Central Lakes College signs two local basketball standouts

Brainerd's Grant Johnson and Staples-Motley's Avandre Brandt commit to play for the Raiders next season.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 12:22am

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A cubist-style painting depicting a basketball game broken down into overlapping geometric shapes and planes in navy, green, and orange tones, conveying the athletic energy and versatility of the new CLC recruits.The dynamic, geometric style captures the energy and movement of the two local basketball standouts joining the Central Lakes College team.Brainerd Today

The Central Lakes College Raiders men's basketball team has secured commitments from two top local high school players - Grant Johnson from Brainerd High School and Avandre Brandt from Staples-Motley High School. Both players had standout senior seasons and will bring leadership, athleticism, and versatility to the CLC roster next year.

Why it matters

Recruiting local talent is a key strategy for the CLC basketball program to build a competitive team and maintain strong community ties. Johnson and Brandt are two of the best players in the Brainerd Lakes area, so their decisions to stay local and play for the Raiders is a big win for the program.

The details

In his senior season, Grant Johnson averaged 14.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 0.6 steals per game for the Brainerd Warriors. He shot 39.2% from the field, 32.4% from 3-point range, and 76.5% from the free throw line. Avandre Brandt of Staples-Motley put up 13.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game, shooting 42.6% from the field, 34.9% from 3, and 73% from the line.

  • Grant Johnson and Avandre Brandt signed their letters of intent on April 10, 2026 to play for Central Lakes College next season.

The players

Grant Johnson

A senior at Brainerd High School who was one of the top players in the area, averaging 14.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 0.6 steals per game.

Avandre Brandt

A senior at Staples-Motley High School who put up 13.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game in his final high school season.

Jim Russell

The head coach of the Central Lakes College Raiders men's basketball team.

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What they’re saying

“They are both the best athletes on the team. Both bring some leadership and some athletic ability. They are capable of playing a lot of different positions.”

— Jim Russell, Head Coach, Central Lakes College Raiders

The takeaway

The additions of Grant Johnson and Avandre Brandt give the Central Lakes College Raiders a major boost in local talent and athleticism as they look to build a competitive men's basketball program. Their commitments demonstrate the program's ability to attract top players from the Brainerd Lakes area.