The Dakotas: 2022 Football & Basketball Stars
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DAKOTAS– With Prep Redzone Dakotas and Prep Hoops Dakotas being under the same roof, I thought it would be cool to evaluate who is ranked and where when it comes to football vs. basketball. Football will always be first in…
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Continue ReadingDAKOTAS– With Prep Redzone Dakotas and Prep Hoops Dakotas being under the same roof, I thought it would be cool to evaluate who is ranked and where when it comes to football vs. basketball. Football will always be first in my heart, but basketball chimes in as my second favorite sport, so this article should be fun to write!
I will dive into each of these 14 prospects with a quick check-in of each ranking for hoops and football, what sport they may choose at the next level, and why that is. To be clear, these are projections as we, of course, will still watch these kids on TV even if they choose to play on the hardwood!
Steven Christion Steven Christion 6'0" | 170 lbs | WR Lennox | 2022 State , Lennox (SD)
When you watch Christion on the basketball court, he has such a pretty looking outside shoot, and our guys at Prep Hoops Dakotas have him ranked at #60 in their latest rankings. At Prep Redzone Dakotas, we have Steven in the #36 spot as I firmly believe he’s pushing the football route at the next level based on his game. Christion is a great playmaker on the football field, runs extremely crisp routes, and can hold his own against any cornerback. He has a great dig with his footwork and has an excellent burst to “take the top off the defense,” as the great Randy Moss would say.
Paine Parks Paine Parks 6'3" | 215 lbs | LB GF Red River | 2022 State , Grand Forks Red River (ND)
Parks has one of the most athletic bodies in North Dakota, in my eyes. His basketball tape is limited, but he has ranked the #16 prospect in our Prep Hoops Dakotas rankings. Parks is ranked #57 in our latest 2022 rankings but based on his latest film, he’s due for a bump as his shedding ability with his 6’3 215-pound frame is exceptional, and you can tell he is pushing to play football at the next level.
Tash Lunday Tash Lunday 6'5" | 230 lbs | TE Flandreau | 2022 State , Flandreau (SD)
Lunday is the #4 prospect in the South Dakota rankings for basketball. On the football field, he checks in at #89, but after watching his junior film, I’ll have to say he’s a vicious player that can do it all from laying a physical hit as a DE, have him in front of your tailback to block, and has a good stretch at WR. Lunday is going to be one of my stockrisers in the upcoming PRZ Dakotas rankings.
Carson Hegerle Carson Hegerle 6'4" | 185 lbs | WR West Fargo | 2022 State , West Fargo (ND)
We talked about Hegerle yesterday in our Fargo WR rankings, but his consistency on the basketball court nearly matches his game on the football field. He checks in at #4 in North Dakota for basketball and #1 for football and is just coming off winning a state championship in basketball for the Packers of West Fargo.
Kaden Chadwick Kaden Chadwick OL Velva | 2022 State , Velva (ND)
If there are two things that match Chadwick’s ability in both sports is he brings the bruiser mentality, to say the least. He holds the #28 spot in North Dakota for basketball as a center and at #39 for football (both states). Chadwick looks like a next-level offensive lineman. His ability to drop into the second level with his blocking ability is a scary site if I am a linebacker going up against him.
Jr. Tape
Brock Longville Brock Longville 6'3" | 220 lbs | DL Brookings | 2022 State , Brookings (SD)
Longville checks in at #30 for South Dakota for basketball & #67 for football from the Bobcats program. Longville on the football field has good mobility and can erupt a backfield with his mighty strength. I have him listed at OL, but I project him as a DL at the next-level.
Parker Nelson Parker Nelson 5'11" | 190 lbs | RB West Fargo | 2022 State , West Fargo (ND)
Prep Redzone Dakotas recently added Nelson to our PRZ rankings at running back from the January update and another West Fargo Packer that held a similar rank for football and basketball, checking in at #67 in North Dakota for basketball #75 for us for football for both states. Nelson on the football side is one that his burst gets stronger the longer he runs. With his rankings so similar, I feel like Nelson may be a toss-up for which sport he chooses for the next level. He’ll need to add more football film to catch more eyes, in my opinion.
Andrew Walter Andrew Walter 6'3" | 180 lbs | WR Harrisburg | 2022 State , Harrisburg (SD)
Another prospect ranked similar on both sports of the rankings is Harrisburg’s, Andrew Walter Andrew Walter 6'3" | 180 lbs | WR Harrisburg | 2022 State . Walter checked in at #6 for North Dakota & Prep Hoops and #4 for Prep Redzone Dakotas. Although this ranking is pretty similar, The length at 6’3 and the outstanding reaching ability Walter has should make him a football prospect at the next level as via Twitter; that is where just about all of his interest in coming from.
Kelby Azure Kelby Azure 6'4" | 230 lbs | DL Northwood | 2022 State , Northwood (ND)
One thing that matches Azure’s football and basketball tape are he loves disrupting defenses. Azure has a similar match for basketball and football when it comes to rankings, but with two FCS football offers in his wheelhouse, he’ll most certainly play Divison I football at the next level as he is the most dynamic player in 9-man football in North Dakota.
Parker Puetz Parker Puetz 6'3" | 215 lbs | QB Sioux Valley | 2022 State , Sioux Valley (SD)
Puetz is one of my favorite quarterbacks to watch in our Class of 2022 rankings. On the hardwood, Puetz is ranked the #67 prospect in South Dakota and checks in at #34 for football for both states. I will be shocked if Puetz chooses the basketball route as his quarterbacking talents are some of the best in the Dakotas. He has next-level size, solid mobility to make throws on the run, and excellent arm strength with good touch on the football.
Sam Strandell Sam Strandell DB GF Central | 2022 State , Grand Forks Central (ND)
Strandell checks in at #79 in North Dakota for basketball and #116 for football. All points on social media are pointing right at football for the next level for Strandell. Strandell is a big possession receiver that was second-team All-State in the 2020 season at wide receiver. Strandell has a slot receiver’s feet in a possession receiver’s body as he digs really well on his routes. The biggest development standpoint in his game would be to work on his burst off the line.
Landon Ruesink Landon Ruesink ATH Dell Rapids | 2022 State , Dell Rapids (SD)
Ruesink checks in at #45 in South Dakota for basketball and #81 for football. Ruesink is another one that social media points he’s pushing the football route, and why not, as he’s such a versatile threat anywhere you line him on the football field as he uses his burst once he gets out of traffic quite nicely.
Tyree Nave Tyree Nave 6'1" | 175 lbs | ATH SF Roosevelt | 2022 State , Sioux Falls Roosevelt (SD)
Nave, believe it or not, is one of the only prospects on this list that I have watched on the basketball court but not live on the football field as I caught one of his games at a Prep Hoops tournament in Minnesota a few years back. Nave is ranked #66 in South Dakota and #31 for us here at Prep Redzone Dakotas. Nave looks to play football at the next level as he’ll more than likely be the starting running back for the Rough Riders with losing Joesph Turay to graduation. Nave, as a linebacker, also can pack a punch, as he’s listed as an ATH by us because he’s so strong at both positions.
Cade Larson Cade Larson LB Harrisburg | 2022 State , Harrisburg (SD)
We stay in the Sioux Falls area with Harrisburg LB Cade Larson Cade Larson LB Harrisburg | 2022 State . Larson is ranked #82 for basketball in South Dakota and #24 for football for both states. Definite football prospect at the next level, even though I’m sure he can fly around the basketball court just like he flies at quarterbacks and running backs all over the football field! I love this kid’s motor at linebacker along with Ayden Viox Ayden Viox 6'0" | 230 lbs | LB Harrisburg | 2022 State , as this is one of the toughest LBs cores in the Dakotas.