Northstar Titans 15U Stone: Team Profile
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Today we are taking a close look at the Northstar Titans 15U Stone. The Titans run a quality program, have well-coached teams, play the game the right way, and represent Minnesota basketball in a first-class manner. This 15U squad has…
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Continue ReadingToday we are taking a close look at the Northstar Titans 15U Stone.
The Titans run a quality program, have well-coached teams, play the game the right way, and represent Minnesota basketball in a first-class manner.
This 15U squad has the potential to be a great team. The Titans are athletic, skilled, have nice length, and Derek Stone does an excellent job as a coach. I am excited to see this team hoop! They have put together a great schedule and we will see them often on the Prep Hoops Circuit!
These ballers have a bright future, make sure you take the time to watch them this spring and summer!
See below for the Titans schedule, player comments, and an in-depth Q&A session with coach Stone.
Northstar Titans 15U Stone: Schedule
Player Comments from Coach Derek Stone
Cal Spencer Cal Spencer 5'10" | PG Spring Lake Park | 2027 State MN : 5’11 PG – Spring Lake Park
“Cal is an elite, score-first point guard. I have not seen a kid with this much confidence in my short tenure as a coach. He demands respect from defenders as he can pull up from anywhere. He is lightning-quick with the ball and has great court vision. Cal does a lot more than just score the ball. Because of the focus he brings from defenders, he is great at setting up his teammates for easy buckets. Cal is also a great on-ball defender. He is sneaky at picking ball handlers out in the open court. Cal had a successful school season, starting point guard on JV for Spring Lake Park.“
Ephraim Radtke: 6’1 SG – Anoka
“Ephraim is an absolute gym rat. After we finish up with practice each day, he stays to practice with our top 16U team coached by Brian Kuhl. Ephraim shoots the ball at an extremely high rate and he has a crazy quick release. He is very athletic and can finish above the rim. He is great at using his athleticism to attack the paint and finish above defenders. Ephraim had a great year starting for Anoka JV. Ephraim has played as a combo guard historically but had the opportunity to play point at times for Anoka and it has really elevated his game.“
Cody Benson Cody Benson 6'0" Spectrum | 2027 MN : 6’2 SF – Spectrum
“Cody is such a fun kid to have on the team. He is not only a great player but makes everyone around him enjoy the game more. Cody is an elite outside shooter which opens up his ability to attack and finish at the rim. He is fantastic in transition, running ahead of defenders and scoring on the move. Cody is very long and uses his length to make tough off balanced shots around the rim. He had a strong school season with Spectrum, coming off the bench for a 24-win varsity team. With games scoring 21, 19, and 16.“
Zach Schmoeckel Zach Schmoeckel 6'2" | SF Stillwater | 2027 MN : 6’3 PF – Stillwater
“Zach is a big-time football player and it shows on the court. Zach is a transfer from Georgia this year as his family moved, so he is new to the state. He is a very strong forward who backs down from no one. Zach has great footwork and finishing on the low block. He is also a sneaky good outside shooter and can hit from around the arc. One thing that really sticks out for Zach is how coachable he is. He looks his coaches directly in the eye, responds with yes sir and no sir, does what is asked, and is always looking to improve. Zach had a great school season being one of the core pieces for a very competitive Stillwater 9A team.“
Brady Keane: 6’0 G – Totino Grace
“Brady is a pure athlete. He is an elite baseball player but shines on the court as well. Brady is the ultimate team player and a utility guy. He can play 1-3 at a high level. He is a very good defender on the ball and is in the right spots on help-side D. He is a leader on the team and talks even when he is on the bench getting a rest. Brady is one of those guys who does the dirty work, it does not always show up the box score. Brady had a great year starting out on 9A for Totino and getting pulled up to JV later in the year and eventually added to the varsity roster for the AAA State Champs under Nick Carrol.“
Liam Paulson: 6’4 SF – Anoka
“Liam is a long athletic wing that plays with high intensity. Liam is very vocal and is constantly communicating on defense. He uses his long physical frame to finish tough looks around the rim and through traffic. Liam is very skilled with the ball for his size at this age and can be a tough matchup for defenders. Liam was pulled up to JV for Anoka this year and had a great season playing against older players.“
Nolan Roach Nolan Roach 5'10" Spring Lake Park | 2027 MN : 6’0 SG – Spring Lake Park
“Nolan is the ultimate hustle player. Nolan never takes a play off whether it’s in a game or at practice. He is an elite on-ball defender and is leading our team in steals after our first tournament. Nolan is also a great scorer and can hit from the outside. He plays with a chip on his shoulder and does not get intimidated by anyone. Nolan was the lead guard on a tough Spring Lake Park 9A team. He has primarily been a combo guard but ran point for SPL at times this winter.“
Owen Stangl Owen Stangl 6'4" Stillwater | 2027 MN : 6’5 F – Stillwater
“Owen is a long, skilled big. He can stretch the floor and hit from the outside but is great around the basket. One thing about Owen is he won’t be outworked. He plays the game physically and intensely. It is amazing how much zip he puts on the ball when passing to teammates. Owen is a super coachable player and is going to take big leaps this AAU season. Owen was the leading scorer on one of the best freshman teams in the state.”
Leo Giwa Leo Giwa 5'11" | PG Providence Academy | 2027 MN : 6’0 G – Providence Academy
“Leo is a very strong combo guard. Leo doesn’t look like a freshman on the court. He is strong, quick, and athletic. Leo is a pesky on-ball defender who creates a lot of turnovers for opposing guards. He is great at using his strength and finishing through contact. Leo was the starting guard for Providence before getting hurt in the middle of the season. Leo was sidelined for the remainder of the year and just got back to the court at the start of AAU.“
Q&A with coach Coach Stone
PHD: Can you tell me a little about your coaching/basketball background?
“I got my start coaching under one of my mentors, as a Varsity assistant for Joel Hedberg at PACT Charter. Then that following spring I started with AAU, coaching for Nathan Bellefeuille Crossfire Basketball. I coached 3 years for Crossfire until I joined Nathan and a few other coaches to help start Northstar Titans in 2021. This will be my 7th year coaching AAU and I have had the privilege of coaching some awesome players throughout the years. Some former players to note: Cade Haskins (Dartmouth / DeLasalle. 2021), Regan Koch (Col. School of Mines / Jordan 2021), Rowen Nelson (Concordia Moorhead / Melrose 2021), Bradley Cimperman (Hamline / Woodbury 2021), Wyatt Hawks (St. Cloud St. / White Bear Lake 2023), Raoul Vaidya (Hamline / Maple Grove 2023), Aiden Johnson Aiden Johnson 6'6" | SF Cannon Falls | 2024 State MN (Legacy / Bethel 2023) and many more.“
PHD: Why are you excited to coach this group?
“I am excited about this group not only because we have a group of skilled ballers, but these are awesome young men. I am very blessed to have such a fun dedicated group of young men who show up every day and give it their all. This is a group that not only takes basketball seriously, but understands that this is a game and they know how to have fun with it. Something that I never want to take for granted, we have an awesome group of supporting parents.“
PHD: What will be the strengths of your team?
“This is a team that can shoot the ball. No matter who is on the court, we have 5 guys on the court that can hit from outside. We have a group of skilled quick guards that can push the pace and control the tempo. Our bigs play physical and aren’t afraid to get in the trenches underneath. One thing we are definitely pushing to improve is our team defense and buying in and trusting each other.“
PHD: What style of basketball will you play?
“We play an up-tempo style of basketball. We teach fundamental team basketball mixed with some freedom and creativity. We don’t run a set offense and expect each guy to only serve one purpose. We like to run a read and react style whether that be in a pass and cut motion offense or a dribble drive.“
PHD: Who do you predict will be your top defender?
“We have many great defenders but a few that stick out are Nolan Roach Nolan Roach 5'10" Spring Lake Park | 2027 MN (Spring Lake Park) and Brady Kean (Totino Grace). Both of these guys are multi-sport athletes and it shows on the court. Nolan is an elite on-ball defender who gives 110% every play. He plays fast and physical and takes it personal when given an assignment. Brady sees the game differently and is not only a great on-ball defender but is a very good team defender and is always in the right spots at the right time in help-side.”
PHD: What event/tournament are you looking forward to the most?
“There are many great tournaments that we look forward to each year. Chris always puts on a very competitive tournament early in the year to kick off the AAU season here in Minnesota with the Comets Shootout. Shortly followed with many great Prep Hoops Tournaments such as Battle at the Lakes, NHR State, and of course the 2 big tournaments at the end, Regional Finals and National Championship.“
PHD: Do you see your team playing man, zone, or a mix?
“I am a strong believer in teaching man-to-man defense first. We almost always play man-to-man and I think it is very important for a player to understand basic man-to-man defense technique and positioning, especially going into college.“
PHD: Will your team get together and practice?
“Yes, we practice twice a week. We will occasionally have a 3rd optional practice a week, whether that is just a shoot around or we’ll find an outside court, when the weather allows it, for a more open gym-style practice. These are mainly to remind the boys that this game is supposed to be fun and I will lace up with them and we run some 5’s.“
PHD: What are your goals for this AAU/grassroots season?
“Our main goal this year is for each individual player to improve on and off the court. We want to see on the court improvement whether that’s shooting, ball skills, defense, or basketball IQ. We also push our guys off the court as well. To grow as young men, learn to communicate when something is bothering them, take responsibility for practice times and game schedules, and know that sports are much more than just running around with a ball.“
PHD: Who are some of your top shooters?
“There are many guys that can be considered one of our top shooters, but we have 3 guys that stand out here. Cal Spencer Cal Spencer 5'10" | PG Spring Lake Park | 2027 State MN (Spring Lake Park) is an elite scorer that can score from anywhere on the court. He is a very good pull-up shooter and can create his own shot. Ephraim Radtke (Anoka) has one of the quickest releases you will see on the Prep Hoops Circuit this year. He shoots the ball at a high percentage and has the ability to finish above the rim as well when attacking the rim. The last one is Cody Benson Cody Benson 6'0" Spectrum | 2027 MN (Spectrum). Cody is an elite spot-up shooter from outside and is very good at scoring through traffic in transition and in the paint.“