SIOUX FALLS -- Class B No. 1 De Smet faces a tall task on Friday.

The Bulldogs will play in the inaugural Hoophall Central Classic at the Sanford Pentagon. It’s one of four region events this season, with Sioux Falls hosting the Central Region version of the Hoophall Classic. The other regional events are in Arizona, Delaware and Arkansas. The Hoophall events will culminate on the “Road to Springfield” for the 20th annual Hoophall Classic taking place January 13-17, 2022 at Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts. 

De Smet will play Dream City Christian School (Arizona) on Friday at the Pentagon. Dream City Christian is headlined by Yohan Traore, a 6-foot-10, 225-pound five-star center, and Milos Uzan, a 6-foot-4, 185-pound four-star guard committed to Oklahoma. In addition to Traore and Uzan, the Eagles also feature a host of players that stand 6-foot-7 or taller. 

“The guys are fast and they have, I think, 6-11, 6-9, 6-7 on their roster,” De Smet coach Jeff Gruenhagen said. “It looks like they are really strong guys. They are not thin, wiry guys like we are used to in South Dakota. When you get up to 6-7, 6-8 these guys are well over 200 pounds, and I'm sure they have the strength to go behind it.”

The two-day also features teams and nationally-ranked players from Minnesota, Illinois, California and Kansas. De Smet, which won last year’s Class B state championship, is the lone South Dakota team playing in the event. Dream City Christian has played in events in Arizona, Mississippi, South Carolina, Kentucky and Tennessee this season. 

“I think it’s just a great experience for our guys to go down and meet these guys that this is what they do in their high school careers -- they travel around and play basketball,” Gruenhagen said. “They go somewhere every weekend. They are in California and they are in Tennessee. Now they are going to be in South Dakota.”

But for a handful of Bulldogs, facing the high-level caliber players is nothing new. De Smet’s Kalen Garry, Rett Osthus, Tory Holland, Damon Wilkinson and Kadyn Fast all played AAU basketball for the Sanford Pentagon Schoolers, who faced high-level players during the summer. 

“They just know what these guys are like and how much they are committed to basketball,” Gruenhagen said. “They are big and strong. We are going to see if our team approach, if our tight-knit group of guys and we are really competitive. Don't tell them they can’t win a game or hold their own. Because they are going to try to do it the best they can.”

This season, De Smet will also play in the Hanson Classic, Sanford Pentagon Classic and Entringer Classic to also highlight its schedule. The Bulldogs are 2-0 on the season, including a 60-57 win over Clark/Willow Lake on a pair of late 3-pointers by Garry.

Hoophall Central Schedule

FRIDAY 

4:30 PM - Minneapolis North High School, Minnesota vs. Simeon Career Academy, Illinois 

6:00 PM - Totino-Grace High School, Minnesota vs. Corona Centennial High School, California

7:30 PM - De Smet High School vs. Dream City Christian School, Arizona

9:00 PM - Kenwood Academy High School, Illinois vs. Sunrise Christian Academy, Kansas

SATURDAY 

11:30 AM - Dream City Christian School, Arizona vs. Simeon Career Academy, Illinois

1:00 PM - Bellevue West High School, Nebraska vs. Corona Centennial High School, California

2:30 PM - Kenwood Academy High School, Illinois vs. Sioux City East High School, Iowa

Players to Watch

Yohan Traore, Dream City Christian: A 6-foot-10, 225-pound five-star center, Traore is considering offers from LSU, Texas Tech, UCLA, Utah, Tennessee, Louisville, Memphis, Michigan and Oklahoma State.

Milos Uzan, Dream City Christian: A 6-foot-4, 185-pound four-star guard, Uzan has signed with Oklahoma.

Gradey Dick, Sunrise Christian Academy: Dick, a 6-foot-6, 195-pound four-star forward, has signed with Kansas. 

Mark Mitchell, Sunrise Christian Academy: Mitchell, a 6-foot-8, 205-pound five-star forward, has signed with Duke. 

Dillon Hunter, Sunrise Christian Academy: A 6-foot-3, 180-pound guard, Hunter has signed with Baylor. 

Cameron Corhen, Sunrise Christian Academy: A 6-foot-9, 205-pound four-star forward, Corhen has signed with Florida State. 

Jared McCain, Corona Centennial: A 6-foot-2, 175-pound five-star guard, McCain has signed with Duke. 

Scotty Middleton, Sunrise Christian Academy: Middleton is a 6-foot-6, 180-pound four-star forward in the 2023 class. He’s received offers from DePaul, Kansas State, Nebraska and Oklahoma State. 

Dai Dai Ames, Kenwood Academy: Ames is a 6-foot-1, 160-pound four-star guard in the 2023 class. He’s received offers from Illinois, LSU, Maryland, Michigan State and Nebraska.