High School Football America, in partnership with scoutSMART, has unveiled the sixth edition of its South Dakota Academic All‑America team, spotlighting student‑athletes who maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.7 or higher while serving as key contributors on their varsity squads.
Dual Excellence Recognized
The honor is powered by scoutSMART’s proprietary FIT Score, a metric that blends on‑field performance, statistical output and academic achievement to give coaches a comprehensive view of a recruit’s potential.
Among the honorees are Levi Veskrna of Brandon Valley, a 2026 running back; Easton Dekkers from Harrisburg, a 2027 offensive lineman; Noah Duran at Jefferson, also a 2026 offensive lineman; Brody Schafter from Lincoln, a 2027 quarterback; Louison Akossi, a 2026 wide receiver; Jack Lowry of Roosevelt, a 2026 defensive lineman; Tucker Dehaan, another 2026 wide receiver from Roosevelt; and Chris Ellert from Todd County, a 2026 quarterback.
Coaches across the nation are already leveraging the FIT Score to identify prospects who can thrive both in the classroom and on the gridiron, a trend that underscores the growing emphasis on holistic development in high school sports.
A Forward‑Looking Legacy
The recognition not only celebrates individual achievement but also highlights the increasing integration of academic metrics into athletic evaluation, setting a benchmark for future scholar‑athletes and reinforcing the notion that success on the field can go hand‑in‑hand with success in the classroom.