High School Elite to play in Sioux Falls

[89rabbit]

Many of the Elite high school basketball players from the Mid-West will be in action in Sioux Falls the next three days. I wonder how many future Jackrabbits Scott and A.J. will see in this group. Highlights from an Argus Leader story:

http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs...37/1002/SPORTS

High school standouts visit city, showcase skills
ERIC BURSCH
ebursch@argusleader.com

Published: 06/30/05

One of the best basketball shows in the Midwest makes its annual appearance in South Dakota today.

The 5th annual Mr. Basketball and Miss Basketball Dakota Showcase kicks off a three-day run at Augustana's Elmen Center with 16 boys and 16 girls all-star teams from seven states competing in pool play and tournament action.

Over the years, the tourney has become one of the prime summer basketball tournaments to spot top regional high school players. Over 100 college coaches are expected to fill the stands, their eyes searching for those special players that might be worth a scholarship offer. . . .

Koster said the strong group of coaches the event attracts is what draws teams to Sioux Falls.

"You always get better teams when you have a good group of college coaches," Koster said. "It starts with the college coaches.

"When teams decide which tourneys to go to, most teams are going to decide on one with coaches from schools the players are interested in going to. We have coaches coming from a lot of Midwest schools." . . .


Go State! ;D

[JBNJBQ]

Re: High School Elite to play in Sioux Falls

http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs...13/1002/SPORTS


Proving they belong
Tourney a chance for S.D. athletes to show their stuff

STU WHITNEY
swhitney@argusleader.com

Published: 07/1/05



.....Michael Eekhoff - a polished point guard from Hull Western Christian High School - rallied the Schoolers to a rousing 86-82 victory over IBCA Iowa Select.

It's not all supposed to be about winning at this recruiting showcase, which started in 2001 and lures 100 college coaches to Sioux Falls every summer to check out some of the Midwest's premier boys and girls hoop talent.


The state's top girls entries (South Dakota Riders and South Dakota Elite) both went 1-1 on Thursday, including evening losses to teams with NCAA Division I talent.

That left the stage to the Schoolers, who won this event in 2003 and traditionally merit a prime-time Court 1 slot on opening night.

"It helps draw more fans and create a little atmosphere in the gym," says tournament director Doug Koster, who also runs the Mr. Basketball and Miss Basketball recruiting tournaments in Kearney, Neb.

It was also an interesting scenario for Eekhoff, the 6-foot-1 Hull Western Christian star who knows most of the Iowa Select players - including University of Northern Iowa recruit Roman Gentry of Sioux City East.

"I've played with all those guys before, so it was fun to get after them," says Eekhoff, who scored 18 points and hit two late free throws for the Schoolers, who trailed 10-0 early in the game and 41-34 at halftime.

"I'm sure there are no hard feelings. It was just good to play a close game and give people what they wanted to see."

The Schoolers rode a strong effort from 6-7 Pierre standout Michael Tveidt, their top college prospect, who scored 20 points while battling the 6-4 Gentry and beefy 6-5 center Ben LaMack.

"Playing against guys like that is pretty good experience," said Tveidt, a first-team all-state pick who already has full-ride scholarship offers from South Dakota State and North Dakota State. He is also being pursued by mid-major programs such as Creighton and Northern Iowa.

"We're here to play hard, and we want to win the tournament," added Tveidt. "Sioux Falls is sort of our hometown, so this would be a good tournament for us to win. It's nice to have a lot of people to play for, and most of our families are here."

Overall, South Dakota boys teams have compiled a record of 36-25 (.590) at this event, while girls squads are 34-37 (.479).


Stu Whitney's column appears every Friday in the Argus Leader. Reach him at swhitney@argusleader.com.

[YanktonJack]

Re: High School Elite to play in Sioux Falls

There is one correction to Stu Whitney's article. UNI committed there last available scholarship this year to Roman Gentry. I had read that info on Iowa Preps. I think it is nice to have them out of the picture.

[YanktonJack]

Re: High School Elite to play in Sioux Falls

Poor spelling in Yankton. It was their scholarship.

[89rabbit]

Re: High School Elite to play in Sioux Falls

Not to worry, there are never any marks taken off for spelling or grammar, it is all about the content.   ;D


Go State!  ;D

[89rabbit]

Re: High School Elite to play in Sioux Falls

Highlights from the Argus:

http://www.argusleader.com/apps/pbcs.../50703004/1002

Schoolers win championship
TROY LINDHOLM
For the Argus Leader

Published: 07/3/05


The fifth annual Dakota Showcase basketball tournament ended Saturday night at the Elmen Center when one of South Dakota’s own hoisted the championship trophy for the first time since 2003.

The Dakota Schoolers beat the Omaha Crusaders 90-83 in the title game, giving them a perfect 6-0 record in the tournament.

The Schoolers put five players in double-figures in the championship game, including a team-high 24 points from Yankton’s Tate Pesicka, who averaged 16 points over the three-day tournament. Michael Tveidt, who will be a senior at Pierre, notched 20 points while averaging 14.3 points in six games. . . .

Roosevelt’s Anthony Cordova notched 14 points and added nine rebounds, while Zach Finley and Mitch Boek rounded out the double-figure Schooler scorers with 12 and 10 points, respectively.

“We made it happen in the second half when they (Omaha) made their run,” said Cordova, a 6-7 senior. “This tournament is always fun because of the good teams and players. Tonight we hit some big shots at the end and pulled out the win.” . . .


Hopefully some of these kids will be good enough to wear the Yellow and Blue!

Go State! ;D

[OK_Jackrabbit]

Re: High School Elite to play in Sioux Falls

Not to worry, there are never any marks taken off for spelling or grammer, it is all about the content.   ;D
Go State!  ;D

Grammar.

[89rabbit]

Re: High School Elite to play in Sioux Falls

opps.  :-[ Corrected.

Go State! ;D

[jackrabbit1979]

Re: High School Elite to play in Sioux Falls

Highlights from the Argus:


Hopefully some of these kids will be good enough to wear the Yellow and Blue!

Go State!  ;D

honestly i think we have to worry more about us being able to land some of these South Dakota kids rather than them being not qualified enough to play. With their performances this summer i have a sneaking suspicion Coach Nagy and Larson would be happy with Tveidt, Pesicka, and Cordova as our signees in the Fall.

[gojacksgo]

Re: High School Elite to play in Sioux Falls

I thought they only have 2 scholarships left? That's why I heard Pesicka won't be getting an offer, because they gave it to Tveidt....I could be wrong though.

[89rabbit]

Re: High School Elite to play in Sioux Falls

I guess I should have phrased my post differently.  I didn't mean to disparage any of the young men.  As has alreay been reported by other sources Thomas Bassett (not a South Dakotan or Schooler) has commited, and offers have been made to Cordova, Pesicka, and Tviedt (not sure how reliable they are, but it has been reported).  However the recruiting process is a very fluid affair and nothing is done until the paperwork is signed.

There are a limited number of scholarship available at any D-I university and so as kids commit those spots fill up.  Cordova, Pesicka, and or Tviedt could get offers from other Universities, however it is just as likely that a kid who thought he was going to go to another program ends up witout a home because he was slow to decide and his offer was given to someone else.  Bottom line the Universities are competing with one another for the talent and the players are are competing with one another for the scolarships.  

I would very much like to get Cordova and Tviedt, but if a better player that thought he was going to Ill. or some other "Big Time" program becomes availbe I wouldn't mind giving a scholarship to them.  Again no disrespect intended towards our South Dakota guys, I just want the best talent we can get at SDSU, if it is them great if not that is ok too.

Again, don't get me wrong, I think some of the guys on the Schoolers could be a nice fit for us, that is why I am following how they are doing. Some great Jackrabbits, were once Schoolers (Austin Hanson and Matt Jones to name a few)  Here is a link to the Dakota Schoolars web site:

http://www.dakotaschoolers.com/pages/1/index.htm

Go State!  ;D  

[JACKGUYII]

Re: High School Elite to play in Sioux Falls

I got a chance to see the Schoolers play the Minnesota Magic. I was very impressed with Michael Tveidt. At 6'7 he runs the floor well and has a nice shot. The thing I like about both Tveidt and Cordova is they already have a college body and can sustain the pounding in college without taking a redshirt year to mature. If we can land Tveidt and Cordova we will have gotten two very good players that just happen to reside in the state. Pesika can shoot but dont see him upgrading what we have and doubt he is a DI player. This is a very talented team and they play well together. Represent the State of South Dakota well.