Who’s About to Blow Up Next Season (SD)
As June winds down PHD goes through some of the players that could have big seasons next year.
Max Nielson of Sioux Valley
As a sophomore Nielson was the starting point guard for a team that was so close to making the state title game. He also had the game-winning floater against a very good Flandreau team in Regionals with less than 10 seconds left. He was one of the key players for the Cossacks in one of their best seasons in the last couple years. Nielson is one of two starters that returns next season along with Ryan Schuster. He plans to work on being a threat from the offensive side as well as the defensive side.
Connor LeBrun of Flandreau
LeBrun is the younger brother of Flandreau great Dylan LeBrun who will be playing for Augustana next season. Connor was a huge factor in the success of last season and if not for the guy above they could have made it even farther in the postseason. He is a serious threat from deep as well as taking it to the hole. His on-ball defense makes him one of the best defenders on the court. He will look to step up and become the leading scorer next year.
Trent Broksieck of Brookings
As a sophomore Broksieck played varsity for the Bobcats and was a solid role player off the bench. He has been working hard this off-season playing with Sacred Hoops. So far this summer Broksieck and the Sacred Hoops team have had a great season. He looks to take the experiences and skills he’s learned into next season.
Mason Ritter of Tea Area
Ritter has been a solid role player off the bench the last two seasons for the Titans, who have placed first and second in those two years. He is a big threat from deep and can get to the hole and finish with the contact. He currently plays with the SD venom this summer alongside a couple of his Titan teammates and looks to take on a bigger role in his senior season.
Connor Libis of Dell Rapids St. Marys
Libis has been playing varsity basketball since he was a seventh grader and recently just had his best year yet as a freshman. He averaged 22.4 ppg and was a sniper from deep hitting 52 three’s. He was game planned every game and still was able to help lead his team to .500 for the first time in 10 years. Not many people will get to play six years in varsity let alone be a great player for all six of the years potentially.
Nick Hoyt of Harrisburg
Hoyt will look to follow up his big junior season with an even bigger senior season. He helped the Tigers to a second place finish last year. There are a lot of juniors on the team that didn’t get a lot of experience that will play a huge role next year and Hoyt could be a huge role model for them. He was one of the leading scorer’s last season at 13 points.