Stomping Grounds: 2026 Guards to know
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Sioux Falls, South Dakota – On May 6th & 7th, teams packed the Sanford Sports Complex to showcase their talent! The prospects in the complex were in their bag. Springing into circuit season, there are many players to keep an…
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Continue ReadingSioux Falls, South Dakota – On May 6th & 7th, teams packed the Sanford Sports Complex to showcase their talent!
The prospects in the complex were in their bag. Springing into circuit season, there are many players to keep an eye on going into the Summer. In both blowouts and nail biters, athletes came to compete and get exposure. It’s not always about what is on the scoreboard but the high-level skills displayed at such a developing age. Below, I’ve highlighted the “Guards to know” that I watched compete at “Stomping Grounds”.
Trimmier Hanson Trimmier Hanson 5'11" | PG Dell Rapids St. Mary | 2026 State SD | Sanford Sports UA
Hanson was at his best setting the table for Sanford Sports UA. He did away with pressure on a consistent basis, rarely rattled or sped up. The even keeled guard thrived in pick and roll situations. Most impressive was his ability to locate teammates in transition for easy baskets.
Dre Moffitt | Real Phenom
Moffitt was a reliable table setter for Real Phenom. He played with a steady pace and sense of where everyone was on the floor. Most impressive was his ability to control the tempo of the game. He picked his spots very well and proved to have a high IQ with his shot selection.
Justin Bilal Justin Bilal 6'4" | SF Sioux Falls Lincoln | 2026 State SD | South Dakota Elite
Bilal made a huge impact with his on-ball defense with steals and deflections in both full and half court. On the offensive end he was able to heat up quickly when the ball found him on the perimeter. His playmaking on both ends was apparent and made for a solid showing for South Dakota Elite.
Sam De Groot Sam De Groot 6'6" | SG Sioux Falls Lincoln | 2026 State SD | Sanford Sports 2026
De Groot was huge for Sanford Sports 15U over the weekend. His movement off of the ball was highly impactful for his teams’ spacing. De Groot proved to be a knockdown shooter off the ball. Most impressive was his ability to drive and rise up for pull ups in the mid range.
Nikolai Steward | Real Phenom
Steward was poised and composed all weekend for Real Phenom. When at the helm he was very hard to speed up and knock off rhythm. The highly aware guard made impact plays on both ends of the floor; hitting teammates in their shooting pocket on offense, and jumping into the passing lane and reading the eyes of the ball handler on defense. Steward played a major role in the success of Real Phenom.