Stanley-Boyd’s Hoel commits to North Dakota State

STANLEY — Dreams don’t always become reality but, when they do, they are momentous.

Stanley-Boyd rising senior Charlie Hoel dreamt of becoming a Division I basketball player dating back to his days in middle school. There was no pressure on Hoel, except he was following in the footsteps of his mother Shannon, who played at DI University of Evansville, and brother Henry, who plays at UW-Eau Claire.

“I started taking it serious and actually putting the work in, grinding, and I was like, ‘Now it’s time to go do something with this,'” Hoel said.

Now those dreams have officially become reality, as the 6-foot-10 Hoel announced his commitment to North Dakota State University on social media on Monday.

“It feels really good,” Hoel said. “It’s so much stress and relief, a lot less phone calls, and just a lot less to think about. And, it’s really comfortable and comforting knowing you’re going to a good place with good people and a good program.”

Hoel considered other NCAA Division I offers from Northern Illinois, South Dakota State and UW-Green Bay, along with numerous DII and DIII offers, before settling on joining the Bisons.

Hoel took a visit last fall and was won over by what he saw.

“We got to go there for a homecoming football game,” Hoel said. “It was honestly one of the craziest atmospheres I’ve seen. The town of Fargo, there’s no professional sports team out there, so they all flood the college sports.

“I can see myself out there, calling that place home and really enjoying that.”

Led by coach David Richman, North Dakota State men’s basketball is coming off a record-breaking 27-8 season that saw it claim the Summit League conference title and reach the NCAA Division I Tournament for the sixth time in its history and first time since 2020.

“The coaching staff and the culture was always a big thing,” Hoel said. “Me and my mom actually got to talk to some of the players and their parents, and it was obviously nothing but good things to say about the program.

“It’s really just comfortable knowing that (Richman has) developed players, they win and they have a lot of history.”

The development track in the NDSU program also suited Hoel’s desires.

“They’ve got lots of guys that went pro, went overseas and he’s picked up a lot of dudes from small towns like me,” Hoel said. “He’s turned (them) around into really good players. He promised that I’d do the same, if not better.”

Hoel particularly took notice of the development of NDSU forward and Menomonie alum Noah Feddersen, who recently transferred to Colorado University for his senior season.

“He (had a) similar play style (to me) in high school and kind of college,” Hoel said. “The Wisconsin area is definitely under-recruited, until you get down to the Milwaukee area. He spent four years there and became a really good player, and was a really big piece for them the past couple years.”

Being from western Wisconsin wasn’t the only similarity Hoel drew.

“It was wasn’t luck that did it for him,” Hoel said. “He was a really hard worker, and I know I got to go do the same.”

Hoel still has another year before he steps foot in Fargo, and he is excited to get to work in his senior season.

“Talking with the coaches and staff, I know what to work toward,” Hoel said. “My main focus (is) putting on weight and size. It’ll be comforting to know that they can give me advice, and I’ll just be able to put in my own work and try to be the best version of myself when I step on campus.”