South Dakota Top 50 2027 Prospects: Rankings Update + Discussion
Mid-June top 50, with discussion on the top 20 prospects
The South Dakota 2027 rankings were updated recently but I’m going about presenting them differently. Rather than sharing a Google Sheets, I’m breaking down the rankings in a table that will be inserted into a rankings post for the specific state and graduating class. The Google Sheets will be for my use to thenfore create the rankings table.
*Recent film viewed*
-Team Warwick 17U teams at the RecruitLook Kansas City Showcase
-Sacred Hoops Mueller at Prep Hoops Battle At The Lakes
-Sanford Sports Academy 17U White at Prep Hoops Stomping Grounds
Key takeaways from this rankings update:
Sanford Sports Academy 17U Black with seven of the top 10 prospects.
6’7” Power Forward Easton Riley moves into the top 10 at #10 overall.
6’5” Wing Luke Jensen up to #17 overall.
6’1” Guard Hayden Heier up to #20.
South Dakota State University football commit — 6’5” Big Austin Dowd of Brandon Valley is added.
Rankings Discussion
#1 ranked prospect Brant Wassenaar just committed to Division I Drake University.
Davis Chase was moved up to #2 but he and Colby Nuttbrock are at a near deadlock for me, with Chase having a more distinguished profile of size in a 2027 class lacking true bigs.
#1 ranked point guard Connor Mebius picked up another D2 offer from University of Sioux Falls.
#5 ranked prospect Deondre Painter has been playing high IQ basketball and his decision-making on the court has taken a complete 360. He’s still an aggressive scorer and major three-point threat, he’s just more selective. He’s an elite on-ball defender and he uses his build and strength to his advantage. He could make a case as the #2 or #3 prospect. He took his lone D2 scholarship offer from Northern State University and committed to it.
#7 Bryson Skogsberg is with Heiser Skills Academy and he looks polished and aggressive as a scorer and shooter with them. Saw him live in Sioux Falls at Sanford Sports Complex (Pentagon) and he was getting to the rack in transition to finish—and he lived at the free-throw line as well in that specific game. He’s passing the ball well and moving it around the perimeter cleanly as well as passing the ball upcourt in transition. Also assumed but need to mention—that he could be considered a top 5 three-point shooter in the state. I haven’t seen or heard of any offers for him yet, which would make him my top prospect without an offer.
#8 Gavin Shawd is the go-to scorer for Impact Sports Basketball 17U and was one of the top scorers in AA in 2025-2026 and a first-team all-stater. He’s looking improved physically and he could make a case to be up to #6 overall. He has an NAIA offer from Dakota Wesleyan University.
#9 Carter Craven is recovering from a knee injury during the 2025-2026 season but he recently has picked up two NAIA offers from Dakota Wesleyan University and Dordt University. He’s a positionless 6’6” player that leads the class in intangibles and character.
#10 6’7” Forward Easton Riley is the highlight stock-riser with this update. He’s showing an outside shooting game and some toughness in the paint as an interior defender, rebounder, and rim-protector.
#12 6’5” Wing Brooks Jett has ran into some bad luck in the past year as far as staying 100% healthy. He’s a legitimate football prospect as well and he banged-up his shoulder during the football season which caused him to miss some games. He roughed-up his ankle in the Spring and he had to sit some time. But he looked good and more like himself on film at Prep Hoops Battle At The Lakes with Sacred Hoops Mueller. Jett has upside up to #6 overall and D2’s need to watch him this season because if things align and he gets good favor, he’s a first-team all-stater and a top 2-3 player in class B. Brooks has the length, skill, and athleticism blend to be a prototypical D2 wing. He holds an NAIA offer from Northwestern College (IA). His best days are ahead of him.
