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<p>The South Dakota 2027 rankings were updated and we need to talk about some of the top prospects that rose their stock. Specifically, here we'll look at five stock-risers in the top 10.</p>
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<p class="text-gray-700">Craven has been on a steady climb up the rankings board. He's also getting taller and longer, which will help his recruitment drastically. He's a mix between a wing and a Big that can battle in the paint. He can drive hard from the wing with a quick and relentless first step. He's not afraid of taking it at contact, either. He has an athletic frame, but he plays with a bunch of toughness in the paint and will push bodies around with leg drive. Defensively, he's quite similar to the way he can compete on the offensive side. He defends small guards on the perimeter with solid feet and length. Can defend Bigs and is a great rebounder that tracks the ball well.</p>
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<p>Craven is not quite a perfect prospect, but in my opinion, he offers a ton of upside if he keeps growing and the skills follow along. He could grow into a prospect that likes to play more in with the Bigs, or he could advance his skills and be a really long wing.</p>
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<p class="text-gray-700">The Sophomore could be considered a AA veteran at this point, with how much varsity experience he already has. He's a safer prospect than Craven because we kind of already know what we're getting with him. 6'5” and versatile on both ends. A solid skill-set that seems to be evolving. If he's done growing, I think he can be a wing that will also get dirty in the paint. </p>
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<p class="text-gray-700">I nearly put Nuttbrock in this spot in the last update. But we're doing it now. He has solid positional length at 6'4” and hyper-athleticism to boot. He uses his athleticism well on both ends. He'll get down and defend and try and shutdown his opponent from making progress off the dribble. His skills seem to be coming along, and I noticed he's handling the ball cleaner. He's one I'll be watching closely for Sioux Falls Jefferson in the early goings to see how he translates everything to the AA level in a more prominent role.</p>
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<p class="text-gray-700">To me, Mikkelsen is a tough one to rank. I think his recruitment is highly dependent on if he grows a few inches. I have him at 6'5”, and he was able to produce at a high level for [program_tooltip program_id='2228190' first='TEAM' last='Warwick']'s top team at that size at the 15U level. He's got long arms and runs extremely well with a high motor. So there's a lot to like about him and what he already can do. I just don't think he's a wing, offensively. </p>
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<p class="text-gray-700">Koppmann is the most interesting and intriguing prospect in the 2027 class at this point in time. I think he has a variety of outcomes to him by the time he's in his final high school season as a Senior. He could pop up to 6'9”-6'10” or so and be a sought after commodity with his skill away from the hoop as well his ability to make shots in the paint. He could grow marginally and become a lesser prospect, but he also has some skills and ability to run the floor to build upon. <br><br>Koppmann played up a division with the [program_tooltip program_id='2131095' first='Black' last='Hills Express'] 16U team this offseason. He likes to roam around offensively. He's not a back-to-the-basket post prospect. He'll shoot the three, but his ability to finish scoring plays really stood out. More of a gazelle type runner than a quick-twitch athlete, so improving his quickness and reaction time are a must. Lots of upside with this kid.</p>
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The South Dakota 2027 rankings were updated and we need to talk about some of the top prospects that rose their stock. Specifically, here we'll look at five stock-risers in the top 10.
Craven has been on a steady climb up the rankings board. He's also getting taller and longer, which will help his recruitment drastically. He's a mix between a wing and a Big that can battle in the paint. He can drive hard from the wing with a quick and relentless first step. He's not afraid of taking it at contact, either. He has an athletic frame, but he plays with a bunch of toughness in the paint and will push bodies around with leg drive. Defensively, he's quite similar to the way he can compete on the offensive side. He defends small guards on the perimeter with solid feet and length. Can defend Bigs and is a great rebounder that tracks the ball well.
Craven is not quite a perfect prospect, but in my opinion, he offers a ton of upside if he keeps growing and the skills follow along. He could grow into a prospect that likes to play more in with the Bigs, or he could advance his skills and be a really long wing.
Evaluations are normally subscriber-only but when an athlete subscribes, theirs becomes free for all readers.
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The Sophomore could be considered a AA veteran at this point, with how much varsity experience he already has. He's a safer prospect than Craven because we kind of already know what we're getting with him. 6'5” and versatile on…
I nearly put Nuttbrock in this spot in the last update. But we're doing it now. He has solid positional length at 6'4” and hyper-athleticism to boot. He uses his athleticism well on both ends. He'll get down and defend and try and shutdown his opponent from making progress off the dribble. His skills seem to be coming along, and I noticed he's handling the ball cleaner. He's one I'll be watching closely for Sioux Falls Jefferson in the early goings to see how he translates everything to the AA level in a more prominent role.
Evaluations are normally subscriber-only but when an athlete subscribes, theirs becomes free for all readers.
Subscribing doesn't change who the Scout covers, it changes who gets to see it.
To me, Mikkelsen is a tough one to rank. I think his recruitment is highly dependent on if he grows a few inches. I have him at 6'5”, and he was able to produce at a high level for Black Hills Express
16U team this offseason. He likes to roam around offensively. He's not a back-to-the-basket post prospect. He'll shoot the three, but his ability to finish scoring plays really stood out. More of a gazelle type runner than a quick-twitch athlete, so improving his quickness and reaction time are a must. Lots of upside with this kid.
Evaluations are normally subscriber-only but when an athlete subscribes, theirs becomes free for all readers.
Subscribing doesn't change who the Scout covers, it changes who gets to see it.
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