De Smet’s Wilkinson named Player of the Year in Class B

BY MIKE CARROLL
OF THE PLAINSMAN
HURON — Senior Grant Wilkinson of De Smet has been selected as the 2026 Class B Player of the Year by the South Dakota Basketball Coaches Association. He was one of six area players named to this year’s Class B all-state team.
The 6-foot-10 center helped the Bulldogs to the consolation championship at this year’s Class B State Tournament. He averaged 24.4 points and 18.8 rebounds per game this season, while having 45 blocks.
“Grant has been a great player for us the past 3 seasons,” De Smet coach Jeff Gruenhagen said. “This year he really battled all year with teams plotting to stop him with extra defense. Grant played through all of that and helped us get some great wins and powered us to the state tournament.”
Wilkinson currently holds nine basketball school records for the Bulldogs — most points in a game (46); most 2-point field goals in a game (19 tie with Sean McDonald from 1983); most 2-point field goals in a season (256); most rebounds in a game (27); most rebounds in a season (433); most career rebounds (969); most free throws made in a season (123); most free throw attempts in a season (200); and most pionts in a season (635). He is currently second on the all-time scoring list in De Smet with 1,372, behind only Kalen Garry (2019-2022) with 2,093 points.
“Grant pushed himself to be able to play entire games without coming out and did a great job staying out of foul trouble. He had some nights over 40 points and over 25 boards which were just amazing performances,” Gruenhagen said. “He has earned the accolades that he is getting. Grant is a great kid who is a great teammate and will be remembered as one of the best Bulldogs of all time. That is a very distinguished list.”
Wilkinson has committed to play football at South Dakota State University in the fall.

Wessington Springs seniors Colby Flowers and Parker Graff were named to the second and third teams, respectively.
Flowers, a 6-5 forward, averaged 19 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists per game this season for the Spartans.
“Colby is one of the hardest working players I have ever coached and always came with the right mindset of wanting to work hard and willing to put the work in to get better,” Wessington Springs coach Joey Mitchell said. “Colby was a leader. He led by example on the court with his work ethic and mindset.”
Graff, a 6-1 guard, battled back from a knee injury he suffered in April of 2025. He averaged 16 points, 5 rebounds and two assists per game this season for the Spartans.
“Parker is an example of what consistent time in the off-season and commitment to a goal can do if you tackle it day by day,” Mitchell said. “Parker battled back from ACL injury in April 2025 and was finding his stride come late February, early March – less than a year after surgery; again, showing the determination and consistent effort and work behind the scenes.”

Also selected to the third team was junior Lucas Peskey of Iroquois/Lake Preston.
Peskey, a 6-0 guard, avarage s 19.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists per game this season and had 56 steals. He eclipsed the 1,000-point mark this season and established a new steals record in Iroquois.
“Lucas is an all-around player that does a little bit of everything on the court,” Iroquois/Lake Preston coach Brock Dufek said. “He has excellent court vision, quick first step, very good outside shooter and a great finisher around the rim.
“Lucas is someone that we leaned on when we needed a bucket or needed to shut down the other team’s best player,” he said. “He’s a great team leader on and off the court.”

Area players earning honorable mention in Class B were junior Noah Luethmers of De Smet and senior Caleb Richmond of Wolsey-Wessington.
Luethmers, a 6-3 guard, averaged 14.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game this season for the Bulldogs.
“Noah was a great point guard for us this season. He really worked over the offseason to be more physical and had so many clutch plays for us this season,” Gruenhagen said. “He is a very smart player, who was great from 3-pt line and can drive and finish at the rim.
“Noah always kept us in flow and could rise up to get a big basket when we needed one,” he said. “Noah is for sure deserving of all state with his performance this season. He’s a great team player.”

Richmond, a 6-1 guard, averaged 15.3 points, five rebounds and four assists per game this season for the Warbirds.
“Earning all-state honors is a reflection of the work Caleb has put in day after day when no one is watching. He is a four-year starter for this program, who is not only a talented player, but someone who leads by example, competes the right way, and represents our program with pride,” Wolsey-Wessington coach Austin Kemnitz said. “We’re incredibly proud of him and everything he’s accomplished. We look forward to see what he can do at the next level on the football field.”

Joining Wilkinson of the first team were junior Teelen Kjerstad of Wall; senior Wesley Wittler of Sully Buttes, senior Brady Schroedermeier of Viborg-Hurley, junior Kamden Keszler of Castlewood and sophomore David Walter of Freeman.
Joinging Flowers on the the second team are junior Brycen Bruening of Parkston; junior MJ Diehm of Lyman; senor Chance Schoenfeld of Deubrook Area; junior Brooks Jett of Aberdeen Christian; and senior Ben Weber of Bridgewater-Emery.
Graff and Peskey were joined on the third team by senior Emmet Dinger of Wall, senior Holden Wollman of Bridgewater-Emery; and senior Jake Austin of Viborg-Hurley.
Honorable mention also went to junior Dawsen Volmer of Lyman; senior Colt Keiser of Gregory; senior Westyn Thorpe of Leola/Frederick Area; senior Kassen Keough of Langford Area; and sophomore Hogan Hlavacek of Waubay-Summit.