Growing up in Newfolden, Minn., Dustin Monsebroten closely followed the UND men's basketball team. Monsebroten became hooked on Sioux basketball in the early 1990s, a time when UND regularly competed for NCAA Division II national titles.
"I've always been a Sioux fan," said Monsebroten, a former Marshall County Central High School standout.
He now is a Sioux basketball player after he gave UND a verbal commitment last week. Monsebroten has played the last two seasons at MSCTC-Fergus Falls, where he averaged 16.7 points per game as a sophomore.
"He's a very strong point guard," Fergus Falls coach Jason Retzlaff said. "He's a very good outside shooter. He's a great passer, too. He sees the court well."
The 6-foot-1 Monsebroten averaged 7.7 assists last season, ranking him fourth in National Junior College Athletic Association Division II individual statistics.
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The junior college walk-on prefers an uptempo playing style, which UND also likes.
"I like to push the ball up the floor and get other people involved," Monsebroten said.
Monsebroten had chances to play elsewhere, but UND clearly was his No. 1 choice.
"He had some other looks, but Dustin always has had his eye on UND," Retzlaff said. "That's been his dream."
Monsebroten is one of three Fergus Falls players to transfer to Division II schools next season. Byron Ninham, a former Cass Lake-Bena player, signed with Minnesota-Duluth, while Josh Roysland, a former Fosston standout, will transfer to Southwest Minnesota.
UND is preparing for its last season as a Division II school. In 2008, the Sioux will move to Division I. The move to Division I didn't factor into Monsebroten's decision.
"It's kind of a cool twist," Monsebroten said of UND's move to Division I. "Either way, Division I or Division II, UND is where I wanted to play."
Monsebroten will be the second new player at UND next season. The Sioux signed 6-7 Pat Mitchell of Des Moines, Iowa, last fall.
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The Sioux may sign two or three more players before next season.
Reach Nelson at 780-1268, (800) 477-6572 ext. 268 or wnelson@gfherald.com .
