ONIDA — Wesley Wittler is looking to get Sully Buttes back to the Class B state tournament.

The 6-foot-1 senior guard is piloting the Chargers’ success with a 5-1 start and the No. 4 spot in the latest South Dakota Prep Media Poll.

Sully Buttes began the year on a five-game win streak with wins over Lyman, Winner, Wolsey-Wessington, Philip and Highmore-Harrold before suffering its first loss to Sioux Valley on Jan. 10 at the Round Ball Classic in Volga.

“We’re in a really good spot,” said Wittler. “We’ve had two really good wins with Lyman and Winner right off the bat getting ourselves to 2-0. We’ve got a young team, we’ve got three seniors who are good leaders with me, Gavin (Colson) and James (Miles) and we’ve got a lot of young guys who can shoot the ball. That’s probably our best thing is that we’re a pretty hard cover.”

The returning all-state honorable mention selection is a focal point in the Chargers’ starting lineup along with Colson and Miles as well as two underclassmen in freshman Easton Moore and sophomore Jett Yackley.

Wittler, who averaged 26.2 points, 13.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists with 82 steals last season, scored 18 points and nine boards in the loss to Sioux Valley while facing tight defense and being face guarded the length of the court.

Sully Buttes' Wesley Wittler posts up during a boys basketball game against Sioux Valley on Jan. 10, 2026, in Volga. (Jon Akre / 605 Sports)

Wittler says he’s gotten used to that type of defense and still finds ways to stay involved offensively, averaging 23 points per game this season.

“I feel if I get faceguarded, everyone else is able to start knocking down shots so it creates a lot of problems,” Wittler said.

Wittler is most effective on drives to the basket and thrives on getting downhill, amassing 1,425 career points through his junior season using his speed to get to the hoop.

“The best part of my game is getting to the rim,” Wittler said. “I’m really hard to guard when I’m downhill and in transition. I know I’ve got to get to the rim every time, I’ve got to make the best play for the team and then when I get open looks behind the arc, I’ve got to knock them down.”

With 2,000 career points on the horizon for Wittler, it’s a goal he’s dreamt of for a long time and could potentially join that exclusive list of just 47 players in state history in his final season. Wittler will need 437 points the rest of the season to hit that mark.

“That would be an absolutely awesome feat I’ve dreamed of ever since I was a kid,” said Wittler. “Just a little single goal I’ve always had atop my list but I don’t get 2,000 without the guys around me so people will make plays for me and I’ll make plays for them.”

Sully Buttes' Wesley Wittler goes up for a layup during a boys basketball game against Sioux Valley on Jan. 10, 2026, in Volga. (Jon Akre / 605 Sports)

Wittler was also a standout quarterback for Sully Buttes with a football championship in 2024, earning Outstanding Back and Joe Robbie MVP for his performance in the title game. Wittler says he’s still deciding on his college plans and what sport he’ll play at the next level.

But for now the main goal is a deep postseason run with a trip to the Class B state tournament in Aberdeen, and Wittler says the Chargers have the pieces to make it back to the Barnett Center for the first time since 2020 (canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic).

“We’ve got shooters, we’ve got people that can get to the rim,” Wittler said. “With our system, practice day in and day out, you’ve got to stick to the system and do your job. Inexperience I feel like sometimes can kill us by being too selfish and not sticking to the system but this is game six, we’ve got 14 games left and then playoffs so we’re going to be just fine.”