Way-Too-Early Season Preview: Class A Forwards to Watch
It’s never too early for Way-Too-Early season! With the AAU season ending at the end of July, there’s plenty to digest from the end of last year leading up to the start of next winter season. Here are some of…
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Continue ReadingIt’s never too early for Way-Too-Early season! With the AAU season ending at the end of July, there’s plenty to digest from the end of last year leading up to the start of next winter season.
Here are some of the top forwards to watch in Class A
Cam Van Dam, Fargo Davies
Van Dam was awesome in a super utility role last year with the Eagles, averaging 10.7 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 3.0 blocks and 1.7 steals per game. His defense is among the best in the state both as a help guy and on the ball and his ability to anchor that could be the key for Fargo Davies’ entire season. We’ll see how he does with greater offensive responsibility as he’ll likely be tasked with creating more offense for himself and his teammates but even if he isn’t a huge scorer, he’s still an All-EDC player because of how many ways he changes the game.
Easton Larson, Minot
Larson averaged 10 points and 6.4 rebounds a year ago and based on how he played this summer, he could be due for a big jump forward. The Magicians are a top-five team in Class A and a title contender after a weird up-and-down season a year ago. He’s got the skill, the athleticism, the strength and the motor to put up 15-plus points and 8-10 rebounds per game if he brings it consistently.
Bryce Enerson, Grand Forks Red River
Enerson averaged 11 points and 7.7 rebounds for a Roughrider team that went to state for the second year in a row and earned an upset win against Mandan. He’s not the prototypical big, physical post but he’s athletic and active. He’ll be third in the pecking order after Will Obioha and Brady Dvorak, but for a team that will win with defense and grit, Enerson is an underrated but highly important cog.
Jared Bartels, Wahpeton
Wahpeton went to the state tournament and while the Huskies graduated a number of valuable seniors, Bartels is a quality returner. The 6-foot-4 senior to be averaged eight points and four rebounds per game last year in a complementary role and was efficient. Those numbers will come up at least 50 percent given his skill, athleticism and activity level.
Jorn Everson, Williston
Everson is one of the best big men in the WDA and based on how he looked over the summer with the Pentagon Schoolers, he could be due for a sophomore-to-junior jump even after averaging 15 and 8 as a sophomore. Everson might not score like crazy but given his motor, developing skills and athleticism, he should be more than capable of putting up 18-20 points per game on solid efficiency for a Williston team that will need scoring in a bad way.
Rhett Clements, Bismarck Legacy
Clements isn’t the biggest guy and his skillset is more fitting as a faceup swingman but he was super productive for a solid Bismarck Legacy team a year ago and should be a go-to guy for a Saber team that could contend for a top-four spot and state tournament berth next year. The 6-foot-3 forward averaged 14 points and 7 rebounds per game last year and he should be an all-WDA type guy next winter too.