2026 SD Stock Risers

The Prospect Rankings from the South Dakota 2026 Class have been updated. We have some talented freshmen that you need to read about. These guys are all having a great season and we expect that to continue. See below for PHD's Stock Rising 9th graders!   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/09/Stock-Risers.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2020/09/Stock-Risers.jpg?w=864" alt="" class="wp-image-1045853" /></a></figure>   [player_tooltip player_id='1641198' first='Malachi' last='James'] |6'2 SG| Beresford   He is a special athlete with a 30+ inch vertical! James has long arms, is in great shape (never gets tired), and has a high hoops IQ. As a youth player, Malachi was always a bigger/interior player. As a 9th grader, James is transitioning into being an athletic guard/wing. His outside shot is developing and it is coming along nicely. This season, James has stuck out as a slasher that finishes well at the rim and draws a bunch of fouls. He is also proving to be a tough defender. The Watchdogs are excited to see how he improves this offseason. James will be on the top Sanford Hoops AAU team.   [player_tooltip player_id='1641563' first='Briggs' last='Knutson'] |5'10 PG| Brandon Valley   He does not start for the 12-6 Lynx but he gets a good amount of burn. That does not happen very often where a freshman plays this much varsity time at a AA school. Briggs is averaging 2.8 ppg, 1.4 rpg, and 1 apg. Knutson is tough and he is a cerebral guard with good decision-making skills. He takes care of the ball with his tight handles and he can also score with a sweet jumper. I really like the looks of his shot from 3pt land. Knutson does not look like a frosh when he lets it fly in the catch-n-shoot game.   [player_tooltip player_id='1641568' first='Wyatt' last='Gylten'] |6'0 CG| St. Thomas More   He plays for one of the best basketball programs in SD, so you know that he understands the game well and he is a winner. Buzzy has a basketball lineage and a family tree that is full of athletes with impressive length. Wyatt's older sister currently plays for SDSU. He can play as a combo guard but looks like the PG of the future for the Cavaliers. Gylten is a heady play with a good feel for the game. He is a good facilitator and creator. Buzzy has a high skill level for his age and he can score from every level.   [player_tooltip player_id='1548634' first='Ryder' last='Johnson'] |6'2 SG| Groton Area   He gets varsity minutes off the bench and has helped the Tigers to a 14-4 record. Ryder has had a great season and he gets better every time he plays. His defense has really come a long way in the last year. Johnson is lanky and athletic. He executes his role off the bench. Ryder plays tough D, makes plays in the paint, and hits open 3-pointers. He gets to the rack extremely well, finds open shooters/cutters, and works hard on the glass. The Tigers must be excited about this up-and-comer.   [player_tooltip player_id='1545637' first='Jackson' last='Wadsworth'] |6'1 SF| Hamlin   He is having a nice 9th-grade season. Jackson does not play JV, he is strictly a varsity player and he has helped the Chargers to a 16-3 record this season. Wadsworth is a very good perimeter scorer and is able to run the PG if Neuendorf is out of the game. Defensively, Wadsworth has played solid for the Chargers. Fundamentally, Jackson is polished and his skill level is impressive. Het gets the job done on both ends of the floor.   [player_tooltip player_id='1641206' first='Shane' last='Veenhof'] |5'11 G| Madison   He is a very determined athlete who loves to compete. Shane is always one of if not the first player in the gym working to get better. Veenhof is a special athlete that has been playing some varsity minutes throughout the year and is leading the JV squad in many ways. Shane puts a lot of time to be good and loves to be on the court with his teammates. Veenhof is a spark off the bench with his athleticism and speed. He slashes into the paint to facilitate and he scores with floaters.   [player_tooltip player_id='1559131' first='Trimmier' last='Hanson'] |5'10 G| Dell Rapids St. Mary   He has started all 18 games as the floor general for the 14-4 Cardinals. Trimmier averages 29 mins a game, 6.2 ppg, 2.3 rpg, and 3.7 apg. Hanson had a season-high 13 points against Iroquois-Lake Preston and has a season-high of 7 assists three different times this season. Trimmier has good handles, is extremely quick, and has improved his decision-making. Teams do not have much success pressing the Cardinals, largely because of Hanson. Trimmier looks to be the PG of the future and will be running the show for many years to come.   [player_tooltip player_id='1548640' first='Kassen' last='Keough'] |5'11 G| Langford Area   He is a knockdown sniper that can change the game from beyond the arc. Hanson is the leading scorer for the Lions as a freshman. Besides being a serious shooter, Keough has improved his interior game. He shoots the rock with proper mechanics and his release is smooth. Kassen plays hard, inspired, productive basketball, and has a bright future.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/03/SD-1.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2022/03/SD-1.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-1399487" /></a></figure>

The Prospect Rankings from the South Dakota 2026 Class have been updated. We have some talented freshmen that you need to read about. These guys are all having a great season and we expect that to continue. See below for PHD's Stock Rising 9th graders!