SIOUX FALLS — The 2024 Class AA boys basketball tournament tips off Thursday at the Denny Sanford Premier Center.

Mitchell is the No. 1 seed in the eight-team field and will play Jefferson in the opener. The eight-team field also features Roosevelt, Washington, Harrisburg, Watertown, Brandon Valley and Huron. 

Here’s a look at all eight teams in the field: 

Mitchell

Record: 20-1 

Coach: Ryker Kreutzfeldt  

Key players: Colton Smith (17.7 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 3.1 apg), Markus Talley (17.3 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 4.1 apg), Gavin Soukup (11.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3 apg), Gavin Hinker (5.5 ppg, 3.8 rpg).

Notes: No. 1 Mitchell will play No. 8 Sioux Falls Jefferson at noon CT in the opener. … Mitchell defeated Sioux Falls Jefferson, 71-58, on Jan. 30 in Sioux Falls. … Mitchell’s lone loss was against No. 2 Harrisburg, a 62-53 overtime setback. … Mitchell placed second at last season’s state tournament. … The Kernels are making their fourth consecutive Class AA appearance. 

Sioux Falls Jefferson

Record: 12-9 

Coach: Tim Reck 

Key players: Dawson Sechser (12 ppg, 3.1 rpg), Mason Payne (9.7 ppg, 7.5 rpg), Tyler Bohannon (8.6 ppg), Damaris Fields (8.2 ppg), Braylon Bear (6.8 ppg).

Notes: No. 8 Sioux Falls Jefferson will play No. 1 Mitchell at noon CT in the opener. … The Cavaliers lost to the Kernels, 71-58, on Jan. 30 in Sioux Falls. … Jefferson is making its third consecutive Class AA appearance. … Dawson Sechser, a 6-foot, 185-pounder, will play college football at the University of South Dakota. 

Sioux Falls Roosevelt

Record: 15-6 

Coach: Mitch Begeman  

Key players: Nasar Ismail (11 ppg, 2.3 rpg), Hayden Goff (10.7 ppg, 4 rpg), Jamre Tiger (7 ppg). 

Notes: No. 4 Sioux Falls Roosevelt will play No. 5 Sioux Falls Washington at 1:45 p.m. CT in the opener. … Roosevelt and Washington split their season series. … Roosevelt’s leading scorer, Garang Kuol, suffered a season-ending ACL injury midway through the season.  

Sioux Falls Washington

Record: 14-7 

Coach: Jeff Tobin  

Key players: Tommy Hoffman (13.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg), Jhace Woods (10.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg), Lucas Johnson (9.3 ppg), Lubab Kambalo (8.7 ppg), Samuel Baskin (6.7 ppg).

Notes: No. 5 Sioux Falls Washington will play No. 4 Sioux Falls Roosevelt at 1:45 p.m. CT in the opener. … Washington and Roosevelt split their season series. 

Harrisburg's Jacoby Mehrman, left, attacks the basket against Mitchell's Markus Talley, right, on Jan. 2 in Mitchell. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

Harrisburg

Record: 15-6 

Coach: Scott Langerock  

Key players: Jacoby Mehrman (17.2 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 77 assists, 40 3-pointers), Braeden VanBockern (16.6 ppg, 52 3-pointers), Cam Phipps (12 ppg, 4.6 rpg), Maddox Plack (6.6 ppg, 6.5 rpg), Braeden Feeldy (3 ppg, 81 assists, 81 rebounds).

Notes: No. 2 Harrisburg will play No. 7 Watertown at 6 p.m. CT in the opener. … Harrisburg defeated Watertown, 53-37, on Feb. 23 in Watertown. … Jacoby Mehrman, a 6-foot-4 all-state guard, will play college basketball at the University of Sioux Falls. … Harrisburg is making its first Class AA appearance since 2022. 

Watertown

Record: 13-8 

Coach: Pat McClemans 

Key players: Dylon Rawdon (13.4 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 3.3 apg), Caden Beauchamp (10.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg), Kohen Kranz (10.8 ppg, 3.1 rpg), Jake Olson (9.2 ppg), Will Engstrom (6.7 ppg).

Notes: No. 7 Watertown will play No. 2 Harrisburg at 6 p.m. CT in the opener. … Watertown lost to Harrisburg, 53-37, on Feb. 23 in Watertown. … Caden Beauchamp, a 6-foot-3 senior, will play college football at Dakota State University. … Watertown is making its first Class AA appearance since 2015. 

Brandon Valley

Record: 16-5 

Coach: Craig Nelson  

Key players: Josh Olthoff (12.5 ppg, 6.4 rpg), Aiden Zerr (10.1 ppg, 4 rpg), Landon Dulaney (7.9 ppg, 6.4 rpg), Hayden Anderson (8.9 ppg, 3.7 rpg)

Notes: No. 3 Brandon Valley will play No. 6 Huron at 7:45 p.m. CT in the opener. … Brandon Valley defeated Huron, 64-43, on Feb. 22 in Brandon. … Brandon Valley is making its first Class AA appearance since 2021. 

Huron

Record: 13-8 

Coach: Tim Buddenhagen 

Key players: Blake Ellwein (17.8 ppg, 6.6 rpg), Anderson Porisch (10.7 ppg, 6.7 rpg), C.J. Gainey (9.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg), Gavin Moeding (5 ppg).

Notes: No. 6 Huron will play No. 3 Brandon Valley at 7:45 p.m. CT in the opener. … Huron lost to Brandon Valley, 64-43, on Feb. 22 in Brandon. … Blake Ellwein’s father, Jay, was an all-stater for Huron and later starred at Huron University. … The Tigers are making their first Class AA qualification since 2020, when COVID-19 canceled the state tournament.