Stock Risers in the Class of 2026
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Taziah Hawkins Taziah Hawkins 5'6" | PG Hanson | 2026 State SD – Hanson High School, Club Team – SD Wizards, 5’6″ G Taziah is a talented guard who has a high basketball IQ and loads of physical talent to…
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Continue ReadingTaziah Hawkins Taziah Hawkins 5'6" | PG Hanson | 2026 State SD – Hanson High School, Club Team – SD Wizards, 5’6″ G
Taziah is a talented guard who has a high basketball IQ and loads of physical talent to go with it. She is a fundamentally sound guard who can score on all levels and attacks the basket with great efficiency. Her outside shot from 3 is one of the best in this class! She has a nice mid-range game and does a nice job creating shots off the dribble as well. She’s an aggressive defender who puts pressure on the ball and moves well to steal passes and get out in transition to convert turnovers into points.
Mak Scott Mak Scott 6'0" | C Lyman | 2026 State SD – Lyman High School, Club Team – Ambush, 6’0″ F/C
Mak climbed into the Top 10 in our latest rankings, and deservedly so! She has one of the most complete games in this class and is developing into a next-level prospect for sure. At 6’0″ she does an excellent job in the post and has a variety of moves with impressive footwork allowing her to score off of paint touches. An unbelievable athlete at 6’0″ and athletic, she can attack off the dribble as well, and finishes well at the rim. She does an excellent job running the floor and gives herself chances to score primary offense. On defense, she uses her length and quickness to defend the perimeter and shut down opposing guards and has the frame and physicality to lock down post players as well. She is an excellent rebounder and shot blocker which allows her to alter the game on the defensive end as well. A Top 10 talent, keep your eye on Mak as a high-level prospect with one of the largest ceilings of the bunch.
Ella Merriman Ella Merriman 5'6" | CG Beresford | 2026 State SD – Beresford High School, Club Team – N/A, 5’5″ G
Ella is a high-level scorer who can hit the outside shot with ease and knows how to get to her spots to score. Pair this with a high-level IQ in creating shots for herself and others, and you have a very talented guard who gets it done on all levels. Impressive range on her three-point shot she can fill it up in a hurry and put her team on impressive offensive runs. Look for Ella to be the primary scorer for the Watchdogs this season and put up impressive stat lines.
Blake Thompson Blake Thompson 5'7" | SG McLaughlin | 2026 State SD – Mobridge-Pollack High School, Club Team – N/A, 5’6″ G
Blake has a steady outside shooting game and can get her shot off effectively by keeping great spacing and moving without the ball. She makes defenses pay for giving her space and when they close hard, she can put her head down and get to the rim quickly to finish on both sides. She has a fundamentally sound ball-handling skillset and takes care of the basketball on offense. Defensively she gets after it and does a nice job positioning herself in the gap and help side, and is effective at contesting shots and keeping the ball in front. Keep your eye on this young lady as she continues to climb the rankings board.
Jaelyn Huntimer Jaelyn Huntimer 5'8" | SG Arlington | 2026 State SD – Arlington High School, Club Team – Sanford Sports Academy, 5’8″ G
Jaelyn is a talented guard with a great combination of athleticism and fundamental skill. She’s a smooth lefty that handles the ball well and shows off a consistent outside shot. She’s a dynamic guard who does a nice job keeping spacing and moving without the basketball to get an open shot, and also has a strong ball-handling sense if needed to bring the ball up the court against pressure. On defense, she gets after the ball and puts intense pressure on who she’s defending. You can catch Jaelyn continuing to develop her game for the Sanford Sports Academy this summer.
Hazel Luethmers Hazel Luethmers 5'9" | SG De Smet | 2026 State SD – DeSmet High School, Club Team – Sanford Sports Academy, 5’9″ G/F
Hazel is a dynamic forward who gets it done in a variety of ways on both ends of the floor. She has a smooth release on her outside shot and can knock it down after moving without the basketball to get herself open. She can create shots off the drive for herself and others as well. She has really solid footwork and does a nice job getting to open spaces to create shots. Reading the defense she shows great decision-making within the offense and knows when to get her own points off the drive or set up a shot for somebody else. She has all the makings of a stretch forward with solid handles, a solid jump shot, and the ability to play physically on the inside. On defense, she is active and uses her aggression and length to create turnovers and get stops. A fundamentally sound game and a competitive mindset solidify the stock rising on this young lady from DeSmet!