Class of 2026 Stock Risers
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Every year, high school sports enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the emergence of new talents in the world of prep athletics. In South Dakota, girls’ basketball is no exception. One of the most trusted platforms for keeping an eye on up-and-coming talent…
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Continue ReadingEvery year, high school sports enthusiasts eagerly anticipate the emergence of new talents in the world of prep athletics. In South Dakota, girls’ basketball is no exception. One of the most trusted platforms for keeping an eye on up-and-coming talent is Prep Girls Hoops, and they’ve identified a group of standout players who are making waves in the South Dakota state rankings. These girls are more than just promising; they’re stock-risers, and they’re poised to leave a significant mark on the basketball scene.
Here are several young players who are climbing the South Dakota state rankings and making a name for themselves.
Blake Thompson Blake Thompson 5'7" | SG McLaughlin | 2026 State SD – Mobridge-Pollack High School, 5’6″ G
Blake is a sniper from deep and gets her shot off effectively by keeping great spacing and moving without the ball. Recently at the Top 250 Expo, she showed off her immense range and fierce competitive spirit. She has a fundamentally sound ball-handling skillset and takes care of the basketball to go along with her impressive shooting game. Defensively she does a great job pressuring the ball and is a vocal leader for her squad. On offense, she features speed, impressive shooting range, ball-handling skills, and a sharp basketball IQ that makes her a very potent scoring threat.
Tegan Konold Tegan Konold 5'6" | CG Mobridge-Pollock | 2026 State SD – Mobridge-Pollack High School, 5’9″ G/F
Teammate to Blake Thompson Blake Thompson 5'7" | SG McLaughlin | 2026 State SD , Tegan Konold Tegan Konold 5'6" | CG Mobridge-Pollock | 2026 State SD stands at 5’9″ and brings versatility to the court. She’s a solid defender, can play multiple positions, and has great court vision. At the Top 250 Expo, she showed off a ton of tough finishes at the rim and was excellent attacking the basket off the dribble. She was a fantastic communicator, showed a very high IQ on both ends and was one of the best on-ball defenders at the event. Tegan is moving quickly up the rankings for the Class of 2026 and is certainly a name to remember.
Harley Koth Harley Koth 5'9" | PF Beresford | 2026 State SD – Beresford High School, 5’9″ F
Harley is another stock riser who is making a big difference for her team and showed up with a great performance at our recent Top 250 Expo in Sioux Falls, SD. At 5’9″ and athletic, she’s a dynamic presence on the court, contributing on both ends of the floor and showing off a great work ethic. She did an excellent job staying active and ran the floor in transition extremely well. She played very physically on the defensive end and showed the ability to guard multiple positions. On offense and defense, she was one of the most aggressive rebounders and showed great instincts in both positioning and timing helping her to snag a lot of boards.
Ava Kellenberger Ava Kellenberger 5'8" | CG Brandon Valley | 2026 State SD – Brandon Valley High School, 5’8″ G
Ava has been a staple in the Prep Girls Hoops rankings but is only continuing to gain recognition for her impressive skillset. She is a poised and confident player who can handle the ball, shoot from deep, and make her presence felt at both ends of the floor. She balled out at the recent Top 250 Expo showing off advanced ability to score the basketball and make her entire group better on offense. Advanced finishing moves, a superb scoring mentality, and excellent court vision stood out as she showcased her game.
Jaelyn Huntimer Jaelyn Huntimer 5'8" | SG Arlington | 2026 State SD – Arlington High School, 5’8″ G
Jaelyn is making a strong case as an elite basketball player in the state of South Dakota and has made a huge leap in one year in the Class of 2026 rankings. She is a 5’8″ athlete with great quickness, an all-around solid fundamental game, and a versatility allowing her to be a high-level scorer, rebounder, and defender. She isn’t afraid of the big moments and can take over games in crucial moments. She may have arguably the most complete game in the Class of 2026. Look for big things out of the Class B guard this winter!
Addie Siemsen Addie Siemsen 5'8" | CG Mitchell | 2026 State SD – Mitchell High School, 5’8″ G
Addie made waves at the Top 250 Expo and continued her ascension up leaderboards in her class. She has a smooth jump shot and shows solid consistency in knocking down the deep ball. She has impressive length and lateral footspeed allowing her to be a solid defender who can defend multiple spots on the floor. Her determination and continued commitment to improving her game outside of the regular season are pushing her higher in the rankings!
Amari Ward Amari Ward 5'7" | CG Brookings | 2026 State SD – Brookings High School, 5’7″ G
Amari is a 5’7″ standout from Brookings and she is leaving her mark as a stock riser in the Class of 2026. Her speed, defensive tenacity, and ability to change the tempo of the game set her apart from other prospects. Amari’s passion for the game is evident as she demonstrates great effort, intensity, and all-out hustle. As she continues to improve her decision-making and outside shooting consistency, look for Amari to continue her upward trend!
These young athletes have their eyes set on a bright future beyond high school basketball. All of these stock-risers demonstrate relentless work ethic, big time determination, and an intense passion for the game. As they continue to hone their skills and gain experience, it’s certain that we’ll see even more exceptional performances from these girls in the coming seasons. Prep Girls Hoops and basketball enthusiasts alike will eagerly watch their progress and anticipate the impact they’ll have on the South Dakota basketball scene.