SD 2023 Prospect Rankings: Additional Stock Risers

This past Wednesday we updated the South Dakota 2023 Prospect Rankings. We are doing another Stock Riser article today. Check below for 11 players that have improved their stock and have been playing well this spring. These guys all have loads of potential and a bright senior season ahead of them.

Zander Benz Zander Benz 6'7" | PF O'Gorman | 2023 State SD |6’7 C| O’Gorman

• Impressive this spring on the PH Circuit, OG will have 2-headed monster w/ Benz & Muirhead
• Tireless worker, shares the ball, contests shots, soft finishing touch, can drill the 3, big upside

Ethan Koltz Ethan Koltz 6'11" | C Sioux Falls Jefferson | 2023 State SD |6’11 C| Sioux Falls Jefferson

• You can not teach size and Koltz certainly has plenty of it! Very unselfish & rebounds well
• Effective in pick-n-roll, uses size to his advantage, protects the lid, excellent mobility for 6’11

Jake Vliem Jake Vliem 6'10" | C Sturgis Brown | 2023 State SD |6’9 PF| Sturgis Brown

• Scores from all 3-levels w/ a soft touch, does nice work scoring w/ back to the basket, physical, good feet
• He brings a long post presence to ECI and Vliem has been playing well this spring in AAU ball

Connor Epp Connor Epp 6'0" | CG Freeman Academy-Marion | 2023 State SD |6’0 G| Freeman Academy-Marion

• Helped get his team to the State Tournament (21-5), All-Tournament Team at State, dynamic creator
• Very athletic PG with a college-ready body, creative playmaker, very good on-ball D, elite slasher

Ethan Cheeseman Ethan Cheeseman 6'4" | SF Hanson | 2023 State SD |6’4 F| Hanson

• Impressive athlete that thrives in fast play and transition, intriguing potential, will have big sr. year
• Scores from all 3-levels, Swiss Army Knife that can do it all, versatile matchup, plays AAU w/ top Schoolers

Gage Gasca Gage Gasca 6'7" | C Sioux Falls Washington | 2023 State SD |6’7 C| Sioux Falls Washington

• Very long arms & protects the rim well, gets the job done on the boards, especially on O-glass
• Plays hard, passes out of the post, can finish w/ both hands around the cup, plenty of potential 

Brian LaRoche Jr Brian LaRoche Jr 6'0" | PG Lower Brule | 2023 State SD |6’0 G| Lower Brule

• 3rd Team All-State, helped get his squad to the State Championship game, silky smooth baller
• 15.6 ppg, 4 rpg, 4.4 apg, 58 steals last season, lefty 3pt assassin, scary slasher, creative finisher

Damon Opdahl Damon Opdahl 6'0" | PG Waubay/Summit | 2023 State SD |6’0 G| Waubay/Summit

• 2nd Team All-State, helped get his team to State (22-4), leader, plays very hard, elite PG, gamer
• 17.1 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 5 apg, 78 steals last season, great defender, scores from all 3-levels, winner

Jonah Kocer Jonah Kocer 6'1" | PG Tea Area | 2023 State SD |6’1 G| Tea Area

• 5.9 ppg, 2 rpg, 3.5 apg, w/ seniors graduating, will be lead guard for the Titans, will thrive in new role
• High IQ, finely-tuned skills, tough D, has made some amazing passes this spring, shoots it well

Gavin Benck Gavin Benck 6'2" | PF Deuel | 2023 State SD |6’2 F| Deuel

• 9.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 2.1 apg, and 1.1 spg this past season and is ready for a breakout senior year
• Steps up against top teams, scores in a variety of ways, finishes with both hands, nice jumper, strong

Jordan Whirlwind Horse Jordan Whirlwind Horse 6'4" | SF Lakota Tech | 2023 State SD |6’4 SF| Lakota Tech

• Dangerous & productive offensive player, puts up points in transition, has a smooth overall game
• Consistent from the line, has a sweet mid-range jump shot, helped get his to the State Tournament