2027 rankings update: South Dakota stock risers

As most of you probably know, in South Dakota much of the state's commerce, politics and sports coverage is divided into two distinct territories: East River and West River. As a newcomer to the state, that became obvious really fast. The result for would-be college basketball players is a rather glaring disparity in the amount of coverage and scouting players from either side of the Missouri River receive. Yep, the West River kids have been handed the short straw and Prep Girls Hoops is as guilty as anyone in that regard. One of my goals was to buck that trend.   This week we updated the Class of 2027 rankings for the first time in a year. One aspect that's obvious in the new rankings is the fact that West River talent is working its way into the spotlight. Today, we bring you seven prospects who've raised their stock the most with this rankings update. Not surprisingly, four of the seven are from the Rapid City region.     Just a quick reminder that Prep Girls Hoops ranks prospects based on their potential as college basketball players. The rankings are not about current high school performance. That's an important distinction. Our goal is to project which players have the potential to become an impact college player two or three years from now. It's not a perfect science, but our record over the past decade in Minnesota and elsewhere has been very good.  If you'd like to learn more about how we do it, visit the <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/how-we-rank/">How We Rank</a> section under the Rankings tab.    Vliem wasn't even in the rankings when we arrived in South Dakota this spring. Now she's knocking on the door of the top 10. At 6-foot-2 with a strong frame, Olivia owns the physical tools college coaches covet in a post player, but her development goes well beyond size. She runs the floor extremely well, rebounds with purpose and anchors the paint as a disciplined rim protector who can defend without fouling. Her offensive toolbox has expanded, too. Vliem remains most comfortable with her back to the basket, but an improving mid-range jumper and better ball skills have made her increasingly versatile. The combination of physical tools, production and continued growth sends her soaring to No. 11. Although their home town is best known for the roar of big bikes and boisterous bikers, we think Olivia and her 2029 sister Madeline are going to make some noise of their own.     Hanson has made one of the more dramatic climbs in the updated rankings, going from unranked this spring to No. 27. At 6 feet with long arms and a powerful frame, the Viborg-Hurley standout has the versatility to operate as either a small or power forward. Hanson moves remarkably well, attacks with long, explosive strides and can finish over defenders in traffic. Her perimeter game has become increasingly dependable, while improving ball skills continue to broaden her offensive possibilities. Defensively, Hanson is an especially disruptive presence who uses length, timing and athleticism to challenge shots without fouling. Her physical tools have always been intriguing; the expanding skill set is making the overall package increasingly difficult for college coaches to overlook.     Verdoorn has earned her way up the rankings with toughness, physicality and an increasingly complete game. The 5-foot-9 Dakota Valley forward isn't particularly long, but she uses exceptional strength and a sturdy frame to carve out space, secure box-outs and wear opponents down. Alexa plays with a huge motor, anchors the defense and has developed a well-earned reputation as a disruptive shot blocker. She may not be a high-volume scorer but Verdoorn's offensive game continues to grow. She protects the basketball, passes well and consistently makes productive decisions. Recently committed to Briar Cliff, Verdoorn is a classic lunch-pail competitor whose team-first mentality, energy and willingness to embrace the physical work have drive her success.     Smaller guards need to find ways to be clever and creative in order to compete with the size of the competition that's going to be a reality at the next level. Kruse is finding ways to do exactly that. The Rapid City Central point guard is shifty with the basketball, owns a quick first step and has become increasingly effective creating her own offense off the bounce. Kruse attacks bigger defenders fearlessly, getting to the rim to score or draw fouls, while expanding perimeter range has made her more difficult to contain. Colee is equally valuable as a facilitator, seeing the floor well and handling pressure with poise. Defensively, active hands and relentless effort create turnovers and transition opportunities. Kruse's growth as a scorer, combined with her basketball IQ, floor leadership and unmistakable grit, has elevated her to No. 39 in the updated rankings. Colee is a bulldog and we're here for that all day long.     Mack makes a big leap to #70 because she continues to maximize every bit of her ability. The 5-foot-6 Watertown guard isn't physically imposing, but she controls games with pace, poise and intelligence. Lily can operate effectively at either guard position, handles pressure effectively and consistently takes quality shots while keeping mistakes to a minimum. The left-hander has increased her offensive production throughout her high school career while developing into an increasingly accomplished playmaker. Just as importantly, she brings positive energy to the floor, communicates well and leads by example. Mack's dependable decision-making and ability to make teammates better are qualities that should translate nicely to the college game. She committed to Dakota Wesleyan in July.     Cluff makes one of the biggest moves of the entire update, climbing 30 spots to #79. Standing 5'9 or 5'10, the Rapid City Stevens forward owns the kind of fundamentally sound, all-around game that becomes more impressive with repeated viewings. Cluff sees the floor well, passes accurately, rebounds her position and rarely wastes possessions. Her perimeter shooting is particularly appealing, whether she's stepping confidently into a catch-and-shoot opportunity or smoothly pulling up from beyond the arc. Athleticism, lateral quickness and good body control add to a versatile package that could eventually transition more to the wing. As Cluff becomes more assertive offensively, there's reason to believe she'll keep on getting better.     Repeated viewings have steadily raised our opinion of Portlock, who moves 14 spots from No. 94 to No. 80. The 5-foot-9 Rapid City Stevens forward has become more confident and assertive while maintaining the selfless approach that makes her so valuable. Strong and physical, Portlock battles for defensive rebounds, contests shots and creates second-chance opportunities with her work on the offensive glass. She's definitely more versatile than a traditional interior player. Portlock moves intelligently without the ball, sees the floor well and can step onto the perimeter to shoot or facilitate offense as a contemporary point forward. Her combination of versatility, dependability and steady improvement makes her an easy player to appreciate the more you watch.

As most of you probably know, in South Dakota much of the state's commerce, politics and sports coverage is divided into two distinct territories: East River and West River. As a newcomer to the state, that became obvious really fast. The result for would-be college basketball players is a rather glaring disparity in the amount of coverage and scouting players from either side of the Missouri River receive. Yep, the West River kids have been handed the short straw and Prep Girls Hoops is as guilty as anyone in that regard. One of my goals was to buck that trend.