dyhardballa09 wrote:It is hard to compare Hunter Berg's game to Hagler. I'm sure 30-50% of posters on here don't know about the Grenora Guru. Game was played a different way back then. Fouls were called differently, style of play was different. This is also a reason it is hard to compare Steve Blehm, Jimmy Kleinsasser, Phil Jackson, Les Lepson (stud at Iowa), Doug Swenson, etc. to current players. Yeah, Berg was awesome, but could he score with the physicality that today's game has that they didn't then.
Based on players since 1990 I would say Hagler is definetly a possible top 3 choice, I want to see him at college level first before comparing him to other players who did well at D1 level.
1) Jeff Boschee- Valley City-Outstanding college career at Kansas
2) Austin Dufault- Killdeer- 4 yr. starter at Colorado, finishing Sr. year
3) Hunter Berg-Grenora- shot 73% from the field as a senior!! That is crazy good. Averaged 13.1 pts/game @ UND
4) Doug Swenson- Halliday-Averaged 11-12 pts/game at Creighton
5) Joe Hanstad- Dickinson- Great HS player, anxious to see him at D1 level
6) Hagler.....time will tell
Hanstad and Hagler have chance to be 1 and 2 as time goes on...
I know Hagler is great player, but I would hate to see him fizzle out at a D1 level (similiar to Peyton Tivis at SDSU)
Physicality??? Really? The state tournament in 95 featured an NFL TE/FB in Kleinsasser, a Starting Middle Linebacker at Kansas and later NDSU and NFL Practice squads in Andrew Leclair, and an NFL Practice Squad Offensive Lineman in Chuck Klabo. Their is no comparison of size and strength across the board since that tournament physically. I played during that time frame and play pickup games against kids in HS now. The game was no less physical then then it is now.
The thing people forget about Berg is he did EVERYTHING well! Ball handeling, passing (see ricky rubio highlights for Bergs style), shooting, and defense. He was not just a one dimensional scorer which he did exceptionally well. He was offered to go to Iowa State but stayed home and went to Williston State. At UND he ran the point like a true point guard should, pass first shoot second. He could have easily gone out and been a scoring PG like Ben Woodside if he wanted to but that is not what the team needed. Bergs game was the complete package that I have not seen since. Personally in comparing Berg to Hagler playing the same position for me I dont see one area that Hagler is better at. Dont get me wrong Hagler is a great talent and will be deserving of every accolade he gets but Berg WAS THAT GOOD! The difference for me is the speed at which Berg did everything in comparison.
Austin Default is a great player but he is not better then Hunter Berg.