Live at the Lakes: Incoming freshmen who excelled

When I arrived in South Dakota this winter, I knew precious little about the talent pool in these parts. Over the past few weeks I have begun figuring things out but the group I know the least about are the 2030s. Some are already making their mark in high school ball, others are still working their way into the equation. One thing is now certain: There's plenty of talented prospects to see. Here are a handful of incoming South Dakota freshmen I was impressed by at Live at the Lakes in the Twin Cities.   [player_tooltip player_id='1827874' first='Paisley' last='Giles'] – 2030 forward, [program_tooltip program_id='747557' first='Team' last='Warwick']   A couple of weeks ago I saw Giles (pictured above) at a Warwick training session in Sioux Falls and walked away impressed. Watching her again over the weekend at Live at the Lakes only reinforced those feelings as she finished top 5 in scoring in the division and did so much more. The Brandon Valley forward already has the size, strength, and physical tools that make you think “college player” right away. What I really liked, though, was the skill level and pace she plays with. Giles handles the ball well for a 5'11 forward, attacks aggressively, and runs the floor with purpose. One end-to-end push that finished with a smooth floater really stood out. She's vocal, highly engaged, and competes hard defensively against players of all sizes. The long-term upside here feels substantial.   [player_tooltip player_id='1827873' first='CeCe' last='Morgan'] – 2030 forward, [program_tooltip program_id='1246823' first='Sanford' last='Sports Academy']   Morgan was one of those players who grabbed my attention almost immediately when I watched Sanford's 14U Black squad. Considering she already holds Division I offers as an 8th grader, clearly I'm not alone in my thoughts. The 6'1 Mitchell forward, who averaged 12 points per game at the event, combines tremendous length, mobility, and creativity in a way that makes her fascinating long-term. Early in one game she attacked the lane, slipped between defenders, and calmly knocked down a little baby jumper that screamed “high-level prospect.” She moves extremely well, shoots it smoothly from distance, and constantly impacts the game with her energy and activity level. Morgan's length is a weapon defensively, but offensively she's equally dangerous because she can handle, create, and score in multiple ways. This is a player with big-time upside.   [player_tooltip player_id='1250216' first='Nia' last='Talley'] – 2030 guard, [program_tooltip program_id='1246823' first='Sanford' last='Sports Academy']   The Sanford 14U Black guard really impressed me with her explosiveness and ability to pressure defenses. The Mitchell point guard has a strong, athletic build with terrific quickness and acceleration that jumps out right away. One baseline drive especially caught my attention when she blew by her defender with a deft move, got to the rim with gusto, and finished oh-so-smoothly off the glass. That's the type of a high-level move from a young player that makes you sit up and take notice. Talley excels attacking one-on-one situations. Defensively she understands how to use angles effectively and plays with intensity and purpose. Offensively Nia is creative around the basket and confident with the ball in her hands. Talley has to be one of the top prospects in South Dakota's Class of 2030.   [player_tooltip player_id='1275948' first='Mya' last='Anderson'] – 2030 guard, [program_tooltip program_id='747557' first='Team' last='Warwick']   I've always taken a liking to players who rely more on toughness, fundamentals, and work ethic than flashy moves and a look-at-me persona. That's exactly what stood out watching Anderson – a simple game with equal parts skill and toughness. The Canton point guard has a strong frame, a blue-collar approach, and the type of gritty mentality coaches love. She rebounds aggressively, attacks the basket constantly, and seems perfectly comfortable absorbing contact on her way to the rim. Mya can handle the basketball, shoot the three, and create offense without requiring any fluffy extras. She just played so hard when we watched. Her early production at Canton certainly backs that up. She did really well against a strong West Central United squad that won Minnesota's AAU 2030 state championship 10 days ago and has numerous high-level prospects. That speaks to her potential at the next level.   Nora DeJong – 2030 guard, [program_tooltip program_id='747557' first='Team' last='Warwick']   DeJong is one of those players where you immediately start jotting down little notes on because something about the motor and athleticism grabs your attention and holds it. The Sioux Falls Christian guard plays with nonstop energy and zero fear. That's a winning combination for sure. Nora moves well, has quick feet, and attacks opportunities aggressively. Early in the weekend she finished a nice drive from the left side, then shortly after elevated for a rebound I honestly didn't think she could reach. That competitiveness stood out for me. DeJong just keeps coming at you possession after possession. She's strong, hungry, and intense, and I suspect the more I watch her over time, the more there will be to appreciate about her game.

When I arrived in South Dakota this winter, I knew precious little about the talent pool in these parts. Over the past few weeks I have begun figuring things out but the group I know the least about are the 2030s. Some are already making their mark in high school ball, others are still working their way into the equation. One thing is now certain: There's plenty of talented prospects to see. Here are a handful of incoming South Dakota freshmen I was impressed by at Live at the Lakes in the Twin Cities.