NDSCS loaded for another long run

North Dakota State College of Science made it all the way to Hutchinson, KS last year for the national tournament. It will be no surprise if the Wildcats are back again this season.

"I have been told by high major coaches that all five (starters), they feel, barring injury or things like that, are Division One players," said NDSCS coach Craig Irwin.

The headliner in that group may be 6-foot-8 small forward Raed Mostafa. Mostafa already holds an offer from Marquette and is being recruited by the likes of Purdue, Georgia, USC, Utah, Creighton and Ohio State.

"He has tremendous ball skills for 6-8, very highly skilled," said Irwin. "He's a guy that can shoot the three, puts it on the floor extremely well, very good in transition. He could actually probably be a point forward. He's got a great body too. Not a tall lean 6-8, he's got athleticism."

Irwin said Marquette, USC and Utah are probably the most heavily involved programs in recruiting Mostafa at this point. As for the rest of his lineup, we just let the coach run things down for us.

"We have a very experienced backcourt and as big a front line as we've ever had. Could be as big as anybody in the country," Irwin said. "Projected, we'll start Jesse Burton at the point. Our last two guys went D1 and I think he's as good as we've ever had. Miles Webb was very highly recruited out of high school, committed with the Gophers early, was a scholarship player for Minnesota last year. He'll be our starting two, he's a good player. Early indicators are he's the best guard I've ever had. He appeared in ten games last year (at Minnesota), they took on a lot of transfers, figures he wants to go juco, get remarketed. He's just tremendous. We've got Raed at small forward. We have a young man I am very excited about 6-9, kid from Montreal, Quebec, Colin Page. He's very long and athletic at 6-9. He plays above the rim, good shot blocking ability."

"Then we had a guy last year that signed with Marquette in Jamil Lott," the coach continued. Thomas Dryburgh platooned with Jamil, got a medical hardship, he's a third-year sophomore. "We should go 6-8, 6-9, 6-10 with a high major transfer and a returning starting point guard. I think that's a pretty good five."

A group that should all land somewhere on the next level.

"I think Miles has a good chance to land high, Colin definitely mid to high, Raed already has a high major offer," Irwin said. "Dryburgh is low to mid just because, he's very skilled, shot 66% as a freshman, one of the best shooting percentages in the country. He's a very good shooter, can step out and shoot three, but doesn't have great athleticism. He runs really well, but vertically, he's not a big, high shot blocking type of player."

Because it is slightly out of the way, not many Division One schools make the trip to NDSCS until the season starts. So far, only North Dakota, North Dakota State and Marquette have been in. But the Wildcats will be catching plenty of attention on the recruiting trail in the coming months.

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