I'm BAAACCK!!!

I am expecting to have an exciting summer and so I want to let everyone know that at least weekly, I will be blogging again.

Running an AAU program is a lot of work, and Sunday nights/Monday mornings can be stressful with parents emails, and such. It is however something I love to do and am excited about continuing.

Very proud of how most of our girls seasons ended up, and the ones that are still playing are also having great seasons. We won two classic state championships at 14U and 15U and our 13s were really strong all year. The younger levels, we are really building strong teams, and I like that.

On our boys side we are really rolling and expanding on what we have been building the past four years since we really started to have a say in the direction of the organization. I am excited about planning a golf outing and also our Fall exposure, and also excited about coaching my team(16U) going forward.

I really respect the Jake Sullivan's, Willie Vang's, Ben Davis's of the world who coach their top team and also run the program. I am really thinking of getting out of the coaching aspect, but I am loving my team right now, and the challenges of building a great 16s next year might be too fun to pass up. I know how much work those guys put in, and also put their heart and sole into coaching. Jake and I have young children, so it makes it even more work. I am really lucky Josh Hanson does such an amazing job with our 17s so I don't have to coach them, and deal with 100 percent of the recruiting as well.

Fun weekend, boys state tourney, two girls teams in Sioux Falls. Lot's to report next week.

Pre Season WCN Teams

1st team- I'm going to give the nod to some seniors on the preseason, but their are a couple juniors and at least one soph, that were hard to leave off.

G- Erik Tengwall, New London Spicer(sr)- For my money the best player in the league.
G- Nick Jansen, Foley(sr)- It's his spot to lose, he will have a big year.
F- Luke Januschka, SCC(sr)- Lights out shooter, great test tonight versus Apollo.
F- Zach Noreen, Albany(sr)- Matchup nightmare, poised for monster season
C- Andrew Good, Mora(sr)- He will need to be good all year for Mora to challenge

2nd team

G- Jayme Moten, New London Spicer(jr)- Hard kid to leave off the top team, he could have BREAKOUT yr.
G- Joe Burt, SCC(So) - at worst he is 4th best guard overall in the league, love his potential.
F- Tyler Berling Sauk Centre(sr)- If he's healthy, he is the engine for them.
F- Jason Niemann, Foley(Sr)- One of the leagues best shooters.
C- Aaron Johnson, NLS(SR) - Big strong, moves his feet well, with great touch.


3rd Team

G- Sam Conrad, Albany(sr)- Too athletic/experienced not to have a great yr.
G- Aaron Jenny NLS, (SR)- This kid is way too good to be 3rd team, would be best player on half the conference teams, and is arguably NLS 5th starter.
F- Cam Atkinson, Melrose(Sr)- Very solid player on an always well coached Melrose team.
F- Justin Zylstra, NLS(SR) - So athletic, and long, I think he is NLS X factor because he's going to roam free alot with Moose drawing best post defender.
C- Aaron Zimmer, Foley(jr) - He's grown, he's skilled, and he's hungry to prove himself, love that combo.


HM


NLS- Sam Schmid, Brandon Zylstra
AL- BJ Bueckers, Ben Tamm
MO- Jake Oslin
MI- Branon Kiel
SCC- Peter Coborn, Greg Holton, Will Ellenbecker, Mike Reisdorf, Bjorn Bjorklund
LPGE Cody Sprenger, Jake Kingston, Mitch Kingston
Me- Jordan Primus, Carter Sawyer, Brandon Sawyer
F- Erik Oines, Keith Roehl
SC- Isaac Winters, Bryan Jenson, Emmitt Messer

Midwest Basketball Online This Saturday!!!

From 9am until 2pm at Henry Sibley HS. The Cost is 25 dollars and is open to any HS boy or girl in grades 9-12.

Here is their mission statement.

"Unlike some of the nationally based recruiting websites, we take a>regional, hands-on approach. We are focused on Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, North Dakota, and South Dakota. We do not try to be everythingto everybody. Our focus is boys and girls basketball, that’s it. We will be hosting regional basketball combine events in each of these states. At each of these events, measurements and physicaltesting will take place. We will measure height, weight, wingspan, andstanding reach. We will also test vertical leap, short area agility, and ¾court>sprints. We borrow many of our tests from the NBA pre-draft combine.> Players can create profiles with full contact information,verified physical test scores, video comments on profiles, and video highlights. College coaches will be contacted personally, not justin> email blasts. It is a one-stop shop for recruiting information and a valuable time saving tool for college coaches. We connect with college basketball coaches at all levels from Junior College all the way to high major Division I. This site is for everyone interested in playing collegiate basketball at any level,not just the top 150 kids in the country. "

I know coach Tom Dasovich well, and I can tell you that this will be well worth the time, money and effort, for kids. I love the online profile creation as well. For more information you can go to MidwestBasketballonline.com or check the MN Comets Website www.mncomets.com as we have linked the registration form. Walk ups are not only welcomed but encouraged!

Congratulations Taylor Filipek

On his commitment to the University of Eastern Kentucky. Coach Nuebauer, and assistant coach Ted Hotaling did an amazing job of recruiting Taylor away from more local programs like South Dakota and Mankato State. Eastern Kentucky is a division 1 school, located in Richmond Kentucky, roughly 20 miles south of Lexington. They compete in the Ohio Valley Conference. Murray State is predicted to be the conference favorite, and represent the league in the "Big Dance." Former Rocori Standout Justin Stommes is a starting guard on that team.

Fun fact about coach Hotaling, he loves the Yankees and also Jeff Van Gundy.

Recruiting updates

UWRF has been up to see Noreen, Tengwall, already this fall. Look for Jamestown to offer Mark Hoge of Crosby Ironton( a Comet miss) and also Brett Hungerholt of Lanesboro.

On the girls side, action has heated up for the services of all Willmar girls, as well as Tess Rahto of Brainerd. Look for that team to continue to draw a ton of interest from recruiters because of it's size. Kerri Hughes of Pine City had a great summer as well, I would guess St. Thomas for her.

Eastern Kentucky, Samford, Both coming

To watch MN Comet and 2011 Standout Simon Krych of St. Cloud Apollo HS next week, before heading off to be seen at the Willmar football game by Taylor Filipek.

Wayne State is involved with Erik Tengwall, Andrew Good, and Danny Kornbaum now.
Look for Jordan Riewer to visit Moorhead State, Jamestown, and possibly one other D2 before making a decision.

Alex Hanks and Taylor Filipek will be visiting Mankato State together on the 10th of October.

Zach Noreen lists Central Lakes in Brainerd as the favorite to land him.

Luke Januschka is being coveted by most every MIAC/WIAC/UMAC school, but some D2's have been asking about him.

Scott Nystrom could end up in the Dac 10.
Ben Bucholz was recently offered by Moorhead, but Idaho State is charging.

Those are my recruiting insights.

Comets Fall Showcase Camp

I would call it a total success.

94 kids

42 college coaches(from 26 different schools)

Everyone had a really good time, I know some kids recruitment will pick up from coming to this event, a big thank you to everyone who made it possible.