Dakotas Top 250 Expo: The 2023 All Expo Team

<p>In this article, we are breaking down the top individual performers in the class of 2023 from the Prep Hoops Top 250 Expo at Avera Sports Center in Sioux Falls.</p> <h2><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>2023 DAKOTAS All Expo Team</strong></span></h2> <h4><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/TopPerformers-1.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1253195" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/07/TopPerformers-1-300x187.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="187" /></a></h4> <h4><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>FIRST TEAM ALL EXPO</strong></span></h4> <p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1294177" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/BPank-crop-1125x739-1632795572-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="963773" first="Brayden" last="Pankonen"] |5-9 G| Dell Rapids</strong></p> <p>Everyone told me that Pankonen was quick, and oh man was he ever! His changing of speeds was incredible. I really enjoyed his effort on defense. Brayden forced many turnovers with his quick hands and great anticipatory skills. He is a lights-out shooter from deep and mid-range. However, he can do much more than just hit jumpers. Pankonen was creating, facilitating, and dropping dimes on Sunday. He is a special player in transition as well. When the game got going fast he shined. Get this kid on your watchlist for the high school season.</p> <p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1294200" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/Adv-crop-1125x739-1632797117-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1050249" first="Alex" last="Dvorak"] |6-1 G| Dickinson</strong></p> <p>He looked good all day and he really put on a show in the afternoon games. With him being a big point scorer, I was impressed with his effort hustling and how he saved the ball from going out of bounds multiple times. Dvorak does not just care about scoring, he wants to WIN. Alex had many off-balance and impressive finishes in traffic. His ball skills are off the chart. This kid is on a different level. I watched him throw down a windmill dunk after the last game, it is easy to say this kid has BOUNCE! Alex will be a top scorer in Class A North Dakota this season and one of the most entertaining. </p> <p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1294237" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/sparr-crop-1125x739-1632800132-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="963750" first="Spencer" last="Barr"] |5-11 G| Aberdeen Central </strong></p> <p>Very very quick and smart, I like his game. I have heard nothing but great things about Barr and he was nothing but impressive. I love his shooting form, there is no wasted movement and it is always consistent. His extra effort opened my eyes when he was diving on the floor for loose balls. He is very quick and he can shake the defender and pull up on a dime. Spencer’s confidence and the assurance he plays with left me impressed. His handles are top-notch and his shot-making ability sees him as a top prospect in this class. Spencer is the real deal and he will have the Eagles playing at a high level this season. </p> <p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1294680" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/ckraft-crop-1125x739-1632841254-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1128188" first="Conner" last="Kraft"] |6-7 PF| Shanley</strong></p> <p>He was one of the best at the Expo regardless of class. Kraft was very impressive. He is even more athletic and agile than I realized. Conner is a shot-blocker and an intimidator in the lane. Kraft was great when he caught on the wing and he used his long, low, and quick first step to blow by defenders. Once he gets into the lane there seemed to be no way to keep him from getting to the rim. Conner had many eye-opening dunks. He makes it look easy, that is what great athletes do. What really surprised me was how well he shot it from beyond the 3-point arc. Conner made more triples than I could keep track of. His shooting form looked consistent/soft and he has a nice follow-through. After Sunday, it is obvious why so many D1 colleges are interested in Mr. Kraft. </p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/2MalekWieker.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1077250" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/10/2MalekWieker-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" /></a></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="963783" first="Malek" last="Wieker"] |6-0 PG| Aberdeen Christian</strong></p> <p>I knew he was a good shooter, but he showed on Sunday that he is a great shooter. This lefty is deadly from beyond the arc and from mid-range. I really like his pull-up game as well. He gets good elevation, has a high release, and shoots it with a soft touch. Wieker has top-notch handles and great ball control. He is a tough and smart defender. Malek also plays and shoots with confidence. I am expecting big things from Malek in the high school season.</p> <h4><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>SECOND TEAM ALL EXPO</strong></span></h4> <p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1295202" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/maxff-crop-1125x739-1632854882-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1167651" first="Max" last="Froslie"] |6-7 F| Fargo Davies</strong></p> <ul> <li>Gifted and long athlete</li> <li>Soft-touch around the basket</li> <li>Serious 3-point threat</li> </ul> <p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1295205" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/72-Gage-Gasca-crop-2500x1642-1632855082-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1227935" first="Gage" last="Gasca"] |6-7 F| Sioux Falls Washington</strong></p> <ul> <li>Super long and rangy playmaker</li> <li>Moves really well for his size</li> <li>Aggressive rebounder versatile finisher</li> </ul> <p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1295209" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/74-Jacob-Vande-Weerd-crop-2500x1642-1632855382-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1227942" first="Jacob" last="Vandeweerd"] |6-8 F| Canton</strong></p> <ul> <li>Athletic finisher </li> <li>Very Physical and did not shy from contact</li> <li>Can step out and hit 3-ball</li> </ul> <p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1295210" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/76-Damon-Wilkinson-crop-2500x1642-1632855544-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="963766" first="Damon" last="Wilkinson"] |6-9 F| De Smet</strong></p> <ul> <li>Impressive dunk in transition/showed off athleticism</li> <li>Rebounder/defender</li> <li>Impressive physicality</li> </ul> <p><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1295215" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2021/09/8-Elliot-Whitney-crop-2500x1642-1632856090-300x197.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="197" /></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="963749" first="Elliot" last="Whitney"] |5-11 SG| Sioux Falls Lincoln</strong></p> <ul> <li>Talented 3-point sniper</li> <li>Great step-back move</li> <li>Attacked the basket/slashed and created</li> </ul> <h4><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>HONORABLE MENTION ALL EXPO</strong></span></h4> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1050261" first="TJ" last="Cosley"] |6-0 G| North Border</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1295252" first="Zach" last="Uyemura"] |6-0 G| Platte</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="963755" first="Steele" last="Morgan"] |6-5 F| Mitchell</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1265105" first="Ethen" last="Lincoln"] |6-4 SF| Sioux Falls Lincoln</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1111886" first="Sam" last="Kobbervig"] |6-1 SG| Central Cass</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1295267" first="Gavin" last="Muirhead"] |6-6 F| O’Gorman</strong></p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1126978" first="Ayden" last="Stainbrook"] |6-5 SF| North Border</strong></p>