A total of eight area players have earned spots on all-state basketball teams announced by the South Dakota High School Coaches Association today.

The group includes three players from Aberdeen: Spencer Barr of Aberdeen Central, and Ethan Russell and Malek Wieker of Aberdeen Christian.

Here is a look at each of the area players on their respective honor units:

Class AA

First Team

Spencer Barr, Aberdeen Central. This senior, who averaged 18.5 points and 2.4 assists per game, was a catalyst for the Golden Eagles. “Spencer is what happens when you combine skills, hard work and a love for the game. He truly did everything he could possibly do to be as good of a basketball player as possible,” said Central coach Brent Norberg. “He is as good of an all-around basketball player as I have ever coached.”

Class A

Third Team

Damon Opdahl, Waubay-Summit. Opdahl filled up a stat sheet with the best of them. The senior averaged 19.5 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game and collected 103 steals. “Damon is very self-motivated and found his success from the hours he spent in the gym. He is a great role model and leader on and off the court,” said Mustangs coach Mark Amdahl. “Damon has tremendous basketball instincts that gave him the ability to steal and rebound on defense.”

Easton Neuendorf, Hamlin. Only a sophomore, Neuendorf averaged 13.2 points, 4.1 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game to help power the Chargers to a third place finish at the State A tourney. “Easton was the guy that made us go. Easton set the tempo both offensively and defensively,” said Hamlin coach Todd Neuendorf. “He was our leader in assists and second leading scorer on offense and led us in steals on the defensive end.”

Tyson Stevenson, Hamlin. Stevenson was the player the Chargers looked to in crunch time. The junior averaged 14.4 points, 2.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game for a squad that finished third at the State A tourney. “Tyson was our leading scorer this season and was our go-to guy late in close games,” said Hamlin coach Todd Neuendorf. “Tyson was able to score at all three levels. Tyson provided leadership to our young squad.”

Class B
First Team

Ethan Russell, Aberdeen Christian. This senior could score inside and outside. He averaged 16.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. “His talent along with his work ethic has helped him amass a career point total of 1,350,” said Knights coach Matt Rohrbach. “He is a special kid and I believe his basketball is ahead of him. It’s been a blessing to see him grow on and off the court. He means a lot to his teammates and the community.”

Second Team

Malek Wieker, Aberdeen Christian. Wieker had unlimited range and could also drive to the basket. The senior averaged 15 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game. “Malek is the definition of a competitor. I have never been around a kid that takes winning and losing to heart as much as Malek,” said Knights coach Matt Rohrbach. “His work ethic is second to none and is one of the reasons for the Knights’ success. He was constantly dragging kids to the gym and keeping the guys playing year around.”

Third Team

Layne Cotton, Faulkton. Just a junior, Cotton was a load for opponents to stop this season. He averaged 23.1 points and 10.2 rebounds per contest. “Layne is one of the most committed and hard-working athletes I have been able to coach,” said Trojans coach Kyle Erdahl. “He loves the game of basketball and it shows in his game. He is a team leader that leads by example and never stops working.”

Tray Hettick, Herreid-Selby Area. Good things happened when Hettick touched the basketball. The senior averaged 18.8 points, 5 rebounds and 7 assists per game. “Tray will leave our program as the Wolverine leader in points and assists. He has scored over 1,000 points in his career while consistently seeing defenses designed to stop him,” said HSA coach Chris Hettick. “Defensively, his size and strength allowed him to matchup against either guards or posts.”

Here is the complete list of Class AA all-state players:

CLASS AA

First Team

JT Rock, SF Lincoln, 7-1, jr., F (18 ppg, 10 rpg, 81 blocks)

Lincoln Kienholz, Pierre, 6-3, sr., G (18.5 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 3.3 apg)

Rugby Ryken, Yankton, 6-0, sr., G (12 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 7.5 apg)

Taylen Ashley, SF Jefferson, 6-1, sr., G (17.3 ppg, 4 rpg, 3 apg)

Kaden Year, SF Jefferson, 6-5, sr., G (17 ppg, 5.2 rpg)

Spencer Barr, Aberdeen Central, 5-11, sr., G (18.5 ppg, 2.4 apg)

Second Team

Ethan Determan, Harrisburg, 6-3, sr., G (18 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.5 apg)

Dylan Soulek, Mitchell, 6-3, sr., G (13.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 4.4 apg)

Reilyn Zavesky, Huron, 6-3, sr., G (23.5 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 2.1 apg)

Jacoby Mehrman, Harrisburg, 6-4, jr., G (15 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.2 apg)

Steele Morgan, Mitchell, 6-5, sr., F (11.7 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 2.2 apg)

Matt Eng, SF O’Gorman, 6-2, sr., G (18.9 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.9 apg)

• Repeat Selections — 2022 (Kienholz, first team; Determan, Eng, Year and Ashley, second team); 2021 (Kienholz, second team).

• Players of the Year — Rock.

Here is the complete list of Class A all-state players:

CLASS A

First Team

Isaac Bruns, Dakota Valley, 6-4, sr., G (26.5 ppg, 9.4 rpg)

Caleb Hollenbeck, St. Thomas More, 6-3, sr., F (24.6 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 3.1 apg)

Oliver Vincent, Sioux Valley, 6-1, sr., G (20 ppg, 6 rpg, 7 apg)

Randy Rosenquist, Dakota Valley, 6-1, sr., G (13.8 ppg, 6.9 rpg, 8.8 apg, 80 steals)

Porter Ihnen, Lennox, 6-6, jr., G (21.6 ppg, 7 rpg, 4 apg)

Ethan Bruns, SF Christian, 6-6, sr., F (17 ppg, 7 rpg)

Second Team

Blake Volmer, Winner, 6-3, sr., G (19.2 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 4.1 apg)

Brayden Pankonen, Dell Rapids, 5-10, sr., G (20.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 4.9 apg)

Reed Rus, Mount Vernon-Plankinton, 6-4, sr., G (18.6 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 7.8 apg, 3.3 spg)

Aiden Jensen, Madison, 6-9, sr., F (20.9 ppg, 9 rpg, 60 blocks)

Alec Squires, Sioux Valley, 6-10, jr., C-F (15 ppg, 11 rpg, 60 blocks)

Ethan Cheeseman, Hanson, 6-3, sr. F, (19.2 ppg, 8.5 rpg)

Third Team

Damon Opdahl, Waubay-Summit, 6-1, sr., G (19.5 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 3.7 apg, 103 steals)

Easton Kempf, Elk Point-Jefferson, 6-5, sr., F (15 ppg, 7 rpg, 3 apg)

Easton Neuendorf, Hamlin, 5-11, so., G (13.2 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 4.9 apg)

Blake Thompson, Tea Area, 5-11, sr., G (13.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 5.2 apg)

Tyson Stevenson, Hamlin, 6-2, jr., G (14.4 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.3 apg)

Tate VanOtterloo, Beresford, 6-5, sr., G (18.8 ppg, 6 rpg, 3.5 apg)

• Repeat Selections — 2022 (I. Bruns, Vincent, Rosenquist and Volmer, first team; Ihnen, Rus, Hollenbeck, Pankonen and E. Bruns, second team; and Opdahl, Class B second team); 2021 (I. Bruns and Vincent, first team).

• Player of the Year — Isaac Bruns.

Here is the complete list of Class B all-state players:

CLASS B

First Team

Joe Sayler, White River, 6-4, sr., G (30.8 ppg, 5.6 rpog, 3.7 apg)

Damon Wilkinson, De Smet, 6-10, sr., C (22 ppg, 13 rpg)

Brian LaRoche Jr., Lower Brule, 6-1, sr., G-F (24.6 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 2.4 apg, 83 steals)

Ethan Russell, Aberdeen Christian, 6-7, sr., G-F (16.6 ppg, 7.3 rpg)

Gavin Thigh, Lower Brule, 5-11, sr., G-F (18.8 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 3.2 apg, 65 steals)

Sutton Arend, Bridgwater-Emery, 6-4, sr., G (22 ppg, 9 rpg)

Second Team

Malek Wieker, Aberdeen Christian, 6-1, sr., G (15 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 4.4 apg)

Keegan Hett, Harding County, 6-1, sr., G (19.5 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 3.3 apg, 96 steals)

Nick Hanson, Viborg-Hurley, 6-6, so., C (16.5 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 55 blocks)

Bryon Laue, Castlewood, 6-8, so., C (14.7 ppg, 9.9 rpg, 62 blocks)

Lane Tvedt, Castlewood, 6-0, jr., G (16.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 64 steals)

Jackson Schauer, Faith, 6-1, jr., G (20.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 66 steals)

Third Team

Daniel Mitchell, Gregory, 6-7, jr., F (15 ppg, 8.4 rpg)

Tage Ortman, Canistota, 5-11, jr., G (18.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 4.5 apg)

Riley Endres, Ethan, 6-0, sr., G (15.2 ppg, 7 rpg)

Nicolas Marshall, White River, 6-1, jr., G (17.8 ppg, 4 rpg, 5.3 apg, 82 steals)

Layne Cotton, Faulkton Area, 6-3, jr., F (23.1 ppg, 10.2 rpg)

Tray Hettick, Herreid-Selby Area, 6-2, sr., G (18.8 ppg, 5 rpg, 7 apg)

• Repeat Selections — 2022 (Sayler and Wieker, first team; Wilkinson, Mitchell and Russell, second team; LaRoche Jr., third team); 2021 (Sayler, first team; Wieker, second team; and Mitchell, third team).

• Player of the Year — Sayler.