All-State Athlete Honors – South Dakota Class A
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South Dakota Class A All-State Honors were announced. Let’s break down the immensely talented group of athletes who earned the highest individual praise in their class. This article will outline honors for each athlete, a short synopsis of their style…
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Continue ReadingSouth Dakota Class A All-State Honors were announced. Let’s break down the immensely talented group of athletes who earned the highest individual praise in their class. This article will outline honors for each athlete, a short synopsis of their style of play and performance, commitments, and statistical averages. The All-State Recipients are dominated by underclassmen with 9 out of 12 total completing less than their senior season! 7 out of these 12 talented athletes have committed themselves to play at the next level which leaves 5 all-state players who remain eligible to bring their talent to the college level.
First Team
Rylee Rosenquist Rylee Rosenquist 5'8" | CG Dakota Valley | 2022 State SD- Dakota Valley (Senior) – G
- PPG – 23.0, RPG – 10.1, APG – 4.9, SPG – 3.5
- Head Coach – Tammy Lilly
- Commitment – Dakota Wesleyan University
- Rylee is the total package as a guard. Tough-nosed aggressive defense, quick handles, explosive and effective footwork, high IQ rebounding on both ends, shooting range, and shooting consistency are all check marks for this Dakota Wesleyan commit. Her stat line is led off with leading the pack in scoring but is rounded out with stellar marks for rebounding, assists, and steals as well. She was an efficient shooter hitting 41 three’s on 34% from downtown and made 117 FTs shooting 73% from the line. Rosenquist plays the game the right way with outstanding passion and energy. She has been an outstanding gift to South Dakota basketball and the Panthers are going to need to replace a lot of areas next season without her.
- Hamlin (Junior) – F
- PPG – 21.6, RPG – 6.1
- Head Coach – Tim Koisti
- Commitment – University of Sioux Falls
- Kami is a fantastic player to watch because of her high-level energy, plentiful spots to score from, and passion for competition. She has great range consistently knocking down perimeter shots and can hit from the mid-range as well. Being such a high-level threat from three, she uses the pump fake well to create opportunities to score off the dribble. A great blend of strength and quickness gives her an all-around effective game on both ends. Great passing with full-court transition vision and scoring over 20 points per outing we all get to enjoy Wadsworth’s game for one more season at the high school level as she looks to build on a stellar junior season.
- Mount Vernon/Plankinton (Sophomore) – G
- PPG – 19.0, RPG – 6.0, APG – 4.5, SPG – 3.4
- Head Coach – Preston Kristensen
- Commitment – South Dakota State University
- When you think of Fox you are reminded of the quality of basketball being played right now in South Dakota. She emulates a complete guard and plays the game with an unmatched amount of competitive spirit. It’s easy to focus on her scoring game as she can fill it up from all over, but what completes this athlete’s skill set is her fantastic vision and ability to create for others as well as her intense defense. She’s the type of kid who can be asked to guard other teams’ best if needed while still scoring 20 points per night. With two more years to build, look out for this kid as she tears it up in Class A.
- Winner (Senior) – G
- PPG – 22.4, RPG – 8.1, APG – 2.0, SPG – 3.0
- Head Coach – Larry Aaker
- Commitment – Kansas
- Swedlund is a household name in South Dakota basketball. She had an outstanding career at Winner and capped it off with a solid senior season. Swedlund shot 37% overall from the floor and hit on 73% of her FT attempts. What stands out for me when you watch her ball is the mentality. This guard is fearless on offense, unafraid to take and make the big shot, and will take over on that end in big moments. A true competitor this guard works on both ends, using her IQ and quickness to create turnovers on one end and has an ability to create shots on the other. She has an old-school jumper that will be missed as she was arguably the most effective player in SD basketball at stepping back or elevating to create space to get her shot off.
- St. Thomas More (Junior) – F
- PPG – 18.3, RPG – 9.2
- Head Coach – Brandon Kandolin
- Commitment – None
- Reese Ross Reese Ross 6'1" | SF St. Thomas More | 2023 State SD is one of the most talented prospects with an all-around game that remains uncommitted to this point. She is a complete player who has the essentials necessary to score in the paint as well as hit shots from the perimeter. An impressive rebounder she averaged over nine per game and this paired with her outstanding length makes her a valuable piece on the defensive side of the floor. Ross isn’t afraid of the big moment and hits big shots for her team. She has a college three-point range and finishes well either hand and that doesn’t change with contact at the rim. Rounding out her impressive game is a high IQ in transition, understanding when to score and when to kick.
- Tea (Sophomore) – G
- PPG – 19.1, RPG – 8.0, BPG – 2.1
- Head Coach – Adam Schorzmann
- Commitment – South Dakota State University
- Vasecka is an athletic high IQ guard in a high level forward’s body. This makes her a complete player who can disrupt the game on the defensive game with over 2 blocks a night this season as well as a number of steals. Her offensive game is impressive. She uses her length and great court awareness to make passes most in the building never saw were there and knows when to get her teammates involved. A true point guard skill set and 6’2″ frame makes this sophomore guard truly special. Look for her to continue her all-state level play and elevate her team to a big finish for two more years before bringing her talents to the Jackrabbits in Brookings.
Second Team
Rylee Haldeman Rylee Haldeman 5'3" | PG West Central | 2022 State SD- West Central (Senior) – G
- PPG – 16.8, APG – 3.5, SPG – 3.0
- Head Coach – Joe Caffrey
- Commitment – South Dakota (Soccer)
- The West Central guard will show off her superb athleticism and competitive nature in Vermillion on the soccer fields but let’s reflect on what she did for SD hoops. The 5’ 2″ guard was an absolute spark who played with intensity and grit. She was a ball hawk who came up with multiple steals and a selfless point guard who made the right choices in reading defenses. A quick stroke from beyond the arch and a knack for getting to the front of the rim made this young lady one of the top scorers in her class.
- Wagner (Junior) – F
- PPG – 14.2, RPG – 9.3, APG – 3.2
- Head Coach – Mike Koupal
- Commitment – None
- At 5’ 11″ with incredible length, a competitive mindset, and pure athleticism Yost was built for basketball. Her Red Raider squad is loaded with talent and most definitely has college’s attention. This young lady put together a heck of a junior season posting near double-double numbers each night and using her quickness and frame to shut down opponents on the defensive end. She operates very well from the mid to high post and has developed a knack for understanding how to get to her spots to score.
- Flandreau (Sophomore) – G/F
- PPG – 15.6, RPG – 3.6, APG – 2.3, SPG – 3.1
- Head Coach – Megan Severtson
- Commitment – None
- 6’1″ and a guard skill set is enough to get scouting attention, pair that with a stellar competitive mindset on defense, an ability to create her own shot as well as set up teammates, and you have an all-around talent that projects to be a household name in South Dakota basketball over the next six years at this level and the next. Yes, this kid has accomplished a lot and has yet to play her junior season of high school basketball. She impresses with offensive efficiency as she shot 43% overall from the floor including 37% from downtown and made 69% of her FT attempts. Sheppard figures to be a force in Class A basketball for two more seasons so sit back, enjoy, and watch her vault her team to new levels. I expect to see all categories increase statistically as she fills the void for some senior talent lost this year.
- Rapid City Christian (Junior) – G
- PPG – 20.6, RPG – 8.0, APG – 3.0, SPG – 3.2
- Head Coach – Joe Kieffer
- Commitment – University of South Dakota
- Hit open three’s…check! Create off the dribble for herself and others…check! Defend aggressively and rebound on both ends…check! Play at a high-level speed and IQ…check! Kieffer checked the boxes of Division I basketball on her way to being a University of South Dakota commit. Kieffer has all the tools standing at 5’10″ and possessing the offensive skills needed to create her own opportunities as well as create for her team. She does a lot of everything as she fills up the hoop averaging over 20 points per contest, snags 8 rebounds a night, creates turnovers, assists her teammates, and can guard the 1-5 position if needed.
- Red Cloud (Senior) – F/C
- PPG – 15.6, RPG – 3.7, APG – 4.0, SPG – 2.0
- Head Coach – Matt Rama
- Commitment – None
- Fallis is another one of those seniors that you hope to see scooped up late to compete at the next level. An effective scorer she scored 356 total points at a clip of 43% overall. In today’s game, you always check the range and the ability to knock down shots at the line, both of which she can do as she boasted a 33% three-point percentage as well as hit nearly 70% of her FTs. Bigger than the stats is the storyline for this high-character young lady. She was unable to compete in the 2020-21 season while tending to her family’s needs and putting others ahead of herself. The senior guard came back in a big way her senior year and helped her Lady Crusaders earn 5th place at the state tournament. A story worthy of being told, Stevi Fallis Stevi Fallis 5'6" | PG Red Cloud | 2022 State SD has earned the respect of South Dakota basketball fans.
- Florence-Henry (Sophomore) – F/C
- PPG – 17.0, RPG – 10.5, APG – 4.1, SPG – 4.3
- Head Coach – Rob Carpenter
- Commitment – None
- Caylin Kelly Caylin Kelly 6'0" | SF Florence/Henry | 2024 State SD was my vote for the most underrated player in Class A and she earned recognition from basketball folks in Class A with all-state honors. She impresses on both ends of the floor and ignites others around her. She is a scorer from all levels and if she continues to work on her range she may just become the most dynamic scorer in the state. She has superb skills scoring in the paint and is deadly from the mid-range. Combine that with being one of the best post-passers you come across and she is a dream for her team’s offense. Spot-on footwork and fantastic rebounding position stand out for her game as well. She remains unsigned as of her sophomore year but figures to be a highly sought-after player for the next level.
Congratulations to the athletes, coaches, and school districts represented on this impressive list.