Director’s Cut: Dakotas Edition
Team Name: BBA Force – Burkett
Mid-Season Update:
This squad has played very solid competition all year long and have won some good games. A group that gets going from guards pushing the ball in transition and from there working in a motion based system makes opposing teams have to always be on their toes as this Force crew is constantly putting pressure on the rim.
Under the Radar Players:
• Jared Jaros – 6’1 G – deadly on the offense, lefty that wants to get to rim but
can fill it up from outside, high level defender
• Grant Russell – 6’2 G – hard working kid that that can get to the rack, shifty kid
that get past defenders, great defender, primary handler
• Gabe Person – 6’2 W – freaky athletic kid that has a nice jump shot but can also
put you on a poster, sees plays before they happen, high IQ, can defend 1-4
Where can you find them in July?:
July 19-22: Hardwood Classic – Lawrence, KS
August 4-6: MAYB Nationals – Wichita, KS
Team Name: BBA Force – Hennen
Mid-Season Update:
A group of kids that carried a heavy load during their high school seasons for their respected teams so they took some time to refresh and reload early in the year. However the events that they competed in this squad was super competitive. Another guard heavy group that play well in their system and have the ability to both beat you by attacking the rim or knocking down the kick out looks.
Under the Radar Players:
• Nick Voight – 6’0 G – handles the ball at a high level and can stroke it from deep
• Thomas Hennen – 6’3 W – great outside touch, longer kid that can finish
around the rim at a high level
• Jacob Hennen – 6’3 W – sophomore playing up with his brother, high ceiling on
this young kid
• Blair Slaughter – 6’4 F – crazy wingspan that can cause havoc on offense and
defense with his length, great timing on shot blocking
• Kyler Meyer – 6’1 G – hand down man down type guy, can handle the ball well,
willing to attack off the bounce
Where can you find them in July?:
July 13-15: Summer Slam – Sioux Falls, SD
July 19-22: Hardwood Classic – Lawrence, KS
August 4-6: MAYB Nationals – Wichita, KS
Team Name: Sacred Hoops – McVey
Mid-Season Update:
A group that hasn’t been full strength early in the year. This Sacred Hoops squad is expected to have all their guys in July and compete at a high level. This is a team to keep an eye on in July to see what they can get done.
Under the Radar Players:
• Gabe Krump – 6’4 F – super athletic/strong front court kid, rebounds the ball at
a high level, working on consitency game to game
• Mark Rogers – 5’10 G – bulldog mentality, will lock down opposing teams best
guard, football kid that can play on the hardwood, great finisher
• Reece Peters – 6’4 W – shown that he is a consistent shooter, working on
being more of a threat off the dribble, if open he is knocking it down
• Ty Westendorf – 6’7 F – great size for a front court kid, learning how to use his
length, a guy to keep an eye on, very raw
Where can you find them in July?:
June 30-July 1: Sacred Hoops Tournament – Rapid City, SD
July 12-15: Summer Slam – Sioux Falls, SD
July 19-22: Hardwood Classic – Lawrence, KS
Team Name: SD Network – 16U
Mid-Season Update:
This group really tried to step up their competition level this season and has held their own. While their record may not jump off the page at anyone, Coach Kasib Powell says that the growth that these kids have shown is remarkable. By playing these better teams this SD Network crew is learning and growing everyday.
Under the Radar Players:
• Akoi Akoi – 6’5 F – all around player that can do a little bit of everything, can
score at all three levels, long athletic kid
• Kesean Ladd – 6’2 G – lefty that controls the game, uses his athletic ability
on both sides of the ball
• Cade Mikuska – 6’4 F – a perfect example of flying under the radar, guy that
works every possesion both ways, glue guy for this group, makes everyone
better
• Breaden Phipps – 6’5 F – biggest surprise of the summer, playing against
older guys and been very impressive, double-double machine
Where can you find them in July?:
July 14-16: Summer Jam – Chicago, IL
July 20-22: Hardwood Classic – Lawrence, KS
Team Name: South Dakota Attack
Mid-Season Update:
This South Dakota Attack crew started off rather slow to the year but really picked things up as time went on. Another team where guys carried a large load during the high school year and fatigue was set in during the early go. This group has taken big steps forward and are locked and loaded to make some noise in July.
Under the Radar Players:
• Caden Bleeker – 6’4 F – missed some time but has been a force when on the
court, does all the little things, a coaches dream
• Gavin Schipper – 6’1 G – new to the program, still finding his role but confidence
has boosted greatly, can score at a high level
• Camden Bialas – 6’8 F – prospect that is catching eyes at the D2/NAIA level
Where can you find them in July?:
June 28-30: Great Plains Alliance – St. Cloud, MN
July 13-15: Summer Slam – Sioux Falls, SD
July 20-22: Mullen’s High Profile – Wichita, KS
July 25-29: Las Vegas Classic – Las Vegas, NV
Team Name: Dakota Niners
Mid-Season Update:
This Niner group only played three events during the first half of the year and hung with some good competition as well as picked up a few solid wins. This team has a bunch of long athletes at the wing spot that have the ability to defend and create mismatches on the offensive end.
Under the Radar Players:
• Connor Bawden – 6’3 G – experienced kid that has been super productive in
both high school season and AAU, quick release that can fill it up from all
spots on the floor
• Kellan Benck – 6’2 G – has put in the time and effort to be productive, high
IQ kid that is completely unselfish, makes guys around him better
Where can you find them in July?:
June 28-30: Dakota Showcase – Sioux Falls, SD
July 6-8: MAYB (Augustana College) – Sioux Falls, SD
July 13-15: Summer Slam – Sioux Falls, SD
Team Name: ND Phenom
Mid-Season Update:
This Phenom group sat around .500 during the first half of the year. The biggest thing for this team is learning how to finish games and Coach Jordan Maurer thinks his guys have grown and are continuing to grow in that area. This crew has been down some guys due to injury early on in the year but appear to be ready to go for the back half of the year.
Under the Radar Players:
• Mason Hedberg – 6’2 G – shoots the ball at a high level, need to put on
mass but potential to be a scholarship level kid, taken huge steps forward
from 16U
• Ben Schmidt – 6’0 G – strong athletic kid that looks to get to the rim
• Trapper Jacob – 6’3 F – will be a guy who is playing a bigger role in July,
can stroke the ball from deep, great off one or two dribbles, will be a
next level kid
• Kiir Mabor – 6’3 G – expanded his game greatly over the early part of the
season, a guy to keep an eye on, makes the hustle plays
• Jorn Everson – 6’7 F – one of the top talents in the class of 2021, name to
know
Where can you find them in July?:
July 13-15: Summer Slam – Sioux Falls, SD
July 19-22: D1 Summer Classic – Minneapolis, MN