Battle At The Lakes: Dakotas Player Watchlist

This epic event will kick off on Friday night and it is going to be three wonderful days of basketball. We will have big-time talent in the gym and I can not wait to check out the games. Are you a fan or a coach wondering who you should watch from North Dakota or South Dakota? Look no further. We have put together a quality list of players that you will want to watch hoop this weekend.

3 players from IA & 1 from MN made the list. They play with an outstate team.     

Dakotas Player Watchlist

17U

Isaac Bruns Isaac Bruns 6'5" | SG Dakota Valley | 2023 State SD |6’4 SG| Dakota Valley/SD Attack 17U

• Has a D1 offer, looks like a mid-major player, a top shooter in the midwest, hoops savant

Kaden Year Kaden Year 6'6" | SF Sioux Falls Jefferson | 2023 State SD |6’6 F| Sioux Falls Jefferson/SD Attack 17U

• His stock continues to rise, plays in & out, shooter & slasher, rim-protector, does the little things

Blake Volmer Blake Volmer 6'3" | CG Winner | 2023 State SD |6-3 G/F| Winner/SD Attack 17U

• Swiss Army Knife type athlete that excels playing 1-4, smart & has a full skill set, having nice spring

Ethan Russell Ethan Russell 6'6" | SF Aberdeen Christian | 2023 State SD |6’6 SF| Aberdeen Christian/SD Attack 17U

• College coaches will loves his length & athleticism, 3 & D, scores going to the rim, big upside 

Jake Wallin Jake Wallin 6'7" | PF Spirit Lake | 2023 State IA |6’7 F| South O’Brien (IA)/SD Attack 17U

• Active player that moves very well, gets the job done in & out, double-double guy, physical 

Malek Wieker Malek Wieker 6'0" | CG Aberdeen Christian | 2023 State SD |6’1 G| Aberdeen Central/SD Attack 17U

• A lefty sniper with a great pull-up J, knows the game very well, high assist man, great handles

Jackson Edman Jackson Edman 6'7" | SF Pierre | 2023 State SD |6’7 F| Pierre/Sacred Hoops 17U Bertram

• Easy to see he is a college-ready athlete, very effective rim-protector, above the rim finisher

Connor Epp Connor Epp 6'0" | CG Freeman Academy-Marion | 2023 State SD |6’0 G| Freeman Academy-Marion/Sacred Hoops 17U Bertram

• Exciting & playmaking athlete, elusive getting to the rim & efficient finisher, first-class defender

Damon Opdahl Damon Opdahl 6'0" | PG Waubay/Summit | 2023 State SD |6’0 G| Waubay-Summit/Sacred Hoops 17U Branco

• Leader, plays with good speed, gritty & scrappy, tough off the bounce, athletic finisher

Riley Endres Riley Endres 6'1" | SG Ethan | 2023 State SD |6’1 G| Ethan/Sacred Hoops 17U Branco

• Absolute freight train going downhill, can bully through D, athletic bounce, physical & tough defender

Matt Eng Matt Eng 6'2" | PG Sioux Falls O'Gorman | 2023 State SD |6’2 G| O’Gorman/Pentagon Schoolers 2023 Walker

• Amazing shooting performance 2 weeks ago, plays calm & collected, very skilled, GAMER

Tate VanOtterloo Tate VanOtterloo 6'5" | SF Beresford | 2023 SD |6’4 G/F| Beresford/Pentagon Schoolers 2023 Walker

• Mismatch problem, 3-level scorer, long & bouncy, great in transition, aggressive rebounder

Cole Peterson Cole Peterson 6'2" | PG Sioux Falls Washington | 2023 State SD |6’2 G| Sioux Falls Washington/Pentagon Schoolers 2023 Walker

• Can really get going from 3pt-land, unselfish player with smooth passing skills, gritty worker

AJ Akot AJ Akot 6'4" | SF Sioux Falls Washington | 2023 State SD |6’4 SF| O’Gorman/Pentagon Schoolers 2023 Walker

• Long, athletic, and well put together, versatile on both ends, plays multiple positions, well-rounded

Ayden Klein Ayden Klein 5'11" | SG MOC-Floyd Valley | 2023 State IA |5’10 G| MOC-Floyd (IA)/Pentagon Schoolers 2023 Walker

• Tough customer & very physical G, attacks & finishes through contact, difficult in the passing lanes

Sam Senske |6’5 SF| Hawley (MN)/Next Level Basketball Academy 2023

• Crafty scorer, smooth pull-up game, deep skill set, good eyes, posts & takes advantage of mismatches

Alex Wheelock Alex Wheelock 5'11" | PG Fargo Shanley | 2023 ND |5’9 G| Shanley/Next Level Basketball Academy 2023

• Quick & scrappy guard, shoots the 3pt ball well and he can create for teammates off the bounce

16U

JT Rock JT Rock 7'1" | C Sioux Falls Lincoln | 2024 #37 Nation SD |7’1 C| Sioux Falls Lincoln/SD Attack 16U

• Has many offers from Power 5 schools, will be 1 of the top prospects in attendance this weekend

Porter Ihnen Porter Ihnen 6'5" | CG Lennox | 2024 State #208 Nation SD |6-6 F| Lennox/SD Attack 16U

• Expect him to produce big points this weekend, uber-talented & mismatch problem

Jacoby Mehrman Jacoby Mehrman 6'4" | PG Harrisburg | 2024 State SD |6’4 PG| Harrisburg/SD Attack 16U

• Excited to see him vs. elite talent this weekend, strong & physical guard, talented lefty PG

Jesse VanKalsbeek |6’3 G| MOC-Floyd (IA)/SD Attack 16U 

• Long, skilled & athletic wing, polished skills, knockdown 3-shooter, intriguing player

Keyton McGregor Keyton McGregor 6'1" | SG West Fargo | 2024 State ND |6’1 G| West Fargo/ND Attack 16U

• Shined last weekend & crushed it on the O-glass, hardworking on-ball D, scores in bunches

Landon Moser Landon Moser 6'1" | PG Northern Cass | 2024 State ND |6’1 G| Northern Cass/ND Attack 16U Black

• Heady & smart player, high hoops IQ, has an all-around offensive game, always Improving

Max Musland Max Musland 6'4" | SG LaMoure-Litchville/Marion | 2024 State ND |6’4 SG| LaMoure-Litchville-Marion/SD Attack 16U Black

• Very long wing, can really shoot from beyond the arc, length gives smaller guards problems 

Daniel Yorke Daniel Yorke 6'1" | SG Fargo Davies | 2024 State ND |6’0 G| Fargo Davies/Bears Tail Basketball 2024

• One of the top athletes in this class, bouncy with impressive vertical, playmaker on both ends

Dalton Lamp Dalton Lamp 6'1" | SG Jamestown | 2024 State ND |6’1 G| Jamestown/Bears Tail Basketball 2024

• A nice athlete with a diverse skill set, I like his pull-up game, can also drill the 3, very competitive

Erick Paye Erick Paye 6'5" | PF Grand Forks Central | 2024 State ND |6-5 PF| Grand Forks Red River/Bears Tail Basketball 2024

• Big, strong, athletic, already has a college body, explosive to the rim, physical rebounder, exciting player

Lane Tietz Lane Tietz 6'1" | CG Groton | 2024 State SD |6’0 G| Groton/Sacred Hoops 16U Kahler

• Will be one of the top 3-shooters in SD next year, quick & soft release, extended range

Nic Marshall Nic Marshall 6'1" | PG White River | 2024 State SD |6’1 G| White River/Sacred Hoops 16U Kahler

• Has basketball in his blood, mature & skilled player, does it all on the court, supreme jumpshot

Jessen Wiebenga |6’3 F| Tea Area/ Sacred Hoops 16U Willard

• Very talented shooter, one of the best in the Tea program, quality athlete, bright future

Garrett Wiebenga Garrett Wiebenga 6'3" | SF Tea Area | 2024 State SD |6’3 F| Tea Area/Sacred Hoops 16U Willard

• An up-n-coming player for the Titans & a nice athlete, thrives at slashing & getting to the rim

Duwayne Mitchell Duwayne Mitchell 5'11" | PG South Fargo | 2024 ND |5’10 G| Fargo South/Next Level Basketball Academy 2024

• A very quick, speedy, and athletic guard, Mitchell is a fierce competitor on both ends of the floor

15U

Edison Noll Edison Noll 6'0" | SG Sioux Falls Lincoln | 2025 State SD |5’10 G| Sioux Falls Lincoln/SD Attack 15U

• A top perimeter defender, has a very nice skill set, is having a quality spring, scores with J’s & slashing

Boston Katzer Boston Katzer 6'3" | SF Lennox | 2025 State SD |6’2 SF| McCook Central-Montrose/SD Attack 15U

• Very athletic wing, varsity starter this year with impressive 11.9 ppg, 3.2 rpg, gym rat & hard worker

Shawn Hammerbeck Shawn Hammerbeck 6'7" | PF Winner | 2025 State SD |6’6 PF| Winner/SD Attack 15U

• Old-shool post player, can dominate with his back to the basket, strong rebounder, physical finisher

Ben Brooks Ben Brooks 6'7" | CG Madison | 2025 State SD |6’7 PF| Madison/SD Attack 15U

• Long & lanky, he can do it all on the hardwood, can play in & out, special passer for his size, high ceiling

Sullivan Ihry Sullivan Ihry 5'11" | CG West Fargo Sheyenne | 2025 State ND |5’10 G| West Fargo Sheyenne/Inspired Athletics 15U

• A mature leader, has improved his 3pt shooting, slasher & playmaker, great eyes & unselfish player

Bonfas Loria Bonfas Loria 6'5" | SF West Fargo | 2025 State ND |6’4 F| West Fargo/Inspired Athletics 15U

• A special & explosive athlete that can hammer it above the rim, versatile defender, energetic & effort

Isaac Beauchamp |5’9 G| Shanley/Next Level Basketball Academy 2025

• Crafty PG & solid floor general, creates off the dribble for himself & others, very coachable!