ND Preseason A Power Rankings
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This is the first season of 3-Classes in North Dakota High School Basketball. It will take a while to get used to it but we do not have much time. Practice starts on the 27th! In this article, we have…
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Continue ReadingThis is the first season of 3-Classes in North Dakota High School Basketball. It will take a while to get used to it but we do not have much time. Practice starts on the 27th!
In this article, we have our Preseason A Power Rankings. It will be an interesting year, to say the least.
Will the old A teams take care of business against the old B teams? Will the old B teams show out? Will new rivalries form? Will we like 3 Classes? Only time will tell… I do know that there is a ton of talent in Class A.
With that said, let’s take a look at the Power Rankings. We will give you three reasons WHY the team made the Rankings and ask a question about each squad.
Best of luck to all the teams and players as we prepare for the season!
#1 Devils Lake Firebirds
WHY?
-They will overwhelm teams with length, athleticism, and explosive scoring
– Wylee Delorme Wylee Delorme 6'5" | SG Devils Lake | 2024 State ND , Parker Brodina, Oliver Wirth Oliver Wirth 6'6" | PF Devils Lake | 2025 State ND , Joel Nelson Joel Nelson 6'6" | SF Devils Lake | 2025 State ND , Beau Brodina Beau Brodina 6'2" | SG Devils Lake | 2024 State ND make a scary 5
-Solid depth off the bench, the entire team will play hard, intense, and fast
Are there enough shots to go around to keep everyone happy?
#2 Kindred Vikings
WHY?
-They have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to size & athletes
-Will dominate on the glass, own the paint, and take away passing angles
-Length for days, plenty of depth, they have all the pieces to be elite
Will everyone buy into & accept their role and what kind of defense will they play?
#3 Four Winds-Minnewaukan Indians
WHY?
-They bring back 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 , excellent athletes
-Suffocating defense, create turnovers, dictate the tempo, fast & furious
-Deep stable of quick young guards, strong program, excellent coaching staff
Will they shoot it well enough from 3-point land to compete with the best teams?
#4 Grafton Spoilers
WHY?
-They bring back a boatload of experience with a veteran backcourt
– Braylon Baldwin Braylon Baldwin 5'11" | PG Grafton | 2024 State ND , Juan Villarreal Juan Villarreal 6'0" | SG Grafton | 2024 State ND , Reggie Rice Reggie Rice 6'5" | PF Grafton | 2026 State ND , Ryan Hanson Ryan Hanson 5'11" | SG Grafton | 2024 ND , Kyler Droog Kyler Droog 6'7" | PF Grafton | 2025 State ND make a salty lineup
-Skilled players, loads of talented 3-point shooters, share the ball, will have no trouble scoring
Do they have enough depth and size to compete with the best teams?
#5 Shiloh Christian Skyhawks
WHY?
–Miller is a veteran coach that has seen it all, Atticus Wilkinson Atticus Wilkinson 6'6" | PF Shiloh Christian | 2024 State ND will be load to handle inside
– Caden Englund Caden Englund 6'2" | CG Shiloh Christian | 2025 State ND breakout season coming, Isaac Emmel Isaac Emmel 5'11" | CG Shiloh Christian | 2024 State ND & Wyatt Westin Wyatt Westin 6'2" | SG Shiloh Christian | 2025 State ND can stretch the floor for 3’s
-They will have plenty of depth in the backcourt
How does this team mesh and blend in together?
#6 Central Cass Squirrels
WHY?
-They had a perfect season and won the State Championship last season
-Coach is a student of the game, Cole Holzer Cole Holzer 6'7" | PF Central Cass | 2024 State ND is ready for another BIG season
– Carter Vrchota Carter Vrchota 6'1" | SG Central Cass | 2024 State ND is a gamer, many other shooters, fullcourt press was deadly last year
-Who will step up and fill Kobbervig’s shoes?
#7 Dickinson Trinity Titans
WHY?
– Jake Shobe Jake Shobe 6'1" | SG Dickinson Trinity | 2024 State ND and Gregg Grinsteinner, enough said!
-They have a solid group of players, disciplined & tough, players buy-in
-Shobe brothers will be very productive, other quality athletes will complement them nicely
-Can they score enough points to compete with the big boys?
#8 Stanley Blue Jays
WHY?
– Josh Hetzel Josh Hetzel 6'2" | SG Stanley | 2024 State ND and Drake Schlosser Drake Schlosser 6'2" | SG Stanley | 2025 State ND make a dynamic backcourt, serious shooters
– Bennett Larson Bennett Larson 6'7" | C Stanley | 2026 State ND , Jackson Hynek Jackson Hynek 6'2" | SF Stanley | 2024 State ND , and Ben Hynek Ben Hynek 6'7" | C Stanley | 2027 State ND will provide size & toughness inside the arc
-Nice inside-out offense, good quickness on the perimeter & game-changing length inside
What kind of depth do the Blue Jays have?
#9 Beulah Miners
WHY?
-4 talented guards with Trace Beauchamp Trace Beauchamp 6'4" | SG Beulah | 2024 State ND , , Braylen Schirado Braylen Schirado 6'0" | CG Beulah | 2026 State ND , and Champ Hettich Champ Hettich 6'3" | SG Beulah | 2024 State ND
-They will stretch & spread the floor, many shooters that can hit the triple
-Will break teams down off the bounce, good athleticism and skill
Do the Miners have the interior size and how does the new coach do?
*Tie #10 Wahpeton Huskies
WHY?
– Jayden King Jayden King 6'4" | PF Wahpeton | 2024 State ND , Treyton Mauch Treyton Mauch 5'11" | SG Wahpeton | 2025 State ND , and Brayden Steffens Brayden Steffens 5'10" | SG Wahpeton | 2026 State ND will make a quality backcourt
-The Huskies defense will give opposing teams problems, pressure, press, tough, persistent
–Jeff Ralph is a very good coach and a great teacher of the game, his teams always play hard
Do they have enough firepower to score with the top teams?
*Tie #10 Turtle Mountain Braves
WHY?
-They always score plenty of points and give opposing defenses fits
– Gunner Zerr Gunner Zerr 6'0" | SG Turtle Mountain | 2024 State ND should be one of the top guards in Class A
-The Braves will play fast, push the tempo, and make plays in transition
How bought in on defense are they and do they have interior size?