West River prospects: All in the family

There's no question that basketball talent runs in families. Over the past three months I have been evaluating players from across South Dakota for the first time and the names O'Neill, Vliem and Padden keep popping up. What's remarkable is that a trio of schools in the far western reaches of the state – two of them with a combined enrollment of under 200 – could produce three sets of sisters with the potential to excel at the next level. In this first of four installments on West River prospects, we're keeping it all in the family.   The O'Neills   During the past decade in Minnesota we've covered some remarkable sister combinations. The Greenways. The Ramlalls. The Wilsons. Before them came Rae and Tessa Johnson; Katie, Kylie and Kacie Borowicz; Maddie and Morgan Mathiowetz and others. All have played or will play Division I college basketball. Yet despite seeing all of those outstanding families, I'm not sure I've ever evaluated a group with more raw athletic ability than the O'Neill sisters of Bennett County.   Their basketball skills are already impressive. Considering where they live, that's remarkable. The O'Neills haven't grown up surrounded by specialized skills trainers, year-round basketball academies or constant exposure to elite grassroots competition. They divide their time among multiple sports, particularly track and field, where they're every bit as accomplished. Ironically, that's exactly what makes them so fascinating because there is still so much room for growth.   The athletic foundation is already elite. The basketball ceiling? That's much harder to predict.   [player_tooltip player_id='1819319' first='Reagan' last='O'Neill'] is a Top-20 prospect in South Dakota's Class of 2028. The 5-foot-10 guard averaged 17.3 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and 72 steals last winter. She led the Lady Warriors to the 2025 Class B state championship. Reagan is one of those rare players who completely changes the speed of a game and is probably the fastest player in the state. Once she gets downhill, defenders rarely recover.   She combines breathtaking straight-line speed with strength, balance and fearlessness around the basket. Transition opportunities almost feel automatic. In the half court she creates her own offense, attacks relentlessly, draws contact and lives at the free-throw line. Defensively, she's just as disruptive. Reagan's anticipation allows her to guard virtually every position, and she's constantly turning steals into easy baskets. Add in state-record performances on the track, and it's easy to understand why she projects well beyond high school.   Then there's younger sister [player_tooltip player_id='1877523' first='Peyson' last='O'Neill']. Already 6 feet tall and a Class B All-State selection, the 2029 standout averaged 21 points, 10 rebounds and 70 steals while earning Western Great Plains All-Conference honors. Like Reagan, she's a track star who owns multiple South Dakota state records, and that explosiveness translates beautifully to the hardwood.   Peyson overwhelms opponents with a rare combination of strength, bounce and body control. Her long, fluid strides allow her to cover ground effortlessly, while her elevation makes shooting look almost easy. Peyson is equally comfortable scoring inside, facing up on the perimeter or defending nearly every position on the floor. She's already one of the state's premier sophomores and nowhere near a finished product.   And then there's [player_tooltip player_id='1879575' first='Jade' last='O'Neill'], the youngest of the three. Hailing from the Class of 2031 – yes, she's just finished 7th grade – Jade has remarkable size, strength and athleticism. She is physically mature for her age with an athletic build that enables her to compete effectively against players five or six years older. Jade is a defensive menace whose lateral quickness allows her to stay in front of virtually anyone as she forces deflections and manufactures turnovers that immediately become transition baskets. The youngest O'Neill rebounds beyond her years, wins countless hustle plays and simply does all the little things coaches love. Along with [player_tooltip player_id='1858301' first='Keegan' last='Carlow'] of Mahpiya Luta, Jade has the highest upside of any 7th grader we've seen so far in South Dakota.   Watching all three O'Neil sisters together naturally leads to one question: How high can they climb? They've already dominated in their home state in high school. They've done well for Ambush North in AAU play. The bigger measuring stick comes against nationally recognized programs loaded with Division I prospects. Last week at Summer Jam in Minnesota, Ambush matched up with North Tartan EYBL which is among the very best AAU teams in America. The O'Neills held their own early against a loaded roster of blue bloods before North Tartan's experience, polish and highly trained skill sets gradually took over in a 63-44 victory. But the score doesn't tell the whole story.   The O'Neills possess the athleticism to belong on that floor. There's no question about that. As they continue refining their basketball skills while gaining experience against stronger opposition, the gap will continue to narrow. Can they get to D1? Time will tell.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2026/07/Vliem-sisters-edited.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-1879583" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">[player_tooltip player_id='1879581' first='Madeline' last='Vliem'], [player_tooltip player_id='1323628' first='Mary' last='Ligtenberg'], [player_tooltip player_id='1816194' first='Olivia' last='Vliem']</figcaption></figure>   The Vliems   Last month we climbed in the car and headed west, making a 750-mile round trip to Rapid City for one evening of summer league basketball. It was a lot of driving for a few exhibition games, but the trip was important. One of our goals at Prep Girls Hoops is to ensure that more of the state receives meaningful coverage.   After I relocated to South Dakota this winter, it became obvious rather quickly that the majority of the college prospects are located within a hundred miles or so of Sioux Falls. Naturally that's where most scouting and recruiting has been centered. Meanwhile, talented players west of the Missouri River have often flown under the radar simply due to the impediments imposed by geography.   St. Thomas More coach Brandon Kandolin invited us to check out the Rapid City summer league where we watched teams from Rapid City Stevens, Rapid City Central, Rapid City Christian, Harding County, Sturgis Brown, Mahpiya Luta, Lakota Tech, Custer, Spearfish and Hill City. While several of Kandolin's top players were not in the gym, the trip was well worth it. Early in the evening, two players caught my eye immediately: the Vliem sisters of Sturgis. The first thing you notice is their size. The second is how well they move.   [player_tooltip player_id='1816194' first='Olivia' last='Vliem'], a 6-foot-2 junior ranked #21 in South Dakota's Class of 2027, has developed into one of the state's better frontcourt prospects. She runs the floor extremely well, rebounds everything within reach and anchors the defense with her length and physicality. Offensively, it appears that she has become much more versatile. She scores efficiently around the basket, thrives in pick-and-roll situations and has expanded her range with a high-release jumper that's difficult to contest. Olivia has the tools to play the 4 or 5 spot at the next level.   Younger sister Madeline probably has more upside and more time to get there. Also standing 6-foot-2, the 2029 prospect combines impressive mobility with tremendous length and an aggressive mindset. She runs the floor effortlessly, finishes through contact, scores from the mid-range and has the athleticism to become a high-level frontcourt player. Defensively, she's an outstanding rim protector whose shot-blocking ability changes the game.   The Vliems, pictured above with their teammate [player_tooltip player_id='1323628' first='Mary' last='Ligtenberg'], come from legitimate athletic pedigree, too. Their dad Jeremy starred at Northern State during the 1990s as a 6'9 forward. It's clear now that the daughters inherited those athletic gifts.   The Paddens   The third family making waves out west is the Paddens of Harding County. We've watched them a couple of times this summer, first with Gators AAU at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls and again during our trip to Rapid City. The word that keeps coming to mind to describe the Paddens is toughness. Growing up on a ranch certainly appears to have shaped the way they play. They're physical, fundamentally sound and never seem to shy away from hard work. I'm told that multiple Paddens have formed the backbone of a high school team that is really hard to play against. We've watched three of them.   [player_tooltip player_id='731162' first='Brayden' last='Padden'], a Top-50 prospect in the Class of 2027, has been a fixture in Harding County's lineup since 8th grade. The rugged 5-foot-9 forward defends the post with authority, rebounds her position and brings a physical edge every time she steps on the floor. Younger sister [player_tooltip player_id='1819725' first='Kamry' last='Padden'], a 2028 guard, earned Class B All-State honorable mention after averaging 12.3 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists. Her 128 steals tell you everything you need to know about her relentless defensive style and ability to turn pressure into easy offense. Another name worth remembering is cousin Kalla Padden, a promising member of the Class of 2030. We'll be watching her development in the months ahead.

There's no question that basketball talent runs in families. Over the past three months I have been evaluating players from across South Dakota for the first time and the names O'Neill, Vliem and Padden keep popping up. What's remarkable is that a trio of schools in the far western reaches of the state – two of them with a combined enrollment of under 200 – could produce three sets of sisters with the potential to excel at the next level. In this first of four installments on West River prospects, we're keeping it all in the family.

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West River prospects: All in the family

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