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.Â
Most Improved Players from AAU
Ayden Klein (2023) |5-11 G| MOC-Floyd Valley (IA)/Sacred Hoops DwightÂ
- 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.Â
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 Legacy | 2023
State
ND
(2023) |6’3 PG| Bismarck Legacy/ND PhenomÂ
- 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 creativenessÂ
- High basketball-IQ
Kaden Year
Kaden
Year
6'6" | SF
Sioux Falls Jefferson | 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 consistencyÂ
- Decision making and valuing the basketball
Nate Fedorchak
Nate
Fedorchak
6'1" | SG
Bismarck St. Mary's | 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