ND Attack 16U: Team Preview

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/Artwork_PNG_NDAttackLogo.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/Artwork_PNG_NDAttackLogo.png?w=450" alt="" class="wp-image-2406588" style="width:113px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   If you like skilled ballers, shooters, and 3-pointers, you will love this team! [program_tooltip program_id='2075723' first='ND' last='Attack'] has put together a talented & intriguing 16U squad. This group has the potential to compete with the best of the best in the 16U Division across the Dakotas.   PHD is excited to watch this squad in-person. We will be watching closely at Battle At The Lakes, Stomping Grounds, and the Hard Work Region Finals!   See below for roster info, a team schedule, player comments, and a Q&A session with coach Bob Beaudrie.<a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/10/TeamPreview.jpg"></a>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><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?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-1634111" style="width:247px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   Roster & Schedule   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/IMG_9138.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/IMG_9138.jpeg?w=901" alt="" class="wp-image-2410204" /></a></figure>   Player Comments from Coach Beaudrie   [player_tooltip player_id='1510891' first='Kolby' last='FastHorse']  - Dickinson   "Kolby has a very high ceiling in that he is very athletic, strong, and can defend. Kolby was the only true post we have had the last couple of years, and usually had to guard the other teams big man - which oftentimes - he was much shorter than. Kolby sees the floor well, and runs the floor well."   [player_tooltip player_id='1510889' first='Boston' last='Cranston'] - Dickinson   "Boston has put in a lot of time the last couple of years on his game and it shows. Boston was one of the leading Sophomore players in the WDA conference this year and was named All-Conference as a result. Boston is extremely adept at getting to the rim, and finishing, and now his outside shot has improved tremendously to make him a multi-threat type of player. He does a great job with the ball in his hands, and I expect a lot of great things out of Boston this summer. He is turning into a very special player."   [player_tooltip player_id='1632630' first='Brody' last='Lillemoen'] - Grafton   "Brody is a newcomer to our team this year, but not really new to us, as we have faced off against him many times over the years in the summer. Brody is long and tall, and has a very nice jump shot. Brody is an inside-out threat, and is a factor on defense because of his length and shot-blocking capabilities. Brody had a very nice year for Grafton this year as he was a huge contributor to their State-Qualifying team."   [player_tooltip player_id='1510892' first='Brayden' last='Blikre'] - Minot North   "Brayden has been with us for a while, and has improved steadily each and every year. Brayden is extremely athletic and always has had that "big play" capability. Whether it be offensively or defensively. Brayden has been a factor many times over the last few years in making a huge play to help us be successful. I look for Brayden to continue to improve this summer, and am very excited to have him back with us."   [player_tooltip player_id='1845252' first='Gunnar' last='Jost'] - Minot North   "Gunnar is an outside threat for us, and towards the end of last summer, he really started to put up some numbers in that respect. Gunnar also has shown improvement on the defensive side of the ball as he is another athletic kid who can be a pest on that end when he is locked in."   [player_tooltip player_id='1632628' first='Parker' last='Jacobson'] - Washburn   "Parker is a huge threat from the outside. If he has any sort of rhythm off the catch, odds are - he is going to make the shot. Parker has worked this year during his HS season on getting to the rim more often as well - which I think will really help him round out his total game. Parker was an All-Region player once again out of Washburn High School, and will continue to be one of the best shooters in Class B basketball in North Dakota."   [player_tooltip player_id='1511062' first='Rocklin' last='Beaudrie'] - Newburg   "Rocklin got to experience a State Championship this year as his Westhope-Newburg Sioux boys basketball team won the State B Title this year. Being able to play and work with those teammates year-round has really helped Rocklin become a solid player. He has a high basketball IQ and rarely makes mental mistakes. We look for him to be a defensive spark as well as being able to knock down shots when called upon."   [player_tooltip player_id='1632692' first='Elijah' last='Robinson'] - Minto   "Eli played a big role in the Midway-Minto Mustangs success this year. They made the District Championship game before succumbing to the eventual state runners-up North Star Bearcats. Eli can hit the open shot as well as distribute the basketball to the open teammate. He is another player with a high basketball IQ and will rarely make a mental mistake. I am very happy to have both Eli and his brother play on our squad this year."   [player_tooltip player_id='1632700' first='Ezra' last='Robinson'] - Minto   "Ezra was another very important factor in his HS team's success this year. Ezra is a playmaker on the offensive end, and a ball-hawk on the defensive end. I think his IQ and aggressiveness on D will help rub off on the rest of the boys and bring a hard-nosed attitude to our defense on the floor. Very excited to have him this year."   [player_tooltip player_id='1632619' first='Reggie' last='Rice'] - Grafton   "Reggie was another big contributor to the Grafton Spoilers success this year in Class A! Reggie has a lot of length and size, and is a very good ball-handler and shooter. Reggie is very tough to guard because post defenders are usually too slow to defend him, and guards are usually too small to defend him. He has a very good inside-out offensive game, and is an intimidating presence on the defensive side as well."   Q&A with Bob Beaudrie   PHD: Can you tell us about your coaching background?   "I have been a head Boys and Head Girls Basketball Coach going on 22 years mostly at Westhope-Newburg High School. I have been with [program_tooltip program_id='2075723' first='ND' last='Attack'] since its inception 7 years ago and have had the privilege of coaching a lot of great young athletes and basketball players. I enjoy being around the kids, and watching them grow into amazing and successful adults!"   PHD: What has you excited about this group?   "I am very excited to coach the crew that we have together this year."   "I have had [player_tooltip player_id='1510889' first='Boston' last='Cranston'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1511062' first='Rocklin' last='Beaudrie'] every year since 7th grade, [player_tooltip player_id='1510891' first='Kolby' last='FastHorse'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1510892' first='Brayden' last='Blikre'] since 8th grade, [player_tooltip player_id='1845252' first='Gunnar' last='Jost'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1632628' first='Parker' last='Jacobson'] last year, and [player_tooltip player_id='1632630' first='Brody' last='Lillemoen'], [player_tooltip player_id='1632619' first='Reggie' last='Rice'], [player_tooltip player_id='1632692' first='Elijah' last='Robinson'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1632700' first='Ezra' last='Robinson'] are new to our squad this year and I have watched them play the last few years, and coached against them - so we are very happy to have them on our squad this year."   PHD: What are your strengths as a team?   "We will have some good ball-handlers, shooters, and now this year - we will have a little bit of size to go along with it, with the addition of [player_tooltip player_id='1632630' first='Brody' last='Lillemoen'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1632619' first='Reggie' last='Rice']. I think it will take a few games for us to get used to playing together as a group, but once everyone figures out their roles - they will be a tough team to contend with."   PHD: What style will you play?   "We will like to play up and down and try and get in transition as much as possible. We want to try and go inside-out in the half-court, and get to the rim as much as possible as I think that is the best way to get our shooters some good looks from the outside."   "Defensively we want to communicate, see our help, and take away any good looks at the basket."   PHD: Who are your top defenders?   "We have a couple of kids on our team that are defensive stoppers. [player_tooltip player_id='1511062' first='Rocklin' last='Beaudrie'] does a great job of on-ball defense and can be a pest for offensive players. He takes pride in his defense and takes a lot of charges. [player_tooltip player_id='1510892' first='Brayden' last='Blikre'] also can be a deceiving defender as he is very athletic and can get up and block shots against players much taller than he is. Brayden came up with a lot of key steals last summer. [player_tooltip player_id='1632700' first='Ezra' last='Robinson'] is a newcomer to the team who I see is a ball hawk as well. He is a pesky defender and gets a lot of deflections and steals because of his high basketball IQ. [player_tooltip player_id='1510891' first='Kolby' last='FastHorse'] has proven that he can defend much bigger players than himself in the post area, and when he is locked in on that end of the floor - he does a great job for us."   PHD: What tournaments are you looking forward to?   "We are looking forward to participating in a few Prep Hoops tournaments this year as we have not done that much with any of our teams in the past. I think it will be great competition, and we will see many teams that we don't normally see during the course of the rest of the summer."   PHD: What will be your defensive philosophy?   "We will stick with man-to-man defense for the most part throughout the summer. We will throw in an attacking zone for a change of pace at times as well as throw in a zone press - but we will mostly play a man-to-man defense."   PHD: Do you get a chance to practice as a group?   "We try and get together as much as possible for practices - but with the varying geography of all the players on our team, it is tough to get together as often as we would like. Practices are very productive when we are able to have them, and I like being able to give the players some extra things that they can put in their bag for themselves and that they can bring back to their high school teams."   PHD: What are your goals for the AAU Season?   "I am hoping that the boys will steadily improve over the course of the summer, and improve some parts of their game that may not necessarily be a role for them on their regular High School teams. The overall goal is to make each individual a more well-rounded player by the end of the season."   PHD: Who are your top shooters?   "[player_tooltip player_id='1632628' first='Parker' last='Jacobson'] is one of the top shooters in Class B basketball in North Dakota. He has connected on 101 3' point shots on Varsity his freshman year at 50% and this year he connected on 88 3's for the season at a 47% clip. He is a very good shooter. [player_tooltip player_id='1845252' first='Gunnar' last='Jost'] is a very good outside shooter for us, and had some big games from deep last summer. [player_tooltip player_id='1510889' first='Boston' last='Cranston'] has improved his outside shot tremendously from last year, and was a very dangerous threat in Class AA this year. [player_tooltip player_id='1632692' first='Elijah' last='Robinson'] is also a very good shooter from the outside. I am very happy overall with the entire team's ability to hit shots as we have a lot of guys that have proved that they can hit the outside shot fairly consistently."   Best of luck to [program_tooltip program_id='2075723' first='ND' last='Attack'] this season!   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/Artwork_PNG_NDAttackLogo.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/Artwork_PNG_NDAttackLogo.png?w=450" alt="" class="wp-image-2406588" /></a></figure>