8. Boden Skunberg – North Dakota State
This 6’5 guard from Jamestown has barely told his collegiate story, but his first few seasons are enough to land him on today’s list. Skunberg arrived on campus at North Dakota State in 2020 and has played the last two years with the Bison, becoming more of an important piece to the team this past season. We can only cover his first two seasons, not knowing what will come during the rest of his career.
Skunberg saw limited run as a freshman but scored a season-high seven points in his first career game against Nevada. As a sophomore, he received a handful of starts and played a bit more of a role in the offense, averaging 5.9 points and 3.4 rebounds per game, setting a career-high mark with 14 points in a win over North Dakota. Unfortunately, the Bison have fallen in the Summit League title game in each of the last two seasons, with Skunberg a non-factor in both games.
When you break down the analytics, Skunberg actually had a pretty decent year defensively, even in those limited chances. He shot a decent clip and saw most of his numbers rise as his minutes played more than tripled as a sophomore. His first two seasons may not have seen him emerge, but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Skunberg get those chances in the seasons ahead, as he’ll be back for North Dakota State this upcoming year.