FARGO — Minot High School head coach Dean Winczewski — who has been a prep head coach for more than 20 years — has never coached a player like Magicians senior Darik Dissette.
“He’s the most impactful player I’ve ever coached as far as the way he changes a game and how you have to game plan against him,” said Winczewski, the head coach at Minot for 15 seasons.
Dissette was named North Dakota Mr. Basketball on Saturday night prior to the Class B boys state championship game in Bismarck. The 6-foot-4 forward has signed to play men’s basketball at North Dakota State. The state’s sportscasters and sportswriters vote on the award, which goes to the top senior player.
“It means a lot to me,” Dissette said. “I’ve got to thank my teammates for helping me and my coaches, but if you look at my resume, this was the one thing missing from the shelf. I’ve been working for this award.”
Dissette was the unanimous selection with 135 points, receiving all 27 first-place votes.
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“This award seals the deal,” Dissette said. “I got to be named Mr. Basketball for the final ride.”
Dickinson guard Alex Dvorak, Powers Lake-Burke Central guard Tyson Enget, Bismarck Century center Ryan Erikson, Grand Forks Red River guard Zachary Kraft and North Border guard Ayden Stainbrook were also finalists.
Erikson finished second with 30 points, followed by Dvorak with 28 points, Kraft with 23 points Stainbrook with 15 points and Enget with 12 points.
Dissette is the first Minot player to win the award since 1999 when Jeff Brandt earned the honor. Kenny Younger (1996) and Bart Manson (1991) are the other two Magicians to win Mr. Basketball.
Dissette averaged 27.7 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game in his final season with the Magicians. A three-year varsity starter, he helped lead Minot to the Class A state championship during his junior season, and also played in the state title game as a sophomore.
The Magicians placed fifth at the recently completed Class A state tournament in which Dissette averaged 20.3 points per game over three contests.
Dissette — who played four seasons on varsity at Minot — scored 1,754 points in 103 career games. He also added 659 career rebounds.
“He doesn’t just score, but he scores at a very high percentage. He just finds ways to make plays, whether we needed an offensive rebound or he got to the line,” Winczewski said. “He diversified his game. As a junior, he was a pretty average 3-point shooter and this year he shot 38% and made himself into it. There are very few kids that have worked as hard as him to put himself in that situation.”
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Winczewski was the head coach at Dickinson High School for eight seasons before taking over the program in Minot. In 2004, he coached Lucas Moormann who won Mr. Basketball that season. Moormann also went on to play at NDSU.
“For how much work I put in, my coaches know and my teammates know, it caps my high school career,” Dissette said. “Now I’ve got to transition to college and restart.”
Dissette is set to play for Bison head coach David Richman next season. Winczewski said Dissette is a good fit in the NDSU program.
“I think his willingness and attitude about defense,” Winczewski said. “He recognized he could make an impact on both ends and was willing to and did a great job of it. I think his ability to slide his feet and get in a stance and guard is going to serve him really well when it comes to being able to find time with coach Richman’s team.”
Dissette added Mr. Basketball has always been on his basketball bucket list.
“I always set little goals and this award is one of those big goals I’ve always wanted to accomplish,” Dissette said.
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