South Dakota 2029 Watch List, part 4

After watching the top South Dakota players in AAU basketball over the past three months we are now publishing our Prep Girls Hoops Class of 2029 Watch List. Last week we published parts 1 and 2. Earlier this week part 3 was released. Today we offer you the fourth and final installment bringing the total number of incoming sophomores on the list to 20.   Just a reminder that the Watch List is not a ranking of the state's top 20 incoming sophomores. Rather, it is an introduction to 20 prospects who have distinguished themselves in 2026 and will be considered for the first official rankings of the class this fall. Players are presented in alphabetical order, with selections made without regard to geography, school size or AAU affiliation. Listed in alphabetical order, here are the final five members of the Class of 2029 Watch List.    Reiff is one of the more promising post prospects in South Dakota's 2029 class. At 6 feet with a strong frame, the Colman-Egan power forward knows how to establish position down low and use her strength to control space around the basket. She rebounds with purpose, protects the paint and combines good instincts with surprising quickness and elevation to create deflections and block shots. Mya has plenty to offer offensively, too, with effective back-to-the-basket moves, soft touch around the rim and the ability to step outside and knock down a three. Add in her mobility and ability to run the floor, and there's plenty of room for her game to expand.     Stark simply finds ways to make plays. Pushing 6 feet with excellent length and mobility, the Sioux Falls O'Gorman wing impacts games with a motor that rarely shuts off. She runs the floor hard, rebounds aggressively and scores consistently around the basket, finishing comfortably with either hand. Stark can be particularly disruptive defensively, where her length, elevation and timing allow her to protect the rim and challenge shots all over the paint. She plays through contact, willingly defends multiple positions and brings energy to every possession. Stark made very real progress over the course of the summer with Sanford, and her development curve suggests there is considerably more to come.     Few players we've watched in South Dakota compete harder than Stoebner. The Mitchell guard operates at full throttle, whether she's sprinting the floor, pursuing a loose ball, boxing out or battling through contact. She's strong and physical, but there's plenty of skill behind that relentless motor. Stoebner owns a balanced offensive game, shoots effectively from the perimeter, handles the basketball creatively and makes strong passes in transition. She also takes care of the ball and consistently contributes in areas that don't necessarily show up in the scoring column. Stoebner communicates, leads and refuses to concede possessions, giving her the kind of competitive makeup that can translate exceptionally well to the next level.     Van Laecken brings a presence to the floor that extends well beyond her statistics. The Tea guard is constantly communicating, encouraging teammates and directing traffic, pairing those leadership qualities with an unmistakable competitive edge. She's a confident perimeter shooter who looks fully convinced every shot is going in, while her length and athleticism allow her to contribute in numerous other ways. Jayna defends opposing guards with intensity, rebounds extremely well for her position and consistently plays bigger than her listed 5-foot-9 frame. Just as encouraging is her development trajectory. Her game has made significant strides, and there are plenty of reasons to believe that progress will continue.     At 6-foot-2 with impressive mobility and athleticism, Vliem possesses a collection of physical tools that immediately gets your attention. The power forward from Sturgis Brown runs the floor exceptionally well for her size, plays through contact and uses her length to make life difficult for opponents around the basket. Her greatest impact currently comes on the defensive end, where she's an imposing interior presence and natural rim protector with the ability to alter possessions even when she doesn't block the shot. Vliem can finish inside and score from the mid-range, with an offensive toolbox that has plenty of room to keep growing. With her combination of size, mobility and athleticism, Madeline has considerable long-term.

After watching the top South Dakota players in AAU basketball over the past three months we are now publishing our Prep Girls Hoops Class of 2029 Watch List. Last week we published parts 1 and 2. Earlier this week part 3 was released. Today we offer you the fourth and final installment bringing the total number of incoming sophomores on the list to 20.