FARGO — West Fargo Sheyenne’s Jacksen Moni will get a chance to chase his NBA dream this summer. The North Dakota State forward is set to play for the San Antonio Spurs organization for NBA Summer League.
The 6-foot-10, 235-pound Moni averaged 20.6 points and 5.6 rebounds per game in his lone NCAA Division I season with the Bison. Prior to that he played for Northern State, a Division II program in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference.
“It’s more just in shock I feel like,” Moni said. “For me especially, just my journey, it’s been a little unorthodox compared to everybody else’s.”
Moni is the second former Bison and North Dakota high school player to get an NBA opportunity this offseason.
Grant Nelson, from Devils Lake, is
Nets. Nelson finished his college career at Alabama after starting at NDSU.
“It’s crazy that two North Dakota kids are able to be in this moment, but I know that he’s put the hard work in as well,” Moni said. “I put the hard work in.”
West Fargo Sheyenne’s Jacksen Moni shoots against Mandan’s Jonathan LaFleur during the North Dakota Class A boys basketball tournament at the Bismarck Events Center on Thursday, March 11, 2021.
“That’s how I was able to get to this moment.”
Moni and Nelson are trying to add to the number of North Dakota prep players who played in the NBA. If either are able to make it, they would join Williston’s Phil Jackson, Grand Forks Central’s Glenn Hansen and Bowbells’ Les Jepsen.
Moni played against Nelson in high school and they also were part of the same pre-NBA Draft workout with the Utah Jazz.
“I feel like everybody knew he was going to be good,” Moni said of Nelson. “He was still super raw in high school, but I think he’s been able to develop his game exponentially.”
Moni scored 1,527 points in his three seasons at Northern State in Aberdeen, South Dakota. He started all 91 games he played with the Wolves.
“I’m a big believer that everything happens for a reason,” Moni said. “For me, I was able to develop my game, build more confidence at the Division II level.”
North Dakota State’s Jacksen Moni is introduced before play against Wisconsin-Stout on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024, at the Scheels Center.
David Samson/The Forum
Moni said he heads to San Antonio next week for training camp. The Spurs participate in both the California Classic and Las Vegas summer leagues. San Antonio is scheduled to play the Miami Heat on Saturday, July 5, at Golden State’s Chase Center to open the California Classic Summer League.
The Las Vegas Summer League is slated to start July 10.
“The work and dedication I put into the game is finally paying off,” Moni said.
Moni said his one season at NDSU helped him get to this point.
“I felt like the coaches at NDSU and my teammates were able to get something out of me, for me to get better at basketball,” he added.
North Dakota State’s Jacksen Moni looks to pass as Kansas City’s Melvyn Ebonkoli closes in on Thursday, Jan. 16, 2025, at Scheels Center at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex in Fargo.
Anna Paige / The Forum
Moni said he never thought he would be in this position coming out of high school. He graduated from Sheyenne High School in 2021.
“When I was pretty little, obviously, NBA is a dream,” he said. “As I got older I hadn’t really thought about it too much. I think for me staying present in the moment, getting better every day, is how I live my life on the basketball side of things. That’s how I was able to get to this moment.”
Moni said he worked out for about 10 NBA teams during the pre-draft process. Comsport represents Moni, the same agency that represents San Antonio megastar Victor Wembanyama.
“It will be surreal to see him again in that environment, and just also top-level athletes there as well,” he said of heading to the San Antonio training camp.
Peterson covers college athletics for The Forum, including Concordia College and Minnesota State Moorhead. He also covers the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks independent baseball team and helps out with North Dakota State football coverage. Peterson has been working at the newspaper since 1996.