The Avera Sports Center will be the spot to be tomorrow morning if you like basketball. There will be sophomores, juniors, and seniors in the gym from MN, ND, and SD. The 250 Expo will start at 9:00 AM and…
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Subscribe Already a subscriber? Log inThe Avera Sports Center will be the spot to be tomorrow morning if you like basketball. There will be sophomores, juniors, and seniors in the gym from MN, ND, and SD. The 250 Expo will start at 9:00 AM and wrap up at 2:00 PM. If you are in the area, there will be very good basketball going on and I encourage you to come out and watch the action!
In this article, we are looking at 2024 and 2025 players that are high on my watchlist. Look below and we will give you a few reasons why they are players to watch.
Why? I watched him last winter and the youngster was fantastic. I am interested to see how he has improved. He is a floor general and a playmaker. Easton makes everyone around him better. He is great off the bounce and a crafty finisher. I am interested to see his jumper from beyond the arc.
Why? Basketball fans will know his last name with his older brother Paul Bruns being a D1 player for USD and his brother/teammate
Isaac Bruns
Isaac
Bruns
6'5″ | SG
Dakota Valley | 2023
State
SD
is committed to USD. Luke is an up-and-comer that I have not watched play yet. If he is anything like his brothers, Luke will be a shooter, a scorer, and a skilled player. I am excited to see him ball.
Why? I watched him play last year at the Expo and Talley was a young STUD. Markus is a lights-out shooter with quickness and speed. I am expecting him to be one of the top shooters at the event. He will likely get serious varsity minutes this season and I expect him to compete and shine with the older players.
Why? He is another great young guard. I have said this many times but Aric is a coach on the floor and a phenomenal leader. He is a tough defender and it will be fun to see him get after the SD players. I am excited to see what role he takes on his team and if he will be the main PG or play more off the ball. I am also interested to see how his 3pt shot looks.
Why? He had a great high school and AAU season. This will be my first time seeing him play live. He is known as a shooter and a playmaker on offense. I am interested to see what type of athlete he is. I watched some film from State last year, I am intrigued by Lane’s jump shot.
Why? I watched him at NDSU this summer and I really like what I saw. Westin has a sweet pull-up game. He can really shoot it. I am predicting him to be very good for Shiloh this year. It will be interesting to see how he matches up with the top SD 2025’s. You should expect Westin to be shooting the cover off the ball!
Why? I watched him on tape last year and it was easy to see that Fast is a player! Everyone talks about his speed. I am excited to see the Bulldog in transition. He should be a DUDE this year for De Smet and the Expo will be a great way to get that momentum going.
Why? He looked like a promising player last winter for the Jags. This summer he certainly looked the part in AAU ball. I watched Moser play and he is legit! Landon is a very good shooter and he has all the skills to go with it. He is excellent with the ball in his hands and he scores from midrange and at the rim. He will be a top player in Region 1 this season and you should expect him to look like it on Saturday.
Why? Everyone raves about his shooting and lethal offensive play. I can not wait to see it firsthand. Vanbockern will have the chance to be a serious contributor for Harrisburg this season. I am expecting Vanbockeo look like a bucket-getter on Saturday.
Why? He is a recent STOCK RISER in the updated Prospect Rankings. I suspect that Katzer will live up to the hype. In high school hoops last season, Boston was a STUD, to say the least. Look for the young Katzer to play right with the older players and establish himself as a consistent and athletic player.
Why? He is a big guard with all the skills you could ask for. Glasser is a coach’s kid that knows the game well. He will be a strong contributor at Dickinson this season. Glasser should stick out as a tough defender and knockdown shooter from beyond the arc. He will also score on the way to the rim.
Why? He is an up-and-comer that will be on a great high school team. Furman will likely be playing in the State Tournament later this season. Konnar is an intriguing player with good length and a bright future.
Why? He is definitely an impressive athlete. Biteler is aggressive and he gets good elevation on his jump shot. Tomorrow will be a great measuring stick to see how he matches up against other players across the state and from MN/ND.
Why? I watched him play in AAU and at NDSU. Caden always seems to get deep penetration and he finishes well at the cup. I have also seen flashes up legit shooting from behind the arc. Englund will be a talented player this year for Shiloh. I am interested to see how he shoots it from deep. He will definitely be impressive off the bounce and be making all sorts of plays inside the arc.
Why? He played well on the Prep Hoops Circuit when I watched this summer. Helm is a big guard with the skills to match his strength. He can score from all levels and he seems to be a timely playmaker. I am excited to see more of the guard from Minot. There is an abundance of talent at this event from the 2025 class. Helm is high on the list of players to keep an eye on.
Why? He is a scoring threat to be on the lookout for. Buhr has a smooth shooting stroke from deep. He will be an important player for Central Cass this winter. Tomorrow will be a great start to his 2022 season. With practice right around the corner, the Expo could be a great confidence booster for the sniper from CC.
Why? I first saw him last fall at the Expo. He was one of the best “young” players. Drew is a strong and physical guard that makes everyone around him better. He had an outstanding AAU season and he will be playing varsity ball at Century this year. He may only be a sophomore, but Kempel will likely be a top dog on Saturday.
Why? He was an All-State player in Class A last season. Expect him to do it again this coming year! Hamilton is an efficient scorer that will beat his man off the bounce and score with short jumpers and an impressive finishing package. He is also a monster on the glass. James will be making plenty of noise on Saturday morning.
Why? I watched him live last spring and Schaeffer had a stellar AAU season. Everyone is expecting big things from him this winter. He is long, fundamental, and a super athlete. Expect many impressive & splashy plays from Grayson. I know he finishes well at the rim. I am interested to see if he will post up at all and how his stroke looks from the perimeter.
Why? The Cossacks from Sioux Valley are going to be one of the best teams in Class A this season. If they want to make another run at State, they will need a solid season from Ruesink. I watched him play last winter in JV and this kid is as tough as a bulldog. Ruesink is a strong and physical player with a nose for the ball. Tomorrow will give me a good idea of how skilled he is on the offensive end.
Why? The big lefty had a nice performance last year at the Expo. After that, he had a quality high school season and was an All-Region 1 player. Holzer has turned himself into a college prospect and I suspect the coaches in attendance will be taking a serious look. Cole can do damage from all levels on the court. I am interested to see how physical he is around the basket when he goes up against the SD BIGs.
Why? He is big and there is no doubting that. Moni is also a real-deal three-point shooter that will certainly be knocking down shots at Avera. I am interested to see how he moves laterally on defense, and how much time he spends around the basket on offense. If the D leaves him on the arc, look out! It is going to be raining 3-balls from this Mustang!
Why? “Tish” will likely be the most physical player in the gym on Saturday. He was very good last year at the Expo and tomorrow he will certainly be a STUD. Wingert plays his tail off and he will do about anything to get his hands on the ball. Jaxson is not just big & strong, he is smart and skilled. There will be many eyes on “Tish” tomorrow from the college scouts on the sidelines.
Why? I have never watched him live and have only seen clips on HUDL. I have heard good things about Olthoff and his size is certainly intriguing. He will make up part of the “Twin Towers” for Brandon Valley along with Morgan. It is going to be great to see Josh go up against other top talents. I am interested to see his mobility going up & down the court and his footwork around the basket.
Why? He is the second part of the “Twin Towers” from Brandon Valley. Morgan is another BIG from SD with potential. He can get it done all over the floor. I have heard that Morgan can stretch the D a bit and hit 3-pointers. It is going to be great to see Morgan in the gym with other high-end players.
Why? His stock has really blown up in the past year. Ouse has a very high ceiling with his length, athleticism, and skill. His feel for the game is also noteworthy. Ouse was a DUDE all AAU season and he will likely be one of the best players in the gym tomorrow. Look for the Kindred player to be a standout in many ways at Avera.
Why? He comes from Davies and they always produce talented players. Xavier is intriguing with his 6’6″ length and he can drain triples. I am interested to see if the long youngster hangs out at the 3-point arc or if he gets inside and scraps around the rim.
Why? He is a special and explosive athlete. He will certainly be throwing down splashy dunks. I watched Peraza play a few times during the AAU season and he was always a standout as an athlete. I am looking forward to seeing how he handles the pressure from some of the slick defenders from South Dakota. Peraza is young but he will not back down from the older players. He will have plenty of chances to prove himself against the top forwards from SD.
Why? He is another player that I have not watched live. I have heard great things about Tjaden. At 6’6″ with athleticism and shooting ability, Tad seems to have plenty of potential. Dell Rapids will be a scary team this winter. After tomorrow we might have an idea if Tjaden is ready for the big leagues at Dell Rapids.
Why? I have watched plenty of tape on him but have never watched Mitchell play live. He is one of the first players I will be seeking out to watch. Daniel has already been an All-State player twice and he is only a junior. His length and athleticism will most certainly be eye-opening. I am interested to see his ball skills and how interested he is in defense. Everyone in the gym will likely be impressed by Mitchell. He can score from about anywhere on the floor and he can play above the rim!
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