Four Winds-Minnewaukan: Historic Season Ahead

Few programs in North Dakota carry the tradition, passion, and sustained excellence of Four Winds-Minnewaukan, and this season has a special meaning attached to it. The community is full of excitement and ready to get the season tipped off, knowing this will be the final year of the Four Winds-Minnewaukan co-op. It marks the end of an era, and the Indians are determined to make it a memorable one.   Led by Rick Smith, one of the most respected and knowledgeable coaches in the state, Four Winds-Minnewaukan steps into the 2025-26 campaign with purpose and pride. Smith has built a model of consistency, togetherness, fast-paced hoops, pesky defense, and winning basketball, and his players once again reflect that identity. The community loves its hoops, and support for this team runs deep. Every gym they enter will feel the weight of their tradition and the intensity of their following.   The big question is simple. Can the Indians capitalize on the moment and make a run to the Class A State Tournament, punctuating the final season of the co-op with a powerful closing statement? With their talent, coaching, and competitive fire, the possibility is very real. No matter how the season unfolds, fans can expect an exhilarating year filled with emotion, pride, and high level basketball.   The Indians are stepping into history, and they are ready for the challenge.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/4winds-crop-700x460-1765386227.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/4winds-crop-700x460-1765386227.jpg?w=700" alt="" class="wp-image-3195627" style="width:313px;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="aspect-ratio:1.6019135486075518;width:292px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   <a href="https://ndhsaanow.com/teams/basketball-boys/118/">Click Here for the game schedule</a>   Players To Watch   *Comments from Coach Smith   [player_tooltip player_id='1363917' first='Marial' last='Deng'] 6'5 Senior   "Marial has a chance to be one of the better players in the state. He has all the tools, and he just needs to find that “it” factor. He can score from all parts of the floor. He shoots the 3 very well, post up, and attack the basket. He is a great defensive player, who can guard multiple positions."   [player_tooltip player_id='1894932' first='Jonte' last='Delorme'] 5'10 Senior   "Jonte is a great shooter and can attack the rim. I would like him, when he does play point to distribute more to his teammates. Jonte has become a good on-ball defender. His engine needs to be turned up at all times and make his final season his best. He has the tools to do it."   [player_tooltip player_id='1894915' first='Tyler' last='Black Jr.'] 6'1 Senior   "Tyler needs to be more consistent on offense and use his confidence to do that. He is very capable of doing that. He plays the game extremely hard on both ends of the floor. I look for Tyler to have a very nice year for us."   [player_tooltip player_id='2846658' first='Dion' last='Jackson'] 6'0 Senior   "Dion can flat-out shoot the basketball. He plays the game very hard. His confidence gets shaken at times because he is a very streaky shooter. Dion is a player that either start or be one of our top bench players."   [player_tooltip player_id='1894872' first='Joran' last='Lohnes'] 6'2 Junior   "Joran is a very good shooter. He has a high IQ on the offensive end. He can play inside or outside. I would like him to give more energy on the defensive end, because he is smart enough to be very good on that end. He could be battling for a starting spot."   [player_tooltip player_id='1894873' first='Dayson' last='Dubois'] 5'8 Junior   "Dayson plays the game extremely hard. A very quick player who has no fear on both ends of the floor. A very nice point guard. Dayson is also battling for a starting spot."   [player_tooltip player_id='2889811' first='Easton' last='Kraft'] 5'11 Junior   "Easton plays the game extremely hard. A very good rebounder for his size. Streaky shooter. His first love is baseball and if he took basketball seriously, he could help this team a lot."   [player_tooltip player_id='2284889' first='Lander' last='Guy'] 6'1 Junior   "Lander is an energy guy, who plays the game hard. A streaky shooter, runs the court very well, and talks very well on the defensive end. He needs to find more options in his offensive game."   [player_tooltip player_id='2409449' first='Sonny' last='Alberts'] 6'5 Soph   "Sonny has a lot of tools to be a very good basketball player. Sonny will be pushing hard for a starting spot. He can go inside or outside. He has a very nice touch from all areas of the court. Sonny will need to get smarter and play harder on the defensive end. He could dominate on both ends if he can do that."   [player_tooltip player_id='2915805' first='Keyson' last='Littlewind'] 6'1 Soph   "High energy guy. Very active on both ends of the floor. Keyson needs to stay under control on both ends of the floor."   Other players to watch that could get some playing time.... Franky Bellile – 6'4 Senior Kale Yankton – 5'10 Junior [player_tooltip player_id='2573832' first='Kaleb' last='Keja'] – 5'7 Soph   Team Preview with Rick Smith   Summing Up Last Season   "Well, we got one step closer to the Class A State Tournament but fell one game short. I thought the key words from last year's team were consistency and teamwork. We just couldn't find cohesiveness and consistent play from last year's team. Maybe I tried to play too many guys to keep people happy, but there were a lot of great kids on our team. We would have some really good games and it looked like we were turning the corner and then some duds. We could never snap out of that."   Non-Negotiables   "Play with passion. Leave it on the floor. If not tired, then not working hard enough."   Defense   "Very aggressive in your face defense. Can't get out-hustled. Be quick to the ball, make paths difficult."   Difference from Last Year   "More consistent shooters, shorter rotation, inside-outside game."   Off-Season   "With many guys going this way and that way. We really only had one team camp where we had everyone together. We have seen the physicality of our team be an issue. Many of the boys stayed in the gym most of the summer working on weights, speed, and shooting."   Expanded Roles this Season   "[player_tooltip player_id='2409449' first='Sonny' last='Alberts'], [player_tooltip player_id='1894872' first='Joran' last='Lohnes'], [player_tooltip player_id='1894873' first='Dayson' last='Dubois'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2915805' first='Keyson' last='Littlewind']."   Top Defenders   "[player_tooltip player_id='1363917' first='Marial' last='Deng'], [player_tooltip player_id='1894873' first='Dayson' last='Dubois'], [player_tooltip player_id='2915805' first='Keyson' last='Littlewind'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1894915' first='Tyler' last='Black Jr.']"   "Marial is long, athletic, and fast. He can guard multiple positions with his length and he causes a lot of issues."   "Dayson is a bulldog that will hound you the whole game."   "Keyson has non-stop energy, gets himself into foul trouble because sometimes he is too aggressive."   "Tyler is physical and can guard forward and center positions."   Up-and-Comers   "Sophomores: [player_tooltip player_id='2409449' first='Sonny' last='Alberts'], [player_tooltip player_id='2915805' first='Keyson' last='Littlewind'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2573832' first='Kaleb' last='Keja']."   "Freshmen: [player_tooltip player_id='3196479' first='Kyson' last='Keja']"   "8th Graders: Matao De La Paz, [player_tooltip player_id='3196470' first='Kal' last='Alberts'], and [player_tooltip player_id='3196473' first='Riley' last='Martin']."   Style of Play   "Offensively, we can play fast or get good post play, with our good shooters, we should be able to go inside-outside on a consistent basis."   "Defensively, we must play with physicality and speed."   Top Rebounders   "[player_tooltip player_id='1363917' first='Marial' last='Deng'], [player_tooltip player_id='1894915' first='Tyler' last='Black Jr.'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2409449' first='Sonny' last='Alberts']."   "Deng with his length and speed."   "Black is physical and boxes out well."   "Alberts takes up a lot of space."   Team Goals   "We need to remain consistent and play the game hard for 32 minutes on both sides of the ball. We need to get all 5 guys playing defense and offense together. If we can do that, we are talented enough to get back to the State Tournament."   Top in Region 2   "Top Teams: Devils Lake, Grafton, Hillsboro"   "Top Players: [player_tooltip player_id='1632626' first='Mason' last='Palmer'] – Devils Lake, [player_tooltip player_id='1363917' first='Marial' last='Deng'] – Four Winds, Brody Lillemoen – Grafton, [player_tooltip player_id='1632619' first='Reggie' last='Rice'] – Grafton, [player_tooltip player_id='1632635' first='Max' last='Palmer'] – Devils Lake [player_tooltip player_id='2335334' first='Chase' last='Haffely'] – Hillsboro/CV."   Coaching Staff   "I rank my assistants with some of the best in the state. We have been together for a long time. Dennis Smith (brother), and Travis Mertens have been by my side for over ten years each. Jeff Fuchs for close to ten. They all have input into our team. We have a special bond which is working well together and always listening to each other's input."   Final Comments   "It will be another competitive Region 2. The Region has lost a lot of great players from last season. Many of the bigs have graduated, which will make this Region even more competitive. With two new teams coming in (Harvey/Wells County and May Port/CG). We really don't know too much about, but from 1 – 8 it should be another exciting year in our Region."   BEST OF LUCK TO THE INDIANS!!   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/4winds-crop-700x460-1765386227.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/4winds-crop-700x460-1765386227.jpg?w=700" alt="" class="wp-image-3195627" /></a></figure>

Few programs in North Dakota carry the tradition, passion, and sustained excellence of Four Winds-Minnewaukan, and this season has a special meaning attached to it. The community is full of excitement and ready to get the season tipped off, knowing this will be the final year of the Four Winds-Minnewaukan co-op. It marks the end of an era, and the Indians are determined to make it a memorable one.