Four Winds/Minnewaukan: Preview
In this article:
For this Season Preview, we are taking a look at one of the top programs in North Dakota. Four Winds/Minnewaukan has made it a habit to be one of the best B teams across the state in recent years. What…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingFor this Season Preview, we are taking a look at one of the top programs in North Dakota. Four Winds/Minnewaukan has made it a habit to be one of the best B teams across the state in recent years. What is new this year? North Dakota has 3-Classes and the Indains are moving up to Class A.
Four Winds/Minnewaukan is still expected to be one of the top teams in North Dakota. They bring back two stars and they have a nice cast of role players. 4WM is a well coached team and they live/breath basketball in that community. It is going to be another fun year of basketball and the Indians will be one of the most entertaining teams out there to watch. Get this team on your watchlist, you will not be disappointed!
Team: Four Winds/Minnewaukan
Mascot: Indian
Head Coach: Rick Smith
Class: A
Region: 2
2022-2023 Team Stats
GP: 24 Record: 22-2 PPG: 69.4 RPG: 31.1 APG: 14.6 SPG: 14.1 BPG: 2.6
FG%: 46 2FGM: 560 2FG%: 56 3FGM: 124 3FG%: 25 FTM: 174 FT%: 60
Returning Statistical Leaders
Deng Deng Deng Deng 6'5" | SF Four Winds/Minnewaukan | 2024 ND – 24 GP, 22.8 ppg, 10.3 rpg, 2.3 apg, 55 FG%
Dalen Leftbear Dalen Leftbear 6'3" | SF FourWinds/Minnewaukan | 2024 State ND – 22 GP, 16 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 2.2 apg, 55 FG%
Wade Nestell Wade Nestell 6'0" | SG Four Winds/Minnewaukan | 2024 State ND – 24 GP, 7.8 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.9 apg, 46 FG%
Keyshawn St. Pierre Keyshawn St. Pierre 5'8" | SG Four Winds/Minnewaukan | 2024 State ND – 24 GP, 5.3 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 1.8 apg, 49 FG%
Q&A with coach Rick Smith
PHD: How would you sum up last season?
“What could have been. Injuries. We were following up another great year last year, winning 46 straight games until losing to Shiloh late in the year. In the first game of the Regional Tournament, we lost a player that we really couldn’t afford to lose. When Dalen Leftbear Dalen Leftbear 6'3" | SF FourWinds/Minnewaukan | 2024 State ND went down with an injury in the opening game of the Regional Tournament, we didn’t have time to adjust, and it cost us our 2nd loss of the season to North Star. Even though we were in the game until the end, we couldn’t overcome the loss of Leftbear. Even though we all know injuries are part of the game, losing Leftbear, took away our best defender and 2nd overall best offensive player. Even though it was a great year for us it was a disappointing ending.“
PHD: How did the off-season go for your team?
“The offseason was very busy again as it usually is for our program. We attended several team camps in Bismarck, Devils Lake, Minneapolis, NDSU, and our own annual camp. The boys stayed busy in the weight room and fitness centers working on their programs.“
PHD: Who are your top players to watch this season?
“On our team, Deng Deng Deng Deng 6'5" | SF Four Winds/Minnewaukan | 2024 ND and Dalen Leftbear Dalen Leftbear 6'3" | SF FourWinds/Minnewaukan | 2024 State ND are two of the better seniors in the state. They are in their third year in the starting line-up. They have continued to work on their game in and out of the gym year-round. Wade Nestell Wade Nestell 6'0" | SG Four Winds/Minnewaukan | 2024 State ND , will be at the point guard spot again this year. He is very quick and a pest on the defensive side of the floor. Wade is also a very underrated shooter. Kylon Keja started every game for us last year. Kylon is by far our strongest player on the floor. He can play multiple positions. Keyshawn St. Pierre Keyshawn St. Pierre 5'8" | SG Four Winds/Minnewaukan | 2024 State ND was our 6th man last year and is a very scrappy guard on the defensive side of the ball, he will be battling for a starting spot on this team. Keilan Longie Keilan Longie 5'11" | SG Four Winds-Minnewaukan | 2025 State ND , Jonte Delorme Jonte Delorme 5'10" | SG Four Winds-Minnewaukan | 2026 State ND , Ron McKay Ron McKay 6'3" | SF Four Winds-Minnewaukan | 2025 State ND Jr. could also be battling for a starting spot on this team. They all bring a unique and different quality to this team. Other players to watch for are Clayton Dubois, Richard Cavanaugh, Kashton Keja, Greyson Delorme, and Dorvan McKay Dorvan McKay 5'8" | CG Four Winds/Minnewaukan | 2025 State ND are all players looking for varsity playing time.“
PHD: Who are some of your young up-n-coming guys to watch?
“We have a very talented sophomore and freshmen class of players. Jonte Delorme Jonte Delorme 5'10" | SG Four Winds-Minnewaukan | 2026 State ND , Clayton Dubois, Richard Cavanaugh, Tyler Black, and Marial Deng Marial Deng 6'4" | SF Four Winds/Minnewaukan | 2026 State ND (back in January from knee injury) lead a very nice group of sophomores. Joran Lohnes Joran Lohnes 6'2" | SG Four Winds-Minnewaukan | 2027 State ND , Dayson Dubois, Lander Guy Lander Guy 5'10" | SF Four Winds/Minnewaukan | 2027 State ND , Wambli Yankton Wambli Yankton 5'10" | SG Four Winds/Minnewaukan | 2027 State ND are very talented freshmen.“
PHD: What style of basketball will you play?
“As always we like the up-tempo type of game on the offensive end, with limited turnovers. We have guys that can run the floor. On the defensive end, constant pressure on opposing teams. Besides Deng and Leftbear we are not very big, but have very quick guards.“
PHD: Do you have any team goals for the season?
“Entering a new division of basketball, our goals are to always improve at every practice every game, every tournament and hope the end result will be positive. We want to try and outwork every opponent that we play to give ourselves a chance to win.“
PHD: Who do you see as the top teams in the Region?
“Devils Lake: Very talented senior and junior class, that have played in big games in the top division of basketball last year. They will be a big challenge to every team year in and year out.“
“Grafton: Bring back talented guards that have a lot of experience.“
“Hillsboro: Bring back talented big men, that pose a problem for the smaller teams.“
“Thompson: Losing one of their best players this year will hurt, but bringing back some talented players with State experience.“
Indians Schedule
DATE | OPPONENT | LOCATION |
12/9 | Oak Grove | Four Winds |
12/14 | Grafton | Four Winds |
12/16 | Wahpeton | Wahpeton |
12/21 | Devils Lake | Four Winds |
12/23 | Central Cass | Four Winds |
12/29 | Dickinson Trinity | Minot |
12/30 | Beulah | Minot |
1/4 | Rugby | Rugby |
1/6 | Standing Rock | Four Winds |
1/11 | Carrington | Minnewaukan |
1/15 | Dunseith | Dunseith |
1/19 | Turtle Mountain | Devils Lake |
1/20 | Kindred | Devils Lake |
1/26 | Thompson | Four Winds |
2/1 | Grafton | Grafton |
2/3 | Hillsboro/CV | Four Winds |
2/6 | Devils Lake | Devils Lake |
2/13 | Carrington | Four Winds |
2/17 | Shiloh Christian | Four Winds |
2/23 | Hillsboro/CV | Hillsboro |
2/27 | Thompson | Thompson |
3/4-3/7 | Class A Regionals | Mayville |
3/9 | State Qualifier | Fargo/SHAC |
3/14-3/16 | State A Tournament | FargoDome |
Best of luck to the Indians!