Inside the Rankings: Class AA Snapshot
Earlier this week, PHD gave your its preseason rankings for all classes. Today we take a deeper dive into the Class AA rankings as well as a quick look at players to watch this season. AA is wide open again…
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Continue ReadingEarlier this week, PHD gave your its preseason rankings for all classes. Today we take a deeper dive into the Class AA rankings as well as a quick look at players to watch this season. AA is wide open again this year, so do not be surprised if someone outside this preseason top 10 makes a run at State like Yankton did last year as an #11 seed.
Rankings:
Yankton is the defending champion. With arguably the best player in the state returning as a sophomore (Matthew Mors) the Bucks are in prime position to have another great year. There will be a target on their back this year and Mors expressed that to PHD as well (First Week Updates and Player Expectations – Class AA). The next two teams in the rankings each have nice 1-2 punch with different skill sets. Brandon Valley is expected to be big and skilled led by Evan Talcott and Gavin Terhark. RC Stevens was #1 for most of last year and they return Dawson Paulsen and they have transfer Dylan Pourier to add to the mix.
All the Sioux Fall schools are in the preseason top 10 led at #4 by SF O’Gorman who is older and loaded with talent. Luke Ronsiek and Cole Bruhn have already accepted college scholarships. Add in juniors Akoi Akoi and Jack Cartwright – this squad has talent! SF Lincoln is led by Jared Jaros who is one of the most underrated guards in the state. SF Roosevelt has a 6’7 transfer from Texas (Aiden Evans) as well as a great group of sophomore guards (Feldkamp, Large, & Paulson). SF Washington is always tough and physical and will be led by Gabe Person and Carter Shields.
The other schools in the top ten or sitting just outside include Harrisburg who will be led by all-state caliber guard Nick Hoyt. The runner-up finish last year will leave this squad fueled for this upcoming season and with lots of talented players waiting to make their mark after Harrisburg lost a larger group of seniors. Watertown is heavy with upperclassmen led by Solomon Bach and Huron looks to make a competitive jump behind 2020 #1 ranked player Kobe Busch.
Impact Players:
- Matthew Mors, Yankton, SO
- Kobe Busch, Huron, JR
- Nick Hoyt – Harrisburg, SR
- Drew Cole – Brookings, SR
- Jared Jaros – SF Lincoln, SR
- Evan Talcott – Brandon Valley, SR
- Gavin Terhark – Brandon Valley, JR
- Andrew Bergan – Aberdeen Zentral, JR
- Solomon Bach – Watertown, SR
- Dawson Paulsen – RC Stevens, SR
- Dylan Pourier – RC Stevens, SR
- Elijah Williams – RC Central, SR
- Akoi Akoi – SF O’Gorman, JR
- Luke Ronsiek – SF O’Gorman, SR
- Ryan Garland – Sturgis, SR
- Blair Slaughter – Harrisburg, SR
- Rex Ryken – Yankton, SR
- Tyler Feldkamp – SF Roosevelt, SO
- Aiden Evans – SF Roosevelt, SR
- Jack Cartwright – SF O’Gorman, JR
Up and Coming Players to Watch:
- Reece Burckhard – Aberdeen Central, SO
- Michael Paulson – SF Roosevelt, SO
- Jabril Muktar – SF Lincoln, SO
- Caden Hinker – Mitchell, FR
- Tucker Large – SF Roosevelt, SO
Most Important to their team’s success:
- Mors – Yankton
- Busch – Huron
- Bach – Watertown
- Bergan – AC
- Cole – Brookings