Sacred Hoops 17U Bertram: AAU Check Up

<p>This is a good-looking team with all the pieces to compete in every event that they attend. Sacred Hoops 17U Bertram has begun practices and they are gearing up for a successful AAU campaign. The players are meshing together and they are playing well. Sacred Hoops has a balanced roster that will translate well to both ends of the floor. Their first event is not until the end of the month, so they will have plenty of time to grow and work out as a team. </p> <p>Sacred Hoops is a successful basketball program that has put more than athletes 62 athletes into college basketball in the past four seasons. They have plenty of talent throughout the program.</p> <h4><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Sacred Hoops 17U Bertram Roster</strong></span></h4> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="963775" first="Jackson" last="Edman"] (2023) |6’7" F| Pierre </strong></p> <p>He played up last season as a 16U athlete. Edman was a key part of the Sacred Hoops team that won the AAU West Coast National Championship last year in Las Vegas. Jackson is one of the most recruitable 17U athletes in South Dakota. He is super athletic and his body is college-ready. Edman averaged 12 ppg and 8 rpg this season for Class AA Pierre. He had over 15 dunks this past high school season and Jackson has the ability to hit the midrange jumper. He also attacks the rim very hard.  Lastly, Edman is a lock-down defender who can defend multiple positions.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="963762" first="Brian" last="LaRoche Jr"]. (2023) |6’1 G| Lower Brule</strong></p> <p>An electric scorer, Brian led Lower Brule to a 2nd place finish at the State Tourney and earned 3rd Team All-State this season. LaRoche averaged 16 ppg and 4 apg. He has a ton of length and solid ball skills. Brian possesses the ability to score at all three levels. He will be a very nice backcourt player for this Sacred Hoops squad.</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1391635" first="Connor" last="Epp"] (2023) |5’10" PG| Freeman Academy-Marion</strong></p> <p>He is a true point guard that helped lead his team to the Class B State Tournament this season. Connor’s efforts landed him on the All-Tournament Team. Epp is super athletic, shifty, and he slashes downhill extremely well. Connor is also an excellent on-ball defender. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1423634" first="Cooper" last="Totten"] (2023) |6’6" F| Rapid City Central</strong></p> <p>Had a breakout year for class AA Central. Cooper averaged double figures in scoring and is a true back-to-the-basket post. He has a big frame and loves to get physical around the basket. Totten has demonstrated the ability to consistently step out and hit the jumper as well. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1423638" first="Dysen" last="Peterson"] (2023) |6’5" F| Sturgis Brown</strong></p> <p>He was a Black Hills All-Conference performer this season. Dysen is a true stretch four with solid range from the three-point line. He moves well and plays bigger than he is with the length he possesses. Peterson is a knock-down shooter from the perimeter who had some big-time performances for the Scoopers. </p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="963842" first="Tray" last="Hettick"] (2023) |6’2" G| Herried-Selby</strong></p> <p>Stats this season: 15.6 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 5.7 apg, and 37 3FG%. He is an all-around scorer. Tray can simply light up the score sheet. He is an excellent shooter but is physical enough offensively to get into the paint and finish through contact. Hettick is also a physical rebounder and an excellent passer. He sees the floor very well. </p> <p><strong>Tye Merrill (2023) |5’9" G| Canistota</strong></p> <p>He has been a staple in the Canistota lineup the past two seasons and is another player on this team who can flat-out shoot it from the perimeter. Merrill is a very physical defender and is able to attack and finish through contact. </p> <p><strong>Ian Jordan (2023) |6’3" G| Harrisburg</strong></p> <p>He is a long and athletic player that can put up points. Ian has a great midrange pull-up game and really plays well off of the dribble.  Jordan has smooth handles and can extend a defense with his ability to shoot from deep. </p> <p><strong>Abe Kamara (2023) |5’10" G| Sioux Falls Roosevelt</strong></p> <p>He is poised to have a breakout season next year for Roosevelt. Abe is very athletic with solid handles. Kamara is tough-nosed and he really attacks well. Abe will fit in nicely with this squad.</p> <h4 style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Tournament Schedule</strong></span></h4> <table style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 147px;"> <tbody> <tr style="height: 21px;"> <td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 21px; text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Event</strong></span></td> <td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 21px; text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Location</strong></span></td> <td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 21px; text-align: center;"><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Dates</strong></span></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 21px;"> <td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 21px; text-align: center;">Midwest Championship Series</td> <td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 21px; text-align: center;">Sioux City, IA</td> <td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 21px; text-align: center;">April 30-May 1</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 21px;"> <td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 21px; text-align: center;">Prep Hoops - Battle at the Lakes</td> <td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 21px; text-align: center;">Minneapolis, MN</td> <td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 21px; text-align: center;">May 6-8</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 21px;"> <td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 21px; text-align: center;">Sacred Hoops Tourney</td> <td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 21px; text-align: center;">Sioux Falls, SD</td> <td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 21px; text-align: center;">June 24-26</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 21px;"> <td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 21px; text-align: center;">Midwest Live</td> <td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 21px; text-align: center;">Council Bluffs, IA</td> <td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 21px; text-align: center;">July 8-10</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 21px;"> <td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 21px; text-align: center;">Midwest Championship Series</td> <td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 21px; text-align: center;">Sioux Falls, SD</td> <td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 21px; text-align: center;">July 15-17</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 21px;"> <td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 21px; text-align: center;">MAYB National Championships</td> <td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 21px; text-align: center;">Wichita, KS</td> <td style="width: 33.3333%; height: 21px; text-align: center;">July 29-31</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>