It's a great day to be a HS basketball player. I always looked forward to this day as a player, and even more so as a coach. As a coach you have your practice plans set for the week, how much conditioning, how much shooting, defense, rebounding etc. We always went two a days a couple of times this week, and really worked the boys hard. Lot's of fundamental review, and defensive positioning/rotations.
I always thought we didn't need to touch a ball too much these first few days, more work on conditioning, and defense, because in the first month if you can't score, at least you can defend and rebound. We very rarely had an out of bounds play in, this first week of practice.
It's a sad day today for me, I certainly miss it a lot right now. I think on the plus side I will be able to spend a lot more time with my family. On the negative side is everything else, I would rather be in a gym than just about anywhere else, and I loved the interaction with the kids. I have had plenty of offers to come into to other coaches practices, and "help out" but it wouldn't be the same I don't think.
I just wanted to wish all the kids, coaches, parents,etc good luck on the upcoming season. I am sure you will see me in a gym sometime.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
Undervalued prospects
I have heard from several college coaches who have stumbled across my blog already, and so this entry is for them.
Eric Shulstad 6'6 Pelican Rapids
Tyson Eurhle 6'4 St. Cloud Tech
Tom Sawatzke 6'0 Monticello
Tim Bergstrasser 6'5 Apollo
Jordan Christensen 6'4 Sauk Rapids
Isaac Leyk 6'2 Sauk Rapids
Ron Kornbaum 6'1 Little Falls
Nick Erdich 6'3 Little Falls
David Stommes 6'6 Eden Valley Watkins
Matt Bigelow 6'5 Monticello
Matt Feuling 6'4 Foley
Laine Nelson 6'1 Foley
Leonard Gabbert 6'2 Foley
Jay Moten 5'11 NL-S
Evan Ziegler 6'5 Sartell
Kyle Mareck 6'5 Sartell
Nathan Nietfeld 6'5 Paynesville
Jonah Dahlman 6'1 Braham
Cody Luebeck 6'3 Braham
Joe Mork 6'5 Mora
Logan Orazem 6'5 Mora
Charlie Warnes 6'4 Alex
Pierce Peeters 6'5 Minnewaska
Nick Jordan 5'11 Tech
Isaac Knowles 6'8 Tech
Dustin Monson 6'5 Pierz
Breck Webber 6'0 Pierz
Isaac Pelzer 5'11 Upsala
Jordan Burns 6'5 Browerville
Joey Wallin 6'5 Walker
I could see all of those kids, plus I am sure a few more end up on a college roster next year, from a D2 to an NAIA, D3, JUCO. I would recruit the majority of that list hard if I were a small college coach, most of those kids come from winning programs, excel in the classroom, and love the game. Wouldn't suprise me to see Peeters, Neitfeld, Bergstrasser, Shulstad, Sawatzke, Stommes, Christensen, and Ziegler find their way into scholarship dollars
Eric Shulstad 6'6 Pelican Rapids
Tyson Eurhle 6'4 St. Cloud Tech
Tom Sawatzke 6'0 Monticello
Tim Bergstrasser 6'5 Apollo
Jordan Christensen 6'4 Sauk Rapids
Isaac Leyk 6'2 Sauk Rapids
Ron Kornbaum 6'1 Little Falls
Nick Erdich 6'3 Little Falls
David Stommes 6'6 Eden Valley Watkins
Matt Bigelow 6'5 Monticello
Matt Feuling 6'4 Foley
Laine Nelson 6'1 Foley
Leonard Gabbert 6'2 Foley
Jay Moten 5'11 NL-S
Evan Ziegler 6'5 Sartell
Kyle Mareck 6'5 Sartell
Nathan Nietfeld 6'5 Paynesville
Jonah Dahlman 6'1 Braham
Cody Luebeck 6'3 Braham
Joe Mork 6'5 Mora
Logan Orazem 6'5 Mora
Charlie Warnes 6'4 Alex
Pierce Peeters 6'5 Minnewaska
Nick Jordan 5'11 Tech
Isaac Knowles 6'8 Tech
Dustin Monson 6'5 Pierz
Breck Webber 6'0 Pierz
Isaac Pelzer 5'11 Upsala
Jordan Burns 6'5 Browerville
Joey Wallin 6'5 Walker
I could see all of those kids, plus I am sure a few more end up on a college roster next year, from a D2 to an NAIA, D3, JUCO. I would recruit the majority of that list hard if I were a small college coach, most of those kids come from winning programs, excel in the classroom, and love the game. Wouldn't suprise me to see Peeters, Neitfeld, Bergstrasser, Shulstad, Sawatzke, Stommes, Christensen, and Ziegler find their way into scholarship dollars
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
West Central North Prediction
This is a league I am very familiar with having coached the Foley Falcons the past two years. last year was Foley's first year in the West Central and this year the West Central welcomes two more teams in Mora and Milaca. There are going to be some long bus rides for everyone this year. I also had four juniors in this league on my AAU team this spring, so I am also very familiar with the players as well.
Predicted order of finish
1. New London -Spicer
I still think that they are the favorites, the defending state champs lost all five starters, but have a tremendous junior class built around PG Eric Tengwall(In my opinion one of the best two or three lead guards in the 2010 class) and big men Aaron "Moose" Johnson and Justin Zylstra. Throw in some other nice juniors like Jenny, and Schmid and you have a nice top 5 in the junior class. They also have Jay Moten who is an expolsive senior guard who can score from distance, and his younger brother might be the best sophomore in the conference. They are very well coached, and also have been very succesful in years past. it's their conference until someone takes it from them...
2. Mora
Newcomer Mora is a suprise pick this high, but they have something that not a lot of teams have in the WCN this year and that is size. At 6'9 Andrew Good is poised to have a breakout season , and with a 6'4 PG a 6'3 SG and two 6'5 forwards as a possible starting lineup, Mora can really affect shots, and create easy scoring opportunities with their length. Good is the primary option for them in the half court, and is very comfortable 15 feet on in. The key for them is guard play and specifically Logan Orazem, who has started for 3 years and is a 6'4 PG who can really shoot and handle it. He is one of the best 10 players in the league and so is Good. They get 7 teams coming at least 40 minutes to their place, so homecourt should play well for them.
3. Foley
I love the falcons, and may have a bias towards my ex players, but I expect them to finish no worse than 4th this season. They return their whole bench from last years 20 win team and have 4 seniors in Nelson, Feuling, Gabbert, and Wenneberg who have been with the varsity for 3 years. Coupled with those 4 tow juniors in Niemann and Jansen who each rescued the Falcons at least once last year, and you return a lot of experience and talent. Size could be a factor, but I expect the Falcons to be the best or second best transition team in the league with all of their speed. The kids in the program are used to winning, and compete as hard as anyone, and that means they will be very hard to beat.
4. Melrose
I think they are as well coached as anyone in the league, and much like NL-S they don't rebuild they reload. Notch is a 6'6 athlete who can step out and hit a 15 footer, and their guards will always be scrappy and able to make shots. I know their younger kids are really good, so don't be suprised to see some youth sprinkled in their lineup sooner than later this season. Just like Foley, being used to and expecting to win will make them a tough out.
5. Albany
Could be the second most talented team in the league, with Noreen, Voit, Blackmore, Conrad, etc. but they have really taken their lumps in the past two seasons, and I am not sure they have learned how to win yet. They could win the conference, and they could take 7th, I am just not sure, I know Coach Dorn will always have them ready to play, and with Noreen, they have a matchup nightmare for every team in the league.
6. Cathedral
New coach Nate Miller much like Forest Witt will in Alex will breathe a bunch of new energy into the program. The previous staff really got a lot out of their talent, and I expcet coach Miller to do the same. With the kind of shooters this league has, saying that Luke Januschka is the best pure shooter in the league is a big statement, but I believe it. He can flat out shoot, and is only getting better at taking people to the rack. 6'5 and very bouncy, he will lead the league in dunks this season. I like some of their role guys too, like Coborn, and the big kids inside too.
7. Sauk Centre
I could also see this team making a jump. Their staff really has them believing that this could be a great year for them. I love Skorheim, just a monster of a rebounder, who has taken his game to the perimeter and can now knockdown the 3 ball. I think guys like Messer, and the younger Berling are ready for big things, and their PG is the kind of kid other kids PG's don't like to play against. Bigs like Meyer and Winters allow Skorheim to play a lot of point forward.
8. Milaca
Another newcomer, and probably another rough season for the Wolves. Chaz Crotzer and Myles Swenson are a nice 1-2 combo of athleitc forwards, but their guard play with the exception of Sikkink is very inexperienced and young. Milaca will win some games, their court is very nice and they draw extremely well compared to how good their record is(as opposed to Foley which is the opposite). I justthink it could a rude awakening for them in the WCN.
9. Long Prairie-Grey Eagle
They lost their two best players in Graves and Morrill. They return Korfe who is a good guards, but the rest of their team has little size or experience, those factors will pose a problem in the WCN. I think coach Dittberner will have them ready, and they have an oddly lighted/painted gym so they may get some teams to shoot poorly at their place, but for now, I think they have to go here.
All Conference 1st team
C -Good-Mora
F- Noreen-Albany
F- Skorheim-Sauk Centre
G- Tengwall-NLS
G- Moten-NLS
2nd team
C- Notch-Melrose
F- Feuling -Foley
G- Januschka-SCC
G- Jansen-Foley
G-Orazem-Mora
3rd team
C-Crotzer Milaca
F- Gabbert- Foley
F- Johnson-NLS
G- Berling- Sauk Centre
G-Nelson- Foley
4th team
C- Voit-Albany
F- Swenson-Milaca
F- Mork-Mora
G- Korfe-LPGE
G- Conrad-Albany
HM
Thieschaeffer, Claphake Melrose
Zylstra,Schmid, Jenny NLS
Meyer, Messer Sauk Centre
Coborn, Peck SCC
Oslin-Mora
Sikkink- Milaca
Wenneberg,Niemann Foley
Thune LPGE
Blackmore-Albany
Predicted order of finish
1. New London -Spicer
I still think that they are the favorites, the defending state champs lost all five starters, but have a tremendous junior class built around PG Eric Tengwall(In my opinion one of the best two or three lead guards in the 2010 class) and big men Aaron "Moose" Johnson and Justin Zylstra. Throw in some other nice juniors like Jenny, and Schmid and you have a nice top 5 in the junior class. They also have Jay Moten who is an expolsive senior guard who can score from distance, and his younger brother might be the best sophomore in the conference. They are very well coached, and also have been very succesful in years past. it's their conference until someone takes it from them...
2. Mora
Newcomer Mora is a suprise pick this high, but they have something that not a lot of teams have in the WCN this year and that is size. At 6'9 Andrew Good is poised to have a breakout season , and with a 6'4 PG a 6'3 SG and two 6'5 forwards as a possible starting lineup, Mora can really affect shots, and create easy scoring opportunities with their length. Good is the primary option for them in the half court, and is very comfortable 15 feet on in. The key for them is guard play and specifically Logan Orazem, who has started for 3 years and is a 6'4 PG who can really shoot and handle it. He is one of the best 10 players in the league and so is Good. They get 7 teams coming at least 40 minutes to their place, so homecourt should play well for them.
3. Foley
I love the falcons, and may have a bias towards my ex players, but I expect them to finish no worse than 4th this season. They return their whole bench from last years 20 win team and have 4 seniors in Nelson, Feuling, Gabbert, and Wenneberg who have been with the varsity for 3 years. Coupled with those 4 tow juniors in Niemann and Jansen who each rescued the Falcons at least once last year, and you return a lot of experience and talent. Size could be a factor, but I expect the Falcons to be the best or second best transition team in the league with all of their speed. The kids in the program are used to winning, and compete as hard as anyone, and that means they will be very hard to beat.
4. Melrose
I think they are as well coached as anyone in the league, and much like NL-S they don't rebuild they reload. Notch is a 6'6 athlete who can step out and hit a 15 footer, and their guards will always be scrappy and able to make shots. I know their younger kids are really good, so don't be suprised to see some youth sprinkled in their lineup sooner than later this season. Just like Foley, being used to and expecting to win will make them a tough out.
5. Albany
Could be the second most talented team in the league, with Noreen, Voit, Blackmore, Conrad, etc. but they have really taken their lumps in the past two seasons, and I am not sure they have learned how to win yet. They could win the conference, and they could take 7th, I am just not sure, I know Coach Dorn will always have them ready to play, and with Noreen, they have a matchup nightmare for every team in the league.
6. Cathedral
New coach Nate Miller much like Forest Witt will in Alex will breathe a bunch of new energy into the program. The previous staff really got a lot out of their talent, and I expcet coach Miller to do the same. With the kind of shooters this league has, saying that Luke Januschka is the best pure shooter in the league is a big statement, but I believe it. He can flat out shoot, and is only getting better at taking people to the rack. 6'5 and very bouncy, he will lead the league in dunks this season. I like some of their role guys too, like Coborn, and the big kids inside too.
7. Sauk Centre
I could also see this team making a jump. Their staff really has them believing that this could be a great year for them. I love Skorheim, just a monster of a rebounder, who has taken his game to the perimeter and can now knockdown the 3 ball. I think guys like Messer, and the younger Berling are ready for big things, and their PG is the kind of kid other kids PG's don't like to play against. Bigs like Meyer and Winters allow Skorheim to play a lot of point forward.
8. Milaca
Another newcomer, and probably another rough season for the Wolves. Chaz Crotzer and Myles Swenson are a nice 1-2 combo of athleitc forwards, but their guard play with the exception of Sikkink is very inexperienced and young. Milaca will win some games, their court is very nice and they draw extremely well compared to how good their record is(as opposed to Foley which is the opposite). I justthink it could a rude awakening for them in the WCN.
9. Long Prairie-Grey Eagle
They lost their two best players in Graves and Morrill. They return Korfe who is a good guards, but the rest of their team has little size or experience, those factors will pose a problem in the WCN. I think coach Dittberner will have them ready, and they have an oddly lighted/painted gym so they may get some teams to shoot poorly at their place, but for now, I think they have to go here.
All Conference 1st team
C -Good-Mora
F- Noreen-Albany
F- Skorheim-Sauk Centre
G- Tengwall-NLS
G- Moten-NLS
2nd team
C- Notch-Melrose
F- Feuling -Foley
G- Januschka-SCC
G- Jansen-Foley
G-Orazem-Mora
3rd team
C-Crotzer Milaca
F- Gabbert- Foley
F- Johnson-NLS
G- Berling- Sauk Centre
G-Nelson- Foley
4th team
C- Voit-Albany
F- Swenson-Milaca
F- Mork-Mora
G- Korfe-LPGE
G- Conrad-Albany
HM
Thieschaeffer, Claphake Melrose
Zylstra,Schmid, Jenny NLS
Meyer, Messer Sauk Centre
Coborn, Peck SCC
Oslin-Mora
Sikkink- Milaca
Wenneberg,Niemann Foley
Thune LPGE
Blackmore-Albany
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Conference Predictions
I am going to do a conference prediction for every conference I pay really close attention to ( CLC, West Central North, WCS, Central Minnesota, Prairie). I am a day behind so one day I will do two, but today I am going to do the CLC. The league I played and coached in.
1. Tech- They might not go 29-3 this season, and they will miss Stinogel and Farb(emotional bench leaders are important) more than they think. They also have significantly beefed up there schedule with Hopkins, Tartan taking the place of Albany and Duluth East. Obviously I love Wolters,Hanks, etc. A fun thing about this Tech team is there isn't a kid in their rotation who didn't grow up going to my basketball camp.
2. Willmar- I think the Filipek's and Smith prove to be too much size, length, athleticism, that is a nice 3. I think guard play will be important, but they are extremely well coached, and Willmar is a tough gym to win in.
3. Apollo- Consider me sold on Bergstrasser, I think Garth needs to become not only a better shooter, but a shutdown defensive stopper as well. I think as long as the ball goes inside out, Apollo will be hard to stop, another well coached team, with a nice combination of experience and youth.
4. Little Falls- I just really like the Kornbaum's Scott, Erdich, etc. That foursome plus some of the other guards they have(little Horesji) make them a serious contender, and of course they have state tournament experience from last year. You know defensively they will be solid, and offensively they will execute well. If Dan Kornbaum continues to take the steps he can, they could easily be #2.
5. Fergus Falls- Really don't know a ton about them other than their new coach got them fired up last year, and Hansen is a nice player. I am a big believer that football success translates into basketball success, so consider me a Fergus believer.
6. Sauk Rapids- usually the conference doormat, but they have a nice group of athletes, and experienced players as well. Christensen is a tough matchup for most if not all teams in the conference, and Meyer is improving every day as a drive and kick PG who can get people a lot of easy looks with his quickness.
7. Rocori- Not usually seen this far down, but to me their seniors are sub par. I do like their junior class with Willenbring and Worms physicality. You know they will defend, and you know they will win a few they aren't supposed to.
8. Brainerd- I really think this team is the hardest to gauge, those coaches work their tails off up there, and the kids have bought into the systems they are being taught. I love Crocker, and I think Pavek will have a breakout year. It's tough to put them this low, because of the coaching and talent they have.
9. Alexandria- Witt will do an unbelievable job and breath a bunch of new energy into the program, with Conley, Illies, Warnes, and some good juniors as well, there is plenty of talent there. I am glad their old coach John Holsten has a new job, he was a great coach as well, and well respected.
10. Sartell- Pretty young team, as they have some good sophs coming up. Evan Ziegler is a 3 who plays a lot of 5 for a small Sartell team. He is one of the best athletes in the conference and he can fill it up when he get's hot. I also think they have a couple of juniors and Kyle Mareck is a great Shooter/defender.
1-10 the league is stronger than normal, the bottom 6 can flip in any way, and any of them could sneak into the top 3 without too much suprise. I think this league has 10 good coaches, and probably 25 high level college basketball players in it, with a potential for 3-4 to go division 1. This is the best outstate conference in the state, and with teams traditions like Apollo, Willmar, Rocori, and more recently Tech and LF, it should be a battle again. There are no free wins this season.
My all conference teams
1st team
C- Bergstrasser- Apollo
F- Christensen- SR
F-T Filipek -Willmar
G- A Hanks- Tech
G- Wolters- Tech
2nd team
C- Kornbaum -LF
F- Hansen- FF
F- Smith- Willmar
G- Garth- Apollo
G- Crocker- Brainers
3rd team
C-R Filipek Willmar
F- Ziegler- Sartell
F- Willenbring- Rocori
G- Meyer- SR
G- Scott- LF
4th team
C-Pavek- Brainerd
F- Warnes- Alex
F- Eurhle- Tech
G- Kornbaum - LF
G- Leyk SR
HM
Johnson, Jordan Tech
Maslonkowski, Frericks Apollo
Warnes, Meyer Rocori
Mareck Geiske Sartell
Stein SR
Weise, Gervais Brainerd
Illies Alex
Esboldt Willmar
Erdich LF
1. Tech- They might not go 29-3 this season, and they will miss Stinogel and Farb(emotional bench leaders are important) more than they think. They also have significantly beefed up there schedule with Hopkins, Tartan taking the place of Albany and Duluth East. Obviously I love Wolters,Hanks, etc. A fun thing about this Tech team is there isn't a kid in their rotation who didn't grow up going to my basketball camp.
2. Willmar- I think the Filipek's and Smith prove to be too much size, length, athleticism, that is a nice 3. I think guard play will be important, but they are extremely well coached, and Willmar is a tough gym to win in.
3. Apollo- Consider me sold on Bergstrasser, I think Garth needs to become not only a better shooter, but a shutdown defensive stopper as well. I think as long as the ball goes inside out, Apollo will be hard to stop, another well coached team, with a nice combination of experience and youth.
4. Little Falls- I just really like the Kornbaum's Scott, Erdich, etc. That foursome plus some of the other guards they have(little Horesji) make them a serious contender, and of course they have state tournament experience from last year. You know defensively they will be solid, and offensively they will execute well. If Dan Kornbaum continues to take the steps he can, they could easily be #2.
5. Fergus Falls- Really don't know a ton about them other than their new coach got them fired up last year, and Hansen is a nice player. I am a big believer that football success translates into basketball success, so consider me a Fergus believer.
6. Sauk Rapids- usually the conference doormat, but they have a nice group of athletes, and experienced players as well. Christensen is a tough matchup for most if not all teams in the conference, and Meyer is improving every day as a drive and kick PG who can get people a lot of easy looks with his quickness.
7. Rocori- Not usually seen this far down, but to me their seniors are sub par. I do like their junior class with Willenbring and Worms physicality. You know they will defend, and you know they will win a few they aren't supposed to.
8. Brainerd- I really think this team is the hardest to gauge, those coaches work their tails off up there, and the kids have bought into the systems they are being taught. I love Crocker, and I think Pavek will have a breakout year. It's tough to put them this low, because of the coaching and talent they have.
9. Alexandria- Witt will do an unbelievable job and breath a bunch of new energy into the program, with Conley, Illies, Warnes, and some good juniors as well, there is plenty of talent there. I am glad their old coach John Holsten has a new job, he was a great coach as well, and well respected.
10. Sartell- Pretty young team, as they have some good sophs coming up. Evan Ziegler is a 3 who plays a lot of 5 for a small Sartell team. He is one of the best athletes in the conference and he can fill it up when he get's hot. I also think they have a couple of juniors and Kyle Mareck is a great Shooter/defender.
1-10 the league is stronger than normal, the bottom 6 can flip in any way, and any of them could sneak into the top 3 without too much suprise. I think this league has 10 good coaches, and probably 25 high level college basketball players in it, with a potential for 3-4 to go division 1. This is the best outstate conference in the state, and with teams traditions like Apollo, Willmar, Rocori, and more recently Tech and LF, it should be a battle again. There are no free wins this season.
My all conference teams
1st team
C- Bergstrasser- Apollo
F- Christensen- SR
F-T Filipek -Willmar
G- A Hanks- Tech
G- Wolters- Tech
2nd team
C- Kornbaum -LF
F- Hansen- FF
F- Smith- Willmar
G- Garth- Apollo
G- Crocker- Brainers
3rd team
C-R Filipek Willmar
F- Ziegler- Sartell
F- Willenbring- Rocori
G- Meyer- SR
G- Scott- LF
4th team
C-Pavek- Brainerd
F- Warnes- Alex
F- Eurhle- Tech
G- Kornbaum - LF
G- Leyk SR
HM
Johnson, Jordan Tech
Maslonkowski, Frericks Apollo
Warnes, Meyer Rocori
Mareck Geiske Sartell
Stein SR
Weise, Gervais Brainerd
Illies Alex
Esboldt Willmar
Erdich LF
Friday, November 14, 2008
MN Comets Class of 2009
Right now the Comets list of signees sits at 1 Jessie Althoff 6'1 Becker. She played on my wife's elite team and commited last spring to Bemidji State. I believe she signed yesterday.
Obviously, many more of our kids will sign along the way, but in the early signing period which runs through Wednesday the 19th, we only have one. I know we have alot of kids who are tremendous two and three sport performers (Sara Carlson, Ty Storrenstam,etc) so I am sure they will have to choose even what sport they would look to play in college first before even looking at specific colleges.
I will(if I figure it out) keep a running tally on the side of where all of our kids have signed and commited.
Obviously, many more of our kids will sign along the way, but in the early signing period which runs through Wednesday the 19th, we only have one. I know we have alot of kids who are tremendous two and three sport performers (Sara Carlson, Ty Storrenstam,etc) so I am sure they will have to choose even what sport they would look to play in college first before even looking at specific colleges.
I will(if I figure it out) keep a running tally on the side of where all of our kids have signed and commited.
First time Blogger
My name is Chris Lewis and I am the former HS boys basketball coach at Foley HS.
I just wanted to say that I hope to cover many HS boys and girls games during the HS season, and also AAU games during the AAU season. I am a former HS basketball coach with a lot less to do this winter than I have in previous winters. I hope for the chance to write about the kids, and also maybe offer a perspective from a former HS coach. I hope its enjoyable reading, and I welcome responses, questions, etc.
I just wanted to say that I hope to cover many HS boys and girls games during the HS season, and also AAU games during the AAU season. I am a former HS basketball coach with a lot less to do this winter than I have in previous winters. I hope for the chance to write about the kids, and also maybe offer a perspective from a former HS coach. I hope its enjoyable reading, and I welcome responses, questions, etc.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)