Still Hungry: BV Ready To Repeat

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size">The Brandon Valley Lynx enter the new season as the reigning Class AA State Champions, and they look every bit the part of a program built to stay near the top. BV is led by one of the top coaches in South Dakota, Craig Nelson, who is a disciple of the legend Don Meyer. Nelson is an old-school type of coach but a bright basketball mind who consistently gets the most out of his roster. The Lynx bring back experienced players, high-level athletes, shooters, and tough, hardworking competitors. With length, unselfishness, strong team chemistry, fundamental players, and the addition of Omaha transfer [player_tooltip player_id='2856227' first='Ayuel' last='Deng'], a dynamic and explosive stud who adds even more firepower, Brandon Valley will once again be one of the most formidable teams in AA. The question looms: can the Lynx repeat as State Champions? One thing is certain: every team in the state will know when Brandon Valley steps onto the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><strong>School:</strong>&nbsp;Brandon Valley</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><strong>Mascot:&nbsp;</strong>Lynx</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><strong>Head Coach:</strong> Craig Nelson (183-110 career record), 14 seasons as head coach, 5 at BV, 9 years at SF Washington</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><strong>Athletic Director:</strong>&nbsp;Bill Freking</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><strong>Class:</strong>&nbsp;AA</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><strong>24-25 Season:</strong>&nbsp;21-3, AA State Champions</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":3172836,"width":"290px","height":"auto","aspectRatio":"1.0470474049856968","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/image_3cd35a.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/image_3cd35a.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-3172836" style="aspect-ratio:1.0470474049856968;width:290px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:image {"id":2632356,"width":"275px","height":"auto","aspectRatio":"1.6019426543382833","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/TeamPreview.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/TeamPreview.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-2632356" style="aspect-ratio:1.6019426543382833;width:275px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontStyle":"normal","fontWeight":"200"}},"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size" style="font-style:normal;font-weight:200">"<em>We have 2 starters back, our 2 year starting PG and our Big Man. Outside of that, we have a lot of unknowns, but a lot of pieces that really developed well at the JV level last season and are ready to step into bigger roles. Some of those players might take 10 games to get up to the speed and physicality of AA basketball, but I think they will be really nice players come the 2nd half of the season.</em>" -<strong>Craig Nelson</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"22px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:22px"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Players To Watch</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"11px","fontStyle":"normal","fontWeight":"100"}}} --> <p style="font-size:11px;font-style:normal;font-weight:100"><em>*Comments from Coach Nelson</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1641563"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6930cca8e8e01"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">8.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 73 total assists, 25 total steals, 33 FG%, 57 FT%, 32 3FG%</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Started all 23 games. Has started 50 games in his career. Great defender. Poised, great leader from the PG position. Led the Lynx football team as starting QB to a State Championship. Can knock down open shots when needed. Leads us in charges taken. Will need to be more offensively minded for us. Likely a future college FB player.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2856227"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6930cca8e8eb9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">"<em>Played for the Lynx through 8th grade and then transferred to prep school in Omaha for the past 3 years. Transferred back to BV for his senior year. Long, athletic player with a nice offensive skill set.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2148816"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6930cca8e8f47"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">8 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 22 total assists, 16 total steals, 12 total blocks, 53 FG%, 53 FT%</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Started 18 games for us as a sophomore. Austin is a big physical body who can really be a force down low. Was really good for us the last 8 games of the season and had a great State Tournament. Austin is a starting DE and TE on the<br>Lynx Football Team. Has multiple Big Ten offers for college football.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2368004"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6930cca8e8fce"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">3.9 ppg, 2 rpg, 12 total assist, 9 total steals, 1 block, 34 FG%, 75 FT%, 31 3FG%</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Great shooter. Made a big impact as a freshman, playing about 8 minutes a game on varsity. Led our JV in scoring at 16 PPG. Made two huge 2nd half 3 pointers in the State Championship game.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontSize":"22px"}}} --> <p style="font-size:22px"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline">Reserves</span></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2340659' first='Dylan' last='Williams'] (2026) |6'2 F|</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Hard-nosed post player who does all the little jobs well for our team. Screens, dives on loose balls, talks on defense. Great team guy, great glue guy.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jackson Burns (2026) |G|</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Solid, hard-nosed guard who had a really good JV season. Ready to step into a varsity role.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2713040' first='Will' last='Peterson'] (2026) |5'10 G|</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Good ball handler and shooter. Solid all-around player. Smart, heady player who can play multiple roles for us due to his leadership and IQ.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3173910' first='Ryan' last='Jahraus'] (2027) |6'3" C|</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Ryan progressed so well last season at the sophomore and JV levels. He built confidence with some really nice sophomore games and then carried that into some great JV ball late last season. Just a nice, solid post player with good moves and simplicity</em>."</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2443452' first='Caelen' last='Christion'] (2028) |6'0 G| </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Had a really nice offseason where he held his own against varsity competition in many summer games. Has quickness to pressure the basketball defensively and really make an impact on that end of the court. Developing a nice offensive skillset as well as being able to beat guys off the dribble and get to the paint.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2414274' first='Tristan' last='Dulaney'] (2028) |5'11 G|</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>"<em>Progressed from Freshmen games to doing well in Sophomore games, and then the last handful of games really started to do well at the JV level. Has a bright future ahead and should be able to give us solid varsity minutes this year as a sophomore.</em>"</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><a href="https://www.easternsouthdakotaconference.org/g5-bin/client.cgi?cwellOnly=1&amp;G5statusflag=view&amp;schoolname=&amp;school_id=2&amp;G5button=13&amp;G5genie=165&amp;vw_schoolyear=1&amp;vw_agl=7-2-11,&amp;manual_access=1">CLICK HERE for the Brandon Valley schedule.</a></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"style":{"typography":{"fontStyle":"italic","fontWeight":"1000"}},"fontSize":"medium"} --> <p class="has-medium-font-size" style="font-style:italic;font-weight:1000">BEST OF LUCK TO THE LYNX THIS SEASON!!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:image {"id":3172836,"width":"508px","height":"auto","aspectRatio":"1.0470474049856968","sizeSlug":"large","linkDestination":"media"} --> <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/image_3cd35a.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2025/12/image_3cd35a.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-3172836" style="aspect-ratio:1.0470474049856968;width:508px;height:auto" /></a></figure> <!-- /wp:image -->