SD 2025 Rankings: New Names
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Who are the fresh faces that you should be looking at in the sophomore class? We have 10 new names for you to check out. See below, you will want to hear about these players. These guys are the real…
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Continue ReadingWho are the fresh faces that you should be looking at in the sophomore class? We have 10 new names for you to check out. See below, you will want to hear about these players. These guys are the real deal and they have plenty of upside.
Ellis Russell Ellis Russell 6'3" | CG Aberdeen Christian | 2025 State SD |6’2 SF| Aberdeen Christian
He has nice length and a good basketball sense about him. Russell excels at getting into the lane. He will either find an open teammate or score at the cup. He is an unselfish and willing passer. Ellis is a key role player for the 15-1 (ranked #1) Knights.
Jaxon Koch Jaxon Koch 6'2" | SG Bridgewater-Emery | 2025 State SD |6’2 SG| Bridgewater-Emery
The Huskies have 10-5 record. Koch has been solid in his role. Jaxon is tough at the rim on both ends. He is bouncy and athletic. Koch is a gritty defender and rebounder.
Emerson Otten Emerson Otten 6'3" | SF Tea Area | 2025 State SD |6’3 SF| Tea Area
He has had a good season on the Tea JV team. Emerson has good perimeter touch & has the kind of length that the Titans like on defense. Otten has been able to score at all 3 levels. He will need to improve his skill and strength as he matures. Otten certainly has the potential to be a nice player.
Julius Frog Julius Frog 6'5" | PF Rapid City Christian | 2025 State SD |6’4 F| Rapid City Christian
The Comets have been tough this year and they are sitting with a 14-1 record. Frog helped the Comets win the Lakota Nation Invitational early in the season. He is a gifted athlete with good length and a high motor. Frog has great feet and a good feel in the post. Julius plays hard and fast, he is an exciting player to watch on the court.
Blair Ham Blair Ham 6'2" | SF Lemmon | 2025 State SD |6’0 SG| Lemmon
This kid can flat-out shoot! Ham is a pure bucket from behind the arc. He has great mechanics and his shot is smooth with no wasted movement. He can hit them off the dribble and/or catch. He reads and reacts to the defense and is a clever player. Ham shoots it well from the charity stripe and he is opportunistic on the O-glass. He can score after contact as well. Ham is a serious offensive weapon for only being a sophomore.
Landon Dulaney Landon Dulaney 6'1" | CG Brandon Valley | 2025 State SD |6’1 G| Brandon Valley
10-5 on the season and the Lynx are ranked #4 in AA. He is a tough defender for only being a soph. Landon has great instincts on defense. He intercepts passes, creates TO’s, and is a pickpocket. Dulaney is a precision passer that can deliver any way that you want it. He has superb passing and his accuracy it top-notch. Landon will slash and drop dimes, he is also skilled at finding shooters. I would imagine that everyone loves playing with Dulaney. Nice stats for a soph in AA: 8 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 2 APG, 2 spg, and 45% from three!
Tanner Stein |5’10 G| Elkton-Lake Benton
He is a very athletic kid. Stein has a great work ethic and he competes at a high level. Tanner is a point guard/shooting guard for the Elks. He has the ability to push the tempo and gets up and down the floor quickly. Tanner has improved his game in all areas. He is a capable shooter/finisher he just needs to become more consistent to take his game to that next level. Defensively, Tanner is a strong kid with quick feet and continues to get better on that end of the floor as well. He can be a lockdown defender on the ball if he continues to study the game and his opponents. Stein is an excellent rebounder on both ends of the floor, his strength, athleticism, and jumping ability allow him to get boards no matter who is down low. Tanner is a good kid to coach and will continue to work to make himself and his team better.
Riley Casper Riley Casper 6'4" | PF Iroquois-Lake Preston | 2025 State SD |6’4 PF| Iroquois-Lake Preston
He does a lot of the dirty work for the Sharks down low around the basket. He is one of the Sharks main rebounders and will also handle the ball coming up the court. Riley sets screens all over the basketball court trying to get someone else open. His strengths are playing in the paint but will also stretch the floor causing a matchup problem for other teams.
Jackson Zwart Jackson Zwart 6'3" | CG Colman-Egan | 2025 State SD |6’3 G| Colman-Egan
He has good length and he is a fast player. Zwart does a nice job of pushing the tempo and he can produce in transition. Jackson does most of his scoring around the rim but can hit from outside as well. He is a good athlete that can make plays on defense and block shots. Keep track of Zwart, he is an intriguing player.
Dylon Doren Dylon Doren 6'2" | SG Spearfish | 2025 State SD |6’2 G| Spearfish
He is a fierce competitor. Dylon’s motor never slows down, you have to love a player that plays as hard as he does. Doren is a very good defender and rebounder. He is still a bit raw offensively but manages to get to the rim and finish well. Dylon is a good 3pt shooter as well. He has a chance to be an outstanding AA player in the near future.