Sanford Sports Academy-16U White

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Time for another Team Preview! Sanford Sports Academy White has a nice group of players from SD, MN, and IA. Prep Hoops is excited because this SSA squad is a member of the PH Circuit. They will be balling this weekend at Prep Hoops Live. There is some intriguing talent on this roster and they are led by a young up-and-coming coach <em>Ben Short</em>. Expect SSA 16U White to perform well this weekend at Live.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size">See below for SSA 16U White's player comments, schedule, and Q&amp;A with coach <em>Short</em>. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Spring Jam Results</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>WIN 80-34 vs. Lakes 16U</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>WIN 66-64 vs. SW MN Stars</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LOST 62-46 vs. West Central United</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>LOST 64-57 vs. West Central Wildcats</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Prep Hoops Live Schedule</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Saturday, April 29 vs. MN Rise 2025</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Saturday, April 29 vs. OTOD Blue</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sunday, April 30 vs. Colorado Miners</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Sunday, April 30 vs. Full Package Black</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1871650,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/SanfordSportsAcademyPreview.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/SanfordSportsAcademyPreview.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-1871650" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Player Comments from <em>Ben Short</em></span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1535886' first='Nick' last='Hanson'] (2025) |6'7 C| Viborg-Hurley</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Nick is great in the post. Great hands and footwork. Athletic for his size, does a great job running the floor. Can stretch the court and knock down shots from offside if you play off.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1263165' first='Aidan' last='Costain'] (2025) |6'5 F| Harrisburg</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>High motor kid. Uses his size and length to his advantage on defense, does a great job contesting without fouling. Aidan is great off the pick and roll, great hands around the rim. Relentless rebounder.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mahki Winter (2025) |6'4 G/F| Pipestone (MN)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Mahki is a flex player; he can play on the wing as well as in the post. His athleticism and size allow him to be quicker than a lot of posts and stronger than most wings that will be guarding him this summer. Big frame, good handles, he can create his own shot. Crafty around the rim.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1263161' first='Maverick' last='LeBrun'] (2025) |6'2 G| Dell Rapids St. Mary</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Maverick is a great defender. Long-armed and active defensively allows him to contest most shots and to wreak havoc on his opponents' getting steals and deflections. Strong and creative around the rim.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1441395' first='Nyun' last='Dut'] (2025) |6'1 G| O'Gorman</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>He is a hard-working player. Dut standouts on the defensive side of the ball and he is a nice athlete. He missed the first tournament but will be playing this weekend at Live.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kaden DeJager (2025) |6'1 G| Western Christian (IA)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>A great catch-and-shoot player from the outside. Kadan is a player who if he has his feet set, his high arching shot is almost guaranteed to go in.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tagon Woelber (2025) |6'0 G| Pipestone (MN)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Very quick first step. Creates great space off the dribble, this allows him to get off a lot of clean jump shots in the mid-range area. High IQ, high motor defensively allows him to be an impact player on both offense and defense.</em>" </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1548942' first='Marshall' last='Smythe'] (2025) |6'0 G| Tea Area</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Marshall has grown two inches since the fall. High basketball IQ. Top-notch work ethic, he has a smooth shot from range. He creates a lot of opportunities for himself on offense via steals and deflections on defense. Has a really nice floater when finishing among the bigs.</em>" </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1503881' first='Benson' last='Kieffer'] (2025) |5'10 G| Rapid City Christian</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>True point guard. Benson does a great job managing the flow of the game. He's a coach's kid, with great knowledge of the game. He does a great job directing traffic, creative offensively for others as well as for himself. Consistent shooter from range. Tough to defend, seems to be one step quicker than everyone else!</em>" </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Tournament Schedule</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list {"ordered":true} --> <ol><!-- wp:list-item {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <li class="has-medium-font-size">Pentagon Spring Jam, Sanford Pentagon-Sioux Falls, SD </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <li class="has-medium-font-size">Prep Hoops Live-Minneapolis, MN</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <li class="has-medium-font-size">Prep Hoops Stomping Grounds, Sanford Pentagon-Sioux Falls SD</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <li class="has-medium-font-size">Prep Hoops Battle at the Lakes-Minneapolis, MN</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <li class="has-medium-font-size">Great Plains Alliance-St. Cloud, MN</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <li class="has-medium-font-size">Pentagon Summer Slam, Sanford Pentagon-Sioux Falls SD</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <li class="has-medium-font-size">Prep Hoops Hardwork Region Finals-Minneapolis, MN</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <li class="has-medium-font-size">Summer Classic, Sanford Pentagon-Sioux Falls, SD</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ol> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Q&amp;A with coach <em>Short</em></span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: Why are you excited about this team/roster</span>?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Coach Short</span>: </strong>"<em>I have a group of really high-character guys that love the game of basketball. I will never have to ask them to work hard, they go all out no matter who their competition is.</em>" </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: How often will your team practice/work out</span>?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Coach Short</span>:</strong> "<em>1-2 times per week so far this season.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: What will a couple of your strengths be as a team</span>?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Coach Short</span>:</strong> "<em>Flexibility, Depth, No Ego's</em>!"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: What style of basketball will you play on the offensive end</span>?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Coach Short</span>: </strong>"<em>We are very athletic, deep in our guard play. Our bigs can run the court with the best of them as well. We want to use that to our advantage. Saying that, having a balance is key, because we do have talented bigs. Putting them in position via some of our sets now and then will help maximize their talent.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: What brand of defense do you foresee your team playing</span>? </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Coach Short</span>:</strong> "<em>We play man, our guards have very active hands, we want our defense to create our offense. Our guards have a security blanket with the bigs that we have. Two tall post players that can jump adds that extra comfort that we can be a little more aggressive on the perimeter.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: Is there an event/tournament you are most looking forward to and why</span>? </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Coach Short</span>:</strong> "<em>Prep Hoops Circuit Tournaments, getting to play in Minneapolis and other larger cities, against different competition/ tough competition, is always something to look forward to.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: How did they play last weekend in Sioux Falls</span>?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Coach Short</span>:</strong> "<em>The guys played well for it being our first time playing all together outside of practices. We had our glimpses of domination and how much potential we truly have. Overall, we took a big step in the right direction, now it's just consistency and building off that.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: Why are you expecting a big weekend at Live</span>?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Coach Short</span>:</strong> "<em>I am expecting a fun weekend because this will be our second tournament. This team has a lot of talented guys, the credentials are there! We've knocked the rust off, and the guys are figuring out each other's strengths and how to play off that. Only up from here this summer!</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: What is special about this team</span>?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Coach Short</span>:</strong> "<em>Their unselfishness. The number of extra passes made this past weekend was amazing. The whole team has a knack for finding the open player and hitting them at the right time.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1634111,"sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/10/TeamPreview.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/10/TeamPreview.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-1634111" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->