Voices of the Dakotas: Volume III

The season keeps moving, the stakes keep rising, and the voices shaping the Dakotas' hoops scene continue to get louder. In Voices of the Dakotas: Volume III, Prep Hoops Dakotas checks back in with the players who are living the grind—EIGHT more ballers, 4 from ND and 4 from SD, who are making their presence felt on the floor.   Each hooper answered the same set of questions, offering an inside look at their mindset, preparation, and evolution as the season unfolds. These are competitors who bring more than production—they bring perspective, confidence, and intent every time they lace them up.   Tap in, hear it straight from the source, and get to know the personalities behind the performances.   Keep it rolling and best swishes!   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/QA.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/07/QA.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-2508303" style="width:293px;height:auto" /></a></figure>    What has been the biggest focus for you personally this season?   "My biggest focus this season is trying to be a better all-around player and being a leader for the younger guys."   What's one area of your game you've seen the most improvement in?   "I think my biggest improvement this year is my ability to distribute the ball to teammates for open shots."   What does your team do well when you're playing your best basketball?   "Our team does very well in moving the ball and making the extra pass for a better shot. We are all very unselfish players and want the best shot possible."   Who's a teammate that deserves more recognition?   "[player_tooltip player_id='2545162' first='Carter' last='Keller']. He makes the most out of his minutes and gets put into positions to guard the other team's best player and brings the energy and spark off the bench that we need."   How do you stay locked in during the grind of the season—especially on tough weeks?   "I stay locked in by sticking with my team and never looking at the negatives of the season. If we are on a losing skid our coaches say we have to stick together and get through it as a team."   What's something your coaches emphasize that really shows up on game nights?   "Our coaches emphasize defense every day. They want our offense to come with our defense and we have shown many tough defensive performances."   What's the biggest lesson basketball has taught you?   "Basketball has taught me that you can't be selfish or things won't be as easy."   What has been your favorite moment of the season so far?   "My favorite moment was when we were down 20 at halftime to Oakes and came all the way back and I was able to hit the last shot at the buzzer to win."   Favorite gym to play in (besides home)?   "Central Cass's gym is probably my favorite to play in because the atmosphere is always very intense and feels like a playoff game."   What are you hoping to accomplish before postseason play begins?   "I'm hoping we can start playing our best basketball before the Region Tournament in March and fix all of the little things that can lose close games in the stacked Region 1."     What has been the biggest focus for you personally this season?   "The biggest focus for me this season is to be a leader and push my teammates to the best they can be. While also making sure we get a State Championship."   What's one area of your game you've seen the most improvement in?   "One area of my game that I've seen improvement in is on the defense side of the ball, I feel like my mindset on defense has been more intense than previous seasons."   What does your team do well when you're playing your best basketball?   "When we are unselfish and not caring about stats we play our best basketball and it truly is beautiful to watch."   Who's a teammate that deserves more recognition?   "[player_tooltip player_id='2366466' first='Cooper' last='Strande'] is a teammate that I think deserves more recognition because he's an extremely hard worker and does all the gritty stuff for our team."   How do you stay locked in during the grind of the season—especially on tough weeks?   "Staying locked in can be difficult for sure, but remembering what the goal is at the end pushes me to be my best every single day in whatever way that is."   What's something your coaches emphasize that really shows up on game nights?   "Playing hard for the whole game is something the coaching staff emphasizes heavily. Having that mindset of bringing it to both halves really shows how dangerous we can be."   What's the biggest lesson basketball has taught you?   "Basketball has taught me so many great lessons, but I feel like the most important thing is to remember your why and to have fun every time you touch the rock."   What has been your favorite moment of the season so far?   "My favorite moment of the year so far has been the relationship with the guys and just being a leader on and off the floor, which has helped me greatly for the next level."   Favorite gym to play in (besides home)?   "My favorite gym to play in has got to be Lennox, they always got trash talk going on and it's the first game, so always a packed crowd."   What are you hoping to accomplish before postseason play begins?   "My biggest hope to accomplish in postseason basketball is a State Championship and going back-to-back. I think we can do it and have a lot of doubters behind us, so that makes it even more exciting to accomplish."     What has been the biggest focus for you personally this season?   "The biggest focus for me is winning games and hopefully making waves in the EDC Tournament."   What's one area of your game you've seen the most improvement in?   "I would say what I have improved the most with is how I read a ball screen and getting downhill."   What does your team do well when you're playing your best basketball?   "The best basketball is when we're moving the ball and hitting shots and playing with tempo."   Who's a teammate that deserves more recognition?   "Sam chase. He is the best shooter in the state and is the most improved dude in the state, in my opinion, he has broken the 3pt record and is on pace to break more 3pt records."   How do you stay locked in during the grind of the season—especially on tough weeks?   "I stay locked in by staying consistent in the weight room and consistently getting reps in shooting and working on my craft."   What's something your coaches emphasize that really shows up on game nights?   "Tempo and turnovers, we have really been starting to play with more tempo and playing quicker, and we have also been taking care of the ball way better than we were at the start of the season."   What's the biggest lesson basketball has taught you?   "The biggest lesson I have learned is to stay down and trust that your work is going to get you where you want to be."   What has been your favorite moment of the season so far?   "My favorite moment was beating South, it was a great atmosphere and we played very well as a team."   Favorite gym to play in (besides home)?   "Favorite gym to play in is West Fargo. I love how West Fargo's community is, all supporting another and there very loud to go against and it's a very big gym."   What are you hoping to accomplish before postseason play begins?   "What I'm hoping to accomplish is to just keep winning games and proving everyone wrong. We were ranked last on just about every preseason ranking, so it's an amazing feeling starting to win games and starting to prove people wrong."     What has been the biggest focus for you personally this season?   "My biggest focus has been becoming a better leader and making sure our team is playing at its best by the time March rolls around."   What's one area of your game you've seen the most improvement in?   "I've grown a lot in my decision-making, focusing on making the right reads and helping our offense run more smoothly."   What does your team do well when you're playing your best basketball?   "When we're at our best, our energy is high, communication is strong, and everyone is locked in and active."   Who's a teammate that deserves more recognition?   "I think every player on our team deserves equal recognition, but if I had to choose one, I'd say junior guard Haiden Boschee. He had big shoes to fill while I wasn't cleared from my injury, and he stepped into a starting role and contributed a lot for us. He's improved a ton since last season."   How do you stay locked in during the grind of the season—especially on tough weeks?   "I stay locked in by getting in the gym and, just as importantly, focusing on recovery and rest so my body stays healthy and ready every day."   What's something your coaches emphasize that really shows up on game nights?   "Our coaches emphasize giving it our all every night and staying locked in, because as a ranked team we're going to get every opponent's best shot. They also remind us not to take anything for granted, especially for the seniors, since we only have so many games left."   What's the biggest lesson basketball has taught you?   "Basketball has taught me that success comes from handling adversity, staying disciplined, and trusting the process. Just like in real life, there are ups and downs, but how you respond, stay committed, and keep working is what really defines you."   What has been your favorite moment of the season so far?   "My favorite moment has been coming back after nine months away from the game and getting to watch our team grow and reach our full potential."   Favorite gym to play in (besides home)?   "I'd say Huron Arena, because I've had some of my best games there and my shot always seems to fall in that gym."   What are you hoping to accomplish before postseason play begins?   "My goal is to have our team fully prepared for the postseason and in the best possible position heading into state, so we can go win it this year."     What has been the biggest focus for you personally this season?   "Leaning into my role as a leader and scorer."   What's one area of your game you've seen the most improvement in?   "Scoring off the bounce and my post-game."   What does your team do well when you're playing your best basketball?   "Shooting the ball and defense."   Who's a teammate that deserves more recognition?   "[player_tooltip player_id='3359623' first='Colten' last='Anderson']. Nice 2-way guard for us."   How do you stay locked in during the grind of the season—especially on tough weeks?   "Focus on one or two specific things I need to be better from the last game and carry it into the next game."   What's something your coaches emphasize that really shows up on game nights?   "Effort and intensity."   What's the biggest lesson basketball has taught you?   "You're not going to do it all yourself. Get some help."   What has been your favorite moment of the season so far?   "Picking on the freshmen on the bus rides (joking)"   Favorite gym to play in (besides home)?   "Williston State, New Town Event Center, and The Minot Dome"   What are you hoping to accomplish before postseason play begins?   "Win every game."     What has been the biggest focus for you personally this season?   "I look to be the best version of myself in my last year of high school, I also want to be known as a great basketball player in the state of South Dakota."   What's one area of your game you've seen the most improvement in?   "One improvement I've seen in myself is my defense. It opens up my game and it's fun when I can use my length to create stops on teams' offenses."   What does your team do well when you're playing your best basketball?   "My team really knows how to create that energy through every play I can create. They know how to celebrate each other as well, which is a huge plus."   Who's a teammate that deserves more recognition?   "A teammate I feel that deserves recognition is my point guard, [player_tooltip player_id='1560832' first='CJ' last='Schmaus'], He's a returning varsity player with great leadership skills. He gets me going every night and everyone else while scoring the ball. He's also a very good on-ball defender."   How do you stay locked in during the grind of the season—especially on tough weeks?   "Get all the reps I can get in practice. Getting to realize what my opponent has to bring to a game as well and what I have to do to stop them is really what gets me going."   What's something your coaches emphasize that really shows up on game nights?   "When the ball is moving, we are unstoppable. We have lots of scorers that can give double digits on any night and the talent we have is very good. So when you see that ball moving there's not really a thing you can do to stop it."   What's the biggest lesson basketball has taught you?   "Basketball has taught me to always know everyone's point of view. It leads to having success on and off the court and you get connected that way with whoever you're dealing with."   What has been your favorite moment of the season so far?   "My favorite moment of the season is just getting together with my teammates outside of practice. High school basketball only comes around for a couple of years in your life and you want to enjoy every part of it."   Favorite gym to play in (besides home)?   "Greatlife Woodlake Gym here in Sioux Falls. had guys who've taught me lessons, set me with the friends I have today, and where all my work is put in."   What are you hoping to accomplish before postseason play begins?   "The accomplishment I need is to beat every team in AA, whether it's a sweep or just one time."     What has been the biggest focus for you personally this season?   "To improve every game and get better."   What's one area of your game you've seen the most improvement in?   "My post work and my footwork and getting stronger."   What does your team do well when you're playing your best basketball?   "Our communication and full 100% when we are playing team basketball"   Who's a teammate that deserves more recognition?   "Mikah Larocque, one of the most consistent shooters I know."   How do you stay locked in during the grind of the season—especially on tough weeks?   "I just push through the tough times and it gets easier as I go."   What's something your coaches emphasize that really shows up on game nights?   "To stay strong and dominant in the post."   What's the biggest lesson basketball has taught you?   "To always work hard through adversity and to be confident."   What has been your favorite moment of the season so far?   "When I scored 1k."   Favorite gym to play in (besides home)?   "St. John's gym has a good atmosphere that gets loud in the rivalry game."   What are you hoping to accomplish before postseason play begins?   "To win out the regular season."     What has been the biggest focus for you personally this season?   "The biggest focus of the season for me is to get my team better off and on the court, but lead them to a State Tournament and see what we can do."   What's one area of your game you've seen the most improvement in?   "The part of my game that I have seen most improvement in is getting downhill and finishing at the rim, and improving my 3pt percentage."   What does your team do well when you're playing your best basketball?   "We crash the rebounds, move the ball, and most importantly, we win."   Who's a teammate that deserves more recognition?   "A teammate of mine that deserves more recognition would be Ryan Neugebauer, or Max Speed, they especially know how to play their role, and they get after it on defense."   How do you stay locked in during the grind of the season—especially on tough weeks?   "Putting in the work after and before practices, focus on the little things, and during tough weeks get the team together on one page and make sure to bounce back."   What's something your coaches emphasize that really shows up on game nights?   "The coaches emphasize rebounding, attitude, and effort. Personally, for me, it would be IQ and seeing the play before it happens, and to lead."   What's the biggest lesson basketball has taught you?   "The biggest thing basketball has taught me is not to take it for granted. Or you're going to have ups and downs and the only thing that fixes that is attitude and effort behind it with some grit to get better."   What has been your favorite moment of the season so far?   "My favorite moment of the season so far is winning together as a team and our practices and team dinners."   Favorite gym to play in (besides home)?   "My favorite gym to play in besides home would be the School of Mines gym or the Corn Palace, because it's a college court, getting me ready for Gillette next year, just overall nice courts."   What are you hoping to accomplish before postseason play begins?   "Hoping to accomplish the BHC title, winning out before conference starts and overall having fun with my group of guys."    <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/NDSD.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/08/NDSD.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-2950876" /></a></figure>

The season keeps moving, the stakes keep rising, and the voices shaping the Dakotas' hoops scene continue to get louder. In Voices of the Dakotas: Volume III, Prep Hoops Dakotas checks back in with the players who are living the grind—EIGHT more ballers, 4 from ND and 4 from SD, who are making their presence felt on the floor.