Dakotas Expo: Potential Matchups

The Dakotas Top 250 Expo happens Sunday in Sioux Falls. The Avera Sports Center will be hosting the event from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Every time I look at the list of players coming I get more excited to watch some high-quality basketball. In this article, I want to look at potential matchups that would be fun to see happen on Sunday. <h3>Interesting Potential Matchups</h3> <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/Caden-Hinker5.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1224494" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/Caden-Hinker5-300x188.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="188" /></a><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/75MichaelNhial.jpg"><img class="alignnone wp-image-1077296" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/75MichaelNhial-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="287" height="192" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="812199" first="Caden" last="Hinker"] (2022) 6’7 Mitchell vs. [player_tooltip player_id="1046354" first="Michael" last="Nhial"] (2022) 6’7 West Fargo Sheyenne This would be an intriguing matchup because they are both long and athletic. Caden and Mike are both versatile scorers as well. Hinker is a big-time recruit and Nhial is under the radar. It will be interesting to see how they fare against each other if these two see each other. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Connerkraft-crop-1170x769-1614886131.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1144425" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/Connerkraft-crop-1170x769-1614886131-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1289745" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/08/jtdd-crop-1125x739-1632361206-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="1128188" first="Conner" last="Kraft"] (2023) 6’7 Fargo Shanley vs. [player_tooltip player_id="1265221" first="JT" last="Rock"] (2024) 7’0 Sioux Falls Lincoln This would be amazing if they get to go against each other. Both players are D1 prospects. Conner and JT are awesome rim protectors and high-level rebounders. These two are great in the lane, but they can also stretch the floor and hit the outside jumper. I would love to watch them meet each other on the block and see who wins. Let us cross our fingers that Kraft and Rock get a chance to run at one another. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1289760" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/bp-crop-1125x739-1632361827-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/35AlexDvorak.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1077279" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/35AlexDvorak-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="963773" first="Brayden" last="Pankonen"] (2023) 5’10 Dell Rapids vs. [player_tooltip player_id="1050249" first="Alex" last="Dvorak"] (2023) 6’0 Dickinson This would be one of the top guard matchups. Both are lightning quick with great ball skills. Brayden is a lefty and Alex is a righty, but both are elite shooters from deep. It would be fun to see them go after each other and go back and forth with dagger 3-pointers. Wishful thinking? I hope not. Everyone would love a shooting display from these two. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/Dominic_Dosmann_Varsity_11-crop-1200x788-1621917620.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1201303" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/05/Dominic_Dosmann_Varsity_11-crop-1200x788-1621917620-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Kaden-Year-Myles-Barnette.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1179919" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/04/Kaden-Year-Myles-Barnette-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="812221" first="Dominic" last="Dosmann"] (2022) 6’8 West Fargo Sheyenne vs. [player_tooltip player_id="963748" first="Kaden" last="Year"] (2023) 6’5 Sioux Falls Jefferson These guys are both versatile players and they should both take on more important offensive roles in the high school season. It would be neat to see them do that at the Expo as well. Dosmann is more of an inside forward but he has added the 3-ball to his game. Year can play the 2-5, so he moves all over the court. They are both big kids from big schools who will play a huge role in any success that their high school team has. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/08/whitney2-crop-1125x739-1630432385.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1274586" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/08/whitney2-crop-1125x739-1630432385-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/dopplerA-crop-1001x658-1614785907.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1143370" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/dopplerA-crop-1001x658-1614785907-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="963749" first="Elliot" last="Whitney"] (2023) 5’11 Sioux Falls Lincoln vs. [player_tooltip player_id="1048689" first="Anthony" last="Doppler"] (2023) 6’4 Bismarck Century Size-wise Doppler has the advantage but Whitney is very quick and clever. What I am intrigued in seeing is who is the best shooter from downtown. They will both play 3 games on Sunday. I am interested in seeing who takes the best shots, who is the most consistent, and how they move without the ball. If you want to see a shooter Sunday, watch Elliot and Anthony. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1289798" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/06/tkraft-crop-3024x1986-1632365178-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1289803" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/barr-crop-1125x739-1632365320-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /> [player_tooltip player_id="1123122" first="Tyler" last="Kraft"] (2022) 6’3 Fargo Shanley vs. [player_tooltip player_id="963750" first="Spencer" last="Barr"] (2023) 5’11 Aberdeen Central They are both knock-down shooters from the perimeter and the mid-range. Tyler and Spencer are strong and smart. They will both play a vital role in how far their teams go this spring. Who will be the better shooter out of the 2? Who will be the better defender? These are two questions I would love to see answered on Sunday. <img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1289810" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/garrison-crop-1125x739-1632366100-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/samkobbervig-crop-800x526-1630970807.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1277874" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/03/samkobbervig-crop-800x526-1630970807-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></a> [player_tooltip player_id="1125690" first="Connor" last="Kerzman"] (2023) 6’1 Garrison vs. [player_tooltip player_id="1111886" first="Sam" last="Kobbervig"] (2023) 6’1 [player_tooltip player_id="1111886" first="Sam" last="Kobbervig"] They are both from North Dakota but they never see each other during the high school season. This would be an absorbing matchup because they are the same grade, size, position, big shooters, potential college prospects, and top players in their respective regions. [player_tooltip player_id="1135490" first="Zunekia" last="McGill"] (2022) 5’11 Fargo South vs. [player_tooltip player_id="968158" first="Tristan" last="Nielsen"] (2022) 6’1 Castlewood I am expecting big senior seasons from both of these guys. Nielsen is Mr. Clutch and McGill will be looking to move into that role for the Bruins. They both have the potential to be lockdown defenders. McGill is a slasher that can score from mid-range or at the cup. Can Nielsen keep him out of the lane? Nielsen can hit from anywhere on the floor and finish at the iron, how would the athletic Bruin do against him? After Sunday happens we will have better answers. [player_tooltip player_id="1144578" first="Cole" last="Holzer"] (2024) 6’5 Central Cass vs. [player_tooltip player_id="1266222" first="Porter" last="Ihnen"] (2024) 6’5 Lennox In this potential matchup, we would have two of the best in the Dakotas from the sophomore class. They are both long and very skilled for their young age. They can both shoot it from beyond the arc. Cole and Porter can do work around the paint as well. I would like to see who buys into playing defense and who has better ball skills on the perimeter. [player_tooltip player_id="1266225" first="Kaden" last="Fast"] (2024) 6’1 De Smet vs. [player_tooltip player_id="1161524" first="Daniel" last="Yorke"] (2024) 6’1 Fargo Davies They will both hoop for dominant high school teams this winter. Fast and Yorke are both top-notch athletes that can make plays happen. Who is the better athlete? Who is a better defender and outside shooter? We may not find out, but it will be fun if they guard one another this weekend. [player_tooltip player_id="963766" first="Damon" last="Wilkinson"] (2023) 6’9 De Smet vs. [player_tooltip player_id="1266223" first="Alec" last="Squires"] (2024) 6’10 Sioux Valley I have not watched these two play live, so it would be a great eye-opening experience if this matchup happened. Both are tough and playmaking big men. De Smet and Sioux Valley should both have huge success in the coming winter and Damon/Alec will be a big piece of that success. Who has the best moves on the block? Do they pass after a post-touch? Who plays the best help defense? I will be looking to answer all of these questions this weekend. [player_tooltip player_id="812212" first="Hayden" last="Ruesink"] (2022) 6’5 Sioux Valley vs. [player_tooltip player_id="1126978" first="Ayden" last="Stainbrook"] (2023) 6’4 North Border They are different types of players because Hayden is more of an inside guy and Ayden is more of a catch-and-shoot type guy. However, they are both college-level players and they need to prove that they can compete against different positions. Who is the most versatile player? Who can bounce back and forth from inside and out? Who is the best overall defender? I hope to know these answers after this weekend. [player_tooltip player_id="1129433" first="Jalen" last="Poitra"] (2022) 6’2 Dunseith vs. [player_tooltip player_id="1227935" first="Gage" last="Gasca"] (2023) 6’7 Sioux Falls Washington Poitra and Gasca both move well and they can score from multiple spots on the floor. If this match-up happens I want to see who is the best on-ball defender and who boards up the best. Who is the most gifted scorer or who looks the most skilled? I would also like to see who give the most effort and willingness to win.