Anders Broman becomes youngest player to score 2,000 career points

Kevin Noreen became Minnesota's all-time leading scorer last season on his way to leading Minnesota Transitions to the Class 1A state championship. Noreen totaled 4,086 points in his career and signed a letter of intent with Boston College. But when BC coach Al Skinner left the program, Noreen backed out of his commitment and eventually signed with West Virginia to play for coach Bob Huggins.

During his career at Minnesota Transitions, Noreen put up big numbers - scoring over 1,000 points three straight seasons. In his senior year the 6-foot-10 forward with the touch of a shooting guard, averaged 38.6 points, 16.5 rebounds and 5.9 assists. But he did so under criticism that te numbers were just a part of the fast-paced system Transitions played - or because the competition against some of the state's smallest schools wasn't tough enough to think Noreen could make it as a DI player.

So far, in his freshman season, Noreen is fitting in just fine with the Mountaineers, going from 11th man to playing a key reserve role for the Mountaineers. He has proven a Minnesota kid can go from a small school to a big-time Division I program.

While it's not fair to say that Lakeview Christian Academy's Anders Broman is the next small school player to go Division I, the sophomore guard - like Noreen did - is starting to turn heads. That's regardless of the fact that he plays for a small non-denominational, private Christian school in the Northern Minnesota town of Duluth - a city known for producing hockey players, Lake Superior, and being a great place for a summer getaway - not producing high school basketball standouts.

Saturday, the 6-foot-1 shooting guard scored 51 points in an 89-78 win over Greenway to put him at 2,014 points in his career. No other player in state history has scored as many points as Broman at this stage of his career. With the win, Lakeview Christian Academy (Duluth) improved to 16-0 on the season. Broman averaged 32.2 points per game as a freshman and is averaging 40.3 points per game this season. Broman has been playing on varsity since 7th grade - and it's no surprise to see the success he's having.

"Work ethic is solely the determining factor with Anders," former teammate Jon Fuchs said in a previous interview with Duluth radio station WDIO. "Each day in the summer, he'd put in around 500 to 1,000 shots each day."

Head coach Bob Newstrom said in that same interview: "He's very gifted, he's also a humble decent young man."

He's not the only Broman lighting it up either, Bjorn Broman is averaging 15.3 points per game. Teammates Luke Borchardt (9.3), Andrew Ross (8 ppg), Adam Fuchs (7.3) and Ethan Lawler (5.7) have also helped LCA to an undefeated season.

But it's no secret – Anders is the star – a star who by the end of his playing career could be the state's new all-time scoring leader.

APPLE VALLEY'S JONES RETURNS
After missing 13 games because of lacerated kidney, Apple Valley freshman standout Tyus Jones returned Tuesday, but his 10 points weren't enough as the Eagles lost to South Suburban Conference rival Lakeville North 83-70. North was led by Adam Petterson with 24 points and Tyler Flack with 21 points. Apple Valley's Tom Schalk, who has signed with Division I William & Mary, led all scorers with 25 points. In the crowd watching the game - and Jones - was Minnesota Gophers coach Tubby Smith. Jones is regarded as one of the top freshmen in the country.

LOFTON POSTS LOFTY NUMBERS
Columbia Heights' Zach Lofton entered Tuesday's game against Chisago Lakes averaging a Twin Cities-best 31.5 points per game. He added to those numbers Tuesday with 43 points in a 92-62 win over Chisago Lakes. Lofton has now scored over 40 points five times this season, with a season high of 47 in an 89-82 loss to Robbinsdale Cooper on Jan. 18.