Section 5A: The top 20 Players to Know

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Our final section of 20 or more names to know is Section 5A. The 20 Players to know in 5A!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bertha-Hewitt</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jalen Hinzmann (2027). A 5'9 combo guard that stepped into a big role as a young player and earned all league honors (HM) for his sophomore year. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brady Rach (2026). An all conference point guard with stamina for days, Brady is the leader of the team and also an honored track and cross country athlete. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Braham</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2369272' first='Tyler' last='Eklund'] (2026, [program_tooltip program_id='2075674' first='Minnesota' last='Heat']). All league player that averaged 27 points, nine rebounds and six assists a game last year leading the Bombers to a 22-7 season and has expectations very high this year. Tyler and the Bombers have brought expectations to a level that we haven't seen since the Dahlman/Vaughan Bombers. At 5'10, Tyler is a good football recruit that is constantly putting up numbers, had 171 yards rushing and two scores last week. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2124222' first='Tanner' last='Doble'] (2026). All league six foot off guard that scored 17.5 points last season using his great shooting touch but Tanner is also a good athlete for Braham. Also a good wide receiver for the football team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2403777' first='Soren' last='Lilly'] (2027, [program_tooltip program_id='2075310' first='Northstar' last='Titans']). An all conference inside-outside threat that scored 17 points per game last season as a 6'3 forward. Lilly and Garett Lidke are the length of the team and both gave their team eight/nine boards a contest. Lilly mixes well with a senior bunch and looks to be stepping into a position of being a top guy again, and then the go to guy next season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Browerville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jayden Schultz (2026). Jayden earned All Prairie Conference last year scoring over 20 points per game as a 6'3 wing. Schultz was one of three all league players but the lone one returning so this season he will be the go to player.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cass Lake-Bena</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2439251' first='Douglas' last='Cloud'] (2027). All league 6'3 player that is good with back to the basket but can face up and scores as well. Cloud scored 15 points a game last year with eight boards a contest. Panthers played a lot of young guys last year and Cloud was a key player in that youth movement that should push them to the 20 win area again sometime soon.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Joseph Wind (2028). The other all league underclassmen from last season for the Panthers, the 6'1 combo guard scored 12 points a contest and is primed to move into a bigger role. Good creator attacking left or right. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>East Central</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2432826' first='Benjamin' last='Carlin'] (2026). A 6'7 big that was all state last year and will be named preseason All State coming into the season. Averaged just under 17 points a game last year and just under ten rebounds a game. A very good defender in position, in strength, and in vocal leadership. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Levi Kosbab (2026). Levi is a 6'2 guard that is one of three returning all league players. Levi can attack defenses with his athletic first step, he is a smart player and the team uses him in key defensive situations. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Xavior Letexier (2026). A 5'10 scoring guard that has some big games for his team including several 20 plus point games. Went over 1,000 points for his career this past season and will hit 1,500 at least this season. Earned first team all league honors.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hinckley-Finlayson</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Grady Ausmus (2026). All league big man that averaged 11 points and ten rebounds a game. Improving skilled game but his biggest asset is being a very instinctive rebounder. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Nevis</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>AJ Bessler (2026). Bessler is another player that I think is on the verge of a monster season. All state caliber talent in Class A. Bessler averaged 19 points and 11 boards a game last year simply battling around the basket using his length and activity. There is something different to him when it comes to game to game approach plus for a 6'6 guy he is quite agile. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Ethan Bucholtz (2026). Ethan stands 6'5/6'6 and he played a role last season with some much Nevis size but this year he will be next to Bessler a big part of the game. Ethan averaged nine points and four boards a game and his role will be clutch as Nevis brings a long some talented young players. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Pine River-Backus</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Isaiah Aulie (2026). Isaiah was named all league last season as a 6'1 scoring guard in the Northland Conference. Aulie had a 32 point game last year, he was named all holiday tournament, and he's also a standout golfer and cross country runner. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sebeka</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2126157' first='Max' last='Lake'] (2027). Lake is a fantastic shooter that put up nearly 21 points a game as a sophomore. With more experience and another year of work Max could be one of the most dangerous shooters in this section. Also has defensive instincts that make him one of the leaders in the state when it comes to steals. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Swanville</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brody Kircher (2026). A 6'4 all league forward that averaged 20 points per game last year and was named all conference. At 185 pounds Kircher is a versatile athlete that will likely play college football as a wide receiver but could play college hoops as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Upsala</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2441789' first='Samuel' last='Laliberte'] (2027). A 6'2 shooting guard that earned all league honors with his 14 points and four rebounds a game. A very active player that defends hard plus a good teammate that leads the team in scoring often but does it while moving the basketball. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Verndale </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Braylin Deleon (2027). The 5'10 all league returning pointing guard of a team that went .500 last year, Deleon is that dependable team player that can handle, score it when open, and always move the ball to put his teammates in the best position possible. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Walker-Hackensack-Akeley</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Hayden Rettke (2026). Hayden is a six foot wing that has the most returning experience for a team that was hit hard by graduation losses. Hayden is a tough player that uses that to be a good defender and active player. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->