Boys Basketball: 10 schools have players on All-Area 1st Team

Ten different schools represent the 2021 Brainerd Dispatch All-Area First Team.

Earning No. 1 seeds in their respective sections, Brainerd and Pequot Lakes each earned two players highlighted by Player of the Year Griffin Rushin of Brainerd.

Players are nominated by their coaches and voted on by the Dispatch sports department.

Hunter Nissen, Aitkin senior, guard

Finished with 365 points (22.8 per game), 91 rebounds (5.7 per game), 29 assists (1.8 per game) and 34 steals. He shot 41% (134-327) from the field, 32% (58-183) from 3-point and 71% (39-55) from the free throw line.

Griffin Rushin, Brainerd senior, forward

Finished with 369 points (21.7 per game), 150 rebounds (8.8 per game), 40 assists (2.4 per game), 15 steals and 32 blocked shots. He shot 53% (138-261) from the field, 39% (36-93) from 3-point and 85% (57-67) from the free throw line.

Mitchell Degen, Brainerd junior, forward

Finished with 235 points (13.8 per game), 100 rebounds (5.9 per game), 45 assists (2.6 per game), 16 steals and 11 blocked shots. He shot 51% (96-189) from the field, 24% (9-37) from 3-point and 69% (34-49) from the free throw line.

Carsen Turk, Crosby-Ironton junior, guard

Finished with 334 points (17.4 per game), 56 rebounds (2.9 per game), 108 assists (5.7 per game) and 32 steals. He shot 35% (115-328) from the field, 29% (42-144) from 3-point and 58% (62-106) from the free throw line.

Phil Imdieke, Lake Region junior, forward

Finished with 384 points (16.7 per game), 271 rebounds (11.8 per game), 110 assists (4.8 per game), 54 steals and 26 blocked shots. He shot 44% (150-338) from the field, 26% (28-108) from 3-point and 65% (56-86) from the free throw line.

Luke Kush, Little Falls senior, forward

Finished with 259 points (13.6 per game), 177 rebounds (9.3 per game), 51 assists (2.7 per game), 26 steals and 42 blocked shots. He shot 40% (92-231) from the field, 26% (11-42) from 3-point and 74% (64-86) from the free throw line.

Bode Magnuson, Pequot Lakes senior, guard

Finished with 269 points (12.8 per game), 70 rebounds (3.3 per game), 93 assists (4.4 per game) and 48 steals. He shot 46% (101-221) from the field, 37% (27-73) from 3-point and 53% (40-76) from the free throw line.

Alex Morgan, Pequot Lakes senior, forward

Finished with 326 points (15.5 per game), 115 rebounds (5.5 per game), 38 assists (1.8 per game) and 22 steals. He shot 61% (134-220) from the field, 41% (7-17) from 3-point and 65% (51-79) from the free throw line.

Michael Leidenfrost, Pierz senior, forward

Finished with 246 points (12.3 per game), 105 rebounds (5.3 per game), 54 assists (2.7 per game) and 45 steals. He shot 41% (90-218) from the field, 28% (17-60) from 3-point and 73% (49-67) from the free throw line.

Griffin Decker, Pillager senior, guard

Finished with 269 points (14.2 per game), 107 rebounds (5.6 per game), 51 assists (2.7 per game) and 57 steals. He shot 41% (98-239) from the field, 28% (13-46) from 3-point and 61% (60-98) from the free throw line.

Brandon Greenwaldt, Verndale junior, center

Finished with 311 points (15.6 per game), 234 rebounds (11.7 per game), 17 assists (0.9 per game), 25 steals and 47 blocked shots. He shot 50% (120-242) from the field and 64% (71-111) from the free throw line.

Payton Rondestvedt, Wadena-Deer Creek junior, guard

Finished with 247 points (13.0 per game), 140 rebounds (7.4 per game), 51 assists (2.7 per game) and 35 steals. He shot 41% (88-215) from the field, 36% (34-94) from 3-point and 71% (37-52) from the free throw line.