Who moved up in the South Dakota 2028 rankings?

There's nothing quite like an in-person viewing when it comes to evaluating next-level basketball talent – but that's never enough. I like to do my homework and dig a little deeper on every prospect, watching video, reading articles, asking around. It's a process that almost always yields helpful nuggets of information like the one I found on [player_tooltip player_id='1819318' first='Henlee' last='Loof']: In her varsity debut as a freshman, the Sioux Falls Roosevelt guard put up an impressive 16 points and hit the game-winning three-pointer with 6 seconds left on the clock. Not something you see often. Clearly that performance in December of 2024 was a preview of what was to come.   This week we're updating the Prep Girls Hoops prospect rankings for South Dakota's Class of 2028 and one of the most-impressive stock risers we scouted all summer was none other than Loof. Watching her most recently at AAU workouts in Minnesota, it's obvious that she is about to lift her game to a whole new level. That's why Loof tops the list today of our 2028 stock risers, a group of five prospects who have leveraged their unique sets of skills and physical abilities to move up the ladder in their quest to reach college basketball.   Here's our evaluations of Henlee and four more outstanding high school juniors.    Loof makes one of the biggest moves in the rankings, climbing from #20 to #12 after repeatedly showing us there is much more to her game than elite perimeter shooting. Henlee's quick trigger, high release and clean mechanics make her one of the state's best young shooters, but Loof has become an increasingly complete offensive player. She is patient, rarely forces the issue and can attack closeouts with a pull-up, floater or Euro-step while finishing through contact. Her footwork is excellent and she plays with unusual poise and efficiency for a young guard. Defensively, Loof uses her length and lateral quickness to disrupt passing lanes. Add increasing strength to an already polished skill set, and her trajectory continues pointing upward.     Ruml moves up five spots to #17 as her game continues to expand beyond the paint. The 6'1 standout from Castlewood has long been an exceptional rebounder, using her size, vertical reach and instincts to seemingly find the basketball wherever it comes off the rim. She establishes position, refuses to surrender space and generates plenty of second-chance points. Defensively, Ruml protects the rim and alters shots while showing the discipline to challenge without constantly fouling. The development that makes her such an intriguing process is on the offensive end of the equation. Already an efficient interior scorer with a powerful finish and effective drop step, Ruml has gradually extended her shooting range and become a legitimate threat from beyond the arc. That inside-out versatility makes an already difficult matchup that much tougher.     Peterson continues to make steady progress, moving ahead to #18. At 6-foot-1 with long arms, a strong frame and powerful lower body, Jersey owns some scarce physical tools that immediately attract attention. What's impressive is how effectively she is learning to use them to maximum effect. Peterson establishes position, boxes out, rebounds with purpose and finishes efficiently through contact. Her footwork has become noticeably quicker, while an expanding face-up game and improving mid-range shot provide options beyond scoring around the basket. Defensively, she may have even greater upside. Peterson moves her feet well, uses her length and timing to alter shots and generally plays with good discipline. She is becoming increasingly comfortable and assertive, turning an intriguing collection of physical tools into consistent production.     VanDerWerff's combination of length, athleticism and versatility makes her an intriguing projection as her game continues to develop. The Platte-Geddes multi-sport standout is a fluid mover with excellent vertical reach who doesn't fit neatly into the traditional post category. She can handle the ball, slash from the perimeter and finish through contact while providing relentless contributiions on the glass. Her length and anticipation allow her to impact the game defensively across the floor, whether disrupting passing lanes, challenging shots or protecting the rim. VanDerWerff has also become more disciplined defensively without sacrificing her aggressiveness, causing no end of consternation for her opponents. The next step is continued shooting development. Her mechanics are encouraging and the results are becoming more consistent. If the perimeter shot becomes a dependable weapon, her versatility takes another significant step forward.     Coming off an incredibly productive high school season that gained her plenty of notice, Baloun makes a substantial jump to #53 in the PGH South Dakota rankings. The 5'10 Highmore-Harrold standout averaged 17.2 points and 8.5 rebounds last season, surpassed 1,000 career points as a sophomore and earned Class B All-State Third Team honors. As impressive as the data is, Jada's appeal goes well beyond the numbers. Baloun plays a wonderfully simple, aggressive game built around effort and sound fundamentals. She runs the floor hard, attacks with long strides, finishes through contact and pursues rebounds and loose balls like a rabid dog. Defensively, her length and motor make Jada a strong paint presence who quickly turns stops into transition opportunities. She can also step outside and make shots. Baloun still has room to climb, but her productivity, toughness and competitive approach have earned a rankings boost.    ABOUT THE RANKINGS   The Prep Girls Hoops prospect rankings are based on an individual player's potential at the collegiate level. The rankings are NOT based solely on current performance, as there are a multitude of factors that determine how a player's game will translate to the next level. If you'd like to learn more about the Prep Girls Hoops rankings are done, please visit the <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/how-we-rank/">How We Rank</a> section under the Rankings tab.

There's nothing quite like an in-person viewing when it comes to evaluating next-level basketball talent – but that's never enough. I like to do my homework and dig a little deeper on every prospect, watching video, reading articles, asking around. It's a process that almost always yields helpful nuggets of information like the one I found on Henlee Loof Henlee Loof 5'9" | CG Roosevelt | 2028 State SD : In her varsity debut as a freshman, the Sioux Falls Roosevelt guard put up an impressive 16 points and hit the game-winning three-pointer with 6 seconds left on the clock. Not something you see often. Clearly that performance in December of 2024 was a preview of what was to come.