SD Thunder WIns MAYB North National Championship
An eclectic assortment of basketball talents won the MAYB North National Championship in Omaha, running up a 5-0 record, Aug 2nd-to-4th. Hoopsters from across SD,geographically and class-wise, combined talents to sieze the opportunity at the team’s fifth tourney of the…
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Continue ReadingAn eclectic assortment of basketball talents won the MAYB North National Championship in Omaha, running up a 5-0 record, Aug 2nd-to-4th. Hoopsters from across SD,geographically and class-wise, combined talents to sieze the opportunity at the team’s fifth tourney of the summer, defeating BBA Fierce 15U (Darci/James) 65-61. Coach Ken Vermillion worked all season to develop cohesive, team-first play and it jelled at Omaha – Congratulations!!
Coach Vermillion’s philosophy to go hard, to challenge everything on defense, to contest each rebound, and to never stop running, wears opponents down. He says, “it’s not about winning or losing, it’s about teaching and learning. And it doesn’t matter what team you play for, players are made at 10:00 at night at home in the driveway.” Coach Vermillion has a strong passion for the word, Believe. He said, “I believe in each one of these kids and they believe in themselves. These kids mean more to me as people than they do as players. My job is to help them be the best person and player that they can be. Winning the tournament in Omaha is just an example of what these kids can do if someone will just believe in them, take the handcuffs off of them, so they can believe in themselves to be all they can be.
Coach believes that every player can (& wants to) become a great player, but each harbors doubts and dark thoughts that strangle that great player to death before she gets going. Push back on those impluses, fight them off, and say “Ok, I’ve trained my whole life for this. I’ve worked for this, and it’s time to make it happen.” Thru 30-years as an AAU coach, Coach Vermillion advocates girls basketball players to cut loose and show they love the game, confident, and happy. Championships deserve recognition and Dakota Thunder is applauded.
From west to east, team members include:
Kayden Steele, Newell 2022 Class B
Jenna Jacobson, STM 2021 Class A
Nicole Yackley, White River 2021 Class B
Trista White Sanborn Central 2022 Class B
Emma Rudebush Howard 2021 Class B
Morgan Edelman 2021 Menno Class B
Emma Albertsen SF Roosevelt 2021 Class AA
Alivia Baumgarn Webster 2022 Class A
694 miles to visit all 8 players in the order listed above !!!
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At the Prep Girls Hoops, it is our mission to equally cover prospects striving to play at the Division I, Division II, Division III, NAIA, and Junior College levels. The Prep Girls Hoops Top 250 Expo reflects our mission to bring visibility and exposure to the top 250 prospects in each graduating class in each region in the country.
Over the past few years, we have hosted boys’ Top 250 Expos on the under the Prep Hoops name with the intention of giving prospects an opportunity to compete against top talent in their state in front of a litany of college coaches and Prep Network’s team of contributors. There are countless stories of prospects upping their recruitment after strong showings, and we’re excited to give that same opportunity to the ladies this fall with the launch of the .
News and notes will be posted at PrepGirlsHoops.com and visible to our hundreds of college-coach subscribers to offer even more exposure for the prospects.
Prospects in attendance will be coached by top basketball minds from throughout the region. For a player who is looking to up her exposure, compete against other top players in the region, and get high-level, in-game reps before the high school season tips off, the Top 250 Expo is a can’t-miss opportunity. October 5th – A Saturday In Minneapolis