SSA Black - Season Review

The club season seems to be wrapped up in the Dakotas, with being said, we have a [program_tooltip program_id='2222672' first='Sanford' last='Sports Academy'] Season Review. This squad is loaded with talent and many of these athletes will play at the next level.   Look below for an interesting and in-depth convo with coach Nate Kaeding.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/SeaonReview-.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/SeaonReview-.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-1842251" style="width:367px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/QA.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/QA.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-2511663" style="width:232px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   PHD: How would you sum up the season for your squad?   "The best way to characterize this group and the biggest compliment to our guys is I truly believe that this group came very, very close to maximizing the potential that they had. You are always striving for more as a coach, but the vast majority of the time, they responded in a big way. They are a bunch of selfless, hardworking athletes that come from supportive families. We had our fair share of success this year, however, what I will remember most is the team's intangible set was off the charts! Special group in that way."   PHD: Do you have any fun memories you want to share with us from the season?   "One of the memories and games that will stand out is when we were in Atlanta for the Under Armour Rise Session II we played Virginia Elite who had a top 50 player in the country amongst multiple other D1 recruits. We managed to dig ourselves a 17-pt. hole that we ended up coming back from in the 2nd half to win a close game against a really high-level team to finish 9-2 in UA pool play."   PHD: How did your team overcome adversity?   "The ability to handle adversity and the ability to compete at a truly high level in summer tournaments with multiple games in a day can be challenging. This group managed that challenge pretty well. There were only a few select instances where we maybe didn't give our opponent our best shot. We had a talented group, but their overall mental toughness was a big strength of the team."   PHD: What are a few things your team improved on?   "We made strides in being able to really read defenses on multiple different levels and make the correct basketball play. Our team's defensive rebounding improved throughout the season and our overall defensive connectedness."   PHD: Who was your top shooter?   "We had multiple guys that could get it rolling from 3. [player_tooltip player_id='1297809' first='Markus' last='Talley'], [player_tooltip player_id='1167609' first='Sullivan' last='Ihry'], [player_tooltip player_id='1503881' first='Benson' last='Kieffer'], [player_tooltip player_id='1263152' first='Edison' last='Noll'], [player_tooltip player_id='1263162' first='Ben' last='Brooks'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1167611' first='Bonfas' last='Loria'] all had games where they hit multiple 3's."   PHD: Who was your best rebounder?   "Our big fella, [player_tooltip player_id='1327459' first='Bryon' last='Laue'], was our top rebounder on the year. Bryon is loud inside and hard to move. He has also improved his lift off the ground and ability to really chase rebounds."   PHD: Who was your best defensive player?   "[player_tooltip player_id='1167611' first='Bonfas' last='Loria'] always brought great energy on that side of the court and was a tone-setter for us. Overall, we were fairly assignment-sharp and really had our whole team buy into getting stops and forcing other teams into tough 2's."   PHD: Any last comments/thoughts on the season?   "This was a really fun group to coach. Some of them have been in our Sanford Sports program for a few years and others were new to us this year. They were low-maintenance guys who enjoyed each other's company, and we are really excited to see their futures take shape…. Whether that be playing college basketball, football, or focusing on their academic interests."     ROSTER   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/image.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/image.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2511445" /></a></figure>   SCHEDULE   <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>DATE</td><td>EVENT</td><td>LOCATION</td></tr><tr><td>4/20-4/21</td><td>Spring Jam</td><td>Sioux Falls, SD</td></tr><tr><td>4/26-4/28</td><td>Kansas City Showcase</td><td>Kansas City, KS</td></tr><tr><td>5/10-5-12</td><td>Prep Hoops: Battle At The Lakes</td><td>Wayzata, MN</td></tr><tr><td>5/17-5/19</td><td>UA Rise Session 1</td><td>Spooky Nook, OH</td></tr><tr><td>6/28-6/29</td><td>Great Plains Alliance</td><td>St. Cloud, MN</td></tr><tr><td>7/11-7/14</td><td>UA Rise Session 2</td><td>Cartersville, SC</td></tr><tr><td>7/19-7/21</td><td>UA Finals</td><td>Chicago, IL</td></tr><tr><td>7/26-7/28</td><td>Summer Classic</td><td>Sioux Falls, SD</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>

The club season seems to be wrapped up in the Dakotas, with being said, we have a Sanford Sports Academy SF Season Review. This squad is loaded with talent and many of these athletes will play at the next level.