South Dakota 2028 rankings: Reshuffling the deck

Upon arriving in South Dakota, coaches in the region at all levels were quick to tell me that the state's 2028 class was really solid with a lot of talent and plenty of depth. After several months of observation live and online, I'm pleased to report that they were right. What's even more exciting now is what's happening at the top of the class where it's very good and getting better. That trend is certainly reflected now as we do our first full-field update of the Prep Girls Hoops Class of 2028 rankings in over a year.   The updated rankings were released today as we reshuffled the deck at the top of the list, moved players up to reflect their improvement, and added 10 new names to the collection. With 80 players now officially named as ranked prospects, we think we've developed a good snapshot of what's available in South Dakota for college recruiters at all levels – from high-major and mid-major Division 1 to scholarship-level D2 and NAIA, plus regional Division 3 and junior college programs. Let's begin at the top.   THE NEW TOP 10   There are several movements of note among the 10 best prospects in the state. While #1 [player_tooltip player_id='929571' first='Morgan' last='Sheppard'] of Flandreau and #2 University of South Dakota commit [player_tooltip player_id='926343' first='Taylor' last='Reuvers'] of Vermillion are staying put, we've seen the rise of #3 [player_tooltip player_id='935886' first='Ellie' last='Meyer'], #4 [player_tooltip player_id='934591' first='Jordyn' last='Scott'], #5 [player_tooltip player_id='1048595' first='Layla' last='Berte'] and #7 [player_tooltip player_id='1819319' first='Reagan' last='O'Neill']. Here's the complete list.   <ol class="wp-block-list"> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='929571' first='Morgan' last='Sheppard'] – Flandreau</li>   <li>[player_tooltip player_id='926343' first='Taylor' last='Reuvers'] – Vermillion</li>   <li>[player_tooltip player_id='935886' first='Ellie' last='Meyer'] – Sioux Falls O'Gorman</li>   <li>[player_tooltip player_id='934591' first='Jordyn' last='Scott'] – Lyman</li>   <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1048595' first='Layla' last='Berte'] – Sioux Falls Washington</li>   <li>[player_tooltip player_id='929563' first='Kacey' last='Jaton'] – West Central</li>   <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1819319' first='Reagan' last='O'Neill'] – Bennett County</li>   <li>[player_tooltip player_id='935880' first='Josie' last='Biteler'] – Sioux Falls Washington</li>   <li>[player_tooltip player_id='929561' first='Aubree' last='Worden'] – Dakota Valley</li>   <li>[player_tooltip player_id='929560' first='Izzie' last='Eide'] – Centerville</li> </ol>   Here's the rundown on the lone newcomer entering the top 10 for the first time and the other three elite prospects who have earned a jump up the ladder.    O'Neill enters the top 10 at #7, having risen 11 positions over the course of the summer. The fact is, Reagan has as much or more raw athletic ability as anyone in the class. The 5'10 guard/forward from Bennett County has exceptional speed, strength and athleticism, allowing her to dominate in transition, rebound far bigger than her size and defend multiple positions. Spending the summer competing for [program_tooltip program_id='1157999' first='Ambush' last='Basketball'] offered an important measuring stick. Versus players who've spent years on individual skill development with professional trainers, while constantly competing with and against the best players in the country, it became clear how much work remains for Reagan. That's also what makes her projection so intriguing. Her outside shooting and overall skill level have definitely improved, but it's the amount of untapped capacity that's compelling. We rank prospects based on their potential to succeed in college basketball and O'Neill's upside is immeasurable.     Meyer has reached the point where consistently excellent performances have become the expectation. The 6-foot O'Gorman standout has continued to demonstrate why she belongs among the very best prospects in the class, combining length and athleticism with an unusually diverse skill set. She handles the ball comfortably, scores at all three levels, finishes with either hand and can take over stretches offensively. Ellie also rebounds well, protects the rim effectively and has the versatility to defend multiple positions. What has impressed us just as much is her competitive edge. Ellie has repeatedly embraced physical matchups against bigger players and more than held her own. The physical tools are impressive, but the combination of skill, toughness and versatility moves Meyer up two places to #3.     The more we see Scott, the more apparent it becomes that her value extends far beyond what immediately meets the eye. Yes, the Lyman guard can score the basketball – and so much more. The 5'11 lefty has outstanding physical tools, combining length, athleticism and bounce with an increasingly polished skill set. She can create her own offense, beat defenders with her first step, finish through contact and knock down shots from the perimeter. What might separate Jordyn the most, however, is her vision and playmaking ability. She constantly scans the floor, sees opportunities developing early and delivers passes while playing at full speed. Scott handles pressure with impressive poise and doesn't need to shoot well to control a game. Add her defensive versatility and toughness, and Scott looks increasingly like a complete next-level guard. She rises two spots to #4.     Few players in the class possess a more enticing collection of physical tools than Berte. The 6-foot forward from Sioux Falls Washington is long, quick and exceptionally bouncy, with the ability to elevate over defenders and make plays above the rim in impressive fashion. But her move up the rankings isn't based on athleticism alone. Far from it. Berte plays with an impressive motor, attacks the glass at both ends and has become a vocal presence whose energy boosts everyone around her. Offensively, Layla can exploit matchups off the dribble or around the paint, while a smooth jumper with legitimate range gives her another dimension. There's still plenty of room for physical and skill development, too, which is part of the attraction. Berte is already productive while still appearing to be only scratching the surface of her considerable upside. We're bullish on Berte, who rises four places to #5.    HOW THE RANKINGS WORK   Since the Prep Girls Hoops rankings for South Dakota's Class of 2028 have not been updated in more than a year, we should explain how the rankings process works. The most important thing to know is this: We rank prospects based on their potential as college basketball players. The rankings are NOT about current performance in high school. This is an important distinction. There are plenty of players who are high school standouts whose game does not translate as well to the collegiate level as they might like. Others in high school aren't headline-makers, but their particular assets are in demand at the next level. That's what we're looking for – the players who will be making an impact two or three years down the road.   There are multiple factors that go into the process including athleticism, size, basketball skills, IQ and understanding of the game, effort level, toughness, on-court communication and intangibles such as body language. A variety of people participate in the process including college, AAU and high school coaches. 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.   Coming up: We'll look at the 2028 prospects who raised their stock.

Upon arriving in South Dakota, coaches in the region at all levels were quick to tell me that the state's 2028 class was really solid with a lot of talent and plenty of depth. After several months of observation live and online, I'm pleased to report that they were right. What's even more exciting now is what's happening at the top of the class where it's very good and getting better. That trend is certainly reflected now as we do our first full-field update of the Prep Girls Hoops Class of 2028 rankings in over a year.