De Smet continued its reign atop Class B boys basketball last season.

In 2022-23, the Bulldogs won their third straight state championship and became the first Class B boys basketball team to three-peat since Webster (1946-48). This season, De Smet will be among the top contenders in Class B again.

The Bulldogs were No. 1 in the preseason South Dakota Prep Media Basketball Poll. Castlewood and White River were second and third, respectively. Viborg-Hurley and Lower Brule were fourth and fifth, respectively. 

Five storylines to watch

• De Smet chasing history: Last season, the Bulldogs became the first Class B boys basketball team to three-peat in 76 years. This season, De Smet is going for a four-peat, which hasn’t happened in boys basketball since Yankton (1922-25) during the one-class days. De Smet, which graduated first-team all-stater and current Jackrabbit Damon Wilkinson, will be led by seven seniors: Tom Aughenbaugh, Edger Wilkinson, Trace Van Regenmorter, Kadyn Fast, Britt Carlson, George Jensen and Tristan Olson. 
• White River eyes another state tourney: The Tigers have qualified for 18 straight Class B boys basketball tournaments, advancing every year from 2006-23. If White River qualifies this season, it would match Mitchell boys (1983-95) for the most consecutive state tournament berths with 19 in a row. The Tigers will be led by all-state guard Nic Marshall, 6-foot-6 forward Evastine Wright and St. Thomas More transfer Jordan Uhlir, a 6-foot-6 forward.

Castlewood's Bryon Laue (33) against Lower Brule at the Class B boys basketball tournament in Aberdeen last season. (Matt Gade / For 605 Sports)

• Castlewood led by Laue: Castlewood returns a big piece as it eyes a return trip to Aberdeen. The Warriors are gunning for their third straight Class B boys basketball tournament, and 6-foot-9 junior center Bryon Laue will headline the Warriors’ lineup. Laue logged 14.7 points and 10 boards per game last season, while swatting 62 shots en route to Class B second-team all-state honors. 
• Who will emerge?: The South Dakota Prep Media Basketball Poll was released Monday, and the top-five teams in Class B were 2023 state qualifiers: De Smet, Castlewood, White River, Viborg-Hurley and Lower Brule. Dell Rapids St. Mary, Gregory, Howard, Faith, Canistota, Wolsey-Wessington and Wessington Springs were honorable mention selections. The preseason poll is likely a strong indicator at how many state-tournament contenders will fill up the class. 
• 2,000-point watch: In recent years, boys basketball players Connor Libis, Matthew Mors, Paul Bruns, Kalen Garry and Joe Sayler surpassed 2,000 career points. Gregory’s Daniel Mitchell could be the next in line to reach the milestone. Mitchell enters his senior season with 1,616 career points. A 6-foot-7 forward, Mitchell has been an all-stater since his freshman season. Last season, Mitchell posted 15 points and 8.4 rebounds per game, earning Class B third-team all-state honors.

Players to watch

• Nick Hanson, Viborg-Hurley: A 6-foot-6 center, Hanson was a second-team all-stater last season as a sophomore. He averaged 16.5 points and 9.4 rebounds per game for the Cougars, while logging 55 blocked shots. 

• Bryon Laue, Castlewood: Laue logged 14.7 points and 10 boards per game last season, while swatting 62 shots. A 6-foot-9 junior was a Class B second-team all-state selection last season. 

• Lane Tvedt, Castlewood: Tvedt registered 16.3 points and 3.7 rebounds per game last season, while collecting 64 steals. A 6-foot senior, Tvedt was a Class B second-team all-stater last season. 

• Jackson Schauer, Faith: Schauer steered the Longhorns back to the state tournament last season, where they finished in seventh place. A 6-foot-1 senior guard, Schauer logged 20.4 points and 4.3 rebounds per game, while posting 66 steals. He was a Class B second-team all-state honoree. 

White River's Nic Marshall (1) and Faith's Jackson Schauer (10) scramble for a loose ball last season at the Class B boys basketball tournament in Aberdeen. (Matt Gade / For 605 Sports)

• Daniel Mitchell, Gregory: A 6-foot-7 forward, Mitchell has been an all-stater since his freshman season. Last season, Mitchell posted 15 points and 8.4 rebounds per game, earning Class B third-team all-state honors. Mitchell enters his senior season with 1,616 career points. 

• Tage Ortman, Canistota: Ortman led the Hawks with 18.5 points, 5.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game. The 6-foot senior was a Class B third-team all-stater last season. 

• Nic Marshall, White River: A 6-foot-1 senior guard, Marshall helped the Tigers to a fourth-place finish at the state tournament last season. Marshall logged 17.8 points, 5.3 assists and four rebounds per game last season, earning Class B third-team all-state honors. 

• Layne Cotton, Faulkton Area: Cotton averaged 23 points and 10.2 rebounds per game last season. A 6-foot-3 senior forward, Cotton was a Class B third-team all-stater during his junior campaign.