Northern Elites: Season Recap

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have another Season Review for you today. We are checking out Northern Elites. They finished the season with a 13-7 record. Northern Elites is a new grassroots program from north eastern North Dakota and they have quality talent on their squad. Look for these ballers to have a noteworthy senior season on their respective school team. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>See below for player comments and a Q&amp;A session with coach <em>Josh</em> <em>Worley</em>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1842251,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/SeaonReview-.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/03/SeaonReview-.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-1842251" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Player Comments from Coach <em>Worley</em></span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1857757' first='Rayce' last='Worley'] (2024) |6'4 SF| Langdon Area</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Rayce's strengths are his athleticism, confidence, and leadership. He has a tremendous knowledge of the game and it just kinda radiates out of him. I feel he really improved on his court awareness this year, seeing all of the floor, and creating shots for other players. The positive things he brought us were that attack mentality and above-the-rim play, which brought excitement to every game.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1843197' first='Talan' last='Devine'] (2024) |6'2 G| Cavalier</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Talan has a way of scoring quietly. You just can't leave him alone and he can get to the basket if you don't watch out. He is a confident shooter and not afraid to pull the trigger. His defense continued to improve all season which was great to see. He brought us a positive attitude and made some key shots for us when needed.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1164764' first='Keyton' last='McGregor'] (2024) |6'1 G| West Fargo</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>He's just a baller. Don't let his size fool you. A great on-ball defender with athletic ability that allows him to rebound well. His competitiveness was something that he brought to our team that everyone fed off of. He should have a nice season this winter.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1918762' first='Beau' last='Brodina'] (2024) |6'2 G| Devils Lake</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Beau really puts ball pressure on people. He is used to playing with a lot of talent and he understands his role. On D he can lock someone down, and offensively you can't leave the kid open or he will light you up! His passing game and court vision improved as the season went on. His intensity and leadership really started to stand out the more games we played.</em>" </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1969919' first='Zack' last='Anderson'] (2024) |5'11 G| Cavalier</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>He was a tough loss for us (injured early in the season). Zack was really making progress defensively early on and just has that knack for scoring. He should have a big senior season for Cavalier.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1144616' first='Ross' last='Thompson'] |6'4 SF| Lakota</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Ross really played hard for us in the post going down the stretch. He controlled the boards and contributed with his interior scoring. He improved on his post moves and really started to use his size. He is going to be one to watch on a talented Lakota team this year.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2124113' first='Cody' last='Amble'] (2025) |6'3 SG| Langdon Area</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Cody is a super athletic kid (16U) that can really hold his own once he gets playing. A lefty that is kinda a slasher but can knock down an outside jumper too. He was one of Langdon's better defenders in the regular season last year. He really improved on his confidence and good things are going happen.</em>" </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"18px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:18px">"<em>Notable pickups: [player_tooltip player_id='1750475' first='Parker' last='Brodina'], [player_tooltip player_id='1411320' first='Wylee' last='Delorme'], <strong>Tayden Azure</strong>, [player_tooltip player_id='1145544' first='Jake' last='Starcevic'], [player_tooltip player_id='1161524' first='Daniel' last='Yorke'], and several talented 15U kids as well. My 15U team played a couple of tourneys at the end of the season which was nice! They had some success and I think they are hooked. Next year, we are going to try and have 2 or 3 teams in various age groups, so keep us in mind!</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1969714,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/05/Northerneliteslogo.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/05/Northerneliteslogo.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-1969714" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"large"} --> <p class="has-large-font-size"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Q&amp;A with <em>Josh Worley</em></span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: How would you sum up the season for your squad? </span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>It was a lot of traveling, a lot of scheduling, and a whole lot of fun! To run around the upper Midwest with kids and parents as we have is truly enjoyable. The team competed at a high level all year and gave everything they had even with low numbers in a few tourneys. Everyone improved in my opinion and I am really looking forward to watching them all succeed at the varsity level this year for their respective teams!</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: What are some of the highlights from the season?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>We started the season going 0-4 which kind of woke some players up I think. We could have won all 4 of those games but it just didn't happen. The boys then proceeded to only lose 3 games for the remainder of the season! We won the Gopher Spring Classic down in the cities, took 3rd at the [program_tooltip program_id='2078372' first='ECI' last=''] in Fargo, 2nd in the Arrowhead Invite out in Duluth, and 2nd In the OSA Summer Shootout down in Omaha. The team really had that play-to-win mentality all season and, as a coach, that makes life a little easier.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: How did you and your team overcome adversity?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>This was an area I thought we needed improvement on to start the year. We did take steps in the right direction as the season went on. Having to fill some spots with some younger guys in a few tourneys made the older guys respond and work with what we had. We ran into some very talented teams and held our own working as a team.</em>" </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: Who were a couple of your top shooters?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>[player_tooltip player_id='1857757' first='Rayce' last='Worley'] really shot the ball well this whole season. He can knock shots down right in defenders' faces because of his length, high release, and leaping ability. Not afraid of a mid-range jumper either! [player_tooltip player_id='1918762' first='Beau' last='Brodina'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1843197' first='Talan' last='Devine'] will really hurt ya if left open outside as well. Overall our team's shooting ability was one of our strengths.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: Who was your most improved player?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>This is kind of a toss-up. [player_tooltip player_id='1843197' first='Talan' last='Devine'] really improved each tournament, particularly</em> <em>with his defense. He also became more of a scoring threat once he settled into his role. [player_tooltip player_id='1144616' first='Ross' last='Thompson'] also came on strong in the last few tourneys. He was a presence inside and it was fun to see him use his frame to his advantage.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: Who were some of your hardest workers?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Well, all the guys worked their tails off this year. I can't really single anyone out in particular. We had several tourneys where we played with only 6 or 7 guys so they had no choice but to work hard.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: Who was your best defensive player?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>When [player_tooltip player_id='1164764' first='Keyton' last='McGregor'] was with us he took pride in being that lockdown defender. Was super aggressive and made other guards have to really take care of the ball. [player_tooltip player_id='1918762' first='Beau' last='Brodina'] constantly played pressure defense. He kind of led the way for the rest of the team to see how it's done.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">PHD: Which tourney was the most fun?</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>I'd have to say the [program_tooltip program_id='2078372' first='ECI' last=''] Spring Showcase would be the one we had the most fun at. There was great competition and we picked up stud fill-in players. It was great basketball and fun to be closer to home. When you get that many solid players in one spot, all busting their butts, it makes for some very high-quality basketball! Omaha is always a fun town to visit as well. They have great facilities and lots to do!</em>" </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":1969616,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/05/northernelitesteampic-crop-947x622-1685075762.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/05/northernelitesteampic-crop-947x622-1685075762.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1969616" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->