Sioux Falls Lincoln’s J.T. Rock is this season’s Class AA boys basketball player of the year.

Rock was the leading vote getter for this season’s Class AA all-state team, which is selected by the South Dakota High School Basketball Coaches Association. 

Rock is joined on the first team by Pierre’s Lincoln Kienholz, Yankton’s Rugby Ryken, Sioux Falls Jefferson’s Taylen Ashley and Kaden Year and Aberdeen Central’s Spencer Barr. 

A 7-foot-1 junior, Rock is making his first-ever appearance on the all-state team. Rock led the Patriots to a fourth-place finish at the Class AA state tournament. He averaged 18 points, 10 rebounds and blocked 81 shots this season. Rock has verbally committed to play hoops at Iowa State University, spurning a host of major Division I scholarship offers to play for the Cyclones. 

Sioux Falls Lincoln's J.T. Rock goes up for a shot at the Class AA state tournament this season in Rapid City. (South Dakota Public Broadcasting)

Kienholz is making his second straight first-team selection, while he was a second-team honoree in 2021. Kienholz led the Governors to a fifth-place finish at the Class AA state tournament, where he received the prestigious Spirit of Su honor. Kienholz averaged 18.5 points, 6.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game this season. He finished with 1,464 career points, the 10th most in Class AA boys basketball history. A 6-foot-3 athletic guard, Kienholz was also responsible for a number of highlight reel slam dunks. He will play college football next season at Ohio State University. 

Ryken is making his first appearance on an all-state team. Ryken, a 6-foot guard, led the Bucks with 12 points, 7.5 assists and 5.8 rebounds per game. He led the Bucks to the Class AA state championship, their first since 2018. Ryken will play football and basketball at Mount Marty University.

Ashley and Year were both second-team selections last season. The senior duo powered Jefferson to a third-place finish at the Class AA state tournament. Ashley, a 6-foot-1 point guard, tallied 17.3 points, four rebounds and three assists per game. Ashley scored his 1,000th career point this season. Ashley will play college basketball at the University of Sioux Falls. 

A 6-foot-5 athletic wing, Year posted 17 points and 5.2 rebounds per game. He also hammered down a number of slam dunks for the Cavaliers. Year will play college basketball at Dakota Wesleyan University. 

Barr was selected to his first-ever all-state squad this season. A 5-foot-11 senior guard, Barr registered 18.5 points and 2.4 assists per game. Barr was a dynamic scoring guard and erupted for 51 points in an 84-82 double overtime win over Pierre. Barr’s 51-point performance is tied with Rapid City Stevens’ Eric Piatkowski for the fourth highest individual scoring game in Class AA boys basketball history. Eric Kline holds the Aberdeen Central school record with 59 points, the highest individual scoring game in Class AA boys basketball history.

Barr will play college basketball next season at the University of Jamestown. 

The second team members include Harrisburg’s Ethan Determan, Mitchell’s Dylan Soulek, Huron’s Reilyn Zavesky, Harrisburg’s Jacoby Mehrman, Mitchell’s Steele Morgan and Sioux Falls O’Gorman’s Matt Eng. 

CLASS AA

First Team

JT Rock, SF Lincoln, 7-1, jr., F (18 ppg, 10 rpg, 81 blocks)

Lincoln Kienholz, Pierre, 6-3, sr., G (18.5 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 3.3 apg)

Rugby Ryken, Yankton, 6-0, sr., G (12 ppg, 5.8 rpg, 7.5 apg)

Taylen Ashley, SF Jefferson, 6-1, sr., G (17.3 ppg, 4 rpg, 3 apg)

Kaden Year, SF Jefferson, 6-5, sr., G (17 ppg, 5.2 rpg)

Spencer Barr, Aberdeen Central, 5-11, sr., G (18.5 ppg, 2.4 apg)

Second Team

Ethan Determan, Harrisburg, 6-3, sr., G (18 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 2.5 apg)

Dylan Soulek, Mitchell, 6-3, sr., G (13.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 4.4 apg)

Reilyn Zavesky, Huron, 6-3, sr., G (23.5 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 2.1 apg)

Jacoby Mehrman, Harrisburg, 6-4, jr., G (15 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 2.2 apg)

Steele Morgan, Mitchell, 6-5, sr., F (11.7 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 2.2 apg)

Matt Eng, SF O'Gorman, 6-2, sr., G (18.9 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 2.9 apg)

• Repeat Selections — 2022 (Kienholz, first team; Determan, Eng, Year and Ashley, second team); 2021 (Kienholz, second team).

• Players of the Year — Rock.