Dec. 16—MITCHELL — A fresh high school basketball season may be underway across South Dakota, and with it, a familiar host of budding stars are hitting the hardwood this winter.
Here’s a look at 16 of the top returning boys basketball players in the Mitchell Republic coverage region, listed in alphabetical order by last name:
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Jye Bailey, sr., Platte-Geddes: The 5-foot-9 guard chipped in everywhere with six points, four rebounds and four assists per game last season for the 14-8 Black Panthers. Bailey got an honorable mention nod in the South Central Conference.
Brycen Bruening, jr., Parkston: Behind a sophomore campaign that featured 17.7 points, 4.1 assists and 3.9 rebounds per game, Bruening was an honorable mention Class B all-state player. The 6-foot-2 guard also garnered selection to the all-Southeast South Dakota Conference first team.
Carter Craven, jr., Winner: Named Most Valuable Player of the Southeast South Dakota Conference, Craven averaged a double-double at 21.7 points and 11.3 rebounds per game. The 6-foot-6 forward was also a third-team Class A all-state pick and all-Big Dakota Conference performer for the 16-6 Warriors.
MJ Diehm, jr., Lyman: Helping guide the Raiders to a 17-9 record and a Class B state tournament berth, the 5-foot-11 lead guard paced the team with 15.4 points, 4.8 assists and three steals per game.
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Colby Flowers, sr., Wessington Springs: Earning a place on the Class B all-state second team, the 6-foot-5 forward put up 15.9 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. Boosting the Spartans to a fourth-place state tournament finish, Flowers was also named to the all-281 Conference first team.
Parker Graff, sr., Wessington Springs: Twice a Class B all-state third-team performer, Graff notched 17.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game last season. The 6-foot-1 guard was also an all-281 Conference first team player for the Spartans, who finished 22-4.
Al’Shamon Gunter, sr., Avon: A strong, athletic 6-foot-7 center, Gunter is expected to average near a double-double with points and rebounds this season. Last year, he was named to the all-Little Missouri Valley Conference team and was honorable mention all-Great Plains Conference for the Pirates.
Brody Indahl, 8th, Burke: Still in middle school, the 5-foot-11 guard made an immediate impact for the Cougars last season, scoring 12.4 points per game. As a seventh grader, he was named to both the South Central Conference and Great Plains Conference honor teams.
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Colt Keiser, sr., Gregory: An explosive athlete with a high jump background, the 6-foot-6 forward averaged nine points, 4.9 rebounds and a block per game last season. Helping Gregory go 20-3 a year ago, Keiser was named to the all-Southeast South Dakota second team and the all-South Central Conference squad.
Colton Smith, sr., Mitchell: Following up on a Class AA all-state first-team selection in 2023-24, Smith was a second-team pick last year. As the Kernels went 20-4 and played in the Class AA state championship game for a third-straight season, the 6-foot-5 wing posted 15.7 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists and more than one steal and block per contest.
Tate Sorensen, sr., Freeman: A key leader in Freeman’s first state tournament appearance since 1999, Sorensen offered 14 points, six rebounds, two assists and a steal per game. The 6-foot-2 forward was picked to the all-Cornbelt Conference second team for his efforts.
Izayah Ulmer, sr., Scotland/Menno: Last season, the first in the co-op between the Scotland and Menno programs, Ulmer was recognized as an all-conference player in the Little Missouri Valley and Great Plains conferences. The 6-foot guard averaged 10 points and three rebounds per game.
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Dawsen Volmer, jr., Lyman: Another top contributor for the state tournament-bound Raiders, the 6-foot-4 forward/guard notched 12.6 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists a year ago.
David Walter, so., Freeman: A breakout star in Class B for the 20-6 Flyers, Walter earned his way onto the Class B all-state third team as a freshman behind 18.3 points and 6.8 rebounds per game. The 6-foot-5 guard was also a first-team all-Cornbelt Conference performer.
Ben Weber, sr., Bridgewater-Emery: Building on an all-state honorable mention nod from 2023-24, the 6-foot-6 forward landed on the Class B second team last season. Putting up 19.3 points, 10 rebounds and 4.2 points per game, Weber was also named to the all-Cornbelt Conference first team.
Holden Wollman, sr., Bridgewater-Emery: In the Huskies’ backcourt, Wollman contributed 16 points, 5.5 rebounds and four assists per game. As B-E went 14-8, the 6-foot-2 guard garnered all-Cornbelt Conference third-team status.