Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase: WR/TE Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another run thru another position group of standouts from our Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase last Saturday. Although this group of WRs and TEs was a younger bunch, the upside we saw being untapped was on the rise for plenty of these young men that were in Aberdeen on Saturday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1575892"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68275aee55e11"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Even though our TE group was a small number this time around, Cole surely took my nod for TE MVP. The 2028 target from Lyman, has plenty of growth to fill out his frame over the next several years but I could tell he took a step up with his athleticsm from our December Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase. He showed off to be more explosive from my eval in the broad jump (8'10) and I felt his top 40 yard dash was based with more fluidity in which he ran a 4.9 in the rep I watched. Watching Cole with the WRs during Indy, I felt he was utilzing his long catch radius with more poise and confidence than his first ever showcase in Decmeber in Aberdeen. Huge upside incoming for this sophomore TE1 to be.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1219685"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68275aee55e69"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ivan was another wide receiver that took a step forward in the live eval of our Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase last weekend. He showed off more burst off the top of his routes from what I watched and created sound seperation with his agility he showed off as a WR prospect I could tell has put in some work since our Dakotas Showcase in December.I also was impressed with how well-versed Ivan has gotten with his hands, as I noticed he was much more sudden getting upfield after the catch than where he was this winter. Expect Ivan to take a jump upwards in our next 2027 rankings update for sure.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":1674845,"_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Cameron Hillestad","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2028","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'11u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"152","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_weight":"field_65b288425ecf6","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"2410","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Tea Area","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68275aee55f0e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Cameron was a 2028 wide receiver out of Tea Area that I got my first look at last Saturday in Aberdeen at our Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase, and one that I surely love the upside he has brewing. From the eye test alone, Cameron showed off a long lower body, that I have a gut feeling might get even longer as his high school years progress which showed off with his striding ability off the top of his routes. There also was a visible twitch that didn't take long to notice with his route-running ability. On one particular rep I got to watch up close, Cameron showed off the ideal balance you need around the sidelines as he showed off well-versed footwork to keep his feet in bounds which I thought was very intriguing as a 2028 prospect that played with a ton of poise for his age. Cameron also showed off a growing catch radius that caught my attention on muliple reps as one wide receiver that I thought played much bigger than the measurables will show off at this given moment. He surely is a 2028 WR target I need to get on our 2028 South Dakota recruiting board ASAP.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1614496"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1674841,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68275aee55f56"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Talk about a 2028 wide receiver that has some instinctive twitch at his disposal that he put on display at our Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase, as [player_tooltip player_id='1614496' first='Cullen' last='Sisco'] of Minot was surely one that rose his stock as his live eval did him some favors. If we are talking about some of my favorite reps along the sidelines on Saturday in the WR group, the bulk of those came from Cullen as I was delighted to see how well his hands were able to find space inside some very tight windows as one of our WR top performers to end the day. Cullen also showed off impressive route creativity for his age, as I keep becoming more and more impressed year after year of the athletes that come out of Minot High.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1552268"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1674833,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68275aee55f94"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">It didn't take me long to grasp the gains that Carver has made in the weight room since our Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase in December, as he was the most physically imposing WR in the group on Saturday in Aberdeen from the eye test alone. He was one of the most fluid route-runners I found in the WR group in my eyes and I can tell is already developing on how to use his 6'1 188 pound frame to his full advantage based on the reps I got to watch. Carver I could gauge has made gains with his agile movement as his cuts to the middle of the field were much smoother than they were even a couple months ago. He also looks way more poised with his hands and is a WR prospect that makes me glad that 7v7 football has finally caught waves in the Dakotas during the Spring.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1575889"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1674835,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68275aee55fcf"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Coming in as our reigning WR MVP at December's Prep Redzone Dakotas, was another MVP from Aberdeen Central in [player_tooltip player_id='1575889' first='Carter' last='Lust'] in the 2027 class. Although he didn't take the title this spring, Carter still showed growth from December that I could gauge quickly. I noticed early his twitch when he makes his cuts on his routes, looks more fluid than it did in Aberdeen in December. He also made progressions forward with his football IQ in the reps I got to watch, running crisper routes and despite the smaller size didn't fear making high traffic areas receptions last Saturday. Heard from a college coach in conversation that Carter looks to be have next-level ability with good probability as a slot-receiver in my eyes. Hopefully get to see more tape come out soon on Hudl, as right now he is very under the radar despite a WR MVP under his belt.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1636764"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":["override_image"],"_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":1674837,"_player_evaluations_0_player_featured_image":"field_62f141137ead9","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-68275aee56017"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Saving the best for last, we look at our WR MVP from our Prep Redzone Dakotas Showcase last Saturday as 2027 wide receiver [player_tooltip player_id='1636764' first='Jonas' last='Parsons'] of Bismarck Legacy took the title. Jonas was a 2027 prospect that came out of nowhere, as I didn't even have him on my board in this class yet, but after viewing the most recent tape to the live eval, you can tell this young man has been working behind the scenes. He showed off a more intriguing release off the top of his route, as Jonas I felt made the higher difficulty catches look easier than they should have in the reps I got to watch in Aberdeen.Jonas I felt should get more credit for his creative route-running ability on Saturday, as the plethora of routes I watched him make and have success with wins on, are a contribution to his great hands and quickly developing football IQ. Despite no tape since Feb 2024, Jonas definitely made his name and presence known from the live eval, which has been the case with our last two WR MVP selections, super under the radar yet up and comers in the 2027 class.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->