Intriguing Players
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In this article, we are checking out 5 players from ND and 5 from SD. I watched these players at least once this summer and I can not wait to see them play again this winter. Read below for information…
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Continue ReadingIn this article, we are checking out 5 players from ND and 5 from SD. I watched these players at least once this summer and I can not wait to see them play again this winter. Read below for information on 10 intriguing players. You will want to get these players on your watchlist for the basketball season.
Intriguing Players
Bennett Larson Bennett Larson 6'7" | C Stanley | 2026 State ND (2026) |6’6 PF| Beulah/3ND Hoops Fam
WHY? I watched him play at the NHR State Tournament in Minneapolis. He played with multiple AAU teams this spring/summer and was always a standout. When I watched him, Larson was an absolute beast. He was a menace on the boards and a super physical finisher at the rim. He plays with great energy and I love his switchability on defense. As an 8th grader on varsity, Larson made intriguing plays. With Trey Brandt graduating, Beulah will need Bennett to step into a much bigger role. Expect Larson to be a stud this season as a freshman. When the 2026 Prospect Rankings are released, will Larson be #1? If he is, can he live up to that as a 9th grader and lead Beulah to a deep region run?
Bryer Kaczynski Bryer Kaczynski 7'0" | C Wyndmere/Lidgerwood | 2023 State ND (2023) |7’0 C| Wyndmere-Lidgerwood/ND Phenom
WHY? I watched him play many times this spring/summer at multiple events. He is an interesting college prospect, to say the least. The last I heard was that Bryer has a scholarship offer from Jamestown. We do not see 7-foot players in North Dakota very often and with a 7’2″ wingspan Kaczynski is one of the most intriguing players in the area. Bryer played AAU ball with ND Phenom and he competed against fierce competition. In high school ball, opposing teams will need to double and triple team Kaczynski in order to slow the BIG man down. He will still produce and average a double-double. Bryer will be the best rim protectors in Class B. Can the 7-footer perform like an All-State player in his senior season?
Elliot Whitney Elliot Whitney 6'0" | CG Sioux Falls Lincoln | 2023 State SD (2023) |6’1 CG| Sioux Falls Lincoln/Pentagon Schoolers Walker
WHY? I watched him play on the Prep Hoops Circuit and at the MSUM Elite camp. Whitney had a great junior season at SF Lincoln and he proved to be a playmaker. Elliot missed the first part of the AAU season with a minor injury but came back in the summer and played very well for the Schoolers. I watched Elliot shoot the ball with precision and make many terrific passes. He is much better with the ball in his hands than I realized. Whitney makes no-look and behind-the-back passes look easy. At the MSUM Elite camp, Elliot showed that he can play at a high level and shoot like a scholarship player. He and the Patriots will be one of the top teams in AA South Dakota Basketball. Elliot Whitney Elliot Whitney 6'0" | CG Sioux Falls Lincoln | 2023 State SD and JT Rock JT Rock 7'1" | C Sioux Falls Lincoln | 2024 #37 Nation SD will be tough and talented combo to watch. SF Lincoln made it to State last season, can they get to the BIG dance and win it all?
Ethan Russell Ethan Russell 6'6" | SF Aberdeen Christian | 2023 State SD (2023) |6’6 F| Aberdeen Christian/SD Attack
WHY? I watched him play at The Battle At The Lakes and at the MSUM Elite Camp. He played for SD Attack in the AAU season and Ethan was a standout. He has been gaining interest from college scouts and recently picked up an offer from Northern State. Ethan will be one of the best players in Class B and the Knights just recently were ranked #2 in PHD’s Power Rankings. Ethan has been to the State Tournamnet multiple times and I expect them to make another trip this upcoming season. Russell is a great athlete and he matches that with skill and great length. He is one of the toughest matchups in SD. Aberdeen Christian, Malek Wieker Malek Wieker 6'0" | CG Aberdeen Christian | 2023 State SD , and Ethan Russell Ethan Russell 6'6" | SF Aberdeen Christian | 2023 State SD will have a magical season, but can they win the Championship? Only time will tell…
Gavin Muirhead Gavin Muirhead 6'7" | PF O'gorman | 2023 State SD (2023) |6’7 F| O’Gorman/Pentagon Schoolers Walker
WHY? I watched him play several times this spring/summer. He was one of the best players on the Prep Hoops Circuit during the AAU season and the best dunker that I watched. Muirhead comes off the court like he is jumping off a trampoline. Gavin had more alley-oop dunks than I could keep track of and his teammate Matt Eng Matt Eng 6'0" | PG O’gorman | 2023 State SD was the man that threw many of them. Gavin committed to the University of Sioux Falls this summer and he will be playing in the NSIC next season. He is a spectacular rim protector and shot blocker. He also works hard on the glass. Gavin will be an All-State type player and I expect him to dunk the OG squad to the State Tournament. Can Gavin Muirhead Gavin Muirhead 6'7" | PF O'gorman | 2023 State SD and the Knights win it all in AA this year?
Jackson Edman Jackson Edman 6'7" | SF Pierre | 2023 State SD (2023) |6’7 F| Pierre/Sacred Hoops
WHY? I watched him play at the Who’s Next Combine in WF. He currently has multiple offers to play hoops at the next level and I expect those to keep coming in. Physically, Edman is ready to play at the next level, no question about that. He is also a skilled player but is also always working to improve those. At the Who’s Next Combine, Edman was one of the best players in the gym. He was unstoppable in the 1on1 games and he was monster in the 5on5 games. Jackson also had a standout summer with Sacred hoops in AAU ball. He will be one of the top players in SD this winter and I expect him to be an All-State player. Pierre is going to be a tough team in AA ball this season. Jackson Edman Jackson Edman 6'7" | SF Pierre | 2023 State SD and Lincoln Kienholz Lincoln Kienholz 6'3" | PG Pierre | 2023 State SD will likely be the scariest 1-2 punch in South Dakota. Can the Govs put it all together and make a State Tournamnet run this season?
Jaxon Hennies Jaxon Hennies 6'1" | SG Dakota Valley | 2023 State SD (2023) |6’1 SG| Dakota Valley/Arena Basketball Club
WHY? I watched him play multiple times on the Prep Hoops Circuit. He played AAU ball with a team out of Sioux City, IA. Hennies is as tough as players come. I was impressed every time that I watched this Panther play. Jaxon plays super hard and he always gives great effort. He scores from all levels and he is always putting pressure on the defense. Whenever the Arena team needed a basket, it seemed like Hennies was always ready to step up. He seems to work hard on the defense side of the ball and he does the little things that do not show up on the stat sheet. Jaxon and Dakota Valley went undefeated last season and won the Class A State Championship. Can Hennies and the Panthers repeat?
Karson Ouse Karson Ouse 6'8" | SF Kindred | 2025 State #283 Nation ND (2025) |6’6 SF| Kindred/ND Phenom
WHY? I watched him play multiple times at various events. He and ND Phenom had a fantastic AAU season and won the SPTS Championship. Ouse is currently the #2 ranked player in the ND Prospect Rankings. That will not change when the rankings get updated. He will be a star this coming season and Karson will have Kindred playing as a top team in Class B. Ouse is a very skilled player at 6’6″, and he will be a matchup problem for every team in Region 1. Expect Karson to have a highly productive sophomore season and to continue the Viking way of dunking on a regular basis. Can he put the team on his back as a sophomore? How will he handle physical and older players?
Tate Grossman Tate Grossman 6'4" | SG Harvey/Wells County | 2023 State ND (2023) |6’4 CG| Harvey-Wells County/ND Phenom
WHY? I watched him play several times on the PH Circuit and on film. He is underrated player in North Dakota but shouldn’t be. Grossman is a big and athletic guard. He saw great success this spring/summer with ND Phenom. Competing against high-level competition should have Tate playing with a ton of confidence this winter. He will be one of the top players in Class B this winter and I expect Harvey-Wells County to compete with 4 Winds for a Region 4 Title. Grossman has the ability to be a lockdown defender and a playmaker on both ends. His number will be impressive and he will make many highlight-reel type dunks. I expect Tate to be an All-State player this season. Will Grossman and the Hornets step up and be a top 10 team in Class B?
Vuciri Hakim Vuciri Hakim 6'4" | SF Shanley | 2023 State ND (2023) |6’4 F| Shanley/The Next Level Basketball Academy
WHY? I watched him multiple times on the Prep Hoops Circuit. Hakim is a gifted athlete with a ton of potential. I want to see if he can take the next step and be an All-EDC-type player. Vuciri made many impressive plays in AAU hoops. He can make athletic plays above the rim and all sorts of hustle plays. He certainly has the potential to be a double-double player this winter. Vuciri Hakim Vuciri Hakim 6'4" | SF Shanley | 2023 State ND and Conner Kraft Conner Kraft 6'5" | PF Shanley | 2023 State ND have the chance to be dynamic duo for Shanley. Can he and the Deacons take the next step and get to the State Tournament?