Over the weekend, North Dakota took down Drake 63-62 for a nice road win. With under 10 seconds left, guard Quinton Hooker with a shot that I guess would best be classified as a runner, which gave UND the lead and eventually the win. Take a look for yourself.
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Showing posts with label Quinton Hooker. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Quinton Hooker. Show all posts
Monday, December 8, 2014
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
North Dakota Outlook
It's time to get ready for the Big Sky season again with some overviews of each team this month, and then eventually we'll get into more detailed looks at everything.
What They Lost: North Dakota made the Big Sky championship game in their second season, but unfortunately it will be tough to build on that success right away, as they lost most of the key pieces from that team.
Troy Huff was one of the elite performers in the conference, and athletic matchup nightmare that caused a lot of turnovers, and could score 25 points or grab 10 rebounds any night. He dominated possessions for them at a fairly efficient rate, and will be impossible to replace. Another guy that may have been just as valuable was Aaron Anderson, a perennially underrated guard. Anderson was a great shooter and driver who got to the line often. He also took care of the ball and had a solid assist rate.
Jamal Webb was a guy that had his strengths and weaknesses, but he was a good defender in the backcourt that could distribute the ball. Josh Schuler missed some time with injuries, but at his best he was a good third or fourth scorer and glue guy. Alonzo Traylor was a surprisingly good big man that shot 61% from the floor and rebounded well. I would also be remiss not to mention Brandon Brekke, who missed all of last season due to injury was an integral part of building the program with his steady work down low. Simply put, nobody is even close to losing as much production as UND has lost.
Who Returns: The best news of the offseason came when the NCAA announced that Jaron Nash would be eligible to play another season. At 6'8'', Nash had major conference athleticism, even though he showcased some inconsistency at times. At his best, he is a capable inside scorer (57% on two-pointers), and a good enough three-point shooter to keep teams honest (20/59 last year). He also made just 33% of free throws. He plays the four spot, but doesn't necessarily have the bulk to play that position defensively. However, he can be a difference maker, and UND will call on him often.
Another big returnee is guard Quinton Hooker, who started many games last year as a true freshman. He did not necessarily showcase himself to be a great scorer (41.9% EFG) or distributor (17.5 ARate compared to 22.4 TO Rate), but he was steady, and I expect the experience will be a big plus for him. Also in the backcourt, Cole Stefan got some time in his first year as a junior, and should have an expanded role. He profiles as a shooting specialist, having made 21 threes. Lenny Antwi is a senior, but it's still unclear if he can be an average guard off the bench. He was an amazing 3/20 from inside the arc last year (not a misprint). Shane Benton is also back, and despite a fair amount of PT his first two years, he also has struggled to make an impact.
Upfront, Chad Calcaterra and Ryan Salmonsen return for their senior years. Both guys had their moments last year and potentially average scoring threats, but will be called on to do much more. Dustin Hobaugh played in nine games last year and played well, but it was in a too small sample of 71 minutes.
Newcomers: Estan Tyler could have the biggest impact right away, as he sat out last season after transferring from Kansas City. He averaged 11.4 PPG as a sophomore and looks to be a very good outside shooter. He should be a solid addition to the backcourt for his final two seasons. Carson Shanks is a redshirt freshman big man who will be eligible in the second semester after transferring from Utah State. He should get plenty of chances to play once he is eligible.
Depending on how ready he is physically, Kraig Shields could get immediate playing time right away after averaging a double double as a senior in high school in Texas. Bryce Cashman is another freshman big man. Josiah Coleman is at UND after two years at Iowa Western CC, but he averaged just 7 and 4 last season. Geno Crandall is a nice prospect in the backcourt after a nice high school career in Minneapolis, but I'm not sure how much run he'll get right away in a crowded backcourt. Finally, Terrel de Rouen is a transfer from New Mexico State who is eligible to play right away. He should add to a strong backcourt, and it would not be a surprise to see UND run a lot of three and even four guard lineups out there.
General Outlook: After a nice year last season, UND will likely take a big step back just because of the sheer amount of talent that graduated. Their defensive identity will likely change, and it's unclear where their offense will come from with the departures of Huff and Anderson. If they are going to compete for a tournament spot, they need Jaron Nash to be a star for them, and guys like Hooker, Stefan, and Estan to morph into an above average backcourt. These things are not out of the question, but I wouldn't bet on it either. I would expect UND to be in the bottom four this year, but to get a lot of young guys good experience.
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What They Lost: North Dakota made the Big Sky championship game in their second season, but unfortunately it will be tough to build on that success right away, as they lost most of the key pieces from that team.
Troy Huff was one of the elite performers in the conference, and athletic matchup nightmare that caused a lot of turnovers, and could score 25 points or grab 10 rebounds any night. He dominated possessions for them at a fairly efficient rate, and will be impossible to replace. Another guy that may have been just as valuable was Aaron Anderson, a perennially underrated guard. Anderson was a great shooter and driver who got to the line often. He also took care of the ball and had a solid assist rate.
Jamal Webb was a guy that had his strengths and weaknesses, but he was a good defender in the backcourt that could distribute the ball. Josh Schuler missed some time with injuries, but at his best he was a good third or fourth scorer and glue guy. Alonzo Traylor was a surprisingly good big man that shot 61% from the floor and rebounded well. I would also be remiss not to mention Brandon Brekke, who missed all of last season due to injury was an integral part of building the program with his steady work down low. Simply put, nobody is even close to losing as much production as UND has lost.
Who Returns: The best news of the offseason came when the NCAA announced that Jaron Nash would be eligible to play another season. At 6'8'', Nash had major conference athleticism, even though he showcased some inconsistency at times. At his best, he is a capable inside scorer (57% on two-pointers), and a good enough three-point shooter to keep teams honest (20/59 last year). He also made just 33% of free throws. He plays the four spot, but doesn't necessarily have the bulk to play that position defensively. However, he can be a difference maker, and UND will call on him often.
Another big returnee is guard Quinton Hooker, who started many games last year as a true freshman. He did not necessarily showcase himself to be a great scorer (41.9% EFG) or distributor (17.5 ARate compared to 22.4 TO Rate), but he was steady, and I expect the experience will be a big plus for him. Also in the backcourt, Cole Stefan got some time in his first year as a junior, and should have an expanded role. He profiles as a shooting specialist, having made 21 threes. Lenny Antwi is a senior, but it's still unclear if he can be an average guard off the bench. He was an amazing 3/20 from inside the arc last year (not a misprint). Shane Benton is also back, and despite a fair amount of PT his first two years, he also has struggled to make an impact.
Upfront, Chad Calcaterra and Ryan Salmonsen return for their senior years. Both guys had their moments last year and potentially average scoring threats, but will be called on to do much more. Dustin Hobaugh played in nine games last year and played well, but it was in a too small sample of 71 minutes.
Newcomers: Estan Tyler could have the biggest impact right away, as he sat out last season after transferring from Kansas City. He averaged 11.4 PPG as a sophomore and looks to be a very good outside shooter. He should be a solid addition to the backcourt for his final two seasons. Carson Shanks is a redshirt freshman big man who will be eligible in the second semester after transferring from Utah State. He should get plenty of chances to play once he is eligible.
Depending on how ready he is physically, Kraig Shields could get immediate playing time right away after averaging a double double as a senior in high school in Texas. Bryce Cashman is another freshman big man. Josiah Coleman is at UND after two years at Iowa Western CC, but he averaged just 7 and 4 last season. Geno Crandall is a nice prospect in the backcourt after a nice high school career in Minneapolis, but I'm not sure how much run he'll get right away in a crowded backcourt. Finally, Terrel de Rouen is a transfer from New Mexico State who is eligible to play right away. He should add to a strong backcourt, and it would not be a surprise to see UND run a lot of three and even four guard lineups out there.
General Outlook: After a nice year last season, UND will likely take a big step back just because of the sheer amount of talent that graduated. Their defensive identity will likely change, and it's unclear where their offense will come from with the departures of Huff and Anderson. If they are going to compete for a tournament spot, they need Jaron Nash to be a star for them, and guys like Hooker, Stefan, and Estan to morph into an above average backcourt. These things are not out of the question, but I wouldn't bet on it either. I would expect UND to be in the bottom four this year, but to get a lot of young guys good experience.
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Labels:
Bryce Cashman,
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Cole Stefan,
Dustin Hobaugh,
Estan Tyler,
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Josiah Coleman,
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North Dakota,
Quinton Hooker,
Ryan Salmonson,
Shane Benton,
Terrel de Rouen
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
Top Freshmen in the Big Sky
Last year, we had a top heavy freshmen class. Guys like Venky Jois, DeWayne Russell, and Joel Bolomboy had huge impacts early. This year, no one is really putting up numbers like those guys were, but there are a ton of solid contributors who will be great players in the future in this conference. I thought about ranking them, but there's not enough separation between guys to really do rankings, because it will change a hundred times between now and the end of the season. Instead, let's take a quick look around the league at some of the freshman and what they do well, to familiarize ourselves with the next cast of Big Sky stars.
- Jeremy Senglin (Weber State) - Senglin has played a lot of minutes as a true freshman in a successful program, and has represented himself well. He has a nice outside shot (36% threes), while also showing an ability to finish and make free throws. He is a solid passer with a 17.9 A Rate, though he needs to improve to become above average as a playmaker. He takes good care of the ball for a freshman. Guys like Jordan Richardson and Davion Berry shoulder a lot of the ballhandling load, but Senglin is the next backcourt star.
- Jordan Wilson (Northern Colorado) - Wilson will be in the discussion for freshman of the year, as he has played a big role on a solid team. He keeps defenses honest with his outside shot, and has become more assertive looking for shots as the year has gone along. He does a nice job taking care of the ball and staying in control, with a 16.1 TO Rate. His quickness allows him to be a good on-ball defender, and he makes life tough for opposing PGs. As he gets more and more comfortable, he should be a star in the conference and one of the most enjoyable players to watch in the Big Sky.
- Mario Dunn (Montana) - Dunn came into the year with big hype, and he hasn't disappointed, taking on bigger and bigger importance for the Grizzlies. He doesn't shoot the ball from the outside much, and will have to work on increasing his range. However, he is a good finisher (54% on twos), and has shown a nice ability to get to the line (although he only shoots 57% on free throws). He also has the potential to be an elite defender at the Big Sky level. The talk before the year was that Montana had found their next star in Dunn, and that is not any less true halfway through the Big Sky season.
- Ognjen Miljkovic (Eastern Washington) - He missed some time at the beginning of conference play, and he was missed by the Eagles. Like other Eagles, he has range to the three-point line, and is an effective shooter for his size/position. He is also a good rebounder, grabbing 16.5% of available defensive rebounds. He is becoming a versatile offensive weapon for the Eagles, and it wouldn't surprise me if he is EWU's second leading scorer next year (after Tyler Harvey).
- Quinton Hooker (North Dakota) - Hooker is not asked to do a lot for North Dakota, but he is a solid contributor with a bright future. He needs to work on his outside shot, but he has made 17/36 from inside the arc. Like other UND players, he has been adept at forcing turnovers, with a 3.2 steal percentage, which is in the top 170 in the nation. He has also shown an ability to be a playmaker, with a solid 22.3% Assist Rate. He is a good rebounder as well for his position. His role will be much bigger next year when all the seniors graduate, and he is getting a lot of valuable experience.
- Kris Yanku (Northern Arizona) - Yanku always seems to be steady and in control, such as when he made the game-winner last Saturday. He is not a great finisher yet (he shoots 37% on his two-point attempts), and will need to get stronger to finish plays at the rim. He turns it over a bit much, but that is a problem for a lot of NAU players. However, Yanku is a playmaker, and I think he could lead the conference in assists at some point in his career. He is also a crafty defender, with a 3.0% steal percentage. He has great moxie for a freshman.
Other solid contributors:
- Richad Gittens (Weber State)
- Kyndahl Hill (Weber State)
- Eric Stuteville (Sacramento State)
- Trey Kennedy (Southern Utah)
- John Marshall (Southern Utah)
- Ako Kaluna (Northern Arizona)
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- Jeremy Senglin (Weber State) - Senglin has played a lot of minutes as a true freshman in a successful program, and has represented himself well. He has a nice outside shot (36% threes), while also showing an ability to finish and make free throws. He is a solid passer with a 17.9 A Rate, though he needs to improve to become above average as a playmaker. He takes good care of the ball for a freshman. Guys like Jordan Richardson and Davion Berry shoulder a lot of the ballhandling load, but Senglin is the next backcourt star.
- Jordan Wilson (Northern Colorado) - Wilson will be in the discussion for freshman of the year, as he has played a big role on a solid team. He keeps defenses honest with his outside shot, and has become more assertive looking for shots as the year has gone along. He does a nice job taking care of the ball and staying in control, with a 16.1 TO Rate. His quickness allows him to be a good on-ball defender, and he makes life tough for opposing PGs. As he gets more and more comfortable, he should be a star in the conference and one of the most enjoyable players to watch in the Big Sky.
- Mario Dunn (Montana) - Dunn came into the year with big hype, and he hasn't disappointed, taking on bigger and bigger importance for the Grizzlies. He doesn't shoot the ball from the outside much, and will have to work on increasing his range. However, he is a good finisher (54% on twos), and has shown a nice ability to get to the line (although he only shoots 57% on free throws). He also has the potential to be an elite defender at the Big Sky level. The talk before the year was that Montana had found their next star in Dunn, and that is not any less true halfway through the Big Sky season.
- Ognjen Miljkovic (Eastern Washington) - He missed some time at the beginning of conference play, and he was missed by the Eagles. Like other Eagles, he has range to the three-point line, and is an effective shooter for his size/position. He is also a good rebounder, grabbing 16.5% of available defensive rebounds. He is becoming a versatile offensive weapon for the Eagles, and it wouldn't surprise me if he is EWU's second leading scorer next year (after Tyler Harvey).
- Quinton Hooker (North Dakota) - Hooker is not asked to do a lot for North Dakota, but he is a solid contributor with a bright future. He needs to work on his outside shot, but he has made 17/36 from inside the arc. Like other UND players, he has been adept at forcing turnovers, with a 3.2 steal percentage, which is in the top 170 in the nation. He has also shown an ability to be a playmaker, with a solid 22.3% Assist Rate. He is a good rebounder as well for his position. His role will be much bigger next year when all the seniors graduate, and he is getting a lot of valuable experience.
- Kris Yanku (Northern Arizona) - Yanku always seems to be steady and in control, such as when he made the game-winner last Saturday. He is not a great finisher yet (he shoots 37% on his two-point attempts), and will need to get stronger to finish plays at the rim. He turns it over a bit much, but that is a problem for a lot of NAU players. However, Yanku is a playmaker, and I think he could lead the conference in assists at some point in his career. He is also a crafty defender, with a 3.0% steal percentage. He has great moxie for a freshman.
Other solid contributors:
- Richad Gittens (Weber State)
- Kyndahl Hill (Weber State)
- Eric Stuteville (Sacramento State)
- Trey Kennedy (Southern Utah)
- John Marshall (Southern Utah)
- Ako Kaluna (Northern Arizona)
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Thursday, November 14, 2013
Quinton Hooker is Playing for North Dakota
Up until the start of the season, there was at least a little bit of question as to whether freshman guard Quinton Hooker for North Dakota would play this year or redshirt. After the opener against Minnesota-Morris, that question has been answered - Hooker is playing.
He played great in the opener, scoring 17 points while also dishing off four assists.
He is a freshman, so there are sure to be some growing pains and rough spots in his opening season. But with his talent, he should be a future star in the Big Sky. Judging from the opener, he should be ready to contribute very positively for the UND this season.
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He played great in the opener, scoring 17 points while also dishing off four assists.
He is a freshman, so there are sure to be some growing pains and rough spots in his opening season. But with his talent, he should be a future star in the Big Sky. Judging from the opener, he should be ready to contribute very positively for the UND this season.
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Tuesday, October 15, 2013
A Look at North Dakota's Bench
Over the past couple of seasons, North Dakota has had an excellent starting lineup, but there has been a drop-off when they have gone to the bench. This season, that has the chance to be different. UND has their deepest team in a long time, and that depth will be a big help. So, let's take a look at the bench and see who the key contributors might be.
When assessing the bench, it's obviously important to know who the starters will be. For the purposes of this post (I don't know what the lineup will actually be), here is the starting lineup I am going with:
G Aaron Anderson
G Jamal Webb
F Troy Huff
F Jaron Nash
C Brandon Brekke
Backcourt
At the PG spot, the most likely guy to see minutes behind Webb is junior Lenny Antwi. Antwi is a good outside shooter (36% from three), but has some holes in his game. His Assist Rate was 7.0 compared to a TO Rate of 22.0, which is a really bad ratio for a ballhandler. He also shot just 50% from the stripe (7/14) and 35% on twos, so there is room for improvement all around. He could be pushed for minutes by freshman Quinton Hooker. UND is very high on Hooker, and while it might make sense to redshirt him, we still might see him out on the court. He earned a lot of high school accolades in the Twin Cities area.
At the two and three spots, the first backup would be senior Josh Schuler. He has started at many points in his career, so it wouldn't be a shock to see him in the starting lineup somehow, but it makes more sense to bring him off the bench. He shot 37% from downtown last year, and has always taken very good care of the basketball. He is a guy that can provide an offensive spark. Even if he doesn't start, he will see starter-type minutes. Another guy in the mix is sophomore Shane Benton. It took Benton a while to get comfortable last year, but he scored in double digits three times in conference games. I'm not sure how many minutes they will have for him this year, but he is clearly a big factor in UND's plans going forward.
Another guy to watch is Cole Stefan, if he gains eligibility this season. He is an excellent shooter that will be a big boost for the lineup. My current guess would be if Jaron Nash didn't get eligibility last year, Stefan may not this year... but it is something to watch.
Frontcourt
In particular, the added depth should be huge upfront for UND, which has been very thin in this area in recent years. Alonzo Traylor was ineligible for the second semester last year, but I really liked his game when he did play. He was a versatile frontcourt scorer, and scored 30 points in his last two games last season. He is an excellent rebounder, and had a 13.8 OR% and 21.6 DR% in his time. Against SUU in his final game last year, he had 13 points and 11 rebounds. As long as he is eligible, he would be a capable starter for them.
Chad Calcaterra is a transfer from Colorado State and Western Nebraska CC. He does have some NCAA tournament experience for the Rams, and averaged 3.6 PPG last year for Western Nebraska. Ryan Salmonson redshirted last year, and provides nice depth after averaging 9.5 PPG and 5.3 RPG at a junior college in his sophomore season.
Who do you guys think will be the biggest contributors?
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When assessing the bench, it's obviously important to know who the starters will be. For the purposes of this post (I don't know what the lineup will actually be), here is the starting lineup I am going with:
G Aaron Anderson
G Jamal Webb
F Troy Huff
F Jaron Nash
C Brandon Brekke
Backcourt
At the PG spot, the most likely guy to see minutes behind Webb is junior Lenny Antwi. Antwi is a good outside shooter (36% from three), but has some holes in his game. His Assist Rate was 7.0 compared to a TO Rate of 22.0, which is a really bad ratio for a ballhandler. He also shot just 50% from the stripe (7/14) and 35% on twos, so there is room for improvement all around. He could be pushed for minutes by freshman Quinton Hooker. UND is very high on Hooker, and while it might make sense to redshirt him, we still might see him out on the court. He earned a lot of high school accolades in the Twin Cities area.
At the two and three spots, the first backup would be senior Josh Schuler. He has started at many points in his career, so it wouldn't be a shock to see him in the starting lineup somehow, but it makes more sense to bring him off the bench. He shot 37% from downtown last year, and has always taken very good care of the basketball. He is a guy that can provide an offensive spark. Even if he doesn't start, he will see starter-type minutes. Another guy in the mix is sophomore Shane Benton. It took Benton a while to get comfortable last year, but he scored in double digits three times in conference games. I'm not sure how many minutes they will have for him this year, but he is clearly a big factor in UND's plans going forward.
Another guy to watch is Cole Stefan, if he gains eligibility this season. He is an excellent shooter that will be a big boost for the lineup. My current guess would be if Jaron Nash didn't get eligibility last year, Stefan may not this year... but it is something to watch.
Frontcourt
In particular, the added depth should be huge upfront for UND, which has been very thin in this area in recent years. Alonzo Traylor was ineligible for the second semester last year, but I really liked his game when he did play. He was a versatile frontcourt scorer, and scored 30 points in his last two games last season. He is an excellent rebounder, and had a 13.8 OR% and 21.6 DR% in his time. Against SUU in his final game last year, he had 13 points and 11 rebounds. As long as he is eligible, he would be a capable starter for them.
Chad Calcaterra is a transfer from Colorado State and Western Nebraska CC. He does have some NCAA tournament experience for the Rams, and averaged 3.6 PPG last year for Western Nebraska. Ryan Salmonson redshirted last year, and provides nice depth after averaging 9.5 PPG and 5.3 RPG at a junior college in his sophomore season.
Who do you guys think will be the biggest contributors?
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Sunday, April 14, 2013
Great Article on UND Recruit Quinton Hooker
North Dakota was very excited when Minnesota guard Quinton Hooker committed to the school last year. As a recent article from the Minneapolis Star Tribune shows, UND will be getting a great player on the court, and a loyal person off the court.
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“I could go on for the next 45 minutes about Quinton,’’ said Larry Lawler, Park Center’s athletic director. “He’s a great athlete and an honor roll student. But the best thing about Quinton is that he takes an interest in everyone.’’North Dakota will have a crowded and experienced backcourt next season, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see Hooker grab some minutes. Either way, he is a huge part of North Dakota's future.
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Quinton’s talent was obvious by the sixth grade. There was a thought one of the high-profile hoops programs — be it public or private — would draw Hooker by the time he reached ninth grade.
“No names, but I’m sure there were other schools that would’ve loved to have him,’’ Lawler said. “Quinton’s decision to stay at Park Center, to keep playing with kids he grew up with, meant everything to this school and community.’’
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Hooker has not dealt with such big-time adoration. He signed with North Dakota last fall.
“I visited the campus, loved it, and the coaches and everyone else made it clear how much they wanted me,’’ he said.
Quinton then repeated the advice offered by John Turner, a former Vikings defensive back and now an administrative assistant at Park Center: “J.T. told me, ‘Love those who love you.’ That’s another reason I’ll be at North Dakota.
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Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Quinton Hooker Verbals to North Dakota
North Dakota went big with their 2012 recruiting class, but their first commit for 2013 is a PG in Quinton Hooker.
If North Dakota is ever going to become a consistently good basketball team, it is vital that they get a solid recruiting pipeline into Minnesota. That is why it has to be especially nice to have Hooker aboard. I saw it first reported by Ryan James.
Hooker is a 6'0'' guard from the Twin Ciites, and he had offers from schools like South Dakota State, North Dakota State, Wofford, and Tulane, among others. According to James, Hooker has been recruited for over a year by UND assistant coach Gameli Ahelegbe, who has right to be excited about a job well done.
Phenom Hoop Report had a nice little blurb on him back in May:
Hooker has a smooth handle and nice looking shot, and should be able to finish in the lane. After playing in the Twin Cities, I doubt he will be intimidated by the Big Sky. UND will be full of seniors next year, which will give him a nice chance to break in, and then hopefully take on a bigger role as a sophomore. UND's basketball program is better today than it was yesterday.
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If North Dakota is ever going to become a consistently good basketball team, it is vital that they get a solid recruiting pipeline into Minnesota. That is why it has to be especially nice to have Hooker aboard. I saw it first reported by Ryan James.
Park Center guard Quinton Hooker has committed to North Dakota. Hooker is a tough 6 foot guard who can play both guard spots.
— Ryan James (@RyanJamesMN) September 11, 2012
Hooker is a 6'0'' guard from the Twin Ciites, and he had offers from schools like South Dakota State, North Dakota State, Wofford, and Tulane, among others. According to James, Hooker has been recruited for over a year by UND assistant coach Gameli Ahelegbe, who has right to be excited about a job well done.
Phenom Hoop Report had a nice little blurb on him back in May:
6’1 2013 PG Quinton Hooker (Howard Pulley) is a scrappy and determined player that maximizes his entire skill set which was on display Saturday. He enjoyed a solid overall game by scoring 17 points going 7-12 from the field and 3-5 from the free throw line. His midrange game was effective and didn’t attempt a 3 point shot during the game. That being said, he was able to dribble penetrate effectively throughout the course of the game. He plays hard and loved his on the court demeanor.
Hooker has a smooth handle and nice looking shot, and should be able to finish in the lane. After playing in the Twin Cities, I doubt he will be intimidated by the Big Sky. UND will be full of seniors next year, which will give him a nice chance to break in, and then hopefully take on a bigger role as a sophomore. UND's basketball program is better today than it was yesterday.
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