Jaton is one of those players who seems to influence every part of the game whether the ball is in her hands or not. The West Central guard, who holds the #4 position in the Prep Girls Hoops Class of 2028 rankings for South Dakota,  combines athleticism, toughness, and basketball instincts into a remarkably complete package. What stood out to me at the Pentagon in Sioux Falls was the pace she plays with. Kacey gets downhill quickly, attacks gaps decisively, and consistently puts pressure on defenses. She’s strong enough to absorb contact, skilled enough to make shots from deep, and smart enough to recognize the right play when it presents itself. I also love the edge she brings. There’s a competitive spark that fuels everything Jaton does. Add in her rebounding, passing, defensive versatility, and leadership qualities, and it’s easy to see why she’s become one of the state’s most respected prospects.

Watching Jaton’s film, it doesn’t take long to understand why she was a second-team all-state selection. The 5’10 wing plays with a mature, polished game and seems to make something positive happen every time the ball touches her hands. She can score at all three levels, attack through contact, and create her own opportunities with crafty footwork and a quick first step. Kacey’s shooting motion is a thing of beauty, with excellent mechanics, a silky smooth release and a quality finish. The results are predictable and pretty. Jaton has a strong basketball IQ. She sees the floor, shares the ball, rebounds, defends multiple positions, and consistently appears to make the right play. What more could you ask for? Confident, skilled, and active, Kacey looks like a player with a very bright future at the next level.

Kacey was a member of the All Expo Team and the All Handles Team. Kacey has a bright future ahead of her. She can create shots with ease, including the game winner in OT in the final game of the day. Jaton shows the ability to score it from 3 levels and is just flat out fun to watch with the ball in hand. She’s a great slasher off the ball and gets to the open spots in the lane. She does a great job of using her body to absorb contact and finish at the rim. I expect Kacey to have a break out year this season.

It took Kacey a bit to settle in, but once she did she put on a show. Tough to guard and uses her body well at the rim.

Strong drive skill with crafty moves

Strong handles

Smart, unselfish player

Hustles and works hard

Kacey is a long guard with impressive skills that allow her to change the game for her team on both ends. She’s already got varsity level experience under her belt and is a player set to shine in this talented class of prospects. Offensively she runs the floor well and does a nice job catching and finishing on the move. She does a nice job finishing in traffic and uses her length to finish at multiple angles over the defense. A solid shooter as well she can knock it down from deep and is a solid scorer on the catch. Pure athleticism, a competitive mindset, and impressive physical skill put Kacey in the Top 10 tier in this young and on the rise class!