South Dakota Freshman wing Paisley Giles has a lot working for her when it comes to her recruiting profile. Her profile starts with her having positional size, being a 5-foot-11 wing. So she checks that important box of meeting the size and length requirement for the college level. Youth is on her side as well, going into her Freshman season at Brandon Valley High School. The size, length, youth, and the extended time she has to grow and mature her game on the court is starting to attract college coaches. Division II Augustana University and Coach Nate Vogel wasted no time and has offered the 2030 prospect.
Giles’ on-court play, and especially her playstyle and mindset and confidence for such a young player is what makes her go and standout. If she didn’t have that demeanor and motor about her she wouldn’t be near the player she is and her offensive ceiling would be much lower.
When she’s on the court with the upperclass players, like at the Prep Girls Hoops Dakotas EXPO, she still plays her normal attacking style that is relentless going at the rim with a running-back style approach to get momentum all the way to the rim. And although I didn’t see her play live this Summer with TEAM Warwick 14U Dejong, but the highlights, limited film, and stats prove true that she’s able to get the job done and handle business as a player that finds a way to score the ball and is active all game on the court. Below is the top 14U scoring leaders at the Jr All-Star Live At The Lakes tournament, where Giles was the fourth leading scorer.
One of the more interesting playing time situations for me this upcoming season is that of Giles and her potential AA varsity role with Brandon Valley. Brandon Valley High graduates the most production out of any AA school, losing the top player in the state a year ago in point guard Alyvia Padgett—plus the 5-foot-11 do-it-all rebounding machine Gracie Salter, and the power of 5-foot-10 Anika Pedersen. Off the ball they also graduated Division II Ava Kellenberger, who is now with South Dakota School of Mines. She didn’t bring elite length but she played much bigger than she is and brought a big motor and two-way toughness and playmaking.
Unless Brandon Valley has a transfer with size that I don’t know about, they will be largely guard-heavy and will be lacking ideal size at the AA level. This plays into the hand of Giles and a Freshman being counted and relied upon to consistently produce and make a difference in any way she can. I think, because of her size, aggressive offensive identity, constant chugging motor, quick lateral feet, and sticktoitiveness, Giles should have an opportunity be an important piece as a downhill threat and someone that will be able to challenge size in the paint and battle for position and the ball in the air.
Already with a Division II offer secured, to reach that Division I level of recruitment, and ultimately and most importantly succeed at that level, she will need to tighten up and improve her ball skills (dribbling & passing) and outside shooting. Her ball-handling is solid enough to attack gaps in a straight line but it gets a little loose when she has to make a secondary or counter move away from the direct drive.
It’s easy to find gaps of improvement in a player fresh out of 14U ball, and the plus is that they have roughly two-three years to work on their skills and develop them. That’s quite a great deal of time if a player is consistently working to improve and making good basketball decisions. A lot can change from your Freshman-Junior seasons, so that’s where I see the upside in Giles and her being classified as a true Division I prospect by my evaluation.
More specifically, if Paisley—with her confidence and aggressiveness—really bears down and works on her craft consistently and develops a steady handle on the ball, becomes a more fluid passer, and is an average to above-average off the catch three-point shooter, she could have one of the most successful and productive AA careers, and be a Division I-caliber prospect. These particular skills need to be developed because she will need to be mostly a perimeter player, but one with versatility to chip in and affect areas of the game closer to the rim as well to be an effective player, in the Summit League, for example.
As they say, time will tell.
Also of note, Giles has committed to Sanford Sports Academy for the 2027 offseason, where she’s anticipated to have a breakout offseason and get the attention of many college coaches.