South Dakota 2027 rankings: The top 10, part 1

By the time college-bound players enter the fall of their senior year, chances are they've long ago earned their place in the sun. There are few surprises, particularly in the Dakotas where the top prospects tend to rise to the top in a hurry. Still, players improve, others emerge from the shadows, and the dust begins to settle on who will end up at what level in college ball. After a hot summer of AAU competition, and four more months of serious scrutiny, it's time to reshuffle the deck on the Prep Girls Hoops Class of 2027 rankings for South Dakota.   We've added a few players, moved several around, and seen a number of prospects raise their stock substantially. We'll begin today with part 1 of our top 10 list. Part 2 follows later in the week. Then we'll look at players who raised their stock and some other prospects coaches should be watching this fall.   HOW THE RANKINGS WORK   Given that it's been more than a year since the PGH 2027 rankings for South Dakota have been updated we owe you an explanation of 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 – who's going to be an impact player two or three years from now.   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.    Altenburg has occupied the top spot in South Dakota's 2027 rankings from the beginning, and the Nebraska commit continues to justify that position. At 5-foot-10 with excellent length, Altenburg is a complete, versatile guard who creates offense at all three levels. She's an elite perimeter shooter, an accomplished ball handler and a gifted playmaker with exceptional court vision. Brinley understands pace, creates her own shot under pressure and consistently puts teammates in advantageous positions. She's also an intense defender whose strength has continued to improve. After competing against elite national talent on the EYBL circuit with All-Iowa Attack, Altenburg is a national top 100 prospect who has the tools to eventually make an impact at the high-major level.     Few prospects in South Dakota have elevated their game this year as dramatically as Setzer. The 6-foot-2 Sioux Falls Christian forward combines exceptional length, athleticism and quickness with an increasingly diverse skill set. Setzer can dominate around the basket, rebounds above traffic and uses her wingspan and outstanding instincts to alter or block shots at a high rate. She's also comfortable handling the ball, moves well laterally and continues to expand her perimeter game. After averaging 18 points and nine rebounds as a junior, Setzer made another significant jump during the summer while competing against stronger national competition. Her combination of physical tools, rapidly developing skills and considerable remaining upside makes her one of the state's most compelling college prospects. On Sunday she became the state's second high-major senior when she committed to the University of Pittsburgh.     Moore is a true floor general with the scoring ability to take over a game herself. The South Dakota State commit is an elite ball handler who combines quickness, creativity and outstanding body control to consistently put defenders in difficult positions. Moore can bury threes, create her own prime mid-range opportunities or use a combination of craft and explosiveness to reach the rim. Just as importantly, she thinks the game at a high level, controls tempo and understands when to score and when to create for others. Active hands make her disruptive defensively, and she's dangerous turning steals into transition opportunities. Ruby's skill, competitiveness and command of the game make her one of South Dakota's premier guards.     Burckhard presents matchup problems all over the floor. The 6-foot-1 South Dakota State commit has the size and vertical explosiveness to dominate deep in the paint, but she's far more versatile than a traditional post player. Burckhard runs the floor hard, moves intelligently without the ball and can score in transition, knock down threes or create with a pull-up jumper. She owns excellent touch for her size and possesses the basketball IQ to recognize and exploit favorable matchups. Defensively, Burckhard 's size, instincts and athleticism make her an impactful rebounder and rim protector. Add a relentless motor to that diverse collection of tools, and she projects as a highly versatile Division I frontcourt player     Craddock combines the dimensions of a forward with many of the skills traditionally required for guards. At 5-foot-11 with outstanding length and athleticism, the University of South Dakota commit is comfortable creating off the dribble, attacking gaps and finishing around the basket. Craddock can also stretch defenses with her perimeter shooting, making her difficult to contain with any single matchup. That versatility carries over to the defensive end, where her combination of length, quickness and anticipation allows her to guard multiple positions while generating steals and blocked shots. She's an effective playmaker, dangerous slasher and versatile scorer whose physical tools and expanding skill set give her numerous ways to influence a game.

By the time college-bound players enter the fall of their senior year, chances are they've long ago earned their place in the sun. There are few surprises, particularly in the Dakotas where the top prospects tend to rise to the top in a hurry. Still, players improve, others emerge from the shadows, and the dust begins to settle on who will end up at what level in college ball. After a hot summer of AAU competition, and four more months of serious scrutiny, it's time to reshuffle the deck on the Prep Girls Hoops Class of 2027 rankings for South Dakota.