SD 2023 Rankings: Names to Know

The calendar is now turned to June and we are midway through this busy month. Rosters have turned over with seniors graduating. Now it is time for coaches and teams to give new opportunities to younger players and older guys that didn’t get enough looks the year before. The basketball scene in the Dakotas is popping right now with events happening in every region. If you want to watch hoops, there is likely some action happening in a gym near you. In this article, we are taking a look at "Names to Know". These are guys that might be from a smaller school that does not get a ton of attention. We also have players from AA schools, we think these guys will have a big senior season and they will play a vital role in their team’s success next year. We have players that will be getting their first chance to be a varsity starter and we are predicting big things from them. Check out these upcoming seniors and see what they are all about. They all have a big year ahead of them. <a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/03/SD-1.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-medium wp-image-1399487" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2022/03/SD-1-300x187.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="187" /></a> <h4>Names to Know from the 2023 Class</h4> [player_tooltip player_id="1393219" first="Dylan" last="Mathis"] |6’3 CG| Dell Rapids St. Mary The Cardinals are going to be a tough team this coming year and one of my dark horses to make a deep playoff run. If they are going to do that, they will need a big season from Mathis. He was an All-Conference Player this last season and an efficient offensive threat. Dylan shoots a high percentage. He is a long guard that is ready to take the next step and be a DUDE for the Cardinals. Rember the name [player_tooltip player_id="1393219" first="Dylan" last="Mathis"]! [player_tooltip player_id="1280262" first="Patrick" last="Carey"] |6’1 SG| Sioux Valley The Cossacks had a phenomenal 2022 season which saw them take 2nd at State and they finished with a 20-6 record. Sioux Valley did all that with one of their top 3-point shooters sitting on the sideline. Carry missed all but one game last season due to an injury. Patrick will be back and ready to roll this year. The Cossacks will have their eyes set on another State Tournament appearance and they will need Carey to help them get to the promised lands. Carey is a big-time shooter that will keep defenses honest and he will make them pay if they double off him. Patrick will be a zone-buster if teams choose to go that route and he will be a gamechanger 3-points at a time. I am looking forward to seeing [player_tooltip player_id="1280262" first="Patrick" last="Carey"] back on the court this winter! [player_tooltip player_id="1227919" first="Brady" last="Jordan"] |6’0 G| Clark/Willow Lake The Cyclones had a nice season with 15 wins and an appearance in the Sodak 16. They clashed with Flandreau in the game to get to State but they came up short. The good news for Clark/Willow Lake is that they will have [player_tooltip player_id="1227919" first="Brady" last="Jordan"] back! I watched him this past winter and it was easy to see that Jordan is a baller. With another year of varsity under his belt, Brady is going to make the Cyclones a scary squad his senior year. Jordan is a basketball junky, a gym rat, and a student of the game. He has good skills and he makes clever plays. Brady had a very nice junior season. I am predicting a great senior season from Mr. Jordan! [player_tooltip player_id="963830" first="Anthony" last="Budmayr"] |6’1 PG| Belle Fourche This floor general helped the Broncs pick up 13 wins this past season. He put up quality numbers with 12 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.8 apg, and 1.2 spg. Budmayr suffered an injury late in the season, but toughed it out and finished the year. Anthony will be back soon and he will be 100%. Anthony will be the straw that stirs the drink for the Broncs. He and Jet Jensen will form a tough backcourt for Belle Fourche. [player_tooltip player_id="1265105" first="Ethen" last="Lincoln"] |6’4 SF| Sioux Falls Lincoln The Pats finished the season with a 14-10 record, a trip to State and they picked up two W’s at the big dance. LHS will be a talented squad next year with [player_tooltip player_id="963749" first="Elliot" last="Whitney"] running the show at the point and the big-time D1 recruit [player_tooltip player_id="1265221" first="JT" last="Rock"] roaming the lane. This is where [player_tooltip player_id="1265105" first="Ethen" last="Lincoln"] steps in. He is an energetic player that will supply the Patriots with a boost of energy. He will look to be a problem child on defense and a gritty rebounder on the glass. He is also a nice athlete that can get up and finish above the rim. Ethen could be the piece that ties it all together for LHS next season. [player_tooltip player_id="1377689" first="Ryan" last="Krog"] |6’1 SF| Elkton-Lake Benton As a junior, he led his team in scoring and rebounding. Krog put up nice numbers with 12.7 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 1.2 apg, 1.9 spg, 31.9 3FG%, 75.9 FT%. Expect this versatile player to come into his senior season full of confidence. I would expect Krog to easily average a double-double. He is a positionless player that can do about anything on the court. Ryan will be ready to lead the Elks to many more wins in the 2022-2023 season. [player_tooltip player_id="963764" first="Charlie" last="McCardle"] |6’2 F| Mitchell After this last season, McCardle has State Tournament experience and he will be a veteran next year. With Hinker gone because of graduation, all of the Kernels will need to step up production. McCardle will be one of those guys and I would not be surprised if he a is double-double dude. He can match up with BIGs because of his physicality and toughness. Charlie can also defend guards on the perimeter. I like his toughness and how he does the little things for his team. McCardle is not afraid to take a charge or dive on the floor for a 50/50 ball. Charlie will absolutely be a difference-maker for Mitchell. [player_tooltip player_id="963805" first="Dylan" last="Soulek"] |6’3 SG| Mitchell I really like this kids game and I think Soulek is going to blow up his senior year. He helped get the Kernels to State this past year and Soulek will be looking to step up his role. It’s his turn to be the DUDE. Soulek and Morgan are going to be a scary 1-2 punch for the Kernels. This past year Dylan produced nicely with 11.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 3.3 apg, 47.4 FG%, and 34.4 3FG%. He is a bouncy player that can make splashy plays and WHAM dunks. [player_tooltip player_id="963805" first="Dylan" last="Soulek"] is going to be a force to be reckoned with in the near future. [player_tooltip player_id="1390906" first="Zander" last="Benz"] |6’7 PF| O’Gorman The knights took 2nd place at State, so Benz is well versed in winning. OG was super deep in the frontcourt last season, Zander did not get much burn. This season is going to be a different story! Benz and Muirhead are going to be a 2-headed monster for the Knights. The lane will be a no-fly zone. Zander is a tireless worker that will do whatever his coaches ask of him. I like his baby hook from the block and his jumper from the perimeter is true and to the mark. If Zander keeps playing like he has this spring, look out. Benz is going to be an impact player for OG! [player_tooltip player_id="963812" first="Trevor" last="Werdel"] |6’3 SF| Miller The season did not go how the Rustlers wanted it to last year, but I am thinking that they will bounce back in 2022-2023. Werdel will play a key part in this reform. Trevor averaged 12.3 pp, 7.1 rpg, 1.2 apg, and he shot a quality 47.8 FG%. He can do a bit of everything on the court. Opposing teams have a hard time matching up with Trevor because of his versatility and mobility. Werdel is also a hard worker, that never takes a possession off. He will be a leader for the Rustlers. [player_tooltip player_id="963812" first="Trevor" last="Werdel"] and [player_tooltip player_id="963758" first="Spencer" last="Fernholz"] are going to make a dynamic duo next year. [player_tooltip player_id="963758" first="Spencer" last="Fernholz"] |6’4 SF| Miller He missed all of last season because of an injury. I have heard that Fernholz will make a full recovery and he will come back in tip-top shape. Spencer will do everything for the Rustlers. He is a special & gifted athlete. Spencer can dunk about any way that you can imagine and he can also drill outside shots. His added athleticism is going to be a game-changer for Miller. The Ruslters are ready for Spencer to have a bounce-back year, it’s going to be fun ride for the Miller fans! [player_tooltip player_id="963799" first="Keegan" last="Hett"] |6’0 PG| Harding County He was a stud for the Ranchers this past year. Hett helped the Ranchers win 16 games and get to the SODAK 16 game. Keegan put up impressive numbers his junior season and was easily worthy of being an All-State Player. Hett’s numbers looked like this: 16.7 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 4.8 rpg, 3.6 spg, and he shot 53 FG%. Hett is a high-quality athlete with a deadly jumper. Keegan is also a hard worker on D, and he frustrates ballhandlers with his on-ball defense. Expect another huge season from [player_tooltip player_id="963799" first="Keegan" last="Hett"]! [player_tooltip player_id="963785" first="Carson" last="Kirwan"] |6’4 SF| Castlewood The Warriors made a trip to the State Tournamnet this past year. Kirwan was not playing as he was out with an injury. He will be back for his senior season rip-roaring and ready to go. Carson is a wildly-impressive athlete that can dominate in Class B and take over games. He and the Warriors are set up for another great season. Can Castlewood get back to the big dance? With Kirwan’s help, I think they will. [player_tooltip player_id="1484570" first="Max" last="Knutson"] |6’4 SF| Harrisburg He is an athletic player that can bang down low and play tough defense. Knutson can stretch the floor, hit 3’s, and score at the cup. Max will be an x-factor for the Tigers. He does the little things with a great motor. Knutson competes on every possession. He is a great screener that knows how to get his teammates open. He is also clever about slipping screens and keeping the defense honest. Harrisburg will be one of the best in AA next season and Knutson will be a big part of their success. [player_tooltip player_id="1399731" first="Rilpuou" last="Machol"] |6’6 PF| Sioux Falls Roosevelt It sounds like RP will be playing for Roosevelt next year. This will be huge for the Rough Riders as they lost a ton of talent to graduation. Machol will be a powerful sparkplug for Roosevelt. He seems to play with never-ending NRG and his hustle is ubiquitous. RP will provide rebounding, rim-protecting, and strength in the paint. Look out for RP, he is primed for a big season. [player_tooltip player_id="1185523" first="Ethan" last="Koltz"] |6’11 C| Sioux Falls Jefferson I have written a lot about the big man for the Cavaliers in the past week. I believe that Koltz will be a difference-maker for Jefferson. They made it to State last season and they basically bring everyone back. This group of players knows what it takes to win and Koltz will be the big man behind it all this winter. Ethan looked good last week at the NDSU team camp. He and [player_tooltip player_id="963748" first="Kaden" last="Year"] are going to be great together for the JHS. Koltz and Year will make up one of the best frontcourts in all of South Dakota. Get ready for a breakout year from [player_tooltip player_id="1185523" first="Ethan" last="Koltz"].