Getting buckets and breaking records is a constant theme for the members of the 2019 Class B All-State boys basketball team, as selected by the South Dakota Basketball Coaches Association.
Five of the six first team All-State selections averaged more than 20 points a game with the sixth not far behind.
Bridgewater-Emery’s Sawyer Schultz closed out a stellar career by being named the Player of the Year — an honor awarded to the senior with the most All-State votes. Schultz is joined by fellow seniors Jacob Prouty of Clark-Willow Lake and Trey King of Irene-Wakonda on the first team. Rounding out the squad are juniors Nick Wittler of Sully Buttes and Zech Clemens of Northwestern and sophomore Connor Libis of Dell Rapids St. Mary.
Schultz capped an incredible three-year run for the Huskies by averaging 23 points, 8.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. The Dakota Wesleyan commit closed out his career as Bridgewater-Emery’s all-time leading scorer with 1,876 points to go with 709 rebounds, 411 assists and 267 steals.
“He’s kind of like another coach on the floor,” said Bridgewater-Emery head coach Scott Schultz of his son. “He was able to relay things we wanted to do and did a good job helping our younger players this season on where to be and what we wanted to do.”
The lone first-team member to not average 20 points per game (he finished at just under with 19.8 per contest), Prouty helped the Cyclones finish what they started three years ago — guiding the team to the program’s first state championship. He put on a show in his final two high school games, scoring a record-breaking 37 points in the semifinals and adding 35 in the championship game against De Smet.
“This guy has the intangibles that you can’t coach,” said Clark-Willow Lake head coach Jerome Nesheim. “Jacob is probably one of the more fierce competitors that I have had the luxury of coaching. He is at his best when the lights are bright, the stage is big and the competition is tough.”
Undecided on his basketball future, Prouty amassed 1,517 points, 455 rebounds and 353 assists in 118 career games for Clark-Willow Lake.
An ability to do a little bit of everything for Irene-Wakonda was King’s calling card throughout his career. The program’s all-time leader in points and steals, King put up 23.1 points per game and hit 49 percent of his shot attempts this season.
“Trey is the best on-ball defender I have coached in my 24 years,” said Trey’s coach and father Mike King. “He is a unique player. It was always an honor and a privilege to coach my kids through high school.”
King will play college football at Northern State but totaled 2,016 points, 529 rebounds and 324 steals in his five-year varsity basketball career.
Wittler’s role expanded this year for Sully Buttes with the absence of two All-State honorees from a season ago, and he didn’t disappoint. The Charger junior went for 23.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game as the go-to option.
“Nick is a special player. He changes the game in so many ways,” said Sully Buttes head coach Brian White. “He is always trying to get his teammates involved in an unselfish manner, but he also has the ability to take over and dominate a game with his scoring ability.”
Clemens had a breakout campaign for Northwestern, averaging 25.2 points and 5.9 rebounds per game while hitting 48 percent from the field.
“Zech is that guy who brings it every night,” said Northwestern head coach Anthony Redman. “As a coach, you don’t have to worry if he is going to have a bad game. No matter what happens, he will find a way to contribute to the team.”
The youngest — and smallest — of the first teamers, Libis put up some other wordly numbers for Dell Rapids St. Mary this season. Despite his 5-foot-7 frame, Libis put in 27.2 points per game on a 47-percent success rate on his shot attempts. He also came up with 48 steals on the year.
