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Lead 'Dog – Rett Osthus paces De Smet on offense and defense
De Smet's Rett Osthus (5) plays at the Corn Palace during the Hanson Classic on Jan. 22.
(Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

Lead 'Dog – Rett Osthus paces De Smet on offense and defense

Jan 27, 2022
  

By Ryan Deal 

605 Sports

DE SMET — De Smet is in the midst of a dominating boys basketball run, and whether he’s dishing the ball, defending on the perimeter or hitting jumpers, Rett Osthus is in the middle of it all.

A four-year starter, Osthus has been the lead guard for one of the most dominating runs in Class B boys basketball history. The No. 1-ranked Bulldogs have qualified for three state tournaments, won last year’s state championship and are 80-7 the past four seasons. 

While he’s done a little bit of everything for the Bulldogs, Osthus’ biggest impact is running the offense and regularly guarding the opposing team’s best perimeter player. 

“He’s always been such a playmaker and he’s the lockdown defender,” De Smet coach Jeff Gruenhagen said. “It’s fun watching him going from a freshman where he’s like 135 pounds, but he still had the basketball IQ.” 

A three-time all-conference performer, Osthus has averaged at least 10 points, four rebounds and four assists per game the past three seasons. Entering Friday’s game against Colman-Egan, he’s sitting at 884 career points. 

This season, he’s averaging 11 points, 4.7 rebounds and a team-high 4.5 assists per game. He shoots 45 percent from the field and 34 percent from the 3-point line, while he’s logged 15 steals.

Osthus has helped the Bulldogs (11-1) average 68 points per game, while also holding their opponents to 43 points per game. De Smet is also powered by all-state shooting guard Kalen Garry (22.5 ppg/6 rpg), towering 6-foot-9 post player Damon Wilkinson (12.6 ppg/8.2 rpg) and do-it-all forward Tory Holland (8.6 ppg/4.6 rpg).

The trio, Osthus said, makes his point guard duties that much easier on the court.  

“They get themselves open and give me a lot of options to pass to and get some assists,” said Osthus, a 6-foot-1 guard. 

In De Smet’s recent win over No. 2 White River, Osthus’ stat line was a sampling of his entire career. He logged just four points, but grabbed eight rebounds and handed out six of the team’s 16 assists.

“I know if I get the ball to my playmakers and I can also create a couple shots for myself,” Osthus said. “But I love getting everyone involved and tonight we got everyone involved and it was a big win.”


Osthus seemed destined to be a point guard. Osthus’ father, Doug, was an all-stater in 1987 when the Bulldogs won the state championship. Doug Osthus, Gruenhagen and Terry Holland — Tory Holland’s father — were on the 1987 state championship team. 

For Gruenhagen, it’s like watching Doug all over again when Rett runs the offense. 

“Doug was the same way,” Gruenhagen said. “You had to keep your eyes open otherwise you were going to get hit in the face or in the stomach. You better be ready because he was going to dish it out.”

Doug played baseball at Northern State University and led the Wolves in stolen bases in 1990. Rett’s mother, Shelly, was an all-conference performer and played in the 1990 Class B girls basketball tournament with Iroquois. Doug Osthus’ sister, Renae, was on a pair of NAIA national championship teams in the early 1990s at NSU.

Last season, Rett earned all-state honors to continue a family trend. Osthus’ sisters — Rylie and Rynn — were all-state selections in 2015 and 2019, respectively. They were also point guards for their De Smet girls basketball teams. 

“We are all kind of the same type of player,” Rett said. “We take pride in defense and getting assists. We all kind of go off each other and help each other out.” 

Next season, Osthus will follow in his sister's footsteps and play basketball at DWU. Rylie was a starter on the NAIA national championship team in 2018, while Rynn is currently a junior for the Tigers. 

“Both my sisters went there and I am close with a lot of people there,” Rett said about picking DWU. “I like the coaching staff and I like the facilities.”

But before he dons the blue and white, Osthus will continue leading the Bulldogs in their quest for another state championship. 

“He’s just a basketball guy,” Gruenhagen added. “Wesleyan is getting a great floor leader on offense and defense. He is just relentless.”