#PHStompingGrounds: South Dakota Elite Basketball 15U
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South Dakota Elite Basketball is a new program in South Dakota that was developed in 2022. The team is led by Coach/Co-Founder Anthony Cordova. Cordova is a former scholarship basketball athlete for the South Dakota State University Jackrabbits (D1). The…
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Continue ReadingSouth Dakota Elite Basketball is a new program in South Dakota that was developed in 2022. The team is led by Coach/Co-Founder Anthony Cordova. Cordova is a former scholarship basketball athlete for the South Dakota State University Jackrabbits (D1). The Director Of Basketball Operations of the program is Jarrid Graff.
The program’s website can be found at southdakotaelitebasketball.com and you can find them on Twitter @SDEliteLLC.
I didn’t see the team enough live due to so many games and teams, to place their prospects on the All-Tournament teams, until I watched their games on BallerTV later. They had prospects that were deserving of those honors, and they will be added and updated to all-tournament teams where I see fit.
At Prep Hoops Circuit event, Prep Hoops Stomping Grounds, South Dakota Elite 15U had a strong showing going 2-2 in top pool A. They had a 66-60 win over Starks Elite 2026 and a 49-36 win over Beartails Basketball 2026 3SGBB. I was able to watch both of the team’s wins.
Overall, the length of this team was ridiculous. Along with their ability to move and jump was quite rare, with guys in the 6’3” range with outrageous wingspans. Defensively, I loved how they played to their strengths and personnel. They brought a zone that applied relentless pressure on the ball and when the ball was being moved.
The team has a couple go-to scorers that can hurt you in multiple ways. The athletes they have crashed the boards and competed for extra possessions.
#0 Justin Bilal Justin Bilal 6'4" | SF Sioux Falls Lincoln | 2026 State SD – 6’3″ G (2026) – Sioux Falls Lincoln – Bilal was a pleasant surprise. Easily could have been the most active and disruptive defender out of all the 15U’s. He was playing the entire court going for deflections and steals. He’s a perfect prospect for a college program that likes to throw out a bunch of different pressure and aggressive defenses. He plays with great pace and change of speed with the ball. Doesn’t play out of control like some players with his movement ability. Showed a major three-level scoring ability. A well-rounded offensive game, in which he can hit threes and pull-off fades and off-balance mid-rangers. He’s a big-time stock-riser and he’ll be a major addition to the upcoming SD 2026 rankings.
#2 Jaden Haley-Cordova Jaden Haley-Cordova 6'1" | PG Sioux Falls Lincoln | 2026 State SD – 5’11” G (2026) – Sioux Falls Lincoln – Cordova has a smooth overall game with range out to the three-point line. Nailed a confident pull-up three versus Starks Elite, that was a step beyond the line. A good handle on the ball, passing ability, and feel for the game. Seemed to make the right play and understood where the ball should go.
#3 Kelman Said Kelman Said 6'3" | CG Sioux Falls Roosevelt | 2026 State SD – 6’3 SG (2026) – Sioux Falls Roosevelt – Kelman is a supremely long and lanky prospect. He was similar to Bilal with his activity on D. He has the ability to attack and explode quickly off the dribble and get to the hoop. He likes to go to his euro-game and slices through the defense that way to get to the rim. Jumps out of the gym and loves to contest and challenge his opponents at the rim. Runs the floor quickly and has an extra gear to him.
#4 Kuai Mayen Kuai Mayen 6'1" | SG Sioux Falls Jefferson | 2026 State SD – 6’0” G (2026) – Sioux Falls Jefferson – You’re not going to find many 6’0” guards with the type of length Mayen possesses. His wingspan is impressive. He’s extremely springy and can get off the ground. He’ll get in a defensive stance and apply ball pressure on the perimeter.
#5 Colby Flowers – 6’4″ PF (2026) – Wessington Springs – Flowers has solid overall size and plays with toughness inside. He mans the middle of the zone for them. In the post/paint area, he attacks the hoop and has a methodical up-and-under game that was highly effective versus Starks Elite. A rebounding machine that will fight through multiple bodies to get up and attack the ball in the air. A guy that needs to be boxed-out every time time or he’ll hurt you on the boards. If he grows some, we’re talking about a serious prospect.
#12 Kuek Kuek Kuek Kuek 6'4" | SF Sioux Falls Jefferson | 2026 State SD – 6’3” G/F (2026) – Sioux Falls Jefferson – South Dakota Elite Basketball will probably have four guys make the 15U All-Length Team and Kuek will be one of them. Also, like Bilal and Keenan Said, Kuek is 6’3” with a long and lanky build. Extreme length and movement combination that makes him highly effective in an aggressive zone defense that is in “scramble-mode” all the time.
#22 Ryan Baker Ryan Baker 6'2" | SF Sioux Falls Lincoln | 2026 State SD – 6’3” SF (2026) – Sioux Falls Lincoln – Baker comes off the bench and brings his “A” game. Didn’t have a ton of opportunities, but he’s a good-looking athlete that had some quickness and strength to go hard in a straight line drive to the hoop. Alert defensively.
#23 Parker Graff Parker Graff 6'0" | CG Wessington Springs | 2026 State SD – 5’11” G (2026) – Wessington Springs – Graff is a solid, smooth lefty combo guard that can handle the ball under control and has a nice three-point stroke. Quick defensive hands and can turn defense into offense. His passing ability and ability to anticipate the action to make a dime pass stood out. He loves to jab-step at his defender to keep them guessing on when he’ll attack. He got to the lane fairly easily and took on contact. He was hyper-aggressive going at the hoop off the drive. It was paying dividends, as the defense couldn’t contend with his first-step and power going to the cup. An extremely tough defensive matchup because of his quick and accurate three-ball game. He can pop threes off the catch and off the dribble. He showed to be one of the better individual scorers in the SD 2026 class.
#24 Eric Smith – 5’7” G (2026) – Jefferson High School (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) – Smith is a prospect out of Iowa. A smaller guard with good lateral agility to play on-ball defense. Sits in a near-perfect defensive stance and is anticipating and not reacting to the pass. Has a fancy handle on the ball and made some key plays.