GPA 17U – South Dakota’s Five Best
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Best five South Dakota prospects I saw at the Great Plains Alliance in St. Cloud this weekend? Here is my list: Angok Akot of Sacred Hoops (6’7 SF Washington Forward). Akot is oozing potential. Akot has great length, runs well,…
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Continue ReadingBest five South Dakota prospects I saw at the Great Plains Alliance in St. Cloud this weekend? Here is my list:
Angok Akot of Sacred Hoops (6’7 SF Washington Forward). Akot is oozing potential. Akot has great length, runs well, and is quick off his feet with room to physically mature which instantly puts his name on recruiting lists. Then you see his comfort pushing the ball in the open floor or the comfort using a dribble or two to turn the corner on other bigs. Finally, the touch around the basket was soft and high percentage when I watched and others I spoke with saw Angok play. The potential to be a high ranked South Dakota player and a scholarship talent is certainly there for Angok.
Kalen Garry Kalen Garry 6'3" | SG De Smet | 2022 State SD of Pentagon Schoolers (6’3 De Smet Guard). What really stood out to me was how well Garry shot on the move. He gets in and out of his moves quickly to the point that a defender has to be laterally agile enough AND have good footwork to get a hand on Garry’s release. More athletic than I think I realized, Garry is quick to his first step into that pull-up move plus his basket attack has more pop than some of the teams were prepared for. High quality shooter with feet set as well. Had a couple 20 point games this weekend against good teams.
Caleb Hiatt Caleb Hiatt 6'5" | PF SF Lincoln | 2022 State SD of Sacred Hoops (6’5 SF Lincoln Forward). Sacred Hoops struggled this weekend but they were able to pull out a win in the last game. The catalyst for that victory was Caleb Hiatt Caleb Hiatt 6'5" | PF SF Lincoln | 2022 State SD . Caleb is a strong forward that can play in the post with his back to the basket. He gave Sacred Hoops the early lead with that back to the back ability but what makes Hiatt different is his ability to also step out and be a pick and pop player. Hiatt is a strong, wide shoulder player that sets a good screen and can then move to the rim after the screen or step out and pop that triple. Had 16 on 6 of 9 shooting Saturday morning in our viewing.
Caden Hinker Caden Hinker 6'6" | PF Mitchell | 2022 State SD of South Dakota Attack (6’7 Mitchell PF). Hinker has spent June shooting the ball well in front of scholarship offering coaches. This past weekend he went head to head with Pharrel Payne – a top 100 caliber national level big from Minnesota – and put 15 points and eight rebounds in the book. Payne is a low post player and Hinker took him away from the cup knocking out three threes plus Hinker turned away from Payne around the basket and crafted some scores. Hinker had his problems in low post defense against the much bigger player but he held his own on the glass.
Lincoln Kienholz Lincoln Kienholz 6'3" | PG Pierre | 2023 State SD of South Dakota Attack (6’3 Pierre 2023 Guard). Lincoln made his case as one of the top juniors-to-be in South Dakota and I for one am listening/watching. The physical measures are there. Lincoln is a legit 6-foot-3, strong for his 16 year old age, and his lift ranks with the best in the state. We saw Lincoln hit double figures twice this weekend and think he is just scratching the surface of what he could be. The big numbers at Pierre are no fluke, this young man is a legit prospect.