2 ECI 14U Previews
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Prep Hoops Dakotas (PHD) is bring you two ECI 14U Previews in this piece. We are looking at ECI 14U Krefting & ECI 14U Winczewski. Kirby Krefting is Grand Forks Red River’s head coach, and Dean Winczewski is Minot’s head…
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Continue ReadingPrep Hoops Dakotas (PHD) is bring you two ECI 14U Previews in this piece.
Kirby Krefting is Grand Forks Red River’s head coach, and Dean Winczewski is Minot’s head man. It will be an invaluable experience for these players, they have a chance to learn from a successful AA head coach.
Best of luck this season, see you on the PH Circuit!
See below for rosters, schedules, and Q&A sessions.
14U Krefting ROSTER
14U Winczewski ROSTER
SCHEDULES
Q&A with coach Kirby Krefting
PHD: Can you tell me about your coaching/basketball background?
“At Grand Forks Red River for 22 years. Going into my 10th year as head coach.“
PHD: Why are you excited to coach this group?
“Very athletic team who can go run and jump fullcourt, and still play a consistent half-court defense. If they get beat full court they have the ability to recover well.“
PHD: What will be the strengths of your team?
“Again the athleticism of this team is exceptional. Even with our bigs we put them on the ball in a full-court tap and they can move well with the guards.“
PHD: What style of basketball will you play?
“Our system is run in transition and creates turnovers for easy buckets.“
PHD: What will your team “hang your hat on”?
“Just with practices and the few tournaments we have been in you can tell we have good chemistry and catch on to the system well.“
PHD: Who do you predict will be your top defender?
“I have many gritty and tough defenders:“
“ Zaine Blixt Zaine Blixt 5'10" | SF Central Cass | 2028 ND – Will take charges, recover fast, and cuts off dribblers. Very aggressive young man.“
“ Kieper Krefting Kieper Krefting 5'10" | SG ND – Guards the ball well, traps, and is the first on the ball in full-court press.“
“ Knox Collins Knox Collins 5'10" | PG Fargo Davies | 2028 ND – Speeds the tempo up, great help-side, and reads his man well. Athletic young man.“
“ Bricker Johnson Bricker Johnson 5'9" | SF Mayport-CG | 2028 ND – Smart, always in help-side, great offensive rebounder, and finishes well.“
PHD: What event/tournament are you looking forward to the most?
“We are looking forward to all the competition and growth in each tournament.“
PHD: Do you see your team playing man, zone, or a mix of both?
“We play a run-and-jump full, up the line on the line half, help-side trap on the baseline, and switch in half set.“
PHD: Will your team get together and practice?
“We practice once a week at our half-point travel in Mayville. We also go on a Sunday when we don’t have a tournament.“
PHD: What are your goals for this AAU/grassroots season?
“Teamwork, Attitude, and Growth – The boys have played roles well to be successful.“
PHD: Who are some of your top shooters?
“We have a lockdown shooter that will shoot you out of a zone named Kole Buhr Kole Buhr 5'10" | SG Central Cass | 2028 ND .“
“We have a 6’5 post that finishes well, protects the basket, and has a dominant post move named- Stephon Booth Stephon Booth 6'5" | C West Fargo | 2028 ND .“
“We have a 6’2 F/G named Theo Paye Theo Paye 6'1" | SF Grand Forks Red River | 2028 ND that can go to the basket well and step out to shoot it.“
“We have a skilled point that is fundamentally sound ball handler and passer named Scott Schulz Scott Schulz 5'8" | PG Horace | 2028 ND .“
“We have another zone breaker that can play inside out named Logan Breidenbach Logan Breidenbach 5'10" | SF West Fargo Sheyenne | 2028 ND .“
Q&A with coach Dean Winczewski
PHD: Can you tell me about your coaching/basketball background?
“I have coached for 27 years and have been involved in basketball for most of my life. Played at Minot State and have coached in Dickinson and Minot most recently.“
PHD: Why are you excited to coach this group?
“Great kids, with tremendous work ethic, and have already proven to be willing to work together.”
PHD: What will be the strengths of your team?
“Defensive effort, athleticism and we have a number of kids that can score the ball.“
PHD: What style of basketball will you play?
“We will play fast and try to get the ball up the floor as quickly as possible. We are going to try and use ball pressure to make up for a lack of size.“
PHD: What will your team “hang your hat on”?
“Offense – Being balanced.“
“Defense – Try to out-effort people.“
PHD: Who do you predict will be your top defender?
“ Josh Link Josh Link 6'1" | PG Bismarck Legacy | 2028 ND , Bensyn Schirado Bensyn Schirado 5'5" | CG Beulah | 2028 ND , Bridger Bloms Bridger Bloms 5'6" | PG Bismarck Legacy | 2028 ND , and Jace Becker Jace Becker 6'0" | SF Ray | 2028 ND have already proven to be able to get after the ball and create havoc.“
PHD: What event/tournament are you looking forward to the most?
“All of them. Every time we get to play it is a great chance for all of these kids to get better and compete.“
PHD: Do you see your team playing man, zone, or a mix of both?
“All Man all the time!“
PHD: Will your team get together and practice?
“Practice before tournaments, but being spread out, it will be hard to do so.“
PHD: What are your goals for this AAU/grassroots season?
“Our goals are to win a bunch of games, but more importantly to have all 9 of our players get better and work on their individual skills.“
PHD: Who are some of the top shooters?
“ Bensyn Schirado Bensyn Schirado 5'5" | CG Beulah | 2028 ND , Alex Winczewski Alex Winczewski 5'8" | PG Minot | 2028 ND , Blake Bergstrom Blake Bergstrom 5'8" | PG Ray | 2028 ND , Brody Johnson Brody Johnson 5'10" | SF Minot | 2028 ND are all good shooters, who spend a lot of time in the gym and have great confidence.“