Class B: All-Region 4 Team

We previously looked at the All-Region Teams for 1 & 2. We also checked out the All-District Teams in 5 & 6. Today, we head north and examine Region 4. Look below for comments on the 14 players who were selected to the All-Region 4 Team.

Congratulations to Warwick who won the Region 4 Championship! The Warriors had 3 monster wins in the Region Tourney over Harvey Wells/County, North Prairie, and North Star in the Championship game.

PHD has to give a shout-out to Chad Leas & Mitchell Leas Mitchell Leas 6'0" | PG Rolla | 2023 State ND who took home prestigious awards! Coach Leas won Region 4 Coach of the Year and Mitchell won Senior Athlete of the Year in Region 4.

Teams in Region 4: Benson County, Dakota Prairie, Dunseith, Four Winds/Minnewaukan, Harvey/Wells County, Lakota, Langdon Area/Edmore/Munich, New Rockford-Sheyenne, North Prairie, North Star, St. John, and Warwick.

All-Region 4 Team

Deng Deng Deng Deng 6'5" | SF Four Winds/Minnewaukan | 2024 State ND (2024) |6’5 F| Four Winds/Minnewaukan

22 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 2.3 apg, 2.9 spg, 55 FG%, 30 3FGM, 29 3FG%. Deng is a D1-level type athlete. If you have not seen his CRAZY dunks, you are missing out. You name it, he can dunk it! Deng’s head is up by the rim when he is finishing. He is long, explosive, and he attacks the basket like a lightning bolt. Deng is a volume rebounder and a walking double-double. He is an intriguing defender and he shot the 3-point better than I thought he would. Deng has a super high ceiling and he has big things ahead of him!

Dalen Leftbear Dalen Leftbear 6'3" | SF FourWinds/Minnewaukan | 2024 State ND (2024) |6’3 F| Four Winds/Minnewaukan

16 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 2.2 apg, 2.7 spg, 55 FG%, 24 3FGM, 29 3FG%. He is another long athlete. I really like Dalen’s game. At times, he gets overshadowed because Deng is such a special player. Leftbear can also get up and finish in impressive fashion. I like his jump shot and he is creative around the basket. Dalen does the little things for the Indians and he is a team player. He is a versatile defender that can match up on the inside or lock up on the wing. Dalen is an underrated player and a pure baller with a bright future.

Kelson Keja Kelson Keja 5'7" | PG Four Winds/Minnewaukan | 2023 State ND (2023) |5’7 PG| Four Winds/Minnewaukan

8.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 3.2 apg, 2.7 spg, 38 FG%. I like his moxie and demeanor on the court. Keja controls the tempo and knows when to push it. His court vision is impressive and he does great work at manipulating the defense. Kelson stands out as a playmaker by breaking down the D, creating for others, and delivering dimes. It does not always have to be an assist, Keja can make the easy pass and swing the ball to get reversals. I love how he kicks the ball ahead in transition and delivers deep passes like a QB. The floor general is a burglar on defense and he is an innovative finisher. Kelson will be missed at 4Winds!

Mitchell Leas Mitchell Leas 6'0" | PG Rolla | 2023 State ND (2023) |6’0 G| North Prairie

Senior Athlete of the Year. 20.8 ppg, 4 rpg, 2.2 apg, 3 spg. Game high of 35 points. He is a cool customer on the court that plays with guile. Leas balls with a smoothness that makes the game look easy. He is an elusive slasher that makes the defense look like they are standing in mud. Mitchell has a sweet runner/floater game and he is crafty at the cup. I like his pull-up and fadeaway J. His shooting range runs deep and Leas can drill the 3-ball off the bounce and catch. He is a conductor with the rock. Leas has ball-on-a-string handles and he can make all of the passes. Mitchell is also a cunning thief on defense!

Blake Mattson Blake Mattson 6'2" | SF North Prairie | 2024 State ND (2024) |6’2 SF| North Prairie

11 ppg 7 rpg and 1.2 apg. He came off as an efficient offensive player. Mattson is an aggressive wing/SF that attacks the boards. He is opportunistic as he can score with O-board putbacks and layups in transition. Blake moves well without the ball, cuts hard, and knows how to find his spots. He is an underrated athlete that can get to the rim for points. Blake was a great compliment to Mr. Leas.

Tate Grossman Tate Grossman 6'4" | SG Harvey/Wells County | 2023 State ND (2023) |6’4 G| Harvey/Wells County

20.6 ppg, 8.7 rpg, 4.8 apg, 2.4 spg, 1.2 bpg. I have seen first-hand how athletic this kid is and let me tell you, Grossman can GET UP! Throughout the season, Tate had numerous dunks that showed off his impressive athleticism. He can also hit from beyond the arc with a nice jump shot. I am impressed with his handles and his ability to shake defenders. He is a big guard that presented teams with matchups problems. Smaller guards could not stop him and forwards could not stay with him. Tate was also a vacuum rebounder and a tough defender.

Gabe Allmaras Gabe Allmaras 6'4" | PF Harvey/Wells County | 2023 State ND (2023) |6’4 F| Harvey/Wells County

With his length and skill, Allmaras can put the ball in the hole from every level. He looks to have a fluid shot from beyond the arc and he can finish in traffic at the rim. His length, feel, and anticipation allowed Gabe to pick off passes and block shots. He was good on the bottom of the Hornets zone defense. Allmaras is a well-rounded player that made plays on the wing and in the paint. Gabe always worked hard and he earned everything on the court.

Boston Davis Boston Davis 6'4" | SF Dunseith | 2023 State ND (2023) |6’4 SF| Dunseith

26.3 ppg, 7 rpg, 3 apg. Put up 45 points in a single game this season! Boston has one of the best pull-up games in the state. He gets his defender moving backward or laterally and seems to know the perfect time to pull up. Davis does not need much room to get his silky smooth J off. It helps that he can pull up on a dime and he shoots it with a high release. Boston is a serious bucket-getter!

Dane Hagler Dane Hagler 6'4" | SG North Star | 2024 State ND (2024) |6’4 G| North Star

22.3 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 4.3 apg, 3.9 spg, 50.3 FG%, 75.4 FT%, 491 points this season (missed 3 games w/ injury). 1,622 career points. An explosive player that can live above the rim. Powerful and electric dunker. Dane is an aggressive and physical rebounder. He will hit the 3-pointer but is the most dangerous going to the rim. Hagler can take over the game with his scoring but is a great teammate who cares about getting others involved. Dane is a tough two-way player and a star on the rise.

Mark Fassett Mark Fassett 6'0" | SG Warwick | 2023 State ND Jr. (2023) |6’0 G| Warwick

Region 4 Champion! He led his squad to the State Tournament. Fassett was named to the All-Tournament Team at State! Mark showed great patience and his passing was awe-inspiring this weekend in Bismarck. His pull-up game was fantastic and Mark can hit from way deep and from mid-range. He is a crafty finisher around the basket. I love how Mark manipulates the D with a change of speeds, head fakes, ball fakes, and pivots. He has an old-man’s game and is marvelously skilled. Warwick & Fassett’s run in the Region 4 Tournament was magical!

Brayton Baker Brayton Baker 6'3" | SF St. John | 2023 State ND (2023) |6’3 SF| St. John

18.4 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 1.8 apg, 2.2 spg, 52 FG%. This kid is certainly a gifted athlete! Baker makes plays at the rim on both ends of the court. He is an extra-bouncy player that finishes well at the iron. I like his Sikma move and his 15-foot jump shot. Off the bounce, Brayton is deadly with the hesitation move and he covers a lot of ground when going to the rim. He is no stranger to acrobatic finishes. Baker was also a productive rebounder.

Jaxon Baumgarn Jaxon Baumgarn 6'3" | CG Lakota | 2024 State ND (2024) |6’3 G| Lakota

He is a smart and heady player that does good things with the basketball. Jaxon had the ball in his hands quite often this season and he was impressive at the PG position. Baumgarn is a legit shooter with a nice stroke from beyond the arc. Look for Jaxon to be a nice senior backcourt player next year.

Ross Thompson Ross Thompson 6'4" | SF Lakota | 2024 State ND (2024) |6’4 F| Lakota

A tough kid and a good athlete as he was All-State in football. Ross is a strong basketball player. He has a nice/soft shooting touch and he can drain them from mid-range. He will also score at the basket and he will give you extra possessions by grabbing offensive rebounds.

Rayce Worley Rayce Worley 6'4" | SF Langdon Area/Edmore/Munich | 2024 State ND (2024) |6’4 SF| Langdon Area/Edmore/Munich

He was a leader for the Cardinals and could get HOT! Worley does damage inside and out. He is a smart player with length and athleticism. He shoots it well from mid-range. I like him in the catch-n-shoot game, Worley has nice mechanics and his follow-through is next to perfect. Opposing teams will not want to leave him alone around the arc next year. Rayce gets up and down the court in a hurry and he makes plenty of plays on the ball on the defensive side. Look out for Worley next season!