Jamestown Blue Jays: Team Preview

PHD is back for another Season Preview, we are highlighting the Blue Jays from Jamestown.   Team: Jamestown   Mascot: Blue Jays   Head Coach: Tim Ranum   Athletic Director: Jim Roaldson   24-25 Record: 5-19   Region/Conference: WDA   Class: AA   The Jamestown Blue Jays enter the 2025–26 season with a fresh identity and a renewed sense of energy. With new head coach Tim Ranum at the helm.   Jamestown will lean on a pair of seasoned juniors in [player_tooltip player_id='2711420' first='Edison' last='Walters'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2237725' first='Madden' last='Skunberg'], two players who bring experience, leadership, and toughness to the floor. Their ability to set the tone on both ends will be critical as the Blue Jays navigate the always-tough WDA landscape.   But the buzz around Jamestown this winter centers on sophomore sensation [player_tooltip player_id='2606561' first='Eric' last='Van Berkom'] — Prep Hoops Dakotas' Player to Watch. Van Berkom has the kind of all-around game that turns heads. He's long, crafty, and highly skilled, with a natural feel for the game well beyond his years. A versatile playmaker who can score, facilitate, and defend multiple positions, and protect the rim. EVB looks poised to become one of the WDA's rising stars!   With a blend of youth, athleticism, and emerging leadership, Jamestown is entering an exciting new chapter. Under Coach Ranum's direction and with a core of hungry competitors, the Blue Jays are ready to surprise some people — and make plenty of noise along the way.   See below for Player Comments and a thought-provoking Q&A with Tim Ranum,   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/image_7631e3.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/11/image_7631e3.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-3043538" style="width:177px;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:173px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   Player Comments from Coach Ranum   "We have a young core of kids who came on strong at the end of the varsity season last year."   [player_tooltip player_id='2711420' first='Edison' last='Walters'] (Jr.) - "Edison was called up to play varsity basketball the last ten games of the season, and he ended up being our 2nd leading scorer for that stretch of the season. He is lanky, creative, and able to score on bunches from many levels." 24-25 Stats: FG%: 38.6 eFG%: 51.2 PPG: 7.7 RPG: 2.6 APG: .4 3FG%: 38.2 3FGM: 21   [player_tooltip player_id='2237725' first='Madden' last='Skunberg'] (Jr.) - "Madden is a tremendous shooter and ball-handler who received a lot of varsity time down the stretch. He's also a terrific two-way player, and as he continues to get bigger and grow, has potential to have a strong season." 24-25 Stats: FG%: 33.1 eFG%: 41.1 PPG: 5.3 RPG: 2.4 APG: .9 3FG%: 25.3 3FGM: 20   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/QA.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/QA.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-2508303" style="width:298px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   With Tim Ranum   Could you write a couple sentences summing up last season?   "Last year was filled with injuries at the beginning of the year, and it took a while for us as a staff to find the right mix. In the last ten games, we were much more competitive once we played our underclassmen a lot more, and those kids received some valuable experience and confidence going into next season."   PHD: Does your program/team have any non-negotiables?   "Play with pace and defend."   PHD: What will your defense "hang its hat on"?   "We are extremely small, but an advantage is that we are relatively versatile. We want to preach being "anti-fragile" and be able to mix up our looks and coverages to adjust to the offense and keep them on their toes."   PHD: Who will be a couple of your lead guards?   "[player_tooltip player_id='2105705' first='Gradin' last='Thorlakson'] is a great unknown as he was out the entire year last year, but he has length and athleticism to be a disruptor on defense and an effective penetrator on offense. [player_tooltip player_id='2711420' first='Edison' last='Walters'] is a 3-level type scorer who has a great feel for the game, and [player_tooltip player_id='2237725' first='Madden' last='Skunberg'] is a terrific 3 point shooter who is also seeking to add to the game. We're hoping these three also can get in transition to get some great looks for themselves and others."   PHD: How did the offseason go for your team/program?   "We had multiple skill development sessions/week along with some open gyms to work on our skills. All the players hit the weight room consistently, and most are out for a fall-sport which I think will benefit them in many ways. We've continued to get at it in the fall with open gyms, and a lot of players are motivated independently to grow as well."   PHD: Who are a few of your top defensive players?   "This is one where we will see who has to step-up. A lot of our players from last year were disappointed in the defensive effort, and are motivated to elevate their own games. As mentioned earlier, we are going to be small-undersized but that also brings with it some versatility to bring different pressure looks throughout the season."   PHD: Who are a couple of up-and-comers to look out for?   "In addition to the names mentioned earlier, [player_tooltip player_id='2606561' first='Eric' last='Van Berkom'] (SO.) has tremendous upside. He is continuing to grow, and he will be the tallest player in our program. He has the ability to continue to grow, but he has shown the ability to score at all 3-levels with a great feel for the game. He will be thrown into the fire this year at the varsity level and have to guard some extremely big physical kids, but he is the make-up to rise to the occasion."   PHD: Who do you think will be your best rebounders?   "As an undersized team, it is imperative that we all rebound the ball. [player_tooltip player_id='2237725' first='Madden' last='Skunberg'] is probably pound-for-pound rebounder who is always in good defensive position, but there isn't one person I can point to individually and have confidence they are going to get X amount of rebounds. It is going to have to be a team-effort."   PHD: What are your team goals?   "We have many goals as a team, and for the regular season, we are hoping to put ourselves in the best position to succeed in the WDA tournament. We are a young team, and we want to be ascending come tournament time, coming in at least as a six-seed. Once we're in the dance, we fully expect to compete for a State birth."   "We must cut down our turnovers/turnover rate by a significant margin while still adding more possessions through our pace. Simply put, in the past two years, teams have created so many extra possessions with high-percentage results from turnovers and offensive rebounds. If we improve our rebounding and turnover percentage and create a few more transition opportunities ourselves, that alone will increase our team's chances of success."   PHD: Who are some of the top teams & players in AA?   "Just looking at the WDA, obviously, Bismarck Century has to be the favorite returning 4 of 5 starters from last year. [player_tooltip player_id='1510914' first='Camden' last='Kraemer'] for them is a tremendous defender and shooter who shows potential to be a gifted floor leader for them as well. [player_tooltip player_id='1332144' first='Garrett' last='Nissley'] is also an all-around gifted player with a lot of strength, and [player_tooltip player_id='1657448' first='Gibson' last='Kinnebrew'] is extremely athletic and bouncy, and then to add to it, is one of the best 3-point shooters in the state."   "Bismarck High is also going to be extremely difficult because of their system and depth. [player_tooltip player_id='1975416' first='Khaliq' last='Austin'] as a sophomore, showed a lot of promise as a freshman as a scorer and, with another year of maturity, has probably one of the highest ceilings in the conference. [player_tooltip player_id='1657449' first='Weston' last='Scott'] is a tremendous player as well. They're just so tough because all of their kids can create pressure on defense and knock down 3s."   "Bismarck Legacy returns [player_tooltip player_id='1422857' first='Jonathan' last='Roubideaux Jr'] who is so big and tall, yet has such a versatile game from everywhere on the court. His presence alone, along with a strong class of upcoming players, will make them extremely competitive."   "Dickinson will contend for a top 3 seed in the regular season, and [player_tooltip player_id='1510889' first='Boston' last='Cranston'] followed by [player_tooltip player_id='1539675' first='Nathan' last='Stevenson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1510890' first='Dylan' last='Glasser'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1531066' first='Cameron' last='Wolf'] all are really versatile and play well together."   "Mandan returns the two Bearstail which will make them a strong team as well."   "I think Minot High who lost everybody is a sleeper. Jeremy Brandt is one of the greatest coaches in ND history, and he inherits a lot of talent from their Jr. and So. Classes, and I anticipate them to be in the mix the entire season as well."   PHD: Any last comments about the upcoming season?   "I'm really looking forward to seeing our team's growth throughout the year in a really tough WDA conference."   BEST OF LUCK TO THE BLUE JAYS!!   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/WDA.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/WDA.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-2258606" /></a></figure>

PHD is back for another Season Preview, we are highlighting the Blue Jays from Jamestown.