AAU Hoops: Most Improved Players ND & SD

The AAU basketball season is officially over in the Dakotas. High schools in North Dakota and South Dakota have started football practice. Now is the perfect time to look back and recognize the players that improved over the spring and summer in AAU hoops. I recommend keeping tabs on these players and watching them early in the high school season. They will loow like new and improved players compared to last spring. 

Most Improved Players from AAU

Ayden Klein (2023) |5-11 G| MOC-Floyd Valley (IA)/Sacred Hoops Dwight 

• Toughness
• High-end motor and lockdown defense
• Passing skills

Carson Yale Carson Yale 6'9" | PF Des Lacs-Burlington | 2023 State ND (2023) |6-8 F| Des Lacs Burlington/ND Phenom

• Great moving laterally/up the floor with quick feet
• Rebounding ability
• Moved extremely well off the ball. Can score in and out. 

Colton Hagen (2023) |6-2 G| Moorhead (MN)/ECI 16U Selects Hanson

• Rebounding on both ends
• Becoming a dependable and trusted shooter
• Court analysis and timely decisions

Gage Gasca Gage Gasca 6'7" | C Sioux Falls Washington | 2023 State SD (2023) |6-6 F|Sioux Falls Washington/SD Attack

• Competed at a high level
• Physicality
• Strength, confidence, and a well-rounded game

Jaxon Kellogg Jaxon Kellogg 6'3" | PG Bismarck | 2023 State ND (2023) |6’3 PG| Bismarck Legacy/ND Phenom 

• Game changer with the little things
• Stuffed the stat sheet and made others better
• Elite on-ball defender

Joe Uttecht Joe Uttecht 6'0" | PG SF Washington | 2022 State SD (2022) |6-1 G| Sioux Falls Washington/Sacred Hoops Dwight

• Smooth and skilled
• Crafty and creativeness 
• High basketball-IQ

Kaden Year Kaden Year 6'2" | SF O'Gorman | 2023 State SD (2023) |6-5 G/F| Sioux Falls Roosevelt/SD Attack

• Scoring ability
• Rebounding in a big way
• Overall strength

Malaki Sik Malaki Sik 6'3" | SF Williston | 2023 State ND (2023) |6-2 F| Williston/ECI 16U Selects Hanson

• Overall defense, especially on the ball
• Perimeter shooting and consistency 
• Decision making and valuing the basketball

Nate Fedorchak Nate Fedorchak 6'1" | SG Bismarck St Marys | 2022 State ND (2022) |6-1 SG| Bismarck St. Mary’s/ND Phenom

• Big-time 3-point threat
• Disruptive defender
• Overall scoring, gets it done in multiple ways

Tyler Birst Tyler Birst 6'0" | PG Bismarck Century | 2023 State ND (2023) |6-0 PG| Bismarck Century/ND Phenom

• Containing penetration on D
• Running the team
• Assist to turnover ratio