Rice made Layup. Cael Lundin is the name most know when speaking on Tea Area, but Worth is a good player himself. Assisted by M. Selland. Assisted by M. Selland. The De Smet Bulldogs just went back to back winning their 7th boys basketball state championship in school history. Good luck trying to stay in front of him. At times, I do get to travel around the state. He already has the touch around the rim; if he works on his lower body this off-season to give himself the ability to play with a lower center of gravity, his game will reach another level. Every single day, in every single state, theres a ton that goes on in the world of sports. A few minutes later we began the interview.
Lower Brule was solid all season long. Assisted by T. Nelson. The big fella is also a standout football player and Division I schools around the area are beginning to take notice. But thats not his game. A ball game that would see 3 overtimes, Hinker played 44 minutes, finishing with a game high 29 points. On March 8th, 2022 the Jackrabbits advanced to their sixth NCAA tournament with a record of 30-4, a school record. Underrated (4): 60 Randy Rosenquist | Junior, Dakota Valley High School. He was a reliable ball-handler for the Titans dishing out 3 assists for every 1 turnover. Alpers will play tight end at South Dakota State. The Knights were led in scoring by Matt Eng at 16.8 PPG, but the toughness that Alpers brought to the table night in and night out was rarely matched by opponents. White, Lance SIOUX FALLS, S.D. His older brother Paul, who just completed his freshman season at North Dakota and was recently named the freshman of the year in the Summit League Conference (Hes since committed to play at USD), was a heck of a player at Dakota Valley. There were several Division I coaches in attendance who witnessed a kid from small town South Dakota go toe-to-toe with some of the best high schoolers in the United States. Assisted by T. Irwin. He has a nifty handle with a Jittery first step and is a pass first guard. Hes already an above-average athlete who runs the floor well. When he told me he was just a freshman I was a bit caught off guard. I was there to do a story on Kalen, but it was difficult to get the then junior to speak much about himself. During the beginning part of March, I still didnt know much about the area. 65 Kaden Year | Junior, Jefferson High School. He keeps the game simple and consistently puts the talent around him in a good position. He and his backcourt mate Jacoby Mehrman were why I consistently ranked Harrisburg higher than most writers in the weekly high school basketball polls this past season. Determan quietly averaged 20 PPG on 53% from the field & shot 44% from beyond the arc. The Jackrabbits play their home games at the 6,500 seat Frost Arena. With a big smile on his face, he told me he wanted to play Division I basketball and win another state championship again next season. I made the nearly 2-hour drive to De Smet, South Dakota and before sitting down to shoot the interview, we shot hoops together in the empty high school gym.
Going a perfect 26-0, the Panthers would bring home a state championship for the first time in school history. The Augustana commit gave his best foot forward in the state quarterfinal matchup against Harrisburg. He nearly lead Tea Area to a state championship coming just 3 points short) hes a kid who can score on all three levels. St. Thomas More was always that mystery team to me. This past year as a junior he put up a resounding 29.1 PPG, 6.0 RPG & 2.4 APG. This past year they reached 9. Most Versatile: 64 Marcus Phillips | Senior, Roosevelt High School. Most Valuable to ones team (4): 65 Tash Lunday | Senior, Flandreau High School. He may not get a ton of recognition due to Watertowns lack of big wins, but I liked the kids game. That is not my intention whatsoever. In their quarterfinal matchup, they would get their chance at redemption against the Knights. The broadcast range of the Jackrabbit Sports Network covers eight states (South Dakota, Minnesota, North Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas, and Wyoming), and consists of the following stations: The team does not have an official television partner, but Jackrabbit games have been televised on Midco Sports Net, Fox College Sports, the Big Ten Network, ESPN2, ESPNU, and local television networks. But if you choose to give him space respecting that speed, hell make you pay with his polished jumper. Thats the way it goes when you win back-to-back state titles and finish with a four-year record of 94-7 as a senior class. Richman ('02, '05), Joshua Its not every day you see a kid that young, with that kind of size, have that kind of eye-hand coordination. I soon saw a long, lanky kid walking toward the high jump area. Most Valuable to ones team (2): 61 Rett Osthus | Senior, De Smet. Hes truly underappreciated for how rock-solid of a basketball player he is. I saw him create several good looks for teammates during their state championship loss against De Smet. Thats something I dont know you can teach. Nelson, Luke Averaging nearly 14 PPG on 45% shooting from beyond the arc, I thought Worth was worthy of making the list. H. Timmer made Three Point Jumper. Im not aiming to put any unfair forecasts on a kids future that potentially brings a storm of pressure. H. Timmer made Layup. 60 Cade Kandolin | Senior, St. Thomas More. With a minute to play, they emptied the bench with kids I would assume played mostly JV this past year. Prior to moving to Division I in 2004, the Jackrabbits were a power while in Division II. Garry had the entire Dream City roster on skates and his silky smooth jump shot and vigorous athleticism was on full display. They dont win a state title without him. You know what youre getting game in and game out with Osthus. Cerci Mahone was picked up as a free agent and played for Denver. Instead, they led almost the entire game and came 30 seconds from pulling off the stunning upset. Three months after accomplishing part one of his dream, the De Smet Bulldogs would win their second consecutive Class B state championship.
Dropping a game-high 35 points, he was the best player on the court. To put that into perspective if Lunday were to finish a ball game with 22 points & 8 boards, that would be sub-par performance in his book. The Jackrabbits have appeared in the NCAA Division II Tournament 24 times (known as the college division until 1974 but considered the same tournament). He and the Bulldogs were fresh off their first state championship since 1999. (The stats in this article reflect players stats before state tournament games), Underrated (4): 62 Drew Norberg | Senior, Watertown High School. Hes about 68, but Id be willing to bet his wingspan is 7-feet plus. It was Holland who hit the go ahead three in the 2nd quarter. Lunday is also a standout football player. Assisted by H. Greer. Hastreiter, Noah It was March 8th, the day of the Summit League championship between SDSU and NDSU.
But they finished with a record of 23-3. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, Vehicle ends up on roof in Rapid City crash, Pine Ridge man drowns at Pactola Reservoir, Not UFOs, white Raven Aerostar balloons in the sky, Big Brother rescheduled for Sunday, July 24, Competency hearing set for Pierre homicide case, KELOLAND.com Top 5 Plays of the Week July 14-20, Road to Cadwell: Amateur baseball playoffs set to, His craft is pitching: Puetz prepares for NDSU, Reliabank Business Beat: Reliabank Insurance, Caipirinhas: The perfect Brazilian cocktail, Transitioning to plant-based lifestyle with family, Member of USDs WNIT championship team says current Coyotes have winning mentality, Sioux Falls soldier nearly paralyzed on honeymoon, A look at the future of the Sioux Falls riverfront, Acting at the Storyland Childrens Theatre, Capturing nature on camera at Good Earth State Park, A local concert series with a focus on families, KELOLAND hosts donation drive for Teddy Bear Den, Local reaction to U.S. Senate gun safety agreement, Mobile Rec Unit makes the rounds in Sioux Falls, Leonardos will be changing, including its name, Watch: Jan. 6 hearing focuses on Trump during riots, Family Dollar recalls 425 over-the-counter products, SD Supreme Court: Man needed to seek work, Amateur baseball playoffs set to begin Thursday, $100K in damage at car dealerships by man with ax, SDs June 7 primaries now being questioned, Scotland & Northern Ireland with Jay Trobec. I watched Kienholz play towards the beginning of this season, in the middle, and saw him again during Pierres last game of the year. By the end of the regular season, they had won five of their last six, earning a 3 seed heading into the state tournament. That night when I got to the Roosevelt gym, I was taken back by the crowd.
Their combined record is 06.
Well find out come next winter. Hes gotten quicker from a year ago and his straight-line drives to the rim after crossing over are lower with better balance and strength. The two times I saw them play in person they failed to break the 50 point mark.
Playing up a class against OGorman earlier this season, Lundin would finish with a game-high 38 points in a one-point loss. There was no one more vital to Flandreaus 20-5 season than #30 in purple. What a one-two punch he and Garry would become. 2022 South Dakota State University Athletics. The Fliers would advance all the way to the Class A final four, coming up short against the eventual state champs from Dakota Valley. The roster features a trio of well-known names who will all be mentioned later in the article, but the unsung hero of the starting five is Tory Holland. Most Upside: 68 Damon Wilkinson | Junior, De Smet. Ive been to a couple Sioux Valley practices; the kid has a really good looking shot. Only a junior, I look forward to seeing how he refines his game heading into next season after putting up 16.6 PPG this past year. 65 David Alpers | Senior, OGorman High School. Best Scorer: 62 Joe Sayler | Junior, White River. During his freshman season, the Govs won a single game. If youre tired of seeing De Smet Bulldogs on this list, sorry. Assisted by K. Theisen. Hes every inch of 69 (hes often argued with me that hes 610, I dont believe it), and is already very coordinated with not just the timing of his jumps, but his hands as well. Committing to play his college ball at South Dakota State as a sophomore, Sayler has been in the spotlight for quite some time now. B. Davis made Three Point Jumper. The Jackrabbits have produced 7 NBA draft picks including Nate Wolters, Steve Lingenfelter, Tom Black. He was someone I saw get better as the season progressed and will have an opportunity to become one of the better players in the area if he puts in the time this off-season.
Nine months later, in their 4th game of the new year, De Smet would head to Sioux Falls to take on a team from Arizona by the name of Dream City Christian. Keshaume Thigh leads the team in scoring at 18.7 PPG and Brian LaRoche was next in line at 15.6, but you could argue Gavin Thigh is the teams best playmaker. The Titans had another solid season finishing 16-7. Can Sayler and company bring home the hardware in 2023? T. Nelson made Layup. I only saw him play one time in person, so I wont try and give a detailed assessment of his game. While all that stuff is something you will notice watching one of his highlight tapes, what I found most impressive was when I watched him play a full half of basketball. A. Cruce made Three Point Jumper. He used every inch of that length to drop 19 points & 23 rebounds in a state championship win over Lower Brule. Riggs Pierre High School. Hes not flashy, but he sure is effective. Their roster featured a starting lineup with all 5 kids who held several Power 5 Division I offers. Theres not a whole lot of tactic to being a good rebounder. But this team didnt go undefeated and probably wouldnt win a state championship without Rosenquist by his side. 59 Mikele Kambalo | Senior, Washington High School. L. Theuninck made Three Point Jumper. They would come one point away from playing in the state championship game.
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Most Valuable to ones team (4): 511 Micah Johnson | Senior, Roosevelt High School. Hes the main ball handler who initiates the offense and has good passing skills. Its as if hes searching for contact when slashing to the cup and if you challenge him at the rim, he might put you on a poster. Assisted by H. Timmer. Im not 100% sure De Smet wins those two titles without Osthus and I can promise you they have more than 7 losses during the past four seasons without this kid.
In December they defeated White River 60-57. Oli Vincent is the real deal and is becoming a complete player. He also flashed the ability to finish at the cup with either hand. Assisted by J. Mingo-Young. 511 Jeff Worth | Senior, Tea Area High School.
Much like a kid Ill later talk about later in Class B, Kienholz did such a remarkable job of letting the game come to him. He was a big reason why the Chargers returned to the Class A state tournament in 2022. Best player I saw: 62 Kalen Garry | Senior, De Smet. P. Burckhard made Three Point Jumper. Assisted by M. Selland. The team has advanced to postseason play every season since then besides 2021. While a capable shooter, Lundin seems most comfortable when attacking downhill using acrobatic type finishes at the rim. In the semifinal matchup against Potter County prior to the championship, he finished with a double-double dropping 17 points and 12 boards. He seemed to have a tight handle and a smooth jump shot with range. In the two games I watched them play, Kandolin made the biggest imprint on me. Assisted by P. Burckhard. H. Timmer made Three Point Jumper. And it wasnt close.
62 Brooks Nelson | Senior, Sioux Falls Christian High School. Holland is a kid any team in the state would love to have. He does a little bit of everything for the Cossacks. The Battlers entered the state tournament with a record of 22-1, going a perfect 10-0 at home. Assisted by M. Abrams. Along with his 17 PPG average, he dishes out 6.5 assists getting everyone involved. No one thought De Smet had any kind of real chance. Also, the senior clearly isnt one to shy away from a moment, hitting the shot of the year in the Class AA semifinal to send OGorman into the state title game defeating Washington 58-57 in OT.
But what I didnt know was how coordinated and skilled of a player he is.
Hes the best passing guard that Ive seen in South Dakota. 67 Caden Hinker | Senior, Mitchell High School.
A legit 7-foot frame with high-level shooting mechanics, Rock has a bright future. But the truth is, thats just impossible. Hes the engine that makes them go.
His sophomore year they jumped to 7 wins. L. Theuninck made Three Point Jumper. T. Sutton made Three Point Jumper. Feddersen, David He was a vital part of what the Riders did this season in repeating as Class AA state champions. K. Theisen made Layup. Miller, Stephanie Leading the team in scoring (22.1), rebounding, steals and blocks, with how well the battlers performed this past season, I dont see any way Luikens isnt a 1st Team All-Stater. Best player I saw: 63 Lincoln Kienholz | Junior, T.F. If he puts himself in the weight room this off-season and adds a little muscle and quickness, his game could take another step. The Kernels were ranked inside the Class AA top 5 for most of the season in large part thanks to their imposing 67 forward who averaged 22.1 PPG in his final season in Mitchell.
1998 - 2022 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Now having a full year under my belt in my first career job as a journalist/broadcaster, Ive realized you can pretend to be that guy who knows almost everything about everything if you want. His 12.8 PPG & 5.8 RPG are solid numbers. With Damian Danzeisen, Hayden Ruesink, and Parker Puetz all gone to graduation, his responsibility will increase even more next season. Im curious to see where his athletic career takes him next. *Accurate as of end of 201819 season. Sash, Spencer Assisted by T. Irwin. Nelson was an important piece on last years state championship team as a junior. (KELO) The best scorers, passers, players and more from this past South Dakota boys high school basketball season as KELOLANDs Tanner Castora saw it. Assisted by P. Burckhard. One of the very first feature stories I was asked to do was on a kid named Kalen Garry. The two squads were playing at Roosevelt High School with the winner advancing into the state tournament. Assisted by P. Burckhard. Jones, Josh 60 Oliver Vincent | Junior, Sioux Valley High School. K. Theisen made Layup. Averaging 12 PPG and 6.8 RPG, Rock helped the Patriots return to the state tournament after falling short a year ago. With the Vikings graduating several of their front court players, Hinker may have an opportunity at early minutes next season as a freshman. T. Irwin made Three Point Jumper. They have arguably the most talented and deepest roster of any team in the state, which makes their full-court press so effective owning the ability to rotate fresh bodies throughout an entire game.
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