Nathan Beitler/MDN TGU Granville senior Sage Hanson (center) poses with his former teammates of the Dakota Heat at TGU Granville after signing with the University of North Dakota to play Division I basketball on Wednesday, Nov. 12.

TGU Granville senior Sage Hanson made school history when he signed to play basketball for the University of North Dakota, becoming the school’s first athlete to play Division I sports.

“[UND] were the most consistent with me, coming to my games, reaching out to me and talking with me whenever,” said Sage. “This summer, I finally just decided I’m going to commit, and today I signed.”

Sage Hanson has been playing basketball since he was about three years old, shooting hoops outside his parents’ house, where his dad helped foster his love of the game.

My dad was a big basketball guy,” said Sage. “He played college basketball a little bit, he loves basketball. He kind of taught me the basics and then it took off from there.”

In fifth grade, Sage joined the Dakota Heat, a travel ball team that he played with through eighth. In seventh grade, Sage played on the JV squad, and came off the bench in varsity play in eighth grade at TGU Granville. In his junior year of high school, Sage left Granville to play at a prep school before returning back. Though he has already committed to UND, he still has another year as a starter for the TGU Titans. Sage says everyone in the community has been a big part of his development as a player.

“They have all been very supportive, really great to be honest,” said Sage. “They are always asking me about basketball and what’s going on with that, and then they’re always opening the gym for me whenever I want so that I can get up shots. They have always been kind of there to support me to help me get better. Not only as a basketball player, but as a person too, so I can really credit them for a lot.”

Sage says that he is looking forward to the tougher competition that comes with D1 basketball.

“It is a different level there,” said Sage. “The better I can do there, the better I feel as a basketball player and the more success I feel that I have.”

To other young athletes looking to make it to Division I sports, Sage says that their best bet is to live in the gym.

“If you just work on your craft with purpose and not just mess around, you will get there,” said Sage. “That’s really what took my love of the game to the next level.”

Sage will finish out his last semester as a TGU Titan before graduating with the rest of the seniors at the end of the school year.