Section 7AA – Player Profiles

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We give you the best two returning players on each team in Section 7AA for the coming season (assuming that information is something we were able to locate from all the teams). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Aitkin</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1628773' first='Isaac' last='Asmus'] (2026, [program_tooltip program_id='2888391' first='Minnesota' last='Comets'] Petermeier). Isaac had some low post dominating games last year averaging 20 points and 14.6 rebounds a game while blocking a total of 65 shots. Asmus had a good 17u year for the Comets as well and is a player I am watching to take the next step. He is surely a college basketball player but the question is level. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2874039' first='Caleb' last='Smith'] (2026). I feel like Aitkin can make a nice job as they do return four starters. Smith is a leader who averaged eight points, four rebounds and an area high 4.7 assists per game. He is a 100 percent table setter, creator, team runner and has Asmus and now junior scorer Noah Moss returning (Moss scored 12 a game last season). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Crosby-Ironton</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jack Kovatovich (2026). Jack scored 16 points a game for the Rangers a season ago with 3.4 assists per game. His percentages from the field were strong as he made 42 percent of his threes, 45 percent of his attempts and 85 percent of his foul shots. Jack is a 5'10 lead guard. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jacob English (2028). If you track high school football you know this name. At 6'4 and 230 pounds Jacob is the top tight end/defensive end in the state for his class and the third ranked football player in his class overall. He's also a five basket a game guy on the hardwood that grabbed six boards a game as well. Between Jacob, Jack, 6'4 stretch four [player_tooltip player_id='2493874' first='Ethan' last='Millsop'] who made 42 percent of his threes, and Eldon McClean, CI has a good group returning. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Duluth Marshall</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ricardo Marcel (2026). Ricardo is a 5'10 guard and the top returning player for Marshall. Marcel averaged 11 points and three assists a game last season and will move into a main scoring role as a senior. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brody Carlson (2026). Brody is the next ball handler returning. As a junior Brody averaged seven points a game and he is the second returning leading scorer. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Esko</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2560433' first='Braxdyn' last='Male'] (2028, Minnesota). Male is an athletic 6'1 shooting guard that is the top returning Esko player and their best returning athlete as Male is strong, he has bounce, and he gets up and down well. Most of all Braxdyn is a competitor who battles with his teammates to do whatever is needed to win, and he has become a better perimeter shooter too. Big season coming. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Graham Hartlieb (2026). Graham is the other Esko player returning from a team that relied pretty strong on their top six. Graham is also a six foot guard that plays with power, you can watch his workload at running back and see that right now. A four/five basket a game guy that will team with Male and give Esko so much guard strength. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Greenway</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2100912' first='Stephen' last='McGee'] (2026, [program_tooltip program_id='2888391' first='Minnesota' last='Comets']). McGee averaged 22 points and 11 rebounds a game last winter and this lefty took a major jump during 17u. He is a Northern Michigan commit and in years past he would have been a no brainer division one add but times have changed so he will be developing at the D2 level to start. McGee is one of the most explosive players in the state running to the rim.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Simeon Wells (2026). Wells scored eight points a game last season and is the second leading returning scorer for Greenway and their top returning guard. Smaller but speedy with the ball and laterally quick defensively. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>International Falls</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nicholas Schultz (2027). With no seniors on the roster last year Schultz got a lot of run and was the leading scorer on many nights. A three sport athlete. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jeremi Giddens (2027). Giddens is in the same class with Schultz and also a guard. When the Broncos hit double digits Giddens was often the other player to score ten or more. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mesabi East</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2860778' first='DaJuan' last='Edstrom'] (2027). A 6'6 definite low post player that averaged 11 points a game shooting 54 percent from the floor a season ago. Averaged a double double as he grabbed 10.2 boards a contest. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Juan Saucedo (2027). Lead guard that averaged five points, four rebounds and three assists a game last season, fourth leading returning scorer. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mora</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Caleb Evenson (2026). A six foot point guard that will be the best player Mora has returning. He showed he can score some but also can also be the main setting up the scoring options. Will be whatever his team needs at guard. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dasson Smart (2026). Best suited player to move into a starting role and provide early consistent production. Came off the bench last season and is the only other player returning from last year's rotation that won 26 games. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pequot Lakes</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blake Spiczka (2026, [program_tooltip program_id='2888391' first='Minnesota' last='Comets'] Petemeier). Blake was the player running a team that grinds you out and wins a ton of games. When it comes to assists per game the six plus that Blake averaged ranks with the best in the state and when you consider assists per possession, Blake would rank with the elite. He averaged 5.2 assists to each turnover and he shot 38.5 percent from the arc. And did this while dealing with an injury. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2127213' first='Tollef' last='Birkeland'] (2027, [program_tooltip program_id='2888391' first='Minnesota' last='Comets']). This 6'3 athletic wing has a lot of potential with his size, agility and skills, and when he has been healthy Tollef is a player that we think has great prospect potential. He averaged twelve points, three steals and three assists per game on a state tournament team and he should be the main option this winter. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading {"level":4} --> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Pierz</h4> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nathan Cekalla (2026). The 5'11 lead guard of this team led his team to 16 wins and he was scoring 17 points a game leading a mix of senior veterans and a nice group of sophomore up and comers. He had some big scoring games and he had some key playmaking games. It will be Cekalla the senior and his 11th graders. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Nick Virnig (2027). We highlight Nick as a rep for all these Pierz juniors that are now experienced players. Nick is a 6'4 forward that was often the second option for the team and we think he can make a big jump this year. Virnig, [player_tooltip player_id='2439239' first='Jaxsen' last='Hardy'], [player_tooltip player_id='2808569' first='Tyler' last='Kimman'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2437715' first='Brandon' last='Solinger'] are all key players in that 2027 class for Pierz.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pillager</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Alexander Brandt (2026). Averaged 11.4 points, four rebounds and 3.4 assists a game last season while shooting 41.5 percent at the arc for his team. A six foot guard/wing that should step into a bigger scoring role with Christian Hooge moved on. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Gabe Parrish (2026). A senior that scored 13.5 points per game a season ago shooting 36 percent from the arc and ready to move into a main scoring role. Gabe was often that already when it comes to backcourt layers and he is a physical athlete that should push to that 18-19 area. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Proctor</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Dallas Lofts (2026). Dallas is a 6'3/6'4 wing that scored 18 plus points per game a season ago and when he got hot he had some monster games not just scoring in the high 20s but also grabbing boards for his team. Could be a 25ppg guy this year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2434318' first='Wyatt' last='Nelson'] (2026). Nelson scored 15 a game and he can run up and down the floor on teams all day. A never ending supply of energy and stamina in a quick little frame. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Two Harbors</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2124214' first='Jace' last='Gomez'] (2026). Scored 18 points per game last year as the main playmaker for their team as a six foot combo guard. Gomez should be a top scorer in the section.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carter Nelson (2026). The second leading returning scorer, Nelson is a 5'9 guard that scored five/six points a game last season and will move into a bigger role. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->