Bearstail 2029: Team Intro

The buzz around Bearstail 2029 is already building—and for good reason. This squad is loaded with talent, bringing together six standout ballers from North Dakota and two elite players out of Minnesota to form a group that's as balanced as it is dangerous. With a mix of athleticism, grit, skill, and high-level basketball IQ, Bearstail 2029 is shaping up to be a team that nobody will want to face.   Leading the charge is head coach Corey Kerzmann, a leader who will get the most out of his players. There is little doubt this group will compete hard every time they step on the floor. Expect a fast, physical style of play paired with unselfish ball movement. And many wins!   There's also plenty of excitement from PHD, as Bearstail 2029 will make multiple appearances on the Prep Hoops Circuit. That exposure means more eyes on this talented roster and more opportunities for these players to prove themselves against top-tier competition across the region.   This is more than just a talented team—it's a group with real chemistry and something to prove. As the season unfolds, fans can look forward to an inside look at everything Bearstail 2029 has to offer. Below, you'll find the team's tournament schedule, full roster breakdown, player insights, and an exclusive Q&A session that dives deeper into what makes this squad special.   One thing is clear: Bearstail 2029 isn't just showing up—they're coming to make noise.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/TeamIntroduction.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/12/TeamIntroduction.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-2693098" style="width:365px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   Schedule   April 11-12 | Grand AM | Grand Forks   April 24-26 | Prep Hoops Lonestar State Showdown | Dallas   April 2-3 | Fargo Spring Showcase | Fargo   May 8-10 | Prep Hoops Battle at the Lakes | Minneapolis   May 29-31 | Prep Hoops NHR State Tournament | Minneapolis   June 25-27 | Great Plains Alliance | St. Cloud   July 10-12 | Prep Hoops 2K26 | Minneapolis   July 17-19 | National Open Championship | Indianapolis   Roster & Player Comments    Ty is at his best when he's attacking the basket. He also shot just under 40% on 3-pointers, so defenders must get out & guard. Ray had an excellent year, finishing at 26-2 and 3rd place in Class B. Ty was named 1st team All-State by the media. 20.8 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 4.1 apg, 3 spg, 64 FG%, 73 2FG%, 38 3FG%, 75 FT%. D1 level athleticism, has multiple football offers, playmaker, mismatch nightmare, explosive. Plays very hard, hustles, does it all, human highlight-reel. Ty is a Top-Performer every time he steps on the court.     Thompson is another highly talented guard coming out of the MN loaded '29 class. Elliott is set to make noise this club season running with Bearstail. Ranked as the #2 CG & a Top-20 prospect overall, Thompson has already proven he can compete at a high level. As a frosh at Minnetonka in the always-competitive Lakes Conference, Thompson started multiple games—an impressive accomplishment that speaks to his ability & trust from the coaching staff. He's a high-level competitor who impacts the game on both ends, bringing energy, toughness & consistency every time he steps on the floor. Thompson is a super-skilled G who fills multiple buckets w/ his athleticism. He can score it, defend & create, but what really stands out is his feel for the game. He does a great job finding the open man & setting up teammates for quality looks, making him a true playmaker. With his combination of skill, athleticism & competitiveness, Thompson is a name to continue watching closely.     Nelson is quickly making a name for himself as one of the top young guards in the Midwest. Ranked as the #1 point guard in MN's '29 class & sitting 11th overall, Beckham backed up the hype with an impressive frosh season at Minnetonka (4A), competing in the always-tough Lakes Conference. Starting every game as a frosh & averaging double figures is no small feat, and it speaks to both his talent & confidence at a young age. Nelson is a gifted shooter who can space the floor, but what really separates him is his competitiveness & impact on both ends. He's a fierce competitor who brings intensity every possession & takes pride in being a true 2way player. Nelson's ability to lead, score & defend makes him one of the more complete guards in his class. This baller is the real deal, and PHD is excited to see the MN native team up with Barman and company moving forward.     Tygen has a very diverse offensive skill set. Michalenko is a three-level scorer, but also a great passer for his size. Defensively, he has great instincts that allow him to get into passing lanes. Tygen battled through a bad ankle sprain and missed about a month of the season. He's back to full strength and will be a key piece of the Bearstail team.     Lorenz put together a strong season running the point for Central Cass JV, helping lead the Squirrels to an impressive one-loss record. He showed clear growth throughout the year, especially in his ability to control the tempo and get teammates involved while leading the offense. Konnor is a quick, fiery guard who can really shoot it, and despite not having the biggest frame, he more than makes up for it with his offensive skill set. Defensively, Lorenz brings that same energy. He's pesky, competes hard, and makes things difficult on opposing guards. As he continues to develop physically, his overall game will only keep trending upward. Expect Lorenz to have a strong showing this club season, he got game.     Kerzmann is a left-handed knockdown shooter from deep. If teams defend him with players his size or smaller, he will post them up. Great post moves and feel around the basket. Brady is a good on-ball defender, but what separates him is his timing. Brady will block 2-4 shots nearly every game. Brady gained more and more playing time as the season went on. By the end of the year, he was the 6th man for St Mary's. Look for Kerzmann to have a strong club season.     PHD was impressed with his game this winter. Guss had a breakout season. Dawson is a true PG who will knock down the shot if given to much space. His defensive footwork and long arms give opposing G's nightmares. Dawson makes winning plays, whether it's diving for the ball or taking a charge. He started every game this season. Dawson could have easily been an All-Region Player. Guss has a bright future in hoops.     After a highly impressive 8th grade season, Hayes transferred to Ray. He spent this past season as 6th man or starting based on matchups. Cooper was a solid role player for the Jays who took 3rd at State. Cooper has one of the best floaters in North Dakota. He's always in the right spot defensively and is an A+ rebounder for a guard. His defensive intensity was key in Ray's run to the State Tournament.    <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="aspect-ratio:1.6020096895747353;width:216px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   With Eric Barman   PHD: What excites you most about this group heading into the season?   "I am excited about the amount of athleticism this team has throughout. Other teams will pose problems with their size, but few will have the athletes that we can put on the court."   PHD: What are this team's biggest strengths on the court?   "The basketball IQ and unselfishness of every player on this team is unreal. The number of games this group has already played at the variety level is beyond impressive."   PHD: What are your goals or expectations for this team this spring/summer?   "The only goal this summer is for every player to get better. We feel that we will be one of the top 15U teams in the Midwest. So don't be surprised to see us playing 16U, to get as many competitive games as possible."   PHD: What will your defense "hang its hat on"?   "Defensively, we are going to be flying around. We will be undersized, especially when playing up. We will be running a variety of full-court presses and half-court traps."   PHD: How often will your team meet to practice?   "We will try to meet up the night before the tournaments. We will run through our plays to make sure everything is fresh. These kids play a ton of basketball in the summer with their high school teams."   PHD: Who will be a few of your top shooters?   "Our top shooters are [player_tooltip player_id='2842170' first='Elliott' last='Thompson'], [player_tooltip player_id='2853260' first='Beckham' last='Nelson'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2863432' first='Konnor' last='Lorenz']. We don't have a player on the team that we aren't confident can knock down a three-pointer at any time."   PHD: What style of play can fans expect on both ends of the floor?   "It will be a fast up-and-down game to watch. We are hoping our defensive pressure leads to many easy points. Once in the halfcourt, we will spread our athletes out and create space. We will get to the basketball when we can and find the open shooter when the D brings help."   PHD: Who do you think will be your best rebounders?   "[player_tooltip player_id='2442325' first='Ty' last='Barman'], [player_tooltip player_id='2863718' first='Tygen' last='Michalenko'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2434722' first='Brady' last='Kerzmann'] will be our best rebounders. They are not afraid to play physical and high-point the ball unbelievably well.   PHD: What's a strength of this team?   "I think TOUGHNESS will be a strength opposing teams expect. We have 8 dawgs this season. They will bring the energy every game."   PHD: If you had to describe this team in three words?   "Hardworking, relentless, competitors. These boys are self-driven to be great. They put in a tremendous amount of time on their own."   PHD: Any last comments about the upcoming season?   "It is going to be a really fun spring/summer. The boys have been jacked about this since leaving Vegas last July."   BEST OF LUCK TO BEARSTAIL THIS SEASON!!   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/circuit-logo_b3ebdf80.webp"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/circuit-logo_b3ebdf80.webp?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-3554000" /></a></figure>

The buzz around Bearstail 2029 is already building—and for good reason. This squad is loaded with talent, bringing together six standout ballers from North Dakota and two elite players out of Minnesota to form a group that's as balanced as it is dangerous. With a mix of athleticism, grit, skill, and high-level basketball IQ, Bearstail 2029 is shaping up to be a team that nobody will want to face.