The top of the initial media basketball polls has a familiar look to them.

Four of the defending state champions from last year sit atop of the preseason polls, with another rated second.

All three defending champs are rated number one on the girls’ side: O’Gorman in Class AA, St. Thomas More in Class A, and Viborg-Hurley in Class B.

Defending champion Dakota Valley is top-rated in Class A, while last year’s state winner De Smet is rated second in Class B behind White River. Aberdeen Christian, which returns all of its starters from last year’s state tourney team, is rated third. The Knights received one first-place vote.

Other area rated teams include Hamlin which is third in Class A boys, receiving one first-place vote, and Wolsey-Wessington which is third in Class B girls.

Sioux Falls Jefferson is the top-rated team in Class AA boys.

There are no unanimous number one selections in the preaseason poll. Dakota Valley in Class A boys and O’Gorman in Class AA girls received all but one first place vote.

Preseason South Dakota Prep Media Basketball Poll. Teams are ranked by points received and first-place votes are in parentheses.
Boys 

Class AA

1. Jefferson (11) 75

2. Harrisburg (1) 68

T-3. Lincoln (2) 39

T-3. O’Gorman (3) 39

5. Pierre 36

Receiving votes: Roosevelt (1) 9, Washington 3, Mitchell 1. 

Class A

1. Dakota Valley (17) 85

2. Sioux Valley 63

3. Dell Rapids 36

4. St. Thomas More 32

5. Lennox (1) 16

Receiving votes: Sioux Falls Christian 14, Red Cloud 13, Winner 8, Hamlin 3. 

Class B

1. White River (12) 82

2. De Smet (4) 55

3. Aberdeen Christian (1) 51

4. Lower Brule 37

5. Castlewood (1) 25

Receiving votes: Gregory 11, Howard 2, Wall 2, Canistota 2, Faith 2, Harding County 1. 

Girls

Class AA

1. O’Gorman (17) 89

2. Jefferson 56

3. Washington (1) 54

4. Brandon Valley 49

5. Pierre 7

Receiving votes: Lincoln 6, Stevens 4, Harrisburg 4, Watertown 1. 

Class A

1. St. Thomas More (15) 86

2. Wagner (2) 62

3. Hamlin (1) 57

4. Flandreau 23

5. West Central 14

Receiving votes: Sioux Falls Christian 12, Florence-Henry 5, Tea Area 4, Hanson 3, Rapid City Christian 2, Lakota Tech 2. 

Class B

1. Viborg-Hurley (14) 82

2. Corsica-Stickney (4) 69

3. Wolsey-Wessington 43

4. Castlewood 21

5. Centerville 20

Receiving votes: De Smet 11, Howard 10, Freeman 5, Wall 4, Sully Buttes 3, Jones County 2.