West River prospects: Forwards to follow

We kicked off our Prep Girls Hoops Dakotas four-part series on West River prospects Wednesday with an episode of ‘All in the Family' featuring the O'Neills of Bennett County, the Vliems of Sturgis Brown and the Paddens of Harding County. No sign of Archie and Edith Bunker, thank goodness, for those of us old enough to remember the epic comedy of the same name. I digress. The majority of the sisters covered yesterday are forwards, but there are a few more West River frontcourt prospects who deserve a closer look, too. Here are five to follow.    We've written about Bouman before, but she continues to justify the attention. Quite simply, I think she's one of the premier prospects in South Dakota's Class of 2030. At 6 feet with outstanding length and a remarkably polished skill set, Finley already plays the game well beyond her years. She rebounds, handles the ball, makes sharp reads, and gets up and down the floor with impressive pace. What really stands out is her versatility. She can initiate offense, score from multiple spots, or facilitate for teammates, making her the type of positionless player today's college coaches covet. Add in her consistent effort and basketball IQ, and the future looks exceptionally bright.     Although we haven't seen Seumanutafa in person this summer, her performances over the past year left a lasting impression. The 6-foot Stevens standout possesses an unusual combination of length, timing, and athleticism that allows her to dominate defensively as a shot blocker while still running the floor with impressive speed. She's equally comfortable stepping out to knock down jumpers or battling inside for rebounds and finishes. Marley also reads the game exceptionally well, jumping passing lanes and quickly turning defense into offense. Add in her body control, footwork, and relentless competitive nature, and it's easy to understand why she is one of the most intriguing young prospects in the state.     Cluff took a little while to get rolling when we first saw her, but once she settled in, the reasons she's in the Prep Girls Hoops rankings became pretty clear. The 5-foot-9 Stevens wing has an all-around game that grows on you the longer you watch. She sees the floor well, delivers accurate passes, rebounds her position, and consistently makes smart basketball plays. I especially liked her pull-up three, which she shot with confidence and good rhythm. Erica isn't flashy, but she's productive. By the end of the day she looked much more comfortable, creating opportunities for herself and her teammates while quietly leaving her fingerprints on the game.     Every time I've watched Portlock, I come away appreciating her game a little more. She's the type of player who rarely demands attention but consistently helps her team win. Lexi runs the floor hard, rebounds well, defends with purpose, and seems to have a knack for making the next smart play. Her style isn't flashy, but it's undeniably effective. I understand she's made a lot progress over the past year. She's become more confident, more assertive, and increasingly involved as games unfold. Strong, physical, and selfless, Portlock moves well without the ball, sees the floor, and gives her teammates exactly what they need when they need it.     Standing Soldier has the kind of game that immediately establishes a physical tone. At 6'1 or 6'2 with a sturdy frame, she isn't shy about using her strength to carve out space in the paint and make life difficult for opponents. I love her workmanlike approach to the game. She simply went about her business when we watched at summer league, rebounding, defending, and battling for every inch. We watched Jayden swat a shot deep into the seats, a reminder that she's capable of protecting the rim in emphatic fashion. Standing Soldier anchors the defense, owns her space around the basket, and consistently gets herself in position for rebounds and put-backs. She may have been named Sixth Woman of the Year by the media in Rapid City, but her impact on winning is first string.

We kicked off our Prep Girls Hoops Dakotas four-part series on West River prospects Wednesday with an episode of ‘All in the Family' featuring the O'Neills of Bennett County, the Vliems of Sturgis Brown and the Paddens of Harding County. No sign of Archie and Edith Bunker, thank goodness, for those of us old enough to remember the epic comedy of the same name. I digress. The majority of the sisters covered yesterday are forwards, but there are a few more West River frontcourt prospects who deserve a closer look, too. Here are five to follow.