YANKTON — In 2022, Matthew Mors traded Badger red for Jackrabbit blue.

The Yankton High School graduate burst onto South Dakota’s prep basketball scene, playing varsity basketball since he was a seventh grader and scored a Class AA-record 2,707 career points. The blue-chip prospect signed with the Wisconsin Badgers, but after a redshirt season in 2021-22, Mors knew where he wanted to be — South Dakota State University.  

“I knew at the end of the day that being home and being in South Dakota means a lot to me,” said Mors, who was named the 2021 South Dakota Mr. Basketball. “Wearing Jackrabbits across my chest that’s kind of the dream for me.”

Mors said he wouldn’t change a thing during his college basketball experience. He doesn’t regret his lone season in Madison, and said it’s been a special run for the in-state Jackrabbits. 

“It should be the ultimate goal of every kid in South Dakota just to stay home and play for a home crowd and a home base that really supports you,” Mors said. 

The 6-foot-7 senior forward has been a reliable Jackrabbit, starting in 49 of 101 career games and averaging 6.2 points per game. But his impact goes beyond points, with Mors providing hustle and energy plays that won’t show up in the box score. 

“I am just going to bring what I can,” Mors said. “Whatever the team needs I am going to do that at a really high level. Whatever it takes to win, I am going to do that.”

Yankton's Matthew Mors (11) walks back to the bench against Merrimack College on Nov. 3 in Sioux Falls. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

The Matthew Mors Effect was on full display in SDSU’s season-opening 75-66 win over Merrimack College (Mass.) on Nov. 3 at the Field of 68 Opening Day Marathon at the Sanford Pentagon. Mors registered 16 points, nine rebounds, three assists, three steals and two blocks, helping the Jackrabbits rally for the win.  

“Mors was awesome,” first-year SDSU coach Bryan Petersen said. “Matt Mors, how he played is just how he is as a person, and how he competes, what he is as a teammate. It’s really cool to see him have those moments out there. Because obviously he made a few plays here and there, like shooting wise. But I feel like a majority of his plays he made to help us win were all energy plays. I thought Mors just stayed at it and he kept our group connected.”

Mors was joined in the starting lineup by three other South Dakotans, including White River’s Joe Sayler and De Smet’s Kalen Garry and Damon Wilkinson. The quartet all played major roles in SDSU’s second-half surge, playing in front of a pro-Jackrabbit crowd. 

“In the second half, it was all about energy plays and getting the crowd involved,” Mors said. “Because we get so much support over here that we have to take advantage of when we are making really good plays and getting the crowd involved.”

Mors expects the Jackrabbits to have plenty of players involved this season. Against the Warriors, SDSU placed three players in double figures and two others with eight or more points. 

SDSU recorded 17 assists on 24 made field goals, and Mors anticipates the Jacks to all complement each other this season.  

“We’ve talked about it where we are going to have some guys who can score a lot of points one night, and maybe one night they are guarding the best player,” Mors said. “I think what’s going to make this team dangerous is just the versatility that we have all across the board.”

And Mors said he’ll give it his all during his final season in Jackrabbit blue.  

“I am just hoping to give it my all each and every day,” Mors said. “Whether that’s practice, game day. I want to be a leader for these guys. But at the end of the day I am going to do whatever I can to help the team win.”