By Ryan Deal 

605 Sports

The De Smet Bulldogs returned a big and noticeable piece off last season’s state championship team. 

The Bulldogs captured their second consecutive Class B state championship last year and graduated five seniors, including two current college basketball players — Kalen Garry (South Dakota State) and Rett Osthus (Dakota Wesleyan University). 

But the champs reloaded with all-stater Damon Wilkinson, a towering 6-foot-10 and 260-pound center not often seen in Class B boys basketball. With De Smet graduating a bulk of their offensive production, Wilkinson unsurprisingly faces double and triple teams as defenses scheme against him.  

“He gets beat up a lot during the game and it’s hard,” De Smet coach Jeff Gruenhagen said. “He’s much bigger than everybody else and they’re just paying a lot of attention to him.”

Wilkinson knew the extra attention was coming this season. But he’s relished the increased touches and has carried the torch left by the departed Bulldogs.    

“I am enjoying being a leader,” said the soft-spoken Wilkinson. “Those guys took a lot of pressure off me, but it’s been fun.”

Wilkinson has handled the extra workload in a big way this season. Wilkinson is averaging 22 points, 13.6 rebounds and 1.5 blocked shots per game. He’s logged seven double-doubles, has scored in double figures each game and has eight games with double-digit rebounds. 

He’s posted monster double-doubles of 25 points and 25 rebounds against Hamlin, 27 points and 15 boards against Sioux Valley and 22 points and 18 rebounds against Howard. While also hammering several slam dunks during the year. 

The Class B No. 3 Bulldogs are 10-2 after picking up a 56-36 win over Castlewood on Jan. 23. Wilkinson logged 25 points and 14 rebounds in the win. 

All while demanding extra bodies in the paint. 

“He’s handled it really well and he’s come out and worked really hard,” Gruenhagen said. “He gets position and everybody is sliding underneath him on the offensive boards and two guys are boxing him out. So it’s hard to get those and maintain your composure. He’s done a pretty good job of that.” 

De Smet's Damon Wilkinson plays against Lower Brule at the Hanson Classic on Jan. 21.

Wilkinson has also done a good job at trusting and finding his teammates. The Bulldogs have a new cast of players stepping up this season, including Kadyn Fast, Kasen Janssen, George Jensen, Gannon Gruenhagen and Tom Aughenbaugh. 

Wilkinson is more than comfortable deferring to his teammates.

“I will let them keep shooting shots,” Wilkinson said. “I will go for the rebound and go for the putback. If you are open, shoot the shot. Honestly, that doesn't bother me at all.”

With Wilkinson anchoring the post, De Smet is again hanging its hat on defense. The Bulldogs are allowing 38.7 points per game and have outscored their opponents by 24.8 points per game this season. 

In a rematch of last season’s state championship, De Smet limited Lower Brule at the Hanson Classic with a sound second-half defensive effort. The Sioux managed just five made field goals in the second half and went 1 of 11 from the 3-point line. 

It’s that trademark defense that has Wilkinson and De Smet again a threat to claim another state championship. 

“We come in with the mindset to play defense,” Wilkinson said. “Defense wins championships.”

Wilkinson, who is also an all-state offensive lineman, is mulling over scholarship offers from college football and basketball teams. But he’s undecided on his plans for next fall.