Fourteen 17U Ballers To Watch: Stomping Grounds

The Prep Hoops Circuit is heading back to Sioux Falls this weekend for Stomping Grounds, and the stage couldn't be much better. Games will be played at the Sanford Pentagon — one of the premier basketball venues in the Midwest and a place that always seems to bring out high-level performances and competitive matchups.   With talented 17U programs from across the region set to battle it out, fans can expect a weekend full of intense games, standout players, and plenty of college-level talent on display. The event will feature skilled guards, athletic wings, versatile forwards, and several prospects looking to make noise against strong competition.   <a href="https://x.com/DaksHoops" id="https://x.com/DaksHoops">@DaksHoops</a> will be on the sidelines all weekend taking it all in, evaluating talent, and keeping a close eye on the players who could separate themselves at one of the top stops on the Prep Hoops Circuit. Below, we highlight some of the 17U names to know heading into Stomping Grounds.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/05/stompinggrounds-crop-1036x680-1683121012.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2023/05/stompinggrounds-crop-1036x680-1683121012.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-1944058" style="width:337px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   17U Watchlist    Brackins is a player to watch this weekend because of the nonstop energy and pressure. He plays with a ton of juice, quick feet, and the ability to make things happen in bursts. Brackins is aggressive attacking the hoop and thrives as a slasher, using his speed and explosiveness to put constant pressure on defenders. In transition, AJ is especially dangerous with how fast he gets up the floor and attacks before defenses can get set. Defensively, he's pesky, disruptive, and simply annoying to deal with, making opponents uncomfortable with his activity and effort. His combination of speed, toughness, and energy gives him the ability to impact games on both ends and makes him a fun player to watch at Stomping Grounds.     This long athlete was an impact player last weekend at Battle at the Lakes with multiple dunks and alley-oop finishes. Akol moves very well on his feet and his length is eye-catching. The kid from Roosevelt is full of intrigue and I am excited to check him out again in Sioux Falls.     [player_tooltip player_id='2756998' first='Alex' last='Kruger'] is a player to watch this weekend after catching attention last weekend on the Prep Hoops Circuit while running with SSA SD 17U Grey. Kruger immediately stood out with his length, mobility, and overall upside. He moves well for his size and showed flashes of a player who still has plenty of room for growth and development. There's intriguing potential in Alex's game, especially with the way he runs the floor. As he continues to develop physically and skill-wise, his ceiling looks promising. Now, it will be exciting to get a second look at Kruger and see what he can do under the bright lights of the Sanford Pentagon this weekend.     [player_tooltip player_id='1655908' first='Bo' last='Begeman'] is one of the biggest matchup problems heading into this weekend and sits near the top of my watchlist at Stomping Grounds. With outstanding length and top-notch shooting ability, Begeman has the tools to impact the game in a variety of ways on both ends of the floor. His natural feel for the game and impeccable timing are impressive. Defensively, he creates problems with his ability to rack up steals and blocks using his length and instincts. Offensively, he can score in multiple ways and stretches defenses with his shooting ability. Begeman's versatility, skill set, and overall upside make him a player fans will definitely want to keep an eye on this weekend at the Pentagon.     Mr. Stevenson is a very intriguing player from Hamlin, and I'm excited to see him hoop with Heiser this weekend at the Pentagon. Stevenson is a high-octane athlete coming off an outstanding high school season and has all kinds of upside with his length, mobility, and scoring ability. He's a matchup problem because of the way he scores from multiple levels, attacks aggressively, and consistently draws fouls to get easy points at the line. Stevenson finishes efficiently, uses his athleticism well, and also brings value defensively with his activity and versatility. Plenty to like about his game heading into the weekend.     Hauff is coming off a noteworthy high school season that earned him All-District 6 honors, and he's a player I'm excited to finally see hoop live. There's a lot to like about Hauff's offensive game, especially with how versatile and polished he is scoring the basketball. He can score in multiple ways and finishes effectively with either hand, while showing really nice touch and feel from 10 feet and in. His floater game stands. Hauff also impacts the game beyond scoring, doing solid work on the glass and bringing value defensively with his activity and ability to be disruptive on that end of the floor. He's an intriguing all-around player, and it'll be fun to see what he brings this weekend. Expect Brady to be a Stock Riser in the next Rankings update.     Skogsberg is a lefty scorer with size who has the ability to fill it up in a hurry. When Bryson gets rolling from downtown, the shots tend to come in waves, making him one of the more dangerous perimeter scorers in the 17U division this weekend. What makes Bryson such a difficult matchup is the combination of his length, deep shooting range, and natural scorer's mentality. He can hurt defenses from the outside, but he's also effective attacking the basket and finishing from different angles around the rim. With his ability to score at multiple levels and put points on the board quickly, Skogsberg should be one of the top offensive threats to watch this weekend.     Peltier is a smooth, skilled guard who impacts the game in a variety of ways on both ends of the floor. He has the ability to score, create for others, and defend, while playing with a natural feel for the game. Peltier sees the floor well, handles the ball with confidence, and uses his shiftiness to create advantages off the bounce. Around the basket, Easton shows impressive touch and footwork, finishing effectively with either hand while mixing in a variety of moves in the paint. His sharp ball skills and overall versatility helped him earn All-Region honors this past season, and with the way his game continues to trend upward, we expect him to be a Stock Riser in the next rankings update.     Ruesink is a strong, well-put-together left-hander who impressed last weekend at Battle at the Lakes. He played a key role in helping his team earn a hard-fought victory in the game I watched, impacting the game with his toughness, effort, and scoring ability. Ruesink works extremely hard on the glass and is especially productive on the offensive boards. Offensively, he showed the ability to score at all three levels, but what stood out most was his slashing ability and the way he attacked defenders with confidence. Holdyn plays with a noticeable chip on his shoulder, and that competitive edge helps make him a tough matchup.     Gass has the tools to affect the game on both ends of the court. He consistently does the little things that help teams win, attacking the offensive boards, making the correct extra pass, and using his activity and instincts defensively to force turnovers in passing lanes. On the offensive end, Gass plays with efficiency and control. He has a smooth shooting stroke with a quick release from the perimeter and understands how to keep the offense flowing without over-dribbling. In transition, he makes smart decisions and creates quality opportunities for teammates. His combination of versatility, feel for the game, and competitive nature gives him the ability to make an impact in a variety of ways throughout the weekend.     I haven't had the chance to see Mr. Mack hoop live since last summer, so I'm excited to see how his game has progressed and to gauge the athletic gains he's made since then. There's a lot to like about Mack's overall game and versatility. He runs and jumps well, rebounds aggressively, and consistently finds ways to produce. Mack helped lead the Arrows to the State Tournament during a successful high school season and showed value on both ends of the floor. He's a solid defender with an all-around skill set, and his versatility makes him an intriguing player to watch this weekend.     Hawk came on strong late in the high school and averaged a Double-Double in the last chunk of games. Hard-working kid with impressive length. Changes shots on defense, intriguing leadership skills, Talton will be a force next winter.     This kid can really shoot the rock! Do not be suprised if Big Crow cashes multiple 3's in every game this weekend. Tokeya is also a very capable defender. He is a 2-way player, but will catch your eye with his shot. Will he be one of the 3-point snipers in Sioux Falls?     [player_tooltip player_id='1537902' first='Trenton' last='Sitzer'] is the lone North Dakota player on the Heiser squad, and it will be interesting to see what role he carves out this weekend. Sitzer is coming off an excellent high school season where he averaged 17.1 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game while shooting 40% from 3point range, helping lead the Mustangs to the State Tournament. I really like his length, finishing ability, and perimeter shooting. Sitzer has the tools to be one of the top guards in Class B next winter, and this weekend at the Pentagon will be another great opportunity to see him compete against strong talent in Sioux Falls.    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/circuit-logo_b3ebdf80-crop-2021x1327-1773331424.webp"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/03/circuit-logo_b3ebdf80-crop-2021x1327-1773331424.webp?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-3554001" /></a></figure>

The Prep Hoops Circuit is heading back to Sioux Falls this weekend for Stomping Grounds, and the stage couldn't be much better. Games will be played at the Sanford Pentagon — one of the premier basketball venues in the Midwest and a place that always seems to bring out high-level performances and competitive matchups.