Previews: Canton & Clark-Willow Lake

Prep Hoops Dakotas has two Team Previews to look at in this piece. We are in South Dakota and both squads are from Class A.   We are highlighting the C-Hawks from Canton and the Cyclones from Clark-Willow Lake.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/canton-crop-1125x739-1732508638.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/canton-crop-1125x739-1732508638.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2643700" style="width:257px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/TeamPreview.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/TeamPreview.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-2632356" style="width:257px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   School: Canton   Mascot: C-Hawks   Head Coach: Mike Kuper   Class: A   Region: 4   2023-24 Record: 12-9   The C-Hawks are a "new-look" team this season. They graduated a solid group of players and they have a new head coach. Mike Kuper is the head man, he has coached at Canton for the past seven seasons as an assistant. The C-Hawks graduated 7 seniors and one of their returning juniors has decided to graduate a semester early to pursue a college football career. Canton is only bringing back a total of 84 minutes of varsity play from the entire season with the returning players. Needless to say, they may home some growing pains this season.   Player to Watch   Comments from Coach Kuper   "[player_tooltip player_id='2643681' first='Alex' last='Rhead']- 6'2" junior PG - He will do most of the ball handling and will trigger the offense for us. He will be an extension of the coaching staff on the floor."   "[player_tooltip player_id='2643682' first='Corbin' last='Winquist'] - 6'5" senior C - He is a big-bodied post player with soft hands who does a nice job both in the post and around the perimeter."   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/image_7c0153.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/image_7c0153.png" alt="" class="wp-image-2643673" style="width:204px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   With Mike Kuper   PHD: How would you sum up last season?   "We finished the season 12-9 last year. We were the 5 seed in arguably the toughest region in class A in the state. We made every effort to play an up-tempo style of basketball and focused on scoring in transition. We were a very athletic team. As mentioned, we graduated seven seniors and one returning junior will be graduating at semester."   PHD: Does your program/team have any non-negotiables?   "A positive attitude is a non-negotiable this season. We will be putting a lot of players on the floor that don't have a lot of varsity experience. Players and coaches will be expected to stay positive and rally around each other."   PHD: What will your defense "hang its hat on"?   "Defensively, we will focus on on-ball pressure and making the ball handler uncomfortable."   PHD: Who will be your primary ballhandler this year?   "[player_tooltip player_id='2643681' first='Alex' last='Rhead'] - 6'2" junior PG will do most of the ball handling and will trigger the offense for us. He will be an extension of the coaching staff on the floor."   PHD: How did the off-season go for your team/program?   "We had a productive offseason. We participated in the Sanford Pentagon league and saw some good development out of some young players. We did a lot of mixing and matching of line-ups in an effort to find some good chemistry."   PHD: Who are a few of your top players to look out for?   "We are hopeful that Alex and Corbin will be our two constants. We are really looking forward to finding out which other guys are willing to put the work in and step up!"   PHD: Who are a couple of up-and-comers to look out for?   "Noah Beatty - 6'1" freshman G, [player_tooltip player_id='2372608' first='Bill' last='Yuek']- 6'6" sophomore F, Jase Charrlin- 6'1" freshman G"   PHD: Who do you think will be your best rebounders?   "[player_tooltip player_id='2643682' first='Corbin' last='Winquist'] will take up a lot of space and has a good nose for the ball. [player_tooltip player_id='2372608' first='Bill' last='Yuek'] has tremendous jumping ability and is learning the game quickly."   PHD: What are your team goals this year?   "Our goal is to go out and compete every night. We want to improve throughout the season and strive to hold teams under 50 points defensively."   PHD: Who will be your hardest worker?   "Andrew Ortman - 6'0" senior guard. Andrew has been "waiting his turn" for a long time. He has really filled out in the offseason and his bulked-up frame will help him to be a physical presence defensively."   PHD: Who are some of the top players in your Region?   "[player_tooltip player_id='1503883' first='Griffen' last='Goodbary'] SFC, [player_tooltip player_id='1263155' first='Luke' last='Bruns'] DV, [player_tooltip player_id='1390318' first='Cole' last='Snyder'] SFC, [player_tooltip player_id='1929459' first='Trey' last='Hansen'] Vermillion."   PHD: Any last comments about the upcoming season?   "We will be a young, determined squad!"   BEST OF LUCK TO THE C-HAWKS!!   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/image_c4ad18.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/image_c4ad18.png" alt="" class="wp-image-2643695" style="width:257px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/clarkcyclone.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/clarkcyclone.jpg?w=642" alt="" class="wp-image-2643696" style="width:251px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   Schools: Clark & Willow Lake   Mascot: Cyclone   Head Coach: Jerome Nesheim   Class: A   Region: 2   2023-24 Record: 11-11   Players to Watch   Comments from coach Nesheim   "[player_tooltip player_id='1563151' first='Emmerson' last='Larson'] 6'2” Jr. - Emmerson is our returning leading scorer. He is extremely athletic and is able to score in multiple ways. He has all the tools on both ends of the floor."   "[player_tooltip player_id='1655908' first='Bo' last='Begeman'] 6'5” So. - Bo is a returning starter that can produce big games. Bo is a tremendous shooting. He has great length and is a complete gym rat."   "[player_tooltip player_id='1655914' first='Sully' last='Felberg']. 6'7” Fr. - Sully got a lot of experience as an 8th grader, scoring double digits 13 times with a high of 32 against Webster and 24 against Hanson. Sully is the real deal, he is able to extend defenses with his ability to shot (Over 40% from 3 point) plus post up with his size."   "[player_tooltip player_id='2496205' first='Chris' last='Bevers']. 6'0 So. - Chris comes over from Watertown and gives us the point guard that we needed. Chris gives us another scoring threat and a great defender."   "These 4 have the ability to average double digits. We won't have to rely on 1 or 2 guys to do all the scoring."   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/image_87e03a.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/image_87e03a.png" alt="" class="wp-image-2643846" style="width:276px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   With Jerome Nesheim   PHD: What can you well us about last season?   "We return a lot of guys with varsity experience but we are still young. We have very good length."   PHD: What will your defense "hang its hat on"?   "We really want to get back to having more intensity on the defensive end. Our man to man needs to be better and have the ability to take things away."   PHD: Who will be your primary ballhandler this year?   "[player_tooltip player_id='2496205' first='Chris' last='Bevers'] will take over the majority of our point guard duties. He is extremely smooth player that see the floor really well. At times we are going to need him to be a bit more selfish."   PHD: How did the offseason go for your team/program?   "We had a really good offseason. We had quite a few players play on summer travel teams, team camps, and weekly workouts."   PHD: Who are a few of your top players to look out for and why?   "[player_tooltip player_id='1563151' first='Emmerson' last='Larson']. 6'2” Jr. Emmerson is our returning leading scorer. He is extremely athletic and is able to score in multiple ways. He has all the tools on both ends of the floor."   "[player_tooltip player_id='1655908' first='Bo' last='Begeman'] 6'5” So. Bo is a returning starter that can produce big games. Bo is a tremendous shooting. He has great length and is a complete gym rat."   "[player_tooltip player_id='1655914' first='Sully' last='Felberg']. 6'7” Fr. Sully got a lot of experience as an 8th grader, scoring double digits 13 times with a high of 32 against Webster and 24 against Hanson.  Sully is the real deal, he is able to extend defenses with his ability to shot (Over 40% from 3 point) plus post up with his size."   PHD: Who are a couple of up-and-comers to look out for?   "Besides Begeman, Felberg and Bevers we really have a very good group of young players. Freshman [player_tooltip player_id='1655915' first='Trigg' last='Felberg'], Miles Olson and Jaden LaPlant are 3 very good players that will make a big splash when it is their time on varsity."   PHD: Who do you think will be your best rebounders?   "[player_tooltip player_id='1563151' first='Emmerson' last='Larson'], He is just a quick jumper and is relentless on the boards on both ends of the court."   PHD: What are your team goals this year?   "We want to make sure we are improving every day. We need to be able to do the small things right. Plus become more competitive every play."   PHD: Who will be your hardest worker?   "We have a lot of players that just work their butts off, they know there really is no other options. We will work to play even harder. It is one area of the game where you have complete control off."   PHD: Who are some of the top teams & players in your Region?   "Hamlin, they return a lot of good players, starting off with [player_tooltip player_id='1297808' first='Easton' last='Neuendorf']."   "Sioux Valley has [player_tooltip player_id='1263164' first='Maverick' last='Nelson']."   PHD: Any last comments about the upcoming season?   "We are very excited about the season and the season we could have. We return a very good nucleus of players and 4 or 5 guys that can get double digits on any give night. We need to be more consistent on the offensive end and we need to get back to being more relentless on the defensive side."   BEST OF LUCK TO THE CYCLONES!!   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/08/PHD.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/08/PHD.jpg?w=400" alt="" class="wp-image-1272514" /></a></figure>

Prep Hoops Dakotas has two Team Previews to look at in this piece. We are in South Dakota and both squads are from Class A.