South Dakota 2030 Watch List: Who are the 10 best?

After a decade of scouting in the region, I've built up a ton of great relationships with college coaches at all levels. I have conversations every week with program leaders and their assistants where we trade information and opinions and the like. Since I took over the responsibility at Prep Girls Hoops last spring for scouting South Dakota, I have been asked numerous times, “Who are the top prospects in the Class of 2030?'   Since I was brand new to this territory, I hedged my bets all summer to buy a little more viewing time and figure things out. Now, six weeks away from the start of high school basketball practice, I feel confident I can answer that question – or at least give it a fair shot.   WATCH LIST   Today we're introducing the South Dakota Class of 2030 Watch List. Our goal here to give you a compilation of 10 players we think will likely be among the state's top 10 prospects when we put out a definitive list of the top 25 in the new year. We'll also throw in five more names this week who should probably be in the conversation, too.   The Watch List prospects are being published in alphabetical order, with selections made without regard to geography, school size or AAU club affiliation. Our evaluations focus on long-term college potential rather than current high school production, making this the first step in what will be an ongoing evaluation process over the next few years. To be clear, this is not our Top 10 in specific order. By the time we actually rank this class, others may have emerged who deserve a spot. For now, here's the first installment of our South Dakota Class of 2030 Watch List.    Anderson made an immediate varsity impact as an 8th grader, averaging 17 points and 7 rebounds per game while earning Class A All-State honorable mention. At 5-foot-10 with a strong, athletic frame, Mya brings an appealing combination of size, skill and toughness to the backcourt. She can create her own shot, knock down the three-ball and use her strength and body control to finish through heavy contact. Her smooth, repeatable jumper is particularly impressive. But what really separates Anderson is the way she competes. She rebounds aggressively, defends with purpose and rarely seems to take a possession off. There isn't much flash or wasted motion to her game. Anderson simply plays hard, plays smart and produces, and she has the physical tools and scoring ability that make her an outstanding college prospect.     Bouman offers a mix of size, length and an intriguing collection of perimeter skills in a 6-foot frame. That sounds ideal, doesn't it? The Spearfish forward is comfortable handling the basketball, can step outside and knock down the three and has shown an especially nice pull-up jumper from the mid-range. Finley runs the floor extremely well, plays with a huge motor and has the explosiveness and body control to make plays in transition. Bouman also displays a good sense of timing and anticipation, using her reach effectively at both ends of the floor. Really her versatility may ultimately be her greatest strength. Bouman has the tools to operate as a traditional forward when needed but is skilled enough to stretch the floor and create difficult matchups away from the basket. As she continues to get stronger, Finley's long-term projection is only going to get better.     Casey may not have imposing size, but the 5'6 guard plays considerably bigger thanks to exceptional quickness, athleticism and an infectious competitive streak. Emma is a shifty ball handler with a quick first step who attacks the basket aggressively and has the body control to finish creatively, including an effective Euro-step. She complements that slashing ability with reliable perimeter shooting and has the vision and decision-making ability to facilitate for teammates. Casey might be even more impressive defensively. She moves exceptionally well laterally, applies relentless ball pressure and frequently picks up opposing guards full court. After making an impact on varsity as an 8th grader at Rapid City Central, Emma moves to Sioux Falls Roosevelt with an advanced skill set, a high basketball IQ and the type of motor that should translate regardless of the competition.     At 5-foot-11, Giles (pictured above) possesses the size and physical tools to immediately look the part of a college prospect, but it is the versatility of her game that makes her particularly intriguing. Paisley operates more like a big wing than a traditional forward, handling the basketball comfortably, seeing the floor and delivering smart, accurate passes. She plays with pace, excels in transition and has the stride and athleticism to cover ground quickly in the open floor. Giles can stretch defenses with legitimate three-point range, attack off the bounce and finish with a soft touch around the basket. She also uses her length effectively on the glass and has the mobility to defend multiple positions. There simply aren't many obvious limitations to her game and the sky is the limit as Giles continues to develop.     Morgan has the type of physical presence that immediately grabs your attention. At 6'1, maybe 6'2, CeCe combines exceptional length with the mobility, skill and creativity of a much smaller player. Morgan is essentially positionless, capable of handling the basketball at pace, attacking off the dribble, knocking down the three or using her size and strength around the basket. She plays with tremendous energy, rebounds at a high level and uses her length and lateral quickness to impact the game defensively as both a rim protector and versatile matchup piece. Morgan was a full-time varsity starter as an 8th grader, averaging 11.6 points and earning all-conference honors. Morgan already has offers from South Dakota and South Dakota State, which tells you all you need to know about her potential. Her unusually advanced combination of production, physical tools and long-term potential makes Morgan a sure-fire D1 prospect.

After a decade of scouting in the region, I've built up a ton of great relationships with college coaches at all levels. I have conversations every week with program leaders and their assistants where we trade information and opinions and the like. Since I took over the responsibility at Prep Girls Hoops last spring for scouting South Dakota, I have been asked numerous times, “Who are the top prospects in the Class of 2030?'