Apr. 1—MITCHELL — A tro of Mitchell Kernels landed spots on the Class AA boys basketball all-state teams, as announced Tuesday by the South Dakota Basketball Coaches Association.
Markus Talley earned top honors as the Class AA player of the year on the all-state first team, while Gavin Hinker and Colton Smith each earned a place on the second team. Mitchell and Sioux Falls Lincoln led the way with three all-state picks each, making up almost half of the 13 total honorees between the two honor squads. No other school had more than one player selected.
One of two repeat first-teamers this season, Talley posted 17.9 points, 4.6 rebounds and three assists per game as a senior. The Augustana-bound lead guard was a driving force in Mitchell advancing to a third consecutive state title game and finishing with a 20-4 record.
"Markus' ability to affect the game on both ends of the floor helped establish him as one of the best players in the state," said MHS coach Ryker Kreutzfeldt. "He controls the game offensively, guards the opposing teams best perimeter player each night and always stayed composed even in the tensest of moments during the season. We are incredibly proud as a program to have him recognized as the Class AA player of the year, as he is very deserving of that award."
Talley was joined on the Class AA all-state first team by Huron's Blake Ellwein, Brandon Valley's Landon Dulaney, Sioux Falls Lincoln's Sam DeGroot and Sam Ericsson and Rapid City Central's Gilbert White Jr.
Ellwein, the other repeat first-team honoree, powered Huron back to the state tournament on the back of 21.4 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. The 6-foot-9 junior swingman paced the state in free throws made, tossing in 124 makes from the stripe at a clip of 77%.
Dulaney, who was honorable mention last season, took a leap to lead the Lynx to the state championship as a senior. A future wide receiver for South Dakota State University's football program, the 6-foot-2 guard put up 14.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game
DeGroot, a 6-foot-6 junior forward, offered 15.1 points and 7.3 rebounds per game for the class-leading 22-2 Patriots. Meanwhile, Ericsson, a 6-foot-3 junior guard, contributed 12.7 points and 2.8 rebounds per game, as the sharpshooter led the all-state team with 54 made 3-pointers.
The leading scorer in Class AA this season, White poured in 21.8 points per game for the 8-13 Cobblers. The 5-foot-11 senior guard added six rebounds and 2.5 steals per contest.
On the Class AA all-state second team, Hinker and Smith were joined by Lincoln sophomore Brody Schafer, Tea Area sophomore Grifin Wiebenga, Harrisburg senior Nolan Krull, Sioux Falls Washington senior Tommy Hoffman and Spearfish senior Dylon Doren. Of note, Hoffman was a second-team selection last season, as well.
The big man in the middle of Mitchell's push back to the title game, Hinker averaged 10 points on 62.4% shooting along with 6.3 rebounds per game. At the Class AA state tournament, Hinker, a 6-foot-5 center, averaged 15.7 points per game and was an all-tournament pick.
"Gavin's ability to anchor our offense and defense in the low post was a big reason that we had as much success as we did this season," Kreutzfeldt said. "I remember saying at (Mitchell Quarterback) Club in November that he had all-state potential, but that doesn't mean he will get there. He put in a ton of time, and we are so excited to see that hard work be recognized with an all-state selection."
Smith, who earned his second all-state nod after grabbing a first-team spot last season, contributed 15.7 points, 9.7 points, 2.9 assists and more than one steal and block per contest for the Kernels. A curious omission from the all-Eastern ...
