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Elliott Eliason already has had his “first moment” as an NCAA Division I basketball player.
The former Chadron High School standout spent the past two weeks in Minneapolis taking summer classes and working out with his University of Minnesota teammates.
The fact that he had joined a Big Ten Conference program was reinforced the minute he stepped into the Golden Gophers' dressing room. “I saw my name above one of those lockers,” Eliason said. “That was my eye-opener.”
On Monday at 8 p.m., the 6-foot-11, 245-pound Eliason will return to his high school roots when he plays in the Nebraska Coaches Association all-star game at Lincoln North Star.
His Blue squad coach is his former high school coach, Craig Nobiling, and Eliason will be joined by former Chadron teammate Zac Bargen.
The girls game will begin the doubleheader at 6 p.m., and both games will be shown by Nebraska Educational Television on NET1.
Eliason will be the most notable player in the boys game, but not its only talent. Nobiling said he thinks the level of play will be as high as it comes in Nebraska.
“It's going to be fun to sit back and watch these guys play,” Nobiling said. “No knock on Omaha, but there are a lot of kids in the outer state region this year, as well, who can really play.”
Included in that group are a couple of players on his Blue squad. Nobiling called Ewing's Austin Kaczor a “specimen.”
“What a stud he is on the court,” Nobiling said.
He had similar praise for Hastings St. Cecilia's Dalton Sealey.
“He singlehandedly beat us in that championship game,” Nobiling said, referring to Sealey's 24-point performance in St. Cecilia's 46-40 win in the Class C-1 final last March.
Eliason said he has improved his strength in his brief time in Minnesota. He has added 20 pounds since the end of the basketball season.
“I don't know if I look like it,” he joked, “but I've gotten a lot stronger.”
Eliason and Nobiling admitted that they never imagined a scenario in which they would be together again after the state tournament.
“To be able to coach Zac and Elliott one more time. ... I'm elated,” Nobiling said. “It's an honor to be chosen for something like this.”
Grand Island Northwest's Ryan Rathke, coach of the Red squad, may not have the height to match up with Eliason, but Rathke believes the athleticism of players such as Ben Imig of Omaha Bryan and Ralston's Dwight Smith — a Colorado State recruit — can make a difference.
“We're going to have to get up and down the floor,” Rathke said. “We'll push the ball and let our guys run.”
The girls game will pit Nebraska recruit Jordan Hooper of Alliance on the Blue team against future Creighton teammates McKenzie Fujan (Wahoo Neumann), Sarah Nelson (Omaha Westside) and Alyssa Kamphaus (Seward).
Expected rosters:
BOYS
Blue: Lars Backward, Hay Springs; Zac Bargen, Chadron; Mike Dentlinger, Millard North; Elliott Eliason, Chadron; Drew Danielson, York; Austin Kaczor, Ewing; Brady Lollman, Norfolk; Nathan Marsh, Norfolk; Trevor Menke, Beatrice; Matt Rosenbaum, Sidney; Dalton Sealey, Hastings St. Cecilia; Caleb Steffensmeier, Omaha Creighton Prep. Head coach: Craig Nobiling, Chadron; Assistant coach: Dan Malleck, York.
Red: Dylan Flinn, Lincoln High; Kendal Glidden, Dundy County-Stratton; Ben Imig, Omaha Bryan; Eric Jackson, Lincoln Southeast; Trevor Johnson, Lincoln Pius X; Justin Kosmicki, Johnson County; Nick Reed, Syracuse; Tobin Reinwald, Lincoln High; Kyle Schlake, Freeman; Dwight Smith, Ralston; Jordan Yurth, Lincoln East; Drew Edmond, Lincoln Southwest. Head coach: Ryan Rathke, Grand Island Northwest; Assistant coach: Kris Freeland, Dundy County-Stratton.
GIRLS
Blue: Nicole Arp, Kearney; Ashley Axmann, Pleasanton; Marissa Bongers, East Butler; Morgan Dority, Lincoln Christian; Stacia Gebers, Superior; Carly Grenfell, York; Jordan Hooper, Alliance; Vicky McIntyre, Omaha Marian; Natasha Mueller, Seward; Kayli Rageth, Kimball; Amanda Woodring, Millard West; Shelby Zimmerman, Tri-County. Head coach: Gerry Reinsch, East Butler; Assistant coach: Trent Benjamin, Holdrege.
Red: Cali Bellar, Norfolk Catholic; Cami Bruckman, Silver Lake; Daleigh Fossler, Beatrice; McKenzie Fujan, Wahoo Neumann; Alex Grant, Lincoln Pius X; Alyssa Kamphaus, Seward; Jessica Murdoch, Southern Valley; Sarah Nelson, Om. Westside; Frankie Petersen, Cambridge; Stacia Robertson, Grand Island; Tanasia Uhrig, Sidney; Anna Woodhead, North Platte. Head coach: Tim Kassmeier, Norfolk Catholic. Assistant coach: Keith Crowe, Silver Lake.
Contact the writer:
850-0781, nickrubek@hotmail.com
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