Dickinson State inks local basketball players Northrop, Wolf
Ty Orton has a feeling about the two players he signed Thursday.By: Dustin Monke, The Dickinson Press
- Nick Wolf and Dylan Northrop
Ty Orton has a feeling about the two players he signed Thursday.
Nick Wolf and Dylan Northrop weren’t recruited by any other teams. But, the Dickinson State men’s basketball coach has a feeling the duo he’s getting may have more potential than some believe.
“I think it’s one of those things where you look at both kids and they’re both such big-hearted kids and they play with such passion,” Orton said. “They’re not going to be the most athletic kids, but neither were a lot of kids we have. As long as they have a great heart and a great knowledge of the basketball game, these kids have a great chance to excel.”
Wolf, a 6-foot-1 guard from New England, was an all-Region 7 selection as a senior after averaging 12.7 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4 steals and 2.6 assists per game.
“It feels great,” Wolf said of signing. “It’s like the last 10 years finally paid off.”
Northrop, a 6-1 guard for Heart River and a senior at South Heart High School, averaged 10.5 points per game while breaking every record Heart River had for 3-pointers.
He shot 42 percent from 3-point range, making 58 in the 2011-12 season and 135 in his career. Both were school records, as was the seven 3-pointers he had in a single game.
Orton expects both players to redshirt as freshmen with the hopes of building to their skinny frames, which both players admitted are not ready for the physicality of the college game, and adapt to the speed of the next level.
“It’s definitely a faster pace, practicing with them,” Northrop said. “It’s going to take a lot of work, a lot of hitting the weights.”
DSU coaches see Wolf as a solid defensive player with the ability to create his own shot on offense.
“Nick is the kid who can really put it on the floor and create some things for himself,” Orton said. “His size at the high school level kind of hurt him a little bit. But give him two years to see if he fills in a little bit and see how he plays with that size. I think he’s got a chance to take off.”
Northrop, like Wolf, can put the ball on the floor. But, he is better spotting up from 3-point range.
“He can step up and do some things,” Orton said. “With him, this first year being a redshirt, he can step out there and nail those threes.”
Wolf and Northrop add to a freshman class that already includes Preston Smith, a Class B all-state selection from New Town, and Sidney (Mont.) standouts Ryan Sullivan and Josh Torgerson. Sullivan was named to the Montana Class A all-state team.
Orton said DSU hopes to add some junior college transfers soon.
Tags: dsu blue hawks, blue hawks, nick wolf, dylan northrop, sports
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