Tech and not so much Pine Ridge anymore. STM has been another rival for us because of the battles we have had throughout the years.“

Coach McGhee talks about Region 7

“I feel like we are right there at the top of Region 7A. I know Winner and Lakota Tech will be very good, Todd County, Little Wound and Pine Ridge will be sneaky good. St. Francis and Bennett County return lots of players that will make them better than they have been in the past so I think our region will be a very good one.” 

Good Luck Crusaders!