Prep Hoops Stomping Grounds: 17U-13U Standout Hoopers Series (#2)

It's been a busy week for Prep Hoops Dakotas. We rolled out a South Dakota 2026 rankings update and we still have a bunch of Prep Hoops Stomping Grounds coverage on the agenda. I have yet to get on the film from the tournament, so we're basing evaluations of what I saw live. Let's not waste my time or yours and let's check out 13 standouts from the tournament. Plenty of more on the way!    In the matchup I saw for [program_tooltip program_id='2257226' first='Sanford' last='Sports Academy ND'] 17U White, Sanford was by far in a way the superior team. That made it tough for me to give a full evaluation on Sam, but as good players do, Glandt showed his superiority and was effective and produced in nearly every opportunity he had. He's really nice guard that I'm high on. A solid frame and a body perfect for basketball, with lean muscle with some size as well. He moves well and he used his frame to bully his opponents a little and go through contact for finishes. A smooth touch and high percentage scorer when he gets in the middle. I didn't see him shoot the three If I remember correctly, probably mostly because he knew he didn't need to in the matchup. Smart player with a well-rounded game and profile. He's a college prospect that seems to have a highly-recruitable profile.     I think I might mention Riley every Prep Hoops tournament he participates in for Sanford. Simply due to the fact that he plays so hard and leaves it all on the court and doesn't take even a second off. He's always focused on both ends. An elite team defender that will help his teammates in gaps or when they are beat. If I'm a college coach, I want [player_tooltip player_id='2342750' first='Riley' last='Casey'] on my team, because he will only help you and bring energy to the team. His 3-point shot delivery actually looked better to me than it did on film from Battle At The Lakes. 2026 rankings were just updated and Casey is in the top 50 in the 2026 class.     I briefly caught [program_tooltip program_id='2228190' first='TEAM' last='Warwick'] 13U-Trey, but Hanssen made a big impact in the portion of the time I saw the team. He has a muscular and compact frame for a 13U prospect. He looked quick off the drive and used his playing strength well when he got deep. He could stop-and-pop and score with his dominant left hand in the middle area. I'd imagine him being one of the more notable 2030 prospects as time progresses.     Cleveland won [program_tooltip program_id='2858923' first='Future' last='Elite'] 14U the championship by being impossible to keep off of the offensive glass in the 14U championship game. He had offensive rebound after offensive rebound for putbacks in the second half of the game. I don't recall [program_tooltip program_id='2858923' first='Future' last='Elite'] 14U shooting from the perimeter very well, but they had so many second-chance opportunities that it didn't matter. If Cleveland can continue to grow in height, he will be a sought-after recruit, because he has the body and the toughness to be a true impact BIG in the state of Nebraska.     Although I don't specifically scout the state of North Dakota, I'm fairly familiar with Rice because he competes in Prep Hoops showcases and events. I only caught him in one game in Sioux Falls, but he showed to me that he's still a knockdown shooter with solid length from the wing. He hit multiple threes on solid shot selection. [program_tooltip program_id='2257226' first='Sanford' last='Sports Academy ND'] 17U Black looked like a fine-tuned machine as a whole, and we could literally mention their whole roster.     Elk is a 2030 prospect that played up two divisions at Prep Hoops Stomping Grounds. He has some solid size already and he looks like he has the potential to become a higher-end athlete in the state when he matures. He was able to handle the speed and physicality of playing two divisions up. If he can continue to develop his ball skills to combine with his athleticism, he has potential to become one of the better prospects in the 2030 class.     Black Feather kind of surprised me. I hadn't seen him prior to the tournament and he looked good against solid South Dakota competition. I remember him having a nice inside-outside game with solid size, athleticism, and playing strength. His outside shooting from three is what kind of caught me off guard. In the game I saw, he hit a few of them in a win. He was also busy on the boards and when he secured the ball he could push the pace on the ball or he'd pass the ball up the court to [player_tooltip player_id='2820492' first='Miles' last='Thompson'] or [player_tooltip player_id='2860732' first='Braiden' last='Lunderman']. Black Feather showed major versatility and a variety of positive plays.     Thorpe may not be a top prospect or have an elite profile, but he's a winning player that you'd rather have on your team than be playing against. He plays his role to perfection on a [program_tooltip program_id='2337876' first='James' last='Valley Thunder'] 15U-Weber team with a couple high-end guards in the 2028 class in [player_tooltip player_id='2475034' first='Karson' last='Zak'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2475033' first='Easton' last='Weber']. When the attention goes to those two and Thorpe gets an opportunity, he normally delivers key buckets and winning plays.     Gavin may be a little overlooked on a talented [program_tooltip program_id='2228190' first='TEAM' last='Warwick'] 14U-Ulvestad team. But he played the best game I've seen from him in the championship game. He played a clean and mistake-free game, and I recall him making at least three 3-pointers in the game. He's a valuable piece to the team because he can stretch the floor and open things up for others. I like his decision-making as a passer as well. He keeps the ball moving in the correct direction and values the ball.     This was the second Prep Hoops tournament I've seen [program_tooltip program_id='2075693' first='MN' last='Crossfire']-14U Frederickson play at. They are a rock-solid team with depth and are normally always a tough out. Opposing teams need to play a good and solid game if they expect to upend MN Crossfire-14U Frederickson. They had a new player I wasn't familiar with step up for them at Stomping Grounds. I wasn't able to see Micah Momon play when I saw the team at Prep Hoops Twin Cities Takedown. Momon showed up big late in a quality victory over a good [program_tooltip program_id='2521653' first='Shoot360' last='Fargo'] team. I didn't have him as being a big producer as a scorer, but he took care of the ball well late in the game and brought down key rebounds and was all over 50/50 balls. These extra-effort plays turned out to be crucial because [program_tooltip program_id='2075693' first='MN' last='Crossfire'] escaped with a three point victory.     Wesley is also a kid that could be mentioned every time I see him play. He's Mr. Consistency in my book because I've never seen him have a bad game either live or online. If he misses a three or two, you can count on the next one falling for three points. He rarely has long streaks of missing a bunch of shots. He's also a clutch performer and he nailed a big three late in the [program_tooltip program_id='2521653' first='Shoot360' last='Fargo'] win. Wesley seems like he will be a very recruitable athlete when the time comes, with his intangibles and leadership he brings on the court, and he's a big-time and consistent performer. [program_tooltip program_id='2075693' first='MN' last='Crossfire'] 14U-Frederickson can always count on Wes to perform.     Sunde has a really nice profile already and I think he has a lot of upside too. He showed an elite shooting stroke and touch at Stomping Grounds. He's a confident shooter that can shoot from three and the middle area. I recall him being really good off of the catch and it was knockdown if there wasn't defenders in his space. What I like most is his length upside, because he has the feel to me as being a 2-guard that could potentially get up to the 6'4”-6'5” range.     I recall Ryder from him being at Prep Hoops Showcases. He was very small and thin. It looks like he has lengthened out and I didn't recognize him until I got close-up for a top performers picture. He was a top performer by his 3-point shooting display he put on. He didn't score 40 or hit 10 threes or anything, but he was taking and making his opportunities. Ryder has some solid upside yet and his stock will probably only improve from here.

It's been a busy week for Prep Hoops Dakotas. We rolled out a South Dakota 2026 rankings update and we still have a bunch of Prep Hoops Stomping Grounds coverage on the agenda. I have yet to get on the film from the tournament, so we're basing evaluations of what I saw live. Let's not waste my time or yours and let's check out 13 standouts from the tournament. Plenty of more on the way!