Castlewood climbed the Class B boys basketball mountain for the third time in school history last year, and will look to do the same this season.

The Warriors capped off a 24-2 season with a 52-31 win over Viborg-Hurley in the Class B state championship last season, and will look to reload for the 2025-26 season.

Castlewood is the preseason No. 1 team in the prep media poll with 10 first place votes, ahead of Wessington Springs, Dell Rapids St. Mary, Wall and Viborg-Hurley. Freeman, Lyman, Aberdeen Christian, De Smet and Parkston round out the top-10 teams in the preseason prep media poll as well.

Storylines to Watch

Can Castlewood go back-to-back?: After winning its first state championship since 2001, Castlewood will have a new challenge to try and run it back. The Warriors graduated three starters, including two all-staters, and will look to get some younger players involved in its title defense season.

Who else will emerge?: Beyond the champs, plenty of teams will look to jump into that state title favorite spotlight. Look for teams with plenty of returning talent including the likes of Wessington Springs, Freeman, Viborg-Hurley and Dell Rapids St. Mary.

Mebius brothers bolster Wessington Springs’ run to state: Wessington Springs returns two all-staters in Colby Flowers and Parker Graff, and their title aspirations recently received a boost. Sioux Falls O’Gorman brothers Logan and Max Mebius, who have family ties in Wessington Springs, have transferred to the school. Logan is a senior guard, while Max is a sophomore guard.  

Players to Watch

Note: These players were all-staters in the 2024-25 season. 

Grant Wilkinson, De Smet: A 6-foot-8 senior center, Wilkinson was an all-state first team selection a year ago. Wilkinson averaged 23.3 points and 16.6 rebounds a game with 40 blocks on the year. Wilkinson set school records for points in a game (47), rebounds in a game (27) and rebounds in a season (368). He also tied the school record for most made field goals in a game (19). Wilkinson has totaled 730 points and 518 rebounds. Wilkinson will play football at South Dakota State University.

Wesley Wittler, Sully Buttes: A 6-foot-1 senior guard, Wesley Wittler was an all-state first team selection last year. Wittler averaged 26.2 points, 13.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game, adding 82 steals as well. Wittler enters his senior campaign with 1,425 career points.

Ben Weber, Bridgewater-Emery: A 6-foot-5 senior forward, Ben Weber was an all-state second team honoree last year. Weber averaged 19.3 points, 10 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game last season.

Colby Flowers, Wessington Springs: A 6-foot-4 senior forward, Colby Flowers was an all-state second team selection last year. Flowers averaged 15.9 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game a season ago. Flowers will play football at Northern State University. 

Brady Schroedermeier, Viborg-Hurley: A 6-foot-1 senior guard, Brady Schroedermeier was an all-state second team selection a season ago. Schroedermeier averaged 11.4 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists per game with 57 steals as a junior for the Cougars. Schroedermeier will play football at South Dakota State University.

Emmet Dinger, Wall: A 6-foot-2 senior guard, Dinger was an all-state third team honoree last season. Dinger averaged 20.3 points, 7.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game last year.

Parker Graff, Wessington Springs: A 6-foot-1 senior guard, Parker Graff was an all-state third-team selection last year. Graff averaged 17.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game last season.

David Walter, Freeman: A 6-foot-4 sophomore guard, David Walter was an all-state third-team selection last year. Walter averaged 18.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game for the Flyers.

Brooks Jett, Aberdeen Christian: A 6-foot-5 junior forward, Brooks Jett was an all-state third-team honoree last year. Jett averaged 17.5 points, eight rebounds and three assists per game for the Knights a season ago.

Teelan Kjerstad, Wall: A 6-foot-1 junior guard, Teelan Kjerstad was a third-team all-state selection last season. Kjerstad averaged 19.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 5.2 assists per game with 73 steals for the Eagles last year.

Brycen Bruening, Parkston: A 6-foot-1 junior guard, Brycen Bruening was an all-state honorable mention last season. Bruening averaged 17.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 4.1 assists for the Trojans last season.