Friday night standouts at the Hardwood Challenge

I've been in South Dakota for about six months now and my knowledge of the state's vast geography is still fairly limited. One thing I have figured out is that South Dakota is essentially two states – East River and West River – with the Missouri River serving as a de facto border. What's also apparent is just how difficult it is to see the best basketball prospects out west. This week I'll be travelling to the Rapid City high school summer league, a 700-mile round trip for four hours of basketball! On Friday night at the Sanford Hardwood Challenge, I got a sneak preview of West River talent in the form of a gifted 8th grader from Spearfish. Here are my thoughts on her and several other incoming freshmen we watched.   [player_tooltip player_id='1866646' first='Finley' last='Bouman'] – 2030 guard, Rapid City Gators   With a long history of players from the Rapid City region having rolled through Minnesota on their way to college basketball success – think Reese Ross, Haleigh Timmer and Dru Gylten who plied their trade with [program_tooltip program_id='712722' first='North' last='Tartan'] – I figured there had to be more scholarship-level prospects in the region. Seeing Bouman live on Friday night confirmed that fact.   The 6-footer from Spearfish (pictured above) was the most polished player on the court when I saw the Rapid City Gators 2030 squad take the floor against Heiser Basketball Academy 14U Black out of Watertown. It didn't take long to figure out why she's already making an impact in varsity basketball. Finley combines length, strength, skill, and effort in a package that immediately stands out. Early in the game she grabbed our interest with a big-time play, attacking with a smooth hesitation dribble, exploding toward the basket, and finishing with authority. Later on Bouman showed off a gorgeous spin move that rolled into a pull-up jumper which she promptly buried. What I liked most, though, was the motor. Finley never stopped working on both sides of the ball. She handled the ball confidently, shot it well from deep, saw the floor, and competed on every possession.   Let's hope there's a lot more like her out west!   [player_tooltip player_id='1866647' first='Liza' last='Kieffer'] – 2030 guard, Rapid City Gators   Kieffer is one of those players who catches your eye because of how well she moves. The Rapid City Christian guard has good size, plenty of bounce, and a knack for slipping through tight spaces before defenders realize what's just happened. Early in the game Liza split two defenders, elevated smoothly, and finished at the rim with excellent body control. It was a nice move I honestly wasn't expecting. Later she showed off a smooth left-handed floater, a skill you don't see very often from incoming freshmen. Liza plays with pace, has a nice burst when she attacks, and seems comfortable making plays on the move. There is a lot of raw ability here and plenty of reasons to be excited about what comes next.   [player_tooltip player_id='1866651' first='Rhegan' last='Sheppard'] – 2030 guard, [program_tooltip program_id='1819826' first='Hoop' last='City'] 14U   Sheppard's reputation precedes her, not only because of the early promise she's shown at Flandreau but because she has two older sisters who've paved the way. That would include South Dakota State sophomore Claire Sheppard and 2028 standout [player_tooltip player_id='929571' first='Morgan' last='Sheppard'] of [program_tooltip program_id='1819826' first='Hoop' last='City'] 16U. With some courts running behind on Friday night at the Pentagon, and others running well ahead, the two factors conspired to make me unfashionably late for my first live viewing of Rhegan. It took mere moments to decipher that the early hype is warranted.   Within a couple of  minutes of my arrival at the court, Rhegan soared for a defensive rebound, pushed the ball the length of the floor, eluded two defenders, and cashed in at the rim. It was instant gratification for me, just another possession for her. The latest member of the Sheppard basketball family looks remarkably familiar in all the right ways. She's long, athletic, bouncy, and moves with a certain ease that immediately separates her from most players her age. Rhegan handles the ball well, sees the floor, passes with confidence, and carries herself with the self-assurance of someone who expects to make good things happen. We returned later in the evening to watch a complete game as Sheppard's [program_tooltip program_id='1819826' first='Hoop' last='City'] squad scored a 47-30 win over [program_tooltip program_id='1229871' first='Southwest' last='Fury'] from Minnesota. Conclusion: Rhegan is the real deal.   [player_tooltip player_id='898934' first='Evelyn' last='Prahl'] – 2030 wing, Heiser 14U Black   Prahl is still growing into her game and her body – she's perhaps 5'10 or so but that's a guess – but there was plenty to like, both now and for the long haul. The Great Plains Lutheran wing was the tallest player on her team and one of the longest in the gym. While she occasionally looked like a player still figuring out exactly how all those moving parts fit together, her effort level never wavered. I loved the way she competed physically against players of all sizes. She battled [player_tooltip player_id='1866646' first='Finley' last='Bouman'] inside, moved the ball intelligently, and flashed some quality court vision. The highlight was a smooth spin move in the lane that resulted in a slick basket. Evelyn is clearly a prospect worth following as she continues to develop. Heiser has several players in that category.   [player_tooltip player_id='1275948' first='Mya' last='Anderson'] – 2030 guard, [program_tooltip program_id='747557' first='Team' last='Warwick']   A few weeks ago Anderson made a strong first impression on us playing for the top Warwick squad. This viewing, as a member of the second team, simply reinforced it. This was perhaps the third or fourth time I've watched the Canton High School guard and I've come away every time just appreciating the same things: toughness, focus, and a refusal to take possessions off. Anderson has a strong frame, an athletic build, and competes with a noticeable edge that fuels her game. She competes hard, attacks confidently, and carries herself like a seasoned veteran. And that jump shot? Well it's a thing of beauty with a smooth release, a repeatable motion and the kind of effortless mechanics most kids can only hope for. Mya always appears locked into the moment and fully engaged in the game. We're bullish on her future.   [player_tooltip player_id='1866659' first='Malea' last='Fobb'] – 2031 forward, Sanford North Dakota   Over the year's we've come to trust the judgement of coach David Smart at Ada-Borup (Minnesota) who has a long history in AAU. When he told us a couple of weeks ago that we needed to have a look at Fobb, we made note to do so. Friday night the opportunity came as Smart's Sanford North Dakota 14U squad showed up in Sioux Falls. Hailing from Breckenridge (Minnesota) and playing up a year, the 6'2 power forward has definitely got the goods.   Friday wasn't Malea's best day on the basketball court but it's obvious that Fobb's long-term pathway is likely to lead to a college scholarship. She already has a legitimate college frame as a 7th grader, along with good hands, solid footwork, and the strength to physically dislodge opponents when necessary. I especially liked how well Malea moved for her size. Once the physicality and aggressiveness take hold, this athlete is going to be a gigantic handful.

I've been in South Dakota for about six months now and my knowledge of the state's vast geography is still fairly limited. One thing I have figured out is that South Dakota is essentially two states – East River and West River – with the Missouri River serving as a de facto border. What's also apparent is just how difficult it is to see the best basketball prospects out west. This week I'll be travelling to the Rapid City high school summer league, a 700-mile round trip for four hours of basketball! On Friday night at the Sanford Hardwood Challenge, I got a sneak preview of West River talent in the form of a gifted 8^th grader from Spearfish. Here are my thoughts on her and several other incoming freshmen we watched.