SSA 17U Black: Team Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">The high school season is in the books, and now it is time for grassroots basketball!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In this piece, Prep Hoops Dakotas is focusing on <strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">[program_tooltip program_id='2257226' first='Sanford' last='Sports Academy'] 17U Black</span></strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"18px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:18px">Nate Kaeding is the head coach of this squad, and they have plenty of talent on the roster to make some noise!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size">SSA 17U Black has ballers from North Dakota, South Dakota, and Minnesota. They will be putting on the miles this spring/summer! Take a look at their schedule, this will be a well-traveled group when it is all said and done.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontStyle":"normal","fontWeight":"100"}},"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size" style="font-style:normal;font-weight:100">See below for SSA's roster, schedule, player comments, and a Q&amp;A session.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2834807,"width":"443px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/SanfordSportsAcademyPreview.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/SanfordSportsAcademyPreview.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-2834807" style="width:443px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:25px"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Roster &amp; Schedule</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2834828,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/image_d06474.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/image_d06474.png?w=835" alt="" class="wp-image-2834828" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:25px"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Player Comments from Coach Kaeding</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1919285' first='Will' last='Kuhl'] (2026) West Central</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>6'9”4/5. Long and athletic player that can influence the game, protecting the rim, rebounding, and scoring. Has a high ceiling! Helped his West Central team to the State Tournament.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1911438' first='Mason' last='Clark'] (2026) O'Gorman</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>6'0” PG. Tough, unselfish guy as a PG needs to run the show. Has a motor that never stops both offensively and defensively. All Conference/All State Player. Helped his O'Gorman team to the State Tournament.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1560751' first='Weston' last='Rowe'] (2026) Jackson County Central</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>6'7” 4/5. Physical presence that can score inside-out and is a gifted basketball player. Just committed to SDSU for football and when you see him you know why! Lost in the Section Final for his Jackson County (MN) team.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1332144' first='Garrett' last='Nissley'] (2026) Bismarck Century</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"6'3” 2/3. Skilled, smooth, cerebral player. Shoots it at a really high clip. Proved this year, he is one of the best players in the state of ND. Helped Bismarck Century win a State Championship."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1510914' first='Camden' last='Kraemer'] (2026) Bismarck Century</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>6'2”1/2. Tough, gritty combo guard. Has a great feel on how to play the game and can shoot it. Late bloomer physically and that is going to help him. Helped Bismarck Century win a State Championship.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1560759' first='Memphis' last='Bylander'] (2026) Sioux Falls Roosevelt</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>6'4” Wing. True energizer bunny with good athleticism. Perimeter skill level has improved as he is shooting the ball more consistently and decision-making has gotten better. Competitor that was a starter for Sioux Falls Roosevelt.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1949563' first='Sam' last='DeGroot'] (2026) Sioux Falls Lincoln</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>6'7” Versatile 4-Man that is a tough matchup. He can score at many levels and in many forms. All Conference/All State player. Was a key piece for all the success Sioux Falls Lincoln had this year.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1641205' first='Sam' last='Ericsson'] (2026) Sioux Falls Lincoln </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>6'3” 2/3 Lefty. Has an absolute burner with deep range. Hit 13 3's in a game last summer and is building his game off the dribble. All Conference/All State Player. Was a key piece for all the success Sioux Falls Lincoln had this year.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2511663,"width":"348px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <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:348px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"25px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:25px"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">With Nate Kaeding</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: What excites you about this team/roster?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Many of these athletes have had some good success with their high schools and are used to competing at a high level.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: How often will your team practice/work out?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Our team has a practice schedule with roughly 20 practices on it. We get together on weekends to get these in.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: What are your goals for this team?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Help develop each individual to become a better player/person, aid in their future goals and college recruiting, create lifelong memories, and hopefully win some games and championships along the way!</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: What are a couple of your strengths as a team?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>We will see how the season progresses. I do think we have some offensive weapons that can score at multiple levels. In addition, our team is made up of hardworking, quality young men that are coachable and eager to learn.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: What style of basketball will you play on the offensive end?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Free flowing offensive style that likes ball/player movement and values high percentage shots. We will play with pace, make high basketball IQ plays, and work from inside-out.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: What brand of defense do you foresee your team playing? </span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Mainly man-to-man.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: Is there an event/tournament you are most looking forward to?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Really looking forward to our Under Armour Rise circuit to challenge ourselves against top-notch competition from all over.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: What do you foresee being the identity of your team?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Truly competing on a possession-by-possession basis.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2834807,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/SanfordSportsAcademyPreview.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/04/SanfordSportsAcademyPreview.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-2834807" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->