Hoop City SD 17U: Team Profile
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Today we are looking at a new AAU/grassroots program in the State of South Dakota, Hoops City SD 17U! This squad is seriously talented and we will see plenty of them this spring/summer as they will be on the Prep…
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Continue ReadingToday we are looking at a new AAU/grassroots program in the State of South Dakota, Hoops City SD 17U!
This squad is seriously talented and we will see plenty of them this spring/summer as they will be on the Prep Hoops Circuit.
Tyler Maschino will be the head coach and he is sure to do a great job. Basketball fans and college coaches will want to get out and watch this team. They are the real deal and they will play an entertaining brand of basketball.
Looking at the program as a whole, Hoop City South Dakota is entering its first year in the state as an affiliate of Hoop City Basketball Club out of Memphis, TN. Hoop City was started by former NBA player Mike Miller and his counterpart, Ernie Kuyper. With their connection and roots back to South Dakota, the time is right to enter the AAU world here.
“With strong leadership, the overall goal for Hoop City SD is to provide young basketball players with high goals of playing collegiately an opportunity to develop and showcase their skills on the basketball court as well as develop their character and standing in the community. To add to that, for high school players in South Dakota looking to play basketball at the next level, participation in AAU programs has become an advantage in gaining exposure, and Hoop City strives to give our players the opportunity to showcase their talents in front of college coaches within the Midwest. We look forward to growing the culture within our program, and hope to take this into the next several years as the standout AAU program not only in South Dakota, but the Midwest as a whole.” –Tate Martin
See below for Hoops City’s roster, schedule, player comments, and a Q&A session with coach Maschino.
Hoops City SD 17U Roster
SCHEDULE
Player Comments from Coach Tyler Maschino
Easton Neuendorf
Easton
Neuendorf
5'11" | PG
Hamlin | 2025
State
SD
– Hamlin 25‘- “Crafty Ball handler that can get to any spot on the floor under control. He understands the game at a level most high school point guards do not thanks to having a great coach as his father. He plays with a balance to his game by setting his teammates up for great shots and also knows when he needs to go get a bucket. For all the offensive things he does great, his biggest strength might be his willingness to defend and lay his body on the line to do whatever he needs to do to win. Easton will be an extension of myself on the court and I can trust his decision-making in critical moments.“
Evan Stormo Evan Stormo 6'3" | SF Hamlin | 2025 State SD – Hamlin 25′– “Evan is our best defender and seems to take it as a challenge night in and night out. He has great length and excellent foot speed to stay in front and bother ball handlers. Evan is a proven knockdown shooter who can hit multiple threes in a matter of minutes. For only being 6’2″/6’3″ he rebounds the ball at an absurd rate. Hard Work comes easy and naturally to Evan.“
Blake Ellwein
Blake
Ellwein
6'8" | SF
Huron | 2026
State
SD
– Huron 26′– “At 6’8″ Blake is a matchup nightmare. He can do just about anything you ask him on the court. He shoots the ball at very efficient and high percentage. Handles the ball just as well as any guard and will post up and defend posts. His biggest strength is his unselfish play. He understands what he needs to do to help his team win. Blake is playing up 1 year this summer to showcase his talents and
challenge himself against bigger and stronger guys. Blake is one of the most talented kids in the state regardless of class and works for everything he gets.“
Jackson Wadsworth
Jackson
Wadsworth
6'2" | SG
Hamlin | 2026
State
SD
– Hamlin 26′– “Jackson is a strong defender and fantastic 3-point shooter. When you think of 3 and D players. He exemplifies what his HS coach preaches. Jackson Showed throughout this past high school season that he can shoot the ball at a very high percentage (50%) in volume. He’s another class of 26′ kid looking to be challenged on and off the court by playing up to 17U level.“
Marshall Smythe Marshall Smythe 6'2" | PG Tea Area | 2025 State SD – Tea 25′– “Marshall is a long rangy defender who has great instincts and the ability to read the passing lanes very well. He had great success At Tea this past season and has taken strides as a scorer/shooter. He will be a great addition to this squad due to his understanding of how to play team basketball and be a consistent threat on offense and defense.“
Turner Stevenson Turner Stevenson 5'11" | SG Hamlin | 2025 State SD – Hamlin 25′– “Turner is a tough-nosed and pesky defender. He comes from a winning program and a highly competitive family. Turner showed this past season he can be a threat from 3 and make great decisions that help the team.“
Grant Wilkinson Grant Wilkinson 6'8" | C De Smet | 2026 State SD – De Smet 26′– “Grant is a throwback big man. At 6’8 he can physically overpower guys on the block. Grant has deceptively great feet and a feel for the game. He regularly held some of the best big men in the state to season lows. Grant brings a toughness that will be needed and he learned that from playing against his brother and the many great players out of De Smet.“
Dawson Noem Dawson Noem 6'4" | SF Hamlin | 2025 State SD – Hamlin 25′– “Dawson is a stretch 4 man. He plays much bigger than his height indicates. He can score with his back to the basket or from the perimeter. He takes on the challenge of guarding posts but also has the versatility and athleticism to guard wings on the perimeter.“
Luke Krempges Luke Krempges 6'5" | PF Sioux Falls Lincoln | 2025 State SD – Sioux Falls Lincoln 25′– “Luke is another big guy who will bring great strength and toughness to this group. He has great touch and footwork around the hoop but can step out and hit a shot if it’s open. He brings his football background onto the court and is going to play a huge role for this team.“
Q&A with Coach Maschino
PHD: Can you tell me a little about your coaching/basketball background?
“I have been coaching basketball for the past 12 years, 10 Years as an assistant coach for Dell Rapids High School, 4 years with the Schoolers, and 1 with Sanford Sports Academy .“
PHD: Why are you excited to coach this group?
“To coach a group of kids with talent but also the drive to be great is very exciting. These kids are all super high-character kids who understand the game at a very high level and want the opportunity to showcase their talents to college coaches. There are many College prospects on this team that will hopefully have the opportunity to earn scholarships and play at the next level. I’m very fortunate to have an opportunity to coach and help assist in these young men’s journey.“
PHD: What are the strengths of this team?
“Versatility and Basketball IQ are our biggest strengths.“
PHD: What style of basketball will you play?
“We will play an up-tempo style of offense and defense with the ability to roll the ball out there and go compete. We want to play free and to our guy’s strengths on offense. Defensively we will put lots of pressure on the ball to cause problems for teams.“
PHD: What will your team “hang your hat on”?
“This group will hang their hat on playing tough-nosed defense and sharing the basketball. These are all very talented young men and they are all very unselfish guys who understand what it takes to put the right product on the floor.“
PHD: Who do you predict will be your top defender?
“Top Defender is tough because there are so many of them but I think Jackson Wadsworth Jackson Wadsworth 6'2" | SG Hamlin | 2026 State SD has an opportunity to showcase his determination by guarding the opposing team’s best player1-3. Easton Neuendorf Easton Neuendorf 5'11" | PG Hamlin | 2025 State SD , Evan Stormo Evan Stormo 6'3" | SF Hamlin | 2025 State SD , Marshall Smythe Marshall Smythe 6'2" | PG Tea Area | 2025 State SD are no slouches as well and will be looked upon to shut down the opposing team’s perimeter players as well.“
What event/tournament are you looking forward to the most?
“We are really looking forward to the Scheels League this spring and the Great Plains Alliance tournament. We are also excited to play in the Prep Hoops tournaments as well!“
PHD: Will your team get together and practice, if so how often?
“We will be practicing once a week on Sundays and also have a couple of scrimmages set up with our friends over at SD Identity to prepare for the upcoming spring/summer.“
PHD: What are your goals for this AAU/grassroots season?
“Our goal this summer is to get these 9 young men in front of the right college coaches who will be recruiting them. We as a group have multiple young men with aspirations to play college basketball and want to help them get the opportunity to earn Scholarships in the future. We want to have success on the court while also playing for one another to all help each other accomplish their goals.“
Best of luck to Hoops City this spring & summer, PHD will be watching closely!