SSA ND 17U Grey: Season Recap

Depth. Chemistry. Grit. Those three words define the story of the [program_tooltip program_id='2257226' first='Sanford' last='Sports Academy ND'] 17U Grey squad this season. Rather than leaning on one or two standout scorers, this team built its identity around shared responsibility—any given night, a different player could step up and carry the load. That collective mindset, paired with a steady commitment to effort and attitude, turned a group with limited early-season practice time into a cohesive, defensively disciplined unit by year's end. From breakout performances to a gritty, come-from-behind finale that capped off the season in style, this team proved that talent means little without trust, and that the habits built on the court often carry the furthest off of it. Here's a look back at how it all came together.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/image_b36171.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/image_b36171.png" alt="" class="wp-image-3702234" style="width:299px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   See below for player comments and a thought-provoking Q&A session.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/image_dfd6ef.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/07/image_dfd6ef.png" alt="" class="wp-image-3702329" style="aspect-ratio:1.5007989773090444;width:396px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   [program_tooltip program_id='2257226' first='Sanford' last='Sports Academy ND'] 17U Grey   Player Comments from Coach Jordan    "Brogan showed massive growth on both ends of the floor compared to last year. He developed a reliable outside shot and stepped up as a vocal leader for the team."     "Finn developed tremendous confidence in his offensive game, hitting clutch shots for us in big moments. He paired that with his consistently elite perimeter defense."     "Brody served as a steady, reliable point guard who consistently ran the floor and kept our offense organized under pressure."     "Jackson was our primary perimeter spark, knocking down four or more three-pointers in nearly every game, including a few six-triple games. Combined with his major defensive strides, he developed into a reliable two-way threat."     "Matt operated in all-out mode every single second he was on the floor. He was fantastic at attacking the rim and crashing the offensive glass."     "Aiden was a lightning-fast guard we relied on to break down defenses and get into the paint. He was also one of our lockdown defenders, anchoring us 90 feet."     "Anthony was a dynamic guard who could get to the rim at will and knock down the three when needed. For his size, he was exceptional at creating havoc on the offensive glass."     "Nathan was a versatile, multi-dimensional player who could score at the rim or stretch the floor from deep. He stepped up with several massive games for us this year."     "Josiah was one of the most athletic players you will find. He was great at getting downhill to the rim and routinely energized the team with unexpected two-handed slams."     "Shepherd provided a dangerous outside shooting threat while also possessing the ability to put the ball on the floor, get downhill, and attack the rim."    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/QA.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/QA.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-2511663" style="width:258px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   With Andrew Jordan   PHD: Who was your "go-to" player when you needed a basket?   "Rather than relying on just one player, we had several go-to options depending on what we needed. We could count on Josiah to consistently get to the rim and come up with big rebounds, while Jackson and Brody served as our primary threats from the outside."   PHD: Who was your most improved player?   "[player_tooltip player_id='2114976' first='Brogan' last='Young'] truly stood out this season, making tremendous strides on both ends of the floor compared to the year prior. By developing a reliable outside shot and stepping up as a vocal leader for the team, he showed an incredible level of growth and dedication."   PHD: How did the team improve from the start of the season to the end?   "Despite limited practice time at the start of the season, the team quickly learned how to play together. By the end of the year, they evolved into an unselfish offensive unit that shared the ball and a disciplined squad that executed team defense at a high level."   PHD: Who were a few of your hardest workers?   "While everyone brought great effort, [player_tooltip player_id='2118617' first='Matt' last='Kragness'] really stood out. His relentless motor and non-stop drive set the standard for the team. [player_tooltip player_id='1863061' first='Aiden' last='Schmidt'] also exemplified that tireless work ethic, consistently giving his absolute best effort and locking down opponents on the defensive end whenever we needed it most."   PHD: Can you talk about a time when you and the team overcame adversity?   "In our last game, we faced adversity when we found ourselves down by 10 points midway through the first half. In the second half, the boys flipped a switch—determined not to lose their final game of the season—and entered a completely different mode. We played our best defense of the entire year and moved the ball exceptionally well on offense, ultimately coming back to defeat a very good team by 17 points."   PHD: Who was your top post player?   "Rather than singling out a single top player, what made this team truly special was that everyone stepped up. In any given game, a different player emerged as the star, proving that our greatest strength was collective depth and shared impact."   PHD: Who emerged as an unexpected contributor or breakout star?   "It is hard to pick just one because I believe every player on this roster is capable of being a breakout star. Josiah stands out because his natural athletic gifts make him nearly impossible to stop when he gets downhill. Jackson and Brody are huge outside threats who can score in bunches, and Finn was one of our best defenders who was consistently trusted to lock down the toughest opponents we faced. Additionally, Anthony emerged as a massive wildcard who would frequently come out of nowhere to lead us in both scoring and rebounding on any given night."   PHD: What lessons from this season go beyond basketball?   "This season taught us lessons that reach far beyond the basketball court, centered around three core values we preached from day one:   Believing: You have to believe in yourself and your teammates. True success starts with that mutual trust and confidence. Effort: Effort should never be something a coach has to coach—it must always be a given. Attitude: Regardless of how a game or a situation is going, maintaining a positive attitude is everything. Those three principles—belief, non-negotiable effort, and a positive attitude—are habits that will serve these players just as well in life, school, and their future careers as they did on the court."   PHD: Any last comments?   "This was an exceptionally fun year, and these young men were fantastic to work with. Because they were coachable, brought consistent effort, and always maintained a positive attitude, I have no doubt they are all going to be successful in life. It was a true pleasure coaching this group, and I am genuinely excited to watch what each of them accomplishes in their senior year."   BEST OF LUCK TO ALL THE SSA PLAYERS THIS WINTER!!   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/IMG_1705.jpeg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/10/IMG_1705.jpeg?w=400" alt="" class="wp-image-2836403" /></a></figure>

Depth. Chemistry. Grit. Those three words define the story of the Sanford Sports Academy ND 17U Grey squad this season. Rather than leaning on one or two standout scorers, this team built its identity around shared responsibility—any given night, a different player could step up and carry the load. That collective mindset, paired with a steady commitment to effort and attitude, turned a group with limited early-season practice time into a cohesive, defensively disciplined unit by year's end. From breakout performances to a gritty, come-from-behind finale that capped off the season in style, this team proved that talent means little without trust, and that the habits built on the court often carry the furthest off of it. Here's a look back at how it all came together.