Dale Brown Classic: STUD Soph and Frosh
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Minot, ND – We are back for our 3rd article from the Dale Brown Classic at the Minot State Dome. In this piece, we are looking at 9th and 10th graders that looked good on Tuesday. STUD SOPH & FROSH…
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Continue ReadingMinot, ND – We are back for our 3rd article from the Dale Brown Classic at the Minot State Dome. In this piece, we are looking at 9th and 10th graders that looked good on Tuesday.
STUD SOPH & FROSH
Drake Schlosser Drake Schlosser 6'2" | SG Stanley | 2025 State ND (2025) |6’1 G| Stanley
I am happy that I tuned into the Stanley vs. TGU game. Schlosser was IMPRESSIVE. Drake is a deadeye from deep. He hit multiple triples and his range goes out to NBA depth. He did more than just chuck it from the cheap seats. Drake showed off a sick hesitation move that tricked a defender and he finished it with a lefty finger roll. He showed his impressive body control when putting in an AND1, he capped it off with a FT to finish the 3pt play. Drake also blocked a shot from behind because of his reaction time and hustle. This was my first time seeing Schlosser and I am intrigued.
Sage Hanson Sage Hanson 6'8" | SF TGU | 2026 State ND (2026) |6’6 F| TGU
I liked his handles and shooting for a youngster his size. Hanson is currently the #2 ranked prospect in the 2026 class from ND. Sage is super long and he moves well. He helped break the Blue Jay pressure and he brought the ball up the court on occasion. You do not see 6’6″ freshmen doing that very often. He is an unselfish player and a self-aware passer. I liked it when Sage put the ball on the floor, drew 2 defenders, and kicked out to teammates. Sage is a shooter, that is for sure. His shot is pure as spring water. I had him down for 2 triples. This kid is going to make a ton of 3-pointers throughout his career. Hanson showed a crafty shot fake and a sweet 15′ baseline J on a BLOB. Hanson’s best play was when he picked off a pass, dribbled coast-to-coast, and finished left-handed in traffic. TGU took the loss but it was fun to see Mr. Hanson play.
Walker Braaten Walker Braaten 6'4" | CG Westhope/Newburg | 2025 State #278 Nation ND (2025) |6’3 G| Westhope-Newburg
He finished with 18 points. I knew that Braaten was a good rebounder and he exceeded my expectations on Tuesday. He is super active on the glass, is always moving, and he reacts quickly when the ball is coming off the rim. Walker showed a dirty spin move, and a lethal crossover step when his defender closed out too far. His pull-up J is elite and his stepback move is almost impossible to stop. He drilled a beautiful 3-ball with the stepback. Walker showed a soft touch when finishing near the basket. He also blocked a shot and he stole a pass when coming over from help side D. It was not his best game and the Sioux took the L, but it was still easy to see that Braaten is a DUDE.
Dayton Hawkins (2025) |5’5 G| Westhope-Newburg
He has potential as a 3-pointer shooter. Dayton should get good looks all season because of how much attention Braaten gets. Hawkins knocked a couple 3’s down in the Tuesday game.
Hunter Tolstad Hunter Tolstad 6'2" | PF Westhope-Newburg | 2026 State ND (2026) |6’1 F| Westhope-Newburg
He is a young forward that does his work on the inside. Tolstad scored with n O-board putback, an interior score, and with an AND1. The Sioux will need him to provide a consistent post-presence this season.
Jake Starcevic Jake Starcevic 6'2" | SF Kindred | 2025 State ND (2025) |6’2 G/F| Thompson
He did not start last night for some reason but still stuck out as a stud athlete. Jake is not just a special athlete, he is smart. He makes clever and correct passes at the right time. I like how he made an inside-out pass to an open shooter. Late in the game when the Tommies needed another possession, Starcevic threw/shot the ball off the rim hard in hopes of the Tommies getting another possession. It worked! This shows that Jake knows time, possession, and situational basketball. I like the looks of his short jumper and his strong takes around the basket. Jake is a competitor that will do whatever it takes to get the win.
Karter Peterson Karter Peterson 6'6" | PF Thompson | 2025 State ND (2025) |6’6 PF| Thompson
He led all scorers with 23 pts in the Tommie/Skyhawk game. He is an old-school post with new-age athleticism. Peterson is a high-caliber player and he is a hustler that dives all over the floor and he fights for rebounds. Peterson was a beast on the boards, especially on the offensive end. This led to many scores for the BIG Tommie. He is a quick jumper and he can finish with a variety of shots from different angles. Karter can score with his back to the basket using power moves, square up and slash, and hit jumpers. He drained a smooth 16-footer yesterday. Peterson’s long arms and sharp focus allow him to score over defenders. Karter continues to impress me, he is turning into a special player.
Ben Schepp Ben Schepp 6'1" | CG Velva | 2025 State ND (2025) |6’1 G| Velva
He is a physical youngster that showed good court vision when attacking. Ben passes the ball very well when going toward the hoop, as soon as the help steps up, Schepp delivers the ball to an open teammate. He got to the line, scored in transition, and finished with a crafty baby hook. He showed off his playmaking with a tip steal that he took the other way for a score. He had a couple of big buckets in double OT. Schepp put in a reverse layup and a run-out score.
Reggie Bruner Reggie Bruner 6'1" | SG Velva | 2025 State ND (2025) |6’0 G| Velva
He was great on Tuesday and he really shined late in the game. He had multiple effective cuts that led to buckets. Bruner cut across the lane and down the paint for scores. He was very smart about cutting from behind the zone. He showed his shooting ability with an inside-out 3-pointer in the 2nd half. He also drilled a 1-dribble pull-up against the zone. Reggie cashed in multiple 3-balls in OT and he had a sweet transition dime in OT to help the Aggies pick up the win.
Bennett Larson Bennett Larson 6'7" | C Stanley | 2026 State ND (2026) |6’7 PF| Beulah
8 points, 2-2 FT’s. It was not his best night of basketball but it was still easy to see his potential. Larson is very big/strong, does not shy away from contact, and is tough as nails. He started the scoring last night with an O-board stick-back. He looked solid from the line. Larson showed off his post-up ability with a deep seal, catch, and spin middle for a score.
Braylen Schirado Braylen Schirado 6'0" | CG Beulah | 2026 State ND (2026) |5’10 G| Beulah
6 points, 2 triples. This frosh has a great shooting stroke. Schirado is not afraid to step into a shot and let it fly. His handles looked good and he showed a sweet crossover. Schirado has a bright future in hoops.
Kyle Huseby (2025) |6’0 F| Powers Lake-Burke
5 points, 1-1 FT’s. He did his scoring in transition and I like how hard Kyle runs the floor. Huseby scored with an AND1 basket and he put in the FT for a 3-point play. Huseby looks like he will be a key role player for the Ranchers.