SD Attack 16U: AAU Overview
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They are fresh off a hot start in Ames, IA! The 16U SD Attack team went 5-0 and won their division at the Midwest Festival Tournament. They are loaded with college prospects. Taylen Ashley Taylen Ashley 5'11" | PG Sf…
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Continue ReadingThey are fresh off a hot start in Ames, IA! The 16U SD Attack team went 5-0 and won their division at the Midwest Festival Tournament. They are loaded with college prospects. Taylen Ashley Taylen Ashley 5'11" | PG Sf Roosevelt | 2023 State SD and Isaac Bruns Isaac Bruns 6'4" | SG Dakota Valley | 2023 State SD should be D1 players at the next level. This group will be tested this coming weekend in Kansas City, MO at PREP HOOPS LIVE.
Roster:
Comments from Coach Caleb Luckow:
Isaac Bruns Isaac Bruns 6'4" | SG Dakota Valley | 2023 State SD (2023) |6-3 G| Dakota Valley – The younger Bruns brother can get going in a hurry! There is not a shot he can’t shoot or isn’t willing to take. The strapped wing is someone that does not need much space to get off shots and knows how to get to his spots on the floor to rise up and shoot over other guards. Young, long, and slender standing at 6’3 there is optimism that he could easily reach 6’5 or above. If he does, watch out! Everyone knows him for his shooting ability but it’s his on-ball defense, strong hands, and rebounding to go along with his tenacious competitive spirit that makes him special. He has a strong interest and has been in contact with much of the Summit League with interest from the Missouri Valley.
Taylen Ashley Taylen Ashley 5'11" | PG Sf Roosevelt | 2023 State SD (2023) |6-0 G| Sioux Falls Roosevelt – Top rated point guard in South Dakota’s 2023 class that has an early offer from Augustana University and strong interest from much of the Northern Sun and Summit League. Taylen is a dual-sport athlete that specializes in breaking down defenses through his downhill penetration and is smart enough to get the team in their offense and create for his teammates. He is a fantastic communicator and leader for the 16u group to go along with being a phenomenal on-ball and ball screen defender. Taylen has the potential to be a low/mid-major player pending the fit and style of the program that favors having smaller quick guards.
Kaden Year Kaden Year 6'2" | SF O'gorman | 2023 State SD (2023) |6-5 G/F| Sioux Falls Roosevelt – A man of many skills. Year, is this group’s best defender and rebounder. He can play inside and out with the ability to guard 1-4 due to his quick feet and soft hands. Shooting from the outside is something that Kaden has really improved on, but it is his length on defense and ability to switch and disrupt ball screens that set him apart. As his ball-handling and body develop more strength to go along with his 6’5 frame, Year will be a handful for any opposing team on both sides of the court.
Jake Wallin Jake Wallin 6'7" | PF Spirit Lake | 2023 State IA (2023) |6-7 F| South O’Brien (IA) – Jake took a huge leap this past school year as he became the focal point of his team’s offense. The 6’7 center has a strong game on the block with his back to the basket. Wallin has fantastic court vision for a big man. Team that up with a 245lb frame, light feet, and soft hands, and we have got ourselves a strong big man anchoring down our frontcourt. This spring/summer Jake really hopes to take a big step on his ability to pick n pop and become a consistent catch and shoot big from the outside.
Keaten Bonderson Keaten Bonderson 6'0" | PG Gehlen Catholic | 2023 State IA (2023) |6-0 G| Gehlen Catholic (IA) – Saying Keaten is athletic is an understatement. He can rack up points in a hurry as he has a very underappreciated pull-up game and a strong threat from behind the line. His quick burst and ability to rise up in the open court is fun to watch, but his ability to get in passing lanes and challenge ball handlers is something he has been working on doing more consistently. He has the ability to be a fantastic full-court on-ball defender. As that part of his game develops, he will have even more high-flying throwdowns out on the break.
Reed Rus Reed Rus 6'3" | SG Mt. Vernon/Plankinton | 2023 State SD (2023) |6-4 G/F| Mt. Vernon – The junkyard dog himself had a breakout season this past winter as he filled up the stat sheet. Rus is not great at one thing but dang good at everything. The guard/forward is capable of guarding quicker guards and able to guard bigger forwards due to his strength. In the spring/summer Reed will look to improve his outside game as a knock-down outside shooter but while the hardwood is a focus, he is certainly more projected to be a big-time football player as the gridiron favors his future as a linebacker.
Blake Volmer Blake Volmer 6'0" | CG Winner | 2023 State SD (2023) |6-2 G| Winner – There is not one player that has improved more in the program than Volmer over the past year. The combo guard has always been able to get the job done with his length and basketball IQ but what really helped him take the next step is reconstructing his shooting form and playing point guard for his high school team this past winter. Blake will look to take a big leap this spring/summer as a ‘can do it all’ wing that will be tasked with guarding the other team’s top players. The quiet scorer is one that is hard to keep off the floor as a solid 6th man for the group.
Brian La Roche Jr. (2023) |6-0 G| Lower Brule – The backup point guard for the 16s is no slouch. The 6’ foot lengthy guard might look small in his frame but he’s as smooth as ice with the rock and can fill it up quickly to be a great burst off the bench. The heady floor general is great at getting downhill and finishing with contact or dumping down to a big for an easy basket. Brian will need to improve on being a constant outside catch and shoot option this spring/summer along with his strength in getting in the weight room. If he does those things over the next year, watch out! The product of a high school coach’s son is skilled and knows how to play.
Carson Kirwan Carson Kirwan 6'4" | SF Castlewood | 2023 SD (2023) |6-3 G| Castlewood – This spring has been eye-opening for the wing from Castlewood, SD. Kirwan is getting the experience that he needed to take that next step as a player in being on the floor with this talented team and playing against faster, stronger competition. He has answered the calling thus far after learning how hard and fast he needs to play at this level. He will have some growing pains on defense as he learns to study the game rather than relying purely on his athleticism but as it clicks so will his confidence because the springy wing has a great pull-up game and can attack closeouts in getting to the rim with the best of them.
Gage Gasca (2023) |6-6 F| Sioux Falls Washington – Gasca is far from his best basketball. His best is yet to come as he continues to grow into his body and develop. Gage has great length and a great basketball body but his success on the court will depend a lot on his ability to get stronger and adjust to the speed of the game. Do not be surprised to see him really blossom in the next year. The lengthy shot-blocking forward has a chance in time.
Team Notes from Coach Caleb Luckow:
“There is one theme I think of when reflecting on our 16u boys’ team – ‘Junk Yard Dogs’.
This group is resilient, tough and knows how to COMPETE! They do not take lightly to losing and understand how to play the game the right way by playing for each other. Seven of the 10 have been together for multiple years and truly enjoy one another’s company on and off the court. Last year as 15u the boys were extremely successful going 24-1 and look to carry on that success this spring/summer. What they do not have for size down low they make up for it with the grit, versatility and willingness to defend. This group will have plenty of attention on the recruiting trail as they hold guys from levels of NAIA, D3, D2 and D1.”
Schedule
Midwest Festival (Ames, IA) April 17-18
Prep Hoops Circuit (Kansas City, MO) April 23-25
Prep Hoops Circuit (Minneapolis, MN) May 7-9
Boys Elite Camp – Warwick (Sioux Falls, SD) June 8-9
Great Plains Alliance (St. Cloud, MN) June 24-26
TBD – July