Postseason Report: North Dakota Class A All State
First Team Grant Nelson, Devils Lake One of the top returning players in the state heading into this year, Nelson went berserk as a senior, averaging 24 points, 18 rebounds and nearly six blocks per game despite being the one…
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Grant Nelson, Devils Lake
One of the top returning players in the state heading into this year, Nelson went berserk as a senior, averaging 24 points, 18 rebounds and nearly six blocks per game despite being the one guy teams geared up to slow down. His ability to score from all over the floor made him impossible to fully neutralize and his ability to dominate on the defensive end of the floor gave the Firebirds an identity. He carried a Firebirds team that otherwise might’ve finished at the bottom of the EDC to the state tournament.
Boden Skunberg, Jamestown
Skunberg missed five games in the regular season plus all of the WDA Tournament, but there’s little doubt that he was the most impactful player in the league. The senior guard averaged 28.4 points, 11 rebounds and 2.9 assists while knocking down 41 percent of his 3-pointers. He was a force all year and when healthy, was undoubtedly the most talented individual player in the state, making the Bluejays a clear title favorite.
Jaxon Gunville, Minot
Gunville had a monster senior season, averaging 25.1 points and 6.7 rebounds while knocking down a ridiculous 46 percent of his 3-pointers (on nine attempts per game). Minot’s season ended short of what it probably should’ve, but Gunville was certainly a bright spot, averaging 27.3 points per game in the WDA Tournament.
Elijah Klein, Mandan
Klein was the catalyst for the Braves team that reached the tournament despite some early season struggles. Arguably the best big man in the state, Klein averaged 19.5 points and 9.9 rebounds in the regular season before putting up 21.7 points and 13.7 rebounds in the WDA Tournament. He shot 61 percent from the field on the season, leading Mandan to the state tournament to cap off a phenomenal career.
Blake Berg, West Fargo Sheyenne
Berg was the man for the Mustangs all season, averaging 15.6 points, 6.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists while leading the team in steals and shooting better than 50 percent from the field. He was one of the best defenders in the league and his ability to dominate the game on both ends of the floor with his athleticism and force set the tone for a team that reached the semifinals and looked like a state title favorite.
Second Team
Jaiden Wright, Dickinson
One of the best two-way players in the state, Wright turned in a monster senior year, averaging 18.8 points (47 percent from the field, 35 from 3 and 83 from the free throw line), 6.4 rebounds and 2.9 assists while leading a Dickinson team that had finished near the bottom of the WDA the year prior to the state tournament.
Cam Van Dam, Fargo Davies
One of the best two-way players in the league, Van Dam is a super utility forward and the leader of a Fargo Davies team that had a legitimate shot at winning a state title. The 6-foot-7 senior averaged nearly 14 points, eight rebounds and four assists while showcasing elite multi positional defense.
Tyler Terhark, West Fargo Sheyenne
Terhark stuffed the stat sheet in a big way for the Mustangs, averaging 13.9 points, 7.9 rebounds and 4.7 assists while shooting 55 percent from the field. His ability to defend just about anybody, make plays for himself and set up his teammates made the Mustangs a viable state title contender. He didn’t put up eye-popping scoring numbers due to the depth at the disposal of West Fargo Sheyenne, but there’s a lot of substance to Terhark’s game and his impact on winning was a huge factor in the Mustangs’ season.
Cade Feeney, Bismarck Century
Feeney dragged the Bismarck Century offense along all season, averaging 20.6 points per game. He was efficient, shooting 44 percent from the field and 35 percent from the 3-point line despite being tasked with running the offense, creating for himself and his teammates at a high volume. He led the team in assists and steals as well, illustrating his ability to not only carry the offense, but dominate games on the defensive end of the floor too.
Carson Lamp, Jamestown
An obvious breakout candidate going into the year, Lamp was even better than expected both as the No. 2 guy behind Skunberg and as the top option in his absence. The 6-foot junior guard averaged 15.8 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game on terrific efficiency. His ability to control the game and take over at key moments made the Bluejays a contender even without Skunberg in the postseason.
Third Team
Brady Dvorak, Grand Forks Red River
Dvorak was arguably the best point guard in the EDC as a senior, averaging 14.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists while supplying top-notch defense. In a year where the Roughriders dealt with some injuries and challenges, Dvorak was the key cog in keeping them among the best teams in the EDC.
Kobe Krenz, Dickinson
One of the top scorers in the WDA, Krenz averaged 23.1 points per game while shooting 36 percent from deep (on 10 attempts per game). The senior guard improved as a rebounder, playmaker and defender, averaging 5.7 rebounds and 3.0 assists helping lead the Midgets to the state tournament.
Cayden Rickard, Fargo North
Rickard didn’t have a great shooting year but some of that can be attributed to the amount of responsibility he had as a shot-creator and primary ball-handler. The senior lead guard averaged 19.5 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.0 assists, helping the Spartans right the ship and remain competitive after a rough start.
Cole Hage, Fargo Davies
Hage was one of the toughest players in the state to match up with and while his numbers don’t jump out, he was more than capable of putting up monster numbers had it been required of him. The 6-foot-3 swingman finished his senior season averaging 11.4 points, 6.0 rebounds and 3.5 assists but his impact on the game particularly on the defensive end of the floor go beyond the box score.
Rhett Clements, Bismarck Legacy
The 6-foot-3 forward got off to a ridiculous start to the season, and despite cooling off a bit late in the year, ended up averaging 16.5 points and 7.6 rebounds, while nearly leading a Bismarck Legacy team that was ravaged by injuries throughout the year to state.