Introducing ND Phenom 15U!

Today, we are looking at some of the best young talent from the state of North Dakota.   The [program_tooltip program_id='2075741' first='ND' last='Phenom'] 15U National team is locked and loaded with impressive players. The great part is, they are members of the Prep Hoops Circuit! I am expecting them to compete at a high level and to be one of the top 15U teams on the Circuit!   It is going to be a great AAU season and I can not wait to watch this squad!   See below for the [program_tooltip program_id='2075741' first='ND' last='Phenom'] 15U schedule, roster, player comments, and a Q&A session with Phenom's director, Jordan Maurer.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NDphenomPHCIRCUIT.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/04/NDphenomPHCIRCUIT.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1890905" /></a></figure>   SCHEDULE   <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>DATES</td><td>EVENT</td><td>LOCATION</td></tr><tr><td>April 22-23</td><td>Prep Hoops Madness In The Midwest</td><td>Appleton, WI</td></tr><tr><td>April 29-30</td><td>Prep Hoops Live</td><td>Minneapolis, MN</td></tr><tr><td>May 6-7</td><td>Scheels College Prospect Series</td><td>Minneapolis, MN</td></tr><tr><td>May 27-28</td><td>Scheels College Prospect Series</td><td>Minneapolis, MN</td></tr><tr><td>June 28-30</td><td>Great Plain Alliance</td><td>St. Cloud, MN</td></tr><tr><td>July 6-9</td><td>Prep Hoops The Last Dance</td><td>Chicago, IL</td></tr><tr><td>July 14-16</td><td>Prep Hoops Hard Work Region Finals</td><td>Minneapolis, MN</td></tr><tr><td>July 26-30</td><td>Las Vegas Classic</td><td>Las Vegas, NV</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>   ROSTER   <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>PLAYER</td><td>HEIGHT</td><td>POSITION</td><td>SCHOOL</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1632649' first='Hayden' last='Seay']</td><td>5'9"</td><td>G</td><td>Bishop Ryan</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1355920' first='Braylen' last='Schirado']</td><td>5'11"</td><td>G</td><td>Beulah</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1632628' first='Parker' last='Jacobson']</td><td>6'1"</td><td>G</td><td>Washburn</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1484338' first='Brooks' last='Bakko']</td><td>6'2"</td><td>G</td><td>Kindred</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1545213' first='Kenyatta' last='White']</td><td>6'2"</td><td>G/F</td><td>Bismarck</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1657450' first='Izaac' last='Strandlien']</td><td>6'3"</td><td>G/F</td><td>Nedrose</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1908335' first='Chris' last='Loggins']</td><td>6'4"</td><td>F</td><td>Minot</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1355915' first='Sage' last='Hanson']</td><td>6'6"</td><td>F</td><td>TGU</td></tr><tr><td>[player_tooltip player_id='1355919' first='Bennett' last='Larson']</td><td>6'7"</td><td>PF</td><td>Beulah</td></tr></tbody></table><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Head Coach: Joe Ware Associate Head Coach: Nate Symens Assistant Coach: Jordan Maurer</figcaption></figure>   Player Comments from coach Jordan Maurer   "Number 12 [player_tooltip player_id='1355915' first='Sage' last='Hanson'] is a super fascinating talent. 6'6" with a big plus wingspan (6'10") and the ability to score from all over the floor. We will look to utilize his skillset and length in a variety of ways on both ends of the floor. Likely his best attribute is his ability to score from all over the floor and he can really stretch it. Sage is a player that coaches who utilize stretch 4's will want to be in on early. He really showed his ability to impact the game in a variety of ways with his last high school game this season being a 19-point, 14 rebounds, 10-block triple-double against a team that made the State Tournament."   "Number 14 [player_tooltip player_id='1545213' first='Kenyatta' last='White'] is a player who can guard multiple spots on the floor and do a little bit of everything. Those familiar with the Phenom will understand what I mean when I describe him as a [player_tooltip player_id='1050255' first='William' last='Ware']-type player in the body of a [player_tooltip player_id='1050251' first='Jaxon' last='Kellogg']. What really stands out about Kenyatta is how much he wants to be in the gym. We see him as a player who can make plays in transition as a finisher, rebound hard on both ends of the floor, and really defend."   "Number 15 [player_tooltip player_id='1632649' first='Hayden' last='Seay'] is a prototypical lead guard. He does a nice job of creating for teammates and stretching the floor from the perimeter. He really gets after it defensively. He has extensive experience playing with a few of the other guys in this group and impacts winning in a positive manner."   "Number 22 [player_tooltip player_id='1908335' first='Chris' last='Loggins'] is a very high-level run and jump athlete. He can make a lot happen with his combination of length, strength, and tenacity. We think he can be a terror in transition and a beast on the boards. We see Chris as a player who can be a double-double threat in any individual game."   "Number 23 [player_tooltip player_id='1355919' first='Bennett' last='Larson'] is a beast. Bennett sets the tone in the paint game in and game out. We see him as a defensive anchor, a double-double guy, and a switchable defensive anomaly. The way he moves at his size is very, very uncommon in North Dakota. We had the chance to have Bennett play up with us in a few events last season and he did not show any signs of being younger than everyone else on the floor. Bennett is a guy we expect to see a double-double from most, if not all games."   "Number 24 [player_tooltip player_id='1355920' first='Braylen' last='Schirado'] is a very skilled, talented combo guard. He has the ability to score from all over the floor and, like Larson, is very well-taught defensively. He shot 43% from 3 during the high school season on a team that took 3rd at State. We look for Braylen to be a calming influence on the floor with the ability to score both in bunches and consistently over the course of the game."   "Number 32 [player_tooltip player_id='1657450' first='Izaac' last='Strandlien'] is 1 of the top players in the ND class of 2027. In his own age level, Izaac has shown the ability to score almost every way imaginable. Izaac really improved as a communicator and decision-maker over the course of his varsity season. Izaac is a dynamic transition player with the ability to really get out in transition and make things happen, but can also score in the half-court, on the catch-and-shoot, catch-and-drive, and posting in mismatches. We see Izaac as a player who can hit double figures several times each weekend, as well as compete defensively and on the glass."   "Number 40 [player_tooltip player_id='1484338' first='Brooks' last='Bakko'] is another 1 of the top players in the ND class of 2027. Brooks had a very nice varsity season in a tough Region 1 for a very competitive Kindred team. We see Brooks as a player who will have the ball in his hands for us a lot. He does a nice job making advanced reads in ball screen situations while being hyper-competitive defensively."   "Number 42 [player_tooltip player_id='1632628' first='Parker' last='Jacobson'] is a sniper. Parker competes defensively, takes care of the ball, and has some ability to create. That said, what makes Parker stand out is that when he enters any game he has the potential to hit 5+ 3s at a very high clip. Coaches recruit shooting and Parker can really, really, really shoot it."   Q&A with Jordan Maurer   PHD: Why are you excited about this team/roster?   Coach Maurer: "After 1 weekend of practice what left us most excited was how quickly the guys picked up on playing with each other and playing unselfishly. We think we will really be able to score the basketball inside, using both the post and the slash, and we feel we have guys that can really shoot it in the half-court. We think we have the athletic wings needed to make plays in transition. Defensively, we think we have a chance to be special. The guys do a nice job of communicating and [player_tooltip player_id='1355919' first='Bennett' last='Larson'] can anchor a defense. We really think we will be able to hold teams to 1 shot."   PHD: When you are scouting for future players, what attributes make an impression?   Coach Maurer: "We try to build our rosters logically when we can. A 1, a 1/2, a 2, a 2/3, a 3, a 3/4, a 4, a 4/5, and a 5."   "1 - Looking for someone that can run a team. Can you get in the paint? Can you guard? Do you take difficult shots? Do you make decisions quickly? [player_tooltip player_id='1484338' first='Brooks' last='Bakko'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1632649' first='Hayden' last='Seay'] really fit the bill"   "2 - Looking for someone that can shoot it and score it. Can you guard? Do you understand reading screens? [player_tooltip player_id='1632628' first='Parker' last='Jacobson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1355920' first='Braylen' last='Schirado'] really fit the bill."   "3 - Looking for someone that can play the 2 if we go big and can play the 4 if we go small. Can you guard multiple positions? Can you shoot it? Do you slash? Do you do something well offensively? "[player_tooltip player_id='1657450' first='Izaac' last='Strandlien'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1545213' first='Kenyatta' last='White'] really fit the bill here."   "4 - Looking for a stretch 4, or someone who is athletic and can get in the paint and can really rebound. Can you guard? Ideally, you have all of these attributes, but that is obviously very uncommon. [player_tooltip player_id='1355915' first='Sage' last='Hanson'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1908335' first='Chris' last='Loggins'] really fit the bill."   "5 - Can you protect the paint? Can you rebound? Do you make layups consistently? Do you shoot it every time you touch it? [player_tooltip player_id='1355919' first='Bennett' last='Larson'] really fits the bill."   "In general, we look for players who do SOMETHING really well, but you have to be able to guard. If you can run a team and you can guard, or you can shoot and you can guard, or you can make pick-and-pop 3s and guard, you have to be able to guard or the rest is irrelevant."   PHD: How often will your team practice/work out?   Coach Maurer: "We do a few sessions on weekends where we will do 2 practice sessions on Saturday and 2 practice sessions on Sunday. We do workouts during the week 2-3 times per week for the duration of the season."   PHD: What will a couple of your strengths be?   Coach Maurer: "Offensively we only really talk about shot quality and turnover percentage. I think our biggest strength is that we will not lose games due to taking difficult shots and turning the ball over. We also have the ability to throw it inside and make things happen, while having a big who is willing to pass it out to the shooters that we have if the doubles come."   PHD: What style of basketball will you play on the offensive end?   Coach Maurer: "We look to push the basketball in transition whenever we get a chance. In the half-court, we are more set-heavy than most programs and will run our motion or run through our quick hitters to create favorable scoring opportunities. I am a firm believer that bigs need to get rewarded for their efforts with post touches and roll/pop touches, and we really try to utilize our bigs in the half-court."   PHD: What brand of defense do you foresee your team playing?   Coach Maurer: "I am a conservative defensive coach. We are going to contest every shot, box out, and rebound. I am confident that the players and teams we play against will be talented enough not to fall for some of the gimmicks that work at the younger age levels of club basketball. Coaches watching our team play will see a group of athletes communicating and really working on the concept of team defense."   PHD: Is there an event/tournament you are most looking forward to?   Coach Maurer: "We are most looking forward to the Madness in the Midwest because we are excited to get on the floor and see how we perform against other teams."   PHD: Why did you join the Prep Hoops Circuit?   Coach Maurer: "I think the staff is very professional. This past season with our 2023s, we were very happy with the level of competition and the amount of visibility our players received. As the old adage goes, if it is not broken, do not fix it."   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/NDPhenom2026/status/1645849727320064000 </div></figure>

Today, we are looking at some of the best young talent from the state of North Dakota.