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See a list of past Argus Leader South Dakota boys basketball players of the year since 1979

Michael Klinski, Sioux Falls Argus Leader
·7 min read

The Argus Leader has honored the best South Dakota boys basketball players since 1979 with the First Five honors.

Players of the year weren't selected until 1994, and Chuck Welke of Warner was the first. Since then, the honorees have included Mike Miller, Austin Hansen, Josh Mueller, Louie Krogman and three-time winner Matthew Mors.

2022 Team: Meet South Dakota's best in boys basketball

Here's a list of the teams since 1979.

Note: Second Five didn't start until 1997.

1979 – Joe Ashley, Pierre; Mark Payne, O’Gorman; Mark Smidt, Washington; Terry Domino, Douglas; Dan Duffy, Stanley County.

1980 – Kevin King, Lyman; Dan Freidel, Armour; Rod Merriam, Huron; Rick Bruflat, Lincoln; Jim Ferrie, Lincoln.

1981 – Dave Gustafson, Washington; Mark Tetzlaff, Hamlin; Mike Busch, Huron; Keith Larson, Beresford; Alan Miller, Stickney.

1982 – Mark Schultz, De Smet; Steve Gapp, Summit; Lonni Stover, Webster; Brad Ferrie, Lincoln; Troy Schaefer, Pierre.

1983 – Troy Schaefer, Pierre; Jim Dunkelberger, Lincoln; Luther Hippe, Washington; Marty Branch, Rapid City Central; Rick Weber, Salem.

1984 – Bart Friedrick, Mitchell; Randy Leslie, Washington; Steve Duncan, Lemmon; Gary Carlson, Hamlin; Todd Smith, Wakonda.

1985 – Bart Friedrick, Mitchell; Randy Leslie, Washington; Chad Andersen, Mitchell; Greg Ching, Castlewood; Pat Freidel, Armour.

1986 – Chad Kiger, Lincoln; Dean Jacobsen, Mitchell; Mark Rozell, Warner, Sam Goodhope, Winner; Mike Sebern, Beresford.

1987 – Willie White, Pine Ridge; Kyle Jordre, Platte; Wes Morgan, Mitchell; Kelly Kramer, Elkton; Eric Piatkowski, Rapid City Stevens.

1988 – Maurice Petersen, Deubrook; Eric Piatkowski, Rapid City Stevens; Jeff Booher, Brookings; Scott Beckstrand, Lincoln; Jason McDonald, Vermillion.

1989 – Eric Piatkowski, Rapid City Stevens; Scott Beckstrand, Lincoln; Scott Morgan, Mitchell; Eric Kline, Aberdeen Central; Travis Martin, Scotland.

Eric Kline in 1990
Eric Kline in 1990

1990 – Eric Kline, Aberdeen Central; Trevor Long, Custer; Brent Lindskov, Isabel; Ryan Higgason, Lincoln; Rob Christensen, Harrisburg.

1991 – Eric Kline, Aberdeen Central; Skip Wood, Lennox; Chad Boekelheide, Northwestern; Chad Pokorny, Winner; Tyson Theeler, Mitchell.

1992 – Jason Sutherland, Watertown; Lance Luitjens, Custer; Tom Rops, Lennox; Eric Lappe, Harrold; Chris Rozell, Warner.

1993 – Sean Piatkowski, Rapid City Stevens; Jason Sutherland, Watertown; Mac Rops, Lennox; Chuck Welke, Warner; Tommy Brown, Lincoln.

1994 – Chuck Welke*, Warner; Ryan Van Zee, Armour; Jay Ellwein, Huron; Mark Rich, Aberdeen Central; Landon Klock, Lennox.

1995 – Chris Janssen*, Emery; Troy Piatkowski, Rapid City Stevens; Brian Norberg, Watertown; Brian Goertz, Freeman; John Sivesind, Roosevelt.

1996 – John Sivesind*, Roosevelt; Todd Schlekeway, Mobridge; Cody Volmer, Lyman; Jeremy Kudera, Dell Rapids; Josh Thorpe, Hecla.

1997 – Mike Miller*, Mitchell; Bobby George, Lincoln; Dwayne Pean, Douglas; Brad Hansen, Lennox; Travis Palmer, Ipswich. Second five: Mike Smith, Flandreau; Mickey Dennis, Hot Springs; Austin Ledeboer, Armour; Brook Begeman, Isabel; Leigh Severyn, Lyman.

Mike Miller, Mitchell native and NBA player
Mike Miller, Mitchell native and NBA player

1998 – Austin Hansen*, Brandon Valley; Mike Miller, Mitchell; Shane Burnison, Spearfish; Brady Hyde, Sully Buttes; Chris Stoebner, Harrisburg. Second five: Ben Rops, Lennox; Derek Paulsen, Custer; Rich Crow Eagle, Todd County; Matt Seivert, Alcester-Hudson; Denver TenBroek, McIntosh.

1999 – Chris Stoebner*, Harrisburg; Derek Paulsen, Custer; Denver TenBroek, McIntosh; Steve Anderson, Rapid City Central; Jess Heart, Little Wound. Second five: Beau Fitts, Brandon Valley; Cory Roth, De Smet; Justin Fries, Washington; Elijah Sazue, Crow Creek; Josh Mueller, West Central.

2000 – Jared Reiner*, Tripp-Delmont; Steve Anderson, Rapid City Central; Josh Mueller, West Central; Doug Hanson, Yankton; Justin Lacher, Ipswich. Second Five: Luke Tibbetts, Roosevelt; Marc Forbush, Watertown; J.F. Jensen, Sioux Valley; Kyle Nelson, Lincoln; Kory Petoske, Midland.

2001 – Josh Mueller*, West Central; Kyle Nelson, Lincoln; Shad Carney, Washington; Dave Medema, Washington; Matt Jones, Alpena-Wessington Springs. Second Five: Dallas Sikkink, Castlewood; David Nour, Armour; Jon Walder, Watertown; Paige Paulsen, Custer; Adam Estrup, Rapid City Central.

2002 – Andy Kleinjan*, Sioux Valley; Deming Haugland, Spearfish; Charlie Johnston, Aberdeen Central; Mike Warren, Clark; Matt Hammer, Elkton. Second Five: Aaron Croff, Spearfish; Rob VanDemark, Lincoln; Paige Paulsen, Custer; Chris Haynes, Winner; Tyler Lee, Roslyn.

2003 – Paige Paulsen*, Custer; Matt Martin, Spearfish; J.J. Heyden, Washington; Colby Fitzgerald, Dell Rapids St. Mary’s; Kyle Schwan, Aberdeen Roncalli. Second Five: Derrick McCauley, Waubay; Clayton Wulf, Lennox; Derek Gearman, Lennox; Nathan Graves, Mitchell Christian; Brandon Swenson, Castlewood.

2004 – Colby Fitzgerald*, Dell Rapids St. Mary; Derrick McCauley, Aberdeen Central; Matt Martin, Spearfish; Eric Hall, Huron; Joe Backus, Chester. Second Five: Caleb Veldhouse, Sioux Falls Christian; Steve Smith, O’Gorman; Mitch Begeman, O’Gorman; Blake Yackley, Sully Buttes; Dustin Little, Castlewood.

2005 – Eric Krogman*, Elkton; Caleb Veldhouse, SF Christian; Blake Yackley, Sully Buttes; Mitch Begeman, O’Gorman; Joe Krabbenhoft, Roosevelt. Second Five: Mike Steffen, Mount Vernon; Adam Templeton, Rapid City Central; Jesse Clark, O’Gorman; Ryan Krome, Mitchell; Michael Tveidt, Pierre.

2006 – Zach Finley*, St. Thomas More; Michael Tveidt, Pierre; Zach Seefeldt, Clark; Louie Krogman, White River; Mitch Boeck, Arlington. Second Five: Jordan King, Arlington; Tate Pesicka, Yankton; Anthony Cordova, Roosevelt; Bryce Kreutzfeldt, Chester Area; Dusty Coleman, O’Gorman.

2007 – Louie Krogman*, White River; Dale Moss, Brandon Valley; Nate Truex, O’Gorman; Matt Malloy, Parkston; Kyle Doerr, St. Thomas More. Second Five: Chris Schwartz, Lincoln; Sam Willard, Pierre; Chase Walder, Castlewood; Luke Enos, Faith; Brady Wiebe, Madison.

2008 – Louie Krogman*, White River; Colton Iverson, Yankton; Jared Vlastuin, Lennox; Jordan Miller, Mitchell; Josh Hanson, Watertown. Second Five: Jared Odens, Mitchell Christian; Tony Fiegen, Madison; Anthony Muilenburg, Lincoln; Brice Hornbeck, Little Wound; Skyler Bloch, Scotland.

2009 – Chad White*, Madison; Tony Fiegen*, Madison; Dustin Tetzlaff, Watertown; Cody Larson, Roosevelt; Brayden Carlson, Brookings. Second Five: Tyson Gau, Hanson; Keith Cutler, Platte-Geddes; David Maxwell, Parkston; Anthony Muilenburg, Lincoln; Ben Miller, Sioux Valley.

2010 – Jared Hannigan*, Aberdeen Central; Carl Swallow, Red Cloud; Cory Jacobsen, Viborg; Sterling Nielsen, O’Gorman; Terrell Newton, Huron. Second Five: Cody Larson, Roosevelt; Jesse Tolsma, Mitchell Christian; Derek Brown, Clark-Willow Lake; Zach Horstman, Winner; Glenn Jackson, Rapid City Central.

2011: Zach Horstman, Winner
2011: Zach Horstman, Winner

2011 – Zach Horstman, Winner*; Cedrick Lang, O’Gorman; Sterling Nielsen, O’Gorman; Cory Jacobsen, Viborg-Hurley; Joey Mitchell, Hitchcock-Tulare. Second Five: Keaton Moffitt, O’Gorman; Liam Duffy, St. Thomas More; Will Hieber, Lincoln; Mitchell White, Madison; Orie Brown, Pine Ridge.

2012 – Skye Warwick*, St. Thomas More; Joey Habtemariam, Washington; Zach Hanson, Pierre; Darin Peterka, Miller; Connor Schaefbauer, O’Gorman. Second Five: Skyler Flatten, Clark-Willow Lake; Tanner Heiser, Watertown; Wyatt Krogman, White River; Cole Langer, Dell Rapids; Ben Schultz, Brandon Valley.

2013 – Lane Severyn*, Pierre; Zach Hanson@, Pierre; Skyler Flatten, Clark-Willow Lake; Wyatt Krogman, White River; Tanner Heiser, Watertown. Second Five: Chase Marso, Brandon Valley; Jordan Baker, Sioux Falls Christian; Adam Hofer, James Valley Christian; Tyler Howard, Roosevelt; Nate Widow, Dupree.

2014 – Steven Schaefer*, Rapid City Stevens; Trae VandeBerg, Madison; Justin Decker, Huron; Colton Kooima, Roosevelt; Nathan Wedel, James Valley Christian. Second Five: Brett Stanley, Washington; Tyler Nagy, Brookings; Jordan Cornelius, Sisseton; Cody Willett, Canton; Chris Phillips, Roosevelt.

2015 – Deng Geu*, Washington; Braxton Elliott, O’Gorman; Sam McCloud, Rapid City Stevens; Addison Park, Lincoln; Larenzo Williams, Wolsey-Wessington. Second Five: Nathan Brown Bull, Little Wound; Beau Brown, Mitchell; Bo Fries, Langford Area; Jordan Marquardt, Hanson; Brayden McNeary, Aberdeen Roncalli.

2016 – Ty Hoglund*, Dell Rapids; Chad Barkema, Sioux Falls Christian; Nate Davis, Watertown; Gabe King, Irene-Wakonda; Sam Siganos, Washington. Second Five: Brevin Kaiser, Pierre; Mason Archambault, Rapid City Stevens; Michael Rogers, Warner; Tristan Teichmeier, Roosevelt; Dylan LeBrun, Flandreau.

2017 – Matt Cartwright, O'Gorman*; Ethan Freidel, Tea Area; A.J. Plitzuweit, Vermillion; Tayt Vincent, Sioux Valley; Bennett White, Wolsey-Wessington. Second Five: Mason Archambault, Rapid City Stevens; J.P. Costello, O'Gorman; Brad Dean, Pierre; Seth Friesz, Chamberlain; Sawyer Schultz, Bridgewater.

2018 – Matthew Mors, Yankton*; AJ Plitzuweit, Vermillion; Dylan LeBrun, Flandreau; Sawyer Schultz, Bridgewater-Emery; Noah Freidel, Tea Area. Second Five: Aaron Fiegen, Madison; Trevor Hanson, Sioux Valley; Koln Oppold, Sioux Falls Christian; Mason Larson, Langford Area, Peyton Zabel, Pierre.

2019 – Noah Freidel, Tea Area*; Matthew Mors, Yankton; Sawyer Schultz, Bridgewater-Emery; Justin Hohn, Tea Area; Jacob Prouty, Clark/Willow Lake. Second Five: Jared Jaros, Lincoln; Alejandro Rama, Red Cloud; Evan Talcott, Brandon Valley; Kobe Busch, Huron; Trey King, Irene-Wakonda.

Matthew Mors poses for a portrait on Thursday, April 1, 2021, at Yankton High School.
Matthew Mors poses for a portrait on Thursday, April 1, 2021, at Yankton High School.

2020 – Matthew Mors, Yankton*; Ryder Kirsch, St. Thomas More; Paul Bruns, Dakota Valley; Kalen Garry, De Smet; Kobe Busch, Huron. Second Five: Teegan Evers, Huron; Max Nielson, Sioux Valley; Cooper Cornemann, Yankton; Akoi Akoi, O'Gorman; Andrew Rohrbach, Aberdeen Christian.

2021 – Matthew Mors, Yankton*; Paul Bruns, Dakota Valley; Kalen Garry, De Smet; Connor Libis, Dell Rapids St. Mary; Jakob Dobney, Vermillion. Second Five: Oliver Vincent, Sioux Valley; Tyler Feldkamp, Roosevelt; Joe Sayler, White River; Caden Hinker, Mitchell; Micah Swallow, Rapid City Central

2022 –Kalen Garry, De Smet*; Isaac Bruns, Dakota Valley; Caden Hinker, Mitchell; Marcus Phillips, Roosevelt; Joe Sayler, White River. Second Five: Mikele Kambalo, Washington; Lincoln Kienholz, Pierre; Tash Lunday, Flandreau; Cael Lundin, Tea Area; Oliver Vincent, Sioux Valley.

This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: South Dakota boys basketball players of the year: List since 1979