South Dakota Series: Wings/Forwards
In this installment, we spotlight ten wing/fowards skill sets. Three 2020’s have verbal commitments to D-1 schools; all are believed to demonstrate that special BB gift of multiple skills & expertise, which makes college court time inevitable. Three 2023’s show…
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Continue ReadingIn this installment, we spotlight ten wing/fowards skill sets. Three 2020’s have verbal commitments to D-1 schools; all are believed to demonstrate that special BB gift of multiple skills & expertise, which makes college court time inevitable.
Three 2023’s show on this list – these complete players have ALL earned this recognition.
Seeing the overflowing toolkits is ample reason to watch-and-go-WOW over the way each plays the game.
Wing/Forward: [ In no particular order or ranking ]
Morgan Hammerbeck, Winner – Photo courtesy of SF Argus-LeaderMorgan Hammerbeck, Winner 2020 -Helped win the Class A State Championship, and will greatly assist WInner’s 2020 run towards a repeat. Hammerbeck’s all state credentials include 11-ppg & 10-rpg, plus 5-assists & 3-steals. As a well-rounded player, her floor vision is the key link leading to the enviable stats. She is the go-to player her teammates rely upon in all facets.; a POY candidate. The Winner schedule is relatively soft in December, and much more difficult in January. Every foe wants to take down the champs! Hammerbeck will keep Winner on track.
Emma Ronsiek, SF O’Gorman 2020 Creighton commit posted impressive 2019 numbers: 15-ppg & 8-rpg, on a team with other college-level talents. O’Gorman lost un-expectedly at the Class AA State tournament, to Mitchell & Brookings, to finish sixth. With Ronsiek and her younger sister Hannah, along wuth Izzy Moore, O’G should make another run. D-1 universities recruit complete players, and Ronsiek is PGH’s #1 in the 2020 rankings because of her total arsenal. O’Gorman best start fast , or SF Lincoln, SF Roosevelt, and the Marshall (MN) Classic might be lumps of coal in their Christmas stocking.
Emma Ronsiek – SD Attack/O’Gorman – photo by Lee Cummins
Kaycee Grove – Photo by Lee Cummins
Kaycee Groves, Faith 2022 – Playing HS seasons without rigorous opposition, Groves used summer ball to improve with good success. A solid 2022 prospect, AAU practices/games afford Groves opportunities to hike further up the learning curve. At the start of HS season, Dec 14th, Faith at Kadoka will measure where Groves & Kadoka’s Lavin Bendt 2020 stand in the early season. When pressured or trapped, how quickly does Groves recognize and find the open teammate?
Lexi Unruh, SF Christian – Photo courtesy of SF Argus-LeaderLexi Unruh, SF Christian 2021 – Playing the DakXII conference along I-29 demands a consistent A-game-effort , because “…on any given night….” Unruh’s highlight reel shows game-by-game verification of an elite talent at work. All the bases are covered, yielding 2019 numbers, like 85 steals – how does 4.25 steals/game happen?? – along with 17-ppg, 3-rpg, & 2-apg. The Dec 13th game at Lennox will get Lexi’s energy boiling over. She is the real deal
Brecli Honnor, Harrisburg 2021 – no Image available – Playing 2019 in the shadow of Jeniah Ugofsky, now at USD, this new season should highlight the ten Harrisburg gals who played AAU ball to get better. Brecli Honnor has the upside and pedigree to lead them into state title contention. What looks great on paper, does not always pan out as hoped, but serious, summer ballers do turn around HS seasons. Kids at Brookings, SF Washington, Pierre, Brandon Valley, SF Lincoln, & SF Roosevelt turned out in quantity to keep us entertained this winter. A definitive December game slate greets Honner’s Tigers: Pierre, Brookings, Watertown, and SF Roosevelt .
Ndjakalenca Mwenentanda – 2019 – SF Washington transfer – photo courtesy of SF Argus Leader
Ndjakalenca Mwenentanda, SF Washington 2022. NM’s summer sent an electric shock out to college recruiters, suprised with her bounce, rebounding, defense, and upside. This fall’s transfer to SF Washington puts the Warriors in the hunt, for real. On the Nike EYBL circuit, a precious few defenders could keep pace with NM’s acceleration, or flat-out speed. With her assets, All Iowa Attack 16u dominated the summer AAU season, winning three major tournments. Get to a game to watch her ! SF Lincoln, Brookings, and the Morehead Spuds are on December’s docket.
Morgan Hansen, SF Lincoln – photo courtesy of SF Argus LeaderMorgan Hansen, SF Lincoln 2020. The USD commit tallied 14-ppg & 8 rpg in 2019. Frankly, summer ball with the SD Attack 17u was ordinary. The Attack’s mainstays had verbals for college ball & urgency was missing. Checking the record books, however, only Team O’Gorman won a state title in the past four years. Team Lincoln, Team Lennox, Team Washington, need to show up in the last game on Saturday night, March 21st. Hansen’s Patriots face SF Washington, & O’Gorman in December; we’ll see if an urgency is manifested.
Shaylayne Nagel – Photo courtesy of Yankton Press-Dispatch
Shalayne Nagel, Avon 2023, watched, learned, & played alongside Lauren Sees in 2019, a superb mentor now at Augie. Summer ball exposed Nagel to faster, stronger, and more agile players. Trial by fire – you betcha! Avon’s tradition of great players, fueled with strong work ethic and competitive hustle, should produce another strong record in 2020. Nagel’s various skills are advantages, beyond most teams’ capabilities; experience has honed her resourcefulness, tenacity, and edge into a potentially dominant force. An early test versus Corsica/Stickney with Avery Broughton (2023) on Dec 17th is gonna be fun.
Hannah Parsley, Flandreau – photo courtesy of Brookings RegisterHannah Parsley Flandreau 2020 – The SW Minnesota State commit showed awesome versitility in these 2019 stats: 18.5-ppg – 10-rpg – 5-assists -&- 5 steals. Parsley defended well against the foes’ best scorer, and led-by-example in all hustle categories. Team Flandreau went to the SD Sixteen last spring – leadership by their seniors will get them as far or further in 2020 March Madness. Parsley’s December evauation holds a plateful: Tea, Hamlin, & Beresford – get up and get out to see these games.
Olivia Kieffer, RC Christian – photo by Lee CumminsOlivia Kieffer, RC Christian 2023, matured and developed in summer AAU games. Previously, frenetic, yet inventive shot-making was a trademark of her drives and mid-range tries. Passing and defense racheted upward noteably, with Kieffer’s energies much more directed and point-productive. Her potential, if realized, could earn RC Christian the GBB respect that hard work, fitness conditioning, and serious summer ball merit. RCC will have a good record in Class ‘B’ contests but needs to esculate to a higher level…soon. Kieffer’s aggressive style and aptitude will keep her actively recruited for four more years.