North Dakota Phenom 2025

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size"><strong>It is time to take a look at one of the top 17U squads in our region. PHD is talking about [program_tooltip program_id='2075741' first='ND' last='Phenom'] 2025!</strong> </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>NDP '25 consistently competed in the top pools on the Prep Hoops Circuit. They also made an impressive run to the Final 4 in a tough field at the Hard Work Region Finals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontStyle":"normal","fontWeight":"100"}}} --> <p style="font-style:normal;font-weight:100">Take a look at how talented this roster is, many if not all of the players will go on and play a sport at that next level. A handful of them have already committed!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Get ready for a monster senior year from all of these ballers! Before we get there, lets take a look back at the club season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"15px","fontStyle":"normal","fontWeight":"300"}}} --> <p style="font-size:15px;font-style:normal;font-weight:300">See below for player comments and an interesting question-and-answer session.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2521038,"width":"215px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/image_d41952.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/image_d41952.png" alt="" class="wp-image-2521038" style="width:215px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2521039,"width":"240px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"full","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-full is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/image_e816e2.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/08/image_e816e2.png" alt="" class="wp-image-2521039" style="width:240px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"30px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:30px"><strong>Player Comments from <em>Jordan Maurer</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"18px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:18px"><strong>Garrett Bickett * "<em>Coach Bickett meant so much to our team. He was a calming influence on both the players and me over the course of a game. He creates an environment that helps the team remain calm and focused when things are chaotic. When possible, I prefer to have alumni coach for our teams, as it just means more. It is difficult to explain the impact that Coach Bickett had on our successes, but it was tremendous.</em>"</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"18px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:18px"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2399947' first='Andre' last='Austin'] * "<em>Andre is a joy to coach. He is a competitor. He has a different drive about him in his relentlessness. I think Coach Nelson got a guy who will come in, outwork people, and get on the floor early.</em>"</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"18px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:18px"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1219808' first='Caden' last='Englund'] * "<em>Caden is a winner. Caden makes the most of his physical gifts. He is a competitor defensively. He is a leader. Caden has an incredible ability to slash. He is a much-improved shooter. I look forward to seeing where Caden chooses to play.</em>"</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"18px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:18px"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1194507' first='Drew' last='Kempel'] * "<em>Drew is my point guard. I believe that players win games. He won me 71% of my games. Thank you very much for that PG.  He is a constant in what we do. He is the straw that stirs the drink. I hold my point guards to a different standard and I applaud his ability in handling that. Coach Murken is getting a guy who does the things that need to be done to win games. I have had 7 point guards who were Mr. Basketball candidates and Drew and his ability to positively impact winning is right up there with any of them. I do not think I can give a point guard a much higher compliment than that.</em>"</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"18px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:18px"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1169145' first='Walker' last='Braaten'] * "<em>Walker is a hyper competitor. Just a different animal. He gives me Darik Dissette vibes. He is like a silent assassin. Words do not do him justice. What he meant to our team is ineffable. I know absolutely nothing about football, but if he ends up playing for a lot of money on television, I will not be surprised.</em>"</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"18px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:18px"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1169148' first='Parker' last='Falcon'] * "<em>Parker is a special talent. Obviously, everyone sees the shooting, as it screams at you. He has a bit of a post-game. He can play as a roll or pop guy. He is better than people think defensively. He is good on the glass. Coach Murken is getting a guy who can do some special things.</em>" </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"18px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:18px"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1169146' first='Presley' last='Peraza'] * "<em>Presley is such a hard-working competitor. He is so coachable. He can do a bit of everything. He has superhuman leaping ability. He can shoot it. He communicates. He will run through a wall to help his team win. Truly a joy to coach. He is going to make a college coach very happy.</em>"</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"18px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:18px"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1169144' first='Karson' last='Ouse'] * "<em>Karson is a pleasure to coach. Coach Sather is getting a guy who can do a bit of everything. Post? Yes. Shoot? Yes. Slash? Yes.  Pull up? Yes. Guard? Yes. Switch? Yes. Communicate? Yes. Win? Yes. When you can check off all the boxes, and still have room to improve, you really are a special player. The best part of coaching Karson is that he is going to play hard whether he gets 2 shots or 20 shots.</em></strong>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"18px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:18px"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1189452' first='Ramsey' last='Walz'] * "<em>Ramsey is a stud. Ramsey can beat you on the block, on the glass, on the roll, on the pop. Great shot blocker with incredible length. Coach Murken is getting a guy who is a winner. He was asked to play multiple positions this season and really stood out. He has tremendous upside, but his current production levels have been very, very solid.</em>"</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"18px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:18px"><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1497479' first='Brennan' last='Johnson'] * "<em>Brennan is an underappreciated guy who shows up and does his job. I think that the casual basketball fan is not able to really appreciate what Brennan does. Physical screens. Physical box outs. Great communication. Timely makes. Brennan really showed his ability to shoot it and score it this summer. Brennan is a guy who has overcome some injuries and really stood out for us. He plays with an old-school physicality but with the new-age stretch-ability to go with it. Brennan is going to make a college basketball coach very happy. It is hard to find someone who shows up, does the dirty work, and comes back for more, knowing they may get 1 shot that game. What Brennan brought to our team is so underappreciated by so many. Just a fun guy to coach.</em>"</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2511663,"width":"244px","height":"auto","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <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:244px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"30px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:30px"><strong>With Coach <em>Maurer</em></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PHD: How would you sum up the season for your squad?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"Our season was pretty successful. We played shorthanded almost every game as we had a few kids in spring sports and some unfortunate injuries happen during the summer. Our end goal of helping players get the opportunity to play basketball in college was accomplished, as all received at least 1 offer to do so. 5 of the players have committed to play college basketball so far, with 1 also committing to play football..</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PHD: How did your team overcome adversity?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>We had guys learn new positions on the fly. We had to adjust what we did offensively and defensively. Players played more minutes than we wanted.  They took it well, showed up, and worked.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PHD: What are a few things your team improved on?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Playing different roles and communicating defensively.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PHD: Who was your top shooter?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>[player_tooltip player_id='1169148' first='Parker' last='Falcon']. He does not really miss open shots. Truly had an unbelievable summer.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PHD: Who was your best rebounder?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>We did a great job as a team on the defensive glass. Everyone did their part.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PHD: Who was your best defensive player?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Post NDSU football commitment, [player_tooltip player_id='1169145' first='Walker' last='Braaten'] was a guy who could take a player completely out of the game. [player_tooltip player_id='1169144' first='Karson' last='Ouse'] is fully switchable and has the length to contest everything.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>PHD: Any last comments/thoughts on the team?</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Our 2025s had an unreal run. Over the course of 3 years, they finished with a record of 66-27. The only team that we played multiple times to finish with a winning record against us was MN Select Ohnstad who won the career series over us 4-2, as we split in 15s and 17s, but they swept us in 16s.  We truly had a great 3-year run and I am sad that it has to end, but excited to watch their future successes.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontStyle":"italic","fontWeight":"800","fontSize":"32px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:32px;font-style:italic;font-weight:800"><strong>Best of luck with your senior year!</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2422354,"sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/phenomPHpic.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/04/phenomPHpic.jpg?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-2422354" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->