ECI 14U East Majkrzak: Season Rewind
In this article:
It is time to take a deep dive into another ECI squad! In this piece, we are looking ECI 14U East Majkrzak. This group had moments of brilliance and they showed a ton of potential. Scott Majkrzak was the head…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingIt is time to take a deep dive into another ECI squad! In this piece, we are looking ECI 14U East Majkrzak. This group had moments of brilliance and they showed a ton of potential. Scott Majkrzak was the head coach of this 14U team and he helped the players improve over the course of the grassroots season. Keep track of these ballers, it will be fun to see how their first season of high school basketball progresses. Best of luck in school ball and we hope to see you on the Prep Hoops Circuit this spring!
“First and foremost, it was a pleasure to coach such a great group of kids and get the opportunity to spend time with their amazing families this season. This was a very talented team that had some ups and downs, but we were highly competitive all season long while playing some of the best teams in the region. Our biggest goals for the season were to play unselfish basketball and get better every tournament and I think we accomplished both. Overall, we had a very successful season, and I can’t wait to watch these boys as they transition into their high school careers.” -Scott Majkrzak
Player Comments from Scott Majkrzak
Kash Lorenz Kash Lorenz 5'8" | SG Central Cass | 2027 State ND |5’5 G| Central Cass
“Kash is an extremely quick guard who has the ability to shoot the three at a high level as well as score in the mid-range with floaters. Even though he was undersized at times, he really battled defensively and saw nice improvement with his on-ball defense as the season went on. Kash has a true scorer’s mentality and when he gets it going, he can really light up the scoreboard. We had a couple of games that we don’t win without him getting hot.“
Aidan Sanchez |6’0 G/F| Breckenridge
“Aiden did it all for us this summer. He is very athletic with great length, he can play multiple positions on offense and guard all 5 positions on defense. He was best when he was finishing in transition and attacking the rim but can also take bigger players out to the perimeter and shoot the triple at an effective rate. He really improved his passing ability as the season went on and did a great job of making his teammates better. The future is very bright for Aidan.“
Ryder Majkrzak Ryder Majkrzak 5'11" | PG Horace | 2027 State ND |5’7 G| Horace
“Ryder is a highly skilled combo guard who can light it up from a distance as well as score in a variety of ways in the mid-range and at the rim. He carried us in a number of games offensively with his scoring ability and big shots. As the season went on, he really improved his ball handling and on-ball defensive pressure. Ryder has the skill set to go left or right when attacking his defender, finish with both hands at the rim, and the ability to read his defender off the ball to get open looks.“
Tommy Baumgartner Tommy Baumgartner 6'4" | SG Shanley | 2027 State ND |6’3 G| Shanley
“Tommy is a very talented player who has great length and athleticism. He is one of the better shooters and pure scorers on our team. His size and skill level allowed him to shoot over smaller defenders and take bigger players off the bounce. We asked him to guard much bigger players
at times and I thought he took on that challenge and really improved his rebounding and help defense as the year progressed. Big upside for this future Deacon.“
Hudson Rietschel Hudson Rietschel 6'0" | SG Northern Cass | 2027 State ND |5’11 G| Northern Cass
“Hudson is a strong and athletic wing that can score the ball in a variety of ways. He is a three-level scorer who uses his versatility to score over smaller guards or take bigger defenders off the dribble. He had multiple games where he carried us through stretches offensively. His ability to get in the lane and rebound on both ends of the floor really improved as the year went on. Hudson has a ton of potential and will be a big contributor for Northern Cass this year.“
Ace Sheeley Ace Sheeley 5'9" | SG West Fargo | 2027 State ND |5’8 G| West Fargo
“Ace is a very athletic player who can break down the defense and get in the lane at will. He can get to his spot and score at a high level by elevating over defenders with his jumping ability. As the season went on, he continued to improve his passing and did a nice job of creating open shots for his teammates. One of his best traits is his competitiveness and was always willing to take on a challenge. He was often tasked with guarding the other team’s best player and always stepped up.“
Brett Livingston Brett Livingston 6'5" | PF Horace | 2027 State ND |6’4 F| Horace
“Brett is a long, athletic big man that can really run the floor. He was given the task of defending the opponents’ big, which he did a great job of. He also did a really good job of protecting the rim and rebounding for us. Offensively, he attacks the glass with tenacity and can score with his back to the basket and in transition. Brett has a nice touch from the perimeter and utilized it in some pick-n-pop action. His skill and athleticism give him a really high ceiling.“
Owen Terras Owen Terras 6'2" | SF Horace | 2027 State ND |5’11 G| Horace
“Owen has a high basketball IQ and amazing versatility as a player. He guarded multiple positions defensively and played 1-4 on offense. His passing ability separates him from most, but he has really expanded his offensive game and become a very good 3-point shooter in addition to being able to score at the rim and in the mid-range. In tight games and pressure situations, we wanted the choices/reads to flow through Owen. He has the amazing ability to make everyone around him better.“
Q&A with Coach Majkrzak
PHD: What are some of the highlights from the season?
“We got out of the gate strong at the Great Plains Alliance tourney in St. Cloud where we beat some very good teams before losing to the eventual champion in the Semifinals. We also finished the season with one of our most complete games of the year where we lost in overtime to a great Sanford Black team in the Pentagon Classic. Even though it was a loss, our effort and energy were fantastic, and it was one of the best AAU basketball games you’ll ever see. When we were at our best, we were moving the ball side to side which generated great looks and assisted baskets. We were really good when that happened!“
PHD: Who were a couple of your top shooters?
“ Ryder Majkrzak Ryder Majkrzak 5'11" | PG Horace | 2027 State ND – He shot the ball at a high level all season and had several games with multiple triples. Great range and can shoot it well off the catch or off the bounce.“
“ Kash Lorenz Kash Lorenz 5'8" | SG Central Cass | 2027 State ND – He has really nice shot prep and a quick release. Got hot in a few games that we don’t win without his shooting ability.“
“ Tommy Baumgartner Tommy Baumgartner 6'4" | SG Shanley | 2027 State ND – He has great shot mechanics and a high release which allows him to get his shot off against anyone. Can fill it up in bunches.“
PHD: Who was your most improved player?
“ Hudson Rietschel Hudson Rietschel 6'0" | SG Northern Cass | 2027 State ND – His defense and rebounding really improved as the season went on. Offensively, he’s always been a great shooter, but he expanded his game by attacking the rim off the bounce as well as creating for his teammates.“
PHD: Who were some of your hardest workers?
“ Owen Terras Owen Terras 6'2" | SF Horace | 2027 State ND – He is one of the hardest working players you’ll ever see and is always willing to do whatever is asked of him for the team. Took multiple charges over the course of the year.“
“ Ace Sheeley Ace Sheeley 5'9" | SG West Fargo | 2027 State ND – Brought energy and effort to every game and practice which elevated others around him. Was typically tasked with guarding the other team’s best guard and did a great job.“
“ Brett Livingston Brett Livingston 6'5" | PF Horace | 2027 State ND – He had to battle against our opponent’s best big man all season long and did a great job. Rebounded and protected the rim with effort all season.“
“Aidan Sanchez – Always willing to do the little things to help us win. Runs the floor with great effort and battled against bigger opponents all summer on the glass to become one of our best rebounders.“
PHD: Who was your best defensive player and why?
“Aidan Sanchez – Has the size, athleticism, and versatility to guard all five positions and he did it at a high level all season. He was also one of our best rebounders and shot blocker.“
PHD: Which tourney was the most fun?
“Our home ECI tournament stands out the most. We played several competitive games and a memorable comeback win against WC United before losing in the Championship game.“