"We want to win everything," he said. "Before I leave, I want a championship under my belt. We're going to be put as the underdogs, and we want to prove everybody wrong."
Something for the up-and-comers, too
The Star of the North Games completed its 10th year bringing the state's athletes together on a common stage. Teams from Jordan and Farmington to White Bear Lake and Blaine participated in basketball alone.
You might not find elite athletes among the 9,000 or so competing in events ranging from billiards to figure skating. But in some cases, those about to make their mark get their time to shine.
In the 9th-10th grade division of boys' basketball, a team labeling itself St. Paul Finest was handed the bronze medal after a forfeit. But for the championship, Team Minnesota earned its gold.
Made up of a group of players hailing from Maple Grove, Rogers, Osseo, Richfield and Minneapolis, Team Minnesota got by a Detroit Lakes-area team 78-64.
Jerome Williams, who runs the JV program at Minneapolis Henry High School, entered the team in the Star of the North Games with high hopes.
"All these guys can play," he said.
That was evident on the court. Whether it was big blocks in the lane or hot shooting from outside, Team Minnesota was rolling.
And that's a good thing. The team expects even tougher competition this week when it heads to the Hoosier Shootout in Indianapolis.
Team Minnesota's Jeff Bright saw playing time at Henry last year as a freshman.
While he had a hand early in the Patriots' 20-12 overall record, the 6-1 combo guard did not play past Jan. 22. He hopes that -- and something else -- changes this coming season.
"I'm tired of losing," he said. "I'm here trying to improve my guard skills so we can win more. That's what we've got to do."
Teammate August Fleming, an incoming junior, played just once last season for Henry, scoring 10 points in a 109-42 dismantling of Minneapolis Southwest on Feb. 8.
He, likewise, is looking for the most experience possible so he can step into a larger varsity role.
