Who Is South Dakota’s Best Senior Small Forward?

Today the case is made for three different senior big wing prospects in South Dakota as…. The Best. Who do you think is the best? Is it somebody else not on our list? In reviewing this discussion we’ve went back to look at film of each and gave you three different things that we really like from each. [player_tooltip player_id="975499" first="Jackson" last="Hilton"] of Brandon Valley. <ol> <li>I’m not sure what position Jackson will ultimately be if he goes the route of college football but the 6-foot-3/6-foot-4, 185 pound wing has some recovery ability defensively that not many have. In reviewing the film, it’s amazing how a player can change directions on Jackson and think they have an attacking window, but Jackson’s lateral steps quickly get him back into position and at his size there is a strength to him that can then force a player off balance after Jackson recovers. He’s got the type of physical defensive potential schools would love to have. There are examples of Jackson fighting over the top to take away passing angles or getting to the ball because his man can’t hold off his quickness and strength long enough for a pass to get close enough. </li> <li>Hilton has more potential to be an open space, knockdown shooter than I initially thought he did. I’m not sure exactly what his percentages were but in looking through some of this film, you can see that when he gets his feet set and has a total balance, the form is good and shots go in. It may take a second to get that balance lined up but the way he gets up the floor in transition or sprints to a cut, Jackson is able to get himself the time to be deadly. It will be interesting to see how that moves forward now that he’s a senior. </li> <li>Hilton has the physical ability to be a slasher and the shooting skills to be a threat you need to closeout to with concern. But even better, Jackson has the ball handling skills that allow him to push pace as well as attack good defenders for opportunity. It allows Jackson to be used all over the court in a lot of ways. </li> </ol> [player_tooltip player_id="975533" first="Koor" last="Kuol"] of Sioux Falls Roosevelt. <ol> <li>Koor has physical gifts that most players at his position in this class simply don’t have. The long strides and the quickness that goes with an agile player, or the quick bounce that lifts him into finishes above the cup at full speed. Natural instincts that we saw this summer playing with the Force making steady improvements day by day. To make things even better, Koor is an active player that is constantly moving. He’s learned how he can impact a game and seems to be doing it more and more.</li> <li>Defensively Koor can be a menace, a defensive player of the year like candidate. The type of player that has a closeout that will first block the hands out of a shooter, and then simply stop players from even trying to attempt knowing that Koor will stop the play dead. He has the lateral quickness to play at the top of a zone or to deny and move his feet with a talented wing. Kuol also has the type of length that harasses players into mistakes, and that’s if that length doesn’t deflect or steal a pass.</li> <li>Versatile, skilled, and patient. Koor may not be the best athlete in the state, but he’s up there. He may not be the best defender in the state, but he has the potential to be. His skills may not quite be as good as some others, but Koor’s skills are solid and when you put them in his agile frame it puts him above the rest. And from what we saw, Koor plays a team game consistently moving the basketball at times playing lead lead guard with the Force. A quality "next pass" player who will also hit a three or two. </li> </ol> [player_tooltip player_id="732175" first="Matthew" last="Mors"] of Yankton. <ol> <li>Everything that makes [player_tooltip player_id="732175" first="Matthew" last="Mors"] a small forward at 6-foot-7, 220 pounds is what we want to talk to you about. Sure at his size the Badgers will be able to use Matthew at the four spot but it’s the agility that makes a player what their position is, who they can guard. And Mors has the footwork and lateral steps to be able to guard some small forwards at the next level. He also has the first step and bounce at the rim (check the film, more bounce than I think people understand) to put in work at the three spot to score on other small forwards. </li> <li>Skill level. That’s the next thing that will allow [player_tooltip player_id="732175" first="Matthew" last="Mors"] to play at the three spot. Mors has a unique ability to create space for himself in so many different ways. That strength allows him to move quicker athletes off of him with a hard spin or a physical shoulder and get to the touch, but Matthew also knows how to make a move separating to his left and lifting his 6-foot-7 body into a beautiful shot. He uses double moves to create space as well as just about any player in the Midwest. And finally, I love how quickly Matt gets his jumpshot off. He’s well trained in that his motion is at it’s low point at the chest so when you combine his quick, pretty release with the fact that he doesn’t bring the ball down to move into his jumper, you have a skilled combo forward. </li> <li>Natural instincts and a competitive streak. There is a legit fight to Mors that many players don’t have. A will to win. We’ve seen him battle through multiples to get second chance baskets, and his hard cuts to the rim are so tough to defend unless you are constantly in a position to bump his cut despite his size. There are plays Matt makes on both ends not for the sake of being a showmen, but because the behind the back was needed to avoid a defender, or the help over block that he kept in play started a quick break the other way. </li> </ol>   The Others Category. [player_tooltip player_id="975514" first="Landon" last="Leidholt"] of Warner. [player_tooltip player_id="964944" first="Chase" last="Mason"] of Viborg-Hurley. [player_tooltip player_id="975519" first="Kohl" last="Meisman"] of Rapid City Central. [player_tooltip player_id="975510" first="Tyler" last="Prins"] of Sioux Falls Christian.