New Additions to the Class of 2026 - The Guards

The Class of 2026 is no longer just a watchlist and has official rankings out, and we've added some talented names to the list. Here are some new athletes that cracked our class of prospects and a quick profile of their skills!   [player_tooltip player_id='496802' first='Ella' last='Merriman']- Beresford - 5'5" - G   Let's get things started with a really talented guard from Beresford, [player_tooltip player_id='496802' first='Ella' last='Merriman']. She handles the ball well, moves well in the Watchdogs offense, and is one of the best shooters of this group. Ella has a smooth, left-handed jump shot with a great release point and is really consistent from 3. She can create off the dribble as well and is really good at getting downhill and creating shots for herself and others. Great athleticism and a high IQ makes her a great defender as well. Ella looks like a really solid addition and one of the better guards of the Class of 2026.   [player_tooltip player_id='525676' first='Taziah' last='Hawkins']- Hanson - 5'6" - G   Tayziah is a star in the making for the Beavers of Hanson. She has range well beyond the 3-point line, has a variety of moves to get to the rack and finish, and is a talented perimeter defender. She has a lot of the intangibles you look for as well in a player and appears to be a future leader for Hanson. Every time she stepped on the floor this season good things seemed to happen for her team. Big-time addition to the Class of 2026 right here!   [player_tooltip player_id='615375' first='Marissa' last='Storm'] - Ethan - 5'6" - G   Marissa absolutely has ice in her veins from downtown! She will hit threes given an inch of space and has one of the smoothest strokes from downtown of this group. She can attack off the dribble as well to balance out her stellar perimeter shooting. On defense she is active and gets up in the passing lanes to put pressure on the offense.   [player_tooltip player_id='497459' first='Mattie' last='Huwe'] - Tri-Valley - 5'6" - G   Mattie is an athlete we will no doubt have our eyes on in the next three seasons. She played a key role for Tri-Valley this season, including knocking down big shots and showing that she has great composure for a young player. She plays with intensity on defense and can knock down shots as a spot-up shooter.   [player_tooltip player_id='497460' first='Hailey' last='Sorenson'] - Tri-Valley - 5'7" - G   Hailey had a productive freshman season for the Mustangs of Tri-Valley. She has a consistent three-point shot and an overall solid perimeter scoring game. She rebounds hard from the outside and defends with intensity.   [player_tooltip player_id='518542' first='Addy' last='Hammer'] - Flandreau - 5'6" - G   Hammer had a nice role on a really good Flandreau team that made an improbable run to the state tournament and finished the year with some of the strongest performances in the state. She plays great defense and is all over the floor for loose balls and constantly making plays. A vital role player on a solid Class A team that got state tournament experience, Hammer has all the makings to be a stock-riser heading into just her sophomore season.   [player_tooltip player_id='525670' first='Blake' last='Thompson'] - Mobridge/Pollack - 5'6" - G   Blake has a solid overall game and had a really productive season as just a freshman for Mobridge/Pollack. She has a rhythmic dip of the ball, a quick release, and a consistent follow-through. On defense she puts herself in position to make plays on the ball and grabs multiple steals per game. Off of turnovers she can get out and run and has a smooth transition scoring and passing game. She never seems to give up on play and is a high energy player on both ends of the floor.   [player_tooltip player_id='525672' first='Mackenzie' last='Schreiber'] - Rapid City Stevens - 5'6" - G   Mackenzie is a new name on our list that shows off solid handles, a complete offensive scoring game, and intensity on defense. We look forward to covering her more as she approaches her sophomore season!   [player_tooltip player_id='615385' first='Shania' last='Ferguson'] - Lakota Tech - 5'5" - G   Shania is a really good player who played vital minutes this season on a really solid ball club. That makes for great development and she took full advantage of this. She handles the ball well, defends hard on the perimeter, and has a nice high-arcing jump shot. One of the most consistent three-point shooters in this class there is a lot to love about Ferguson's game!   [player_tooltip player_id='537697' first='Asia' last='VanDerWerff'] - Gregory - 5'9" - G   Asia is another talented VanDerWerff for the Gorillas of Gregory. She plays alongside two really talented perimeter players in JessyJo VanDerWerff and [player_tooltip player_id='389375' first='Cassidy' last='Keiser'] but teams shouldn't sleep on this talented to be sophomore. Often this year she was near leading to leading them in points and was an efficient scorer. She rebounds, defends, and plays hard on both ends.   [player_tooltip player_id='497182' first='Ellie' last='Becker'] - Canistota - 5'8" - G   Ellie is a developing young guard who has an aggressive mentality and a high work ethic. She can drop her shoulder and beat her opponent off the dribble to score. Her attacking mentality provides opportunities for herself and her teammates. On defense she has great lateral quickness and does a good job of denying the drive while contesting shots.   [player_tooltip player_id='615378' first='Vaida' last='Amman']- Freeman - 5'5" - G   [player_tooltip player_id='615378' first='Vaida' last='Amman'] is a scrappy guard who can defend in a 1 on 1 setting very effectively and puts pressure on the ball. She gets up and anticipates well in the full court press and moves well to keep fundamental defensive positioning. On offense she has solid handles and can attack the basket to score or create kick outs for her teammates.   Emmie Hausman - Burke - 5'9" - G   Emmie is a really long guard that has a forward type body but guard handles and quickness. She uses her length well to create tipped passes and turnovers for the Cougars. She is a drive-first player on offense who can get to the rim in a hurry and create offense for her team. If she can develop consistency from beyond the arc she will be a really complete player on both ends.   [player_tooltip player_id='615383' first='Bailey' last='Hyland'] - Oldham/Ramona-Rutland - 5'4" - G   Hyland can hit the three and does a great job moving without the ball to get open. She can handle it well and keeps great spacing. On defense she pressures the ball and has quick hands that can pick a pocket. She plays a big role at a young age and will undoubtedly continue to get better with valuable experience.   [player_tooltip player_id='615387' first='Alaina' last='Dean'] - Hill City - 5'3" - G   Alaina played big minutes in her freshman year for Hill City and took full advantage of them. She has quick feet along with equally as fast hands that allow her to put pressure on opposing guards and come up with steals. On offense she can knock down the three and runs the floor well in transition. Dean factors to play a big part of her team's success down the road.   [player_tooltip player_id='615390' first='Claire' last='Crawford'] - Aberdeen Roncalli - 5'4" - G   Claire is a really talented guard that shows point guard traits as well as off-ball guard skills. She is deadly from beyond the 3-point line and will knock it down if given any space. Spacing, ball movement, and body movement are all intangibles that for a young guard Crawford really understands. She has great vision and understands how to get to her own spots to score and create for others with the drive.   [player_tooltip player_id='616250' first='Hylton' last='Heinz'] - Huron - 5'7" - G   Hylton is an aggressive guard who can attack the basket and score, and plays with an impressive motor. She has a knack for anticipating passes for steals on the defensive end and moves the ball well in transition to create early offense. Keep your eye on this talented young lady as her role increases for the Tigers in the next couple of seasons!   [player_tooltip player_id='616251' first='Kenna' last='Soulek'] - Mitchell - 5'5" - G   Soulek is a new name on our list that we will look to learn more about as she sees her role increase with the Kernels and an offseason of development!   [player_tooltip player_id='616252' first='Amari' last='Ward'] - Brookings - 5'7" -G   Amari is a developing guard for the Bobcats who earned crucial minutes this season and progressed as the year went on. She can play fast and does a nice job running the floor in their primary offense. She knocked down some three's from the perimeter and seems to be on the rise offensively. On defense she works hard and is improving with more minutes as she approaches her sophomore season.   [player_tooltip player_id='615376' first='Tessa' last='Eide'] - Centerville - 5'6" - G   Tessa is a long, athletic guard who defends hard and can get to the rim on offense. Defensively she has great court sense and can guard her girl the full length of the floor and create turnovers. On offense, she has a variety of moves to get to the basket and score and has a knack for weaving through the defense to find an opening.

The Class of 2026 is no longer just a watchlist and has official rankings out, and we've added some talented names to the list. Here are some new athletes that cracked our class of prospects and a quick profile of their skills!