Hamlin and Sioux Falls Christian collided for a memorable Class A state championship game last season, with the Chargers coming away with a 53-50 victory. 

Hamlin and Sioux Falls Christian are both back with plenty of firepower, and are the top contenders in Class A this season. Sioux Falls Christian was the No. 1 team in the preseason poll, while Hamlin was No. 2. 

Dakota Valley, Rapid City Christian and Pine Ridge rounded out the top-five teams in the preseason rankings. 

Storylines to watch: 

Hamlin, Sioux Falls Christian to continue budding rivalry: Hamlin and Sioux Falls Christian have gotten well acquainted on the court in recent years. The teams have played four teams in the past two seasons, with each game decided by eight points or less. Sioux Falls Christian won the three first meetings, but Hamlin won last season’s state championship in a 53-50 thriller. They will play on Jan. 11 at Sioux Falls Christian, and will likely face off at the Dak-XII/NEC Clash in February. 

Goodbary headlines a talented class of players: Sioux Falls Christian’s Griffen Goodbary, a future Jackrabbit, is the top headliner in Class A. But the class is also filled with talented playmakers like Hamlin’s Easton Neuendorf, Pine Ridge’s Marvin Richard III, Dakota Valley’s Luke Bruns and Rapid City Christian’s Benson Kieffer, among others. The class is regularly loaded with elite players, and this year is no different. 

West River contenders: Rapid City Christian and Pine Ridge headline a host of top contenders from West River this season. The Comets and Thorpes were state tournament qualifiers last season, and both bring back a host of top players for another run at state. But West River teams like Winner, Custer and St. Thomas More will also be gunning for state tourney spots. 

Players to watch:

Note: These are players recognized on last year’s all-state basketball teams. 

Griffen Goodbary, Sioux Falls Christian: A 6-foot-10 senior forward, Goodbary was the Class A boys basketball player of the year last season. He was also the 2023-24 Gatorade South Dakota boys basketball player of the year. Goodbary averaged 20.2 points, seven rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. He will play college basketball at South Dakota State University. 

Easton Neuendorf, Hamlin: A 5-foot-11 senior guard, Neuendorf powered Hamlin to its first state championship since 1983. The first-team all-stater averaged 15.1 points, 7.1 assists and 3.8 rebounds per game, while logging 64 steals this season. Neuendorf has tallied 968 points, 416 assists, 249 rebounds and 219 steals. He will play college basketball at Briar Cliff University. 

Marvin Richard III, Pine Ridge: A 6-foot-3 junior guard, Richard III was a first-team all-stater last season. He averaged 23.8 points, 4.7 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game. He scored his 1,000th career point during his sophomore campaign. 

Luke Bruns, Dakota Valley: A 6-foot-2 senior guard, Bruns was a second-team all-stater last season. He averaged 19 points, five rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. 

Julius Frog, Rapid City Christian: A 6-foot-5 senior forward, Frog was a second-team all-stater last season. He averaged 15.6 points and 6.4 rebounds per game. 

Benson Kieffer, Rapid City Christian: A 5-foot-10 senior guard, Kieffer was a third-team all-stater in 2023-24. He averaged 15.9 points, 4.3 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game. 

Shawn Hammerbeck, Winner: A 6-foot-7 senior center, Hammerbeck recorded 15.5 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. Hammerbeck was a third-team all-stater last season. He will play college football at Nebraska. 

Simon Kieffer, Rapid City Christian: A 5-foot-11 senior guard, Kieffer averaged 15.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game last season. He was an honorable mention all-stater, and will play college football at the University of Jamestown. 

Trey Hansen, Vermillion: A 6-foot-4 junior guard, Hansen was an honorable mention all-stater last season. He averaged 17.7 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game last season.

Cole Snyder, Sioux Falls Christian: A 6-foot senior guard, Snyder tallied 11 points, 3.1 assists and 2.6 rebounds per game last season. Snyder was an honorable mention all-stater last season.

Kyle Virtue, Custer: A 6-foot-4 senior forward, Virtue was an honorable mention all-stater last season. He averaged 17.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.