Mitchell Kernels: Hoops Profile

PHD is looking at the reigning South Dakota State Champions in Class AA!!   Expect the Kernels to enter the year ranked #1 and to collect many wins throughout the year. Mitchell has all the pieces to be an elite squad with excellent coaching, sharpshooters, stellar guard play, size/strength, toughness, rebounding, clutch performers, and great glue guys/role players. Will the Kernels repeat and bring home another crown?   School: Mitchell   Mascot: Kernel   Head Coach: Ryker Kreutzfeldt   Class: AA   2023-24 Record: 23-1 (State Champions)   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/kernals-crop-1125x739-1731647121.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/kernals-crop-1125x739-1731647121.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2637017" style="width:253px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/HoopsProfile_6897b9.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/HoopsProfile_6897b9.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-2635133" style="width:228px;height:auto" /></a></figure>   Kernels To Watch   Comments from coach Kreutzfeldt   [player_tooltip player_id='1297809' first='Markus' last='Talley'] - 6'2, Guard, Senior - 17.3 ppg, 6 rpg, 4 apg, 47.6 FG%, 52.7 eFG%   "Markus is on the shortlist for one of the best players in South Dakota. He plays the game incredibly smoothly and is elite on both sides of the ball. Markus is the focal point of our offense and very often guards the best or second-best offensive player on the opposing team. Markus is coming off an All-state, All-conference, and All-Tournament season as a Junior and we will need him to be a leader for us this year."   [player_tooltip player_id='1466940' first='Colton' last='Smith'] - 6'5, Forward, Junior - 16.8 ppg, 8.9 rpg, 2.9 apg. 52.1 FG%, 55.2 eFG%   "Colton established himself as a dominant force as a Sophomore averaging nearly a double-double with nearly 17 ppg and 9 rpg. Colton has been playing Varsity since he was a freshman and has added new components to his game each year. As a sophomore, he added a perimeter shot making 20 3pt shots after attempting none as a Freshman. He has worked hard on his dribble-drive game this off-season and will be able to make more plays for us off of the bounce this season. He might be the most tenacious rebounder I have ever seen; his motor just never quits. Colton is also an elite defender who has the ability to guard any position on the floor. Colton is our most vocal leader and his growth in that aspect will be critical to our team's success this season."   [player_tooltip player_id='2310403' first='Gavin' last='Hinker'] - 6'5, Center, Senior - 6 ppg, 4 rpg, .8 apg, 68.8 FG%, 68.8 eFG%   "Gavin was a starter for us all season long as Junior. He really burst onto the scene at the State Tournament where he averaged 10 ppg and 5 rpg. Gavin will be relied on more to fill a scoring role for us this year. He is a big strong kid who works in the post and in rolling actions off of ball screens. He has spent a lot of time in the weight room this off-season and is coming into the season looking like a different player both athletically and skills-wise. Gavin is a skilled rebounder and his ability to score us a few buckets a game in the post will be needed if we want to contend with the best teams in AA."   [player_tooltip player_id='2344089' first='Landen' last='Soulek'] - 5'11, Guard, Senior - 3.2 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 1.3 apg, 29.5 FG%, 37.4 eFG%   "Landen is a quick guard who has a great feel for the game. Last season, he was one of our better defenders and could be relied on to make a couple of plays offensively in every game. We will need him to be a consistent threat from the 3pt line and continue to build confidence in his playmaking ability throughout his senior season."   [player_tooltip player_id='2344092' first='Parker' last='Mandel'] - 6'3, Guard, Senior - 3.9 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 2.8 apg, 50 FG%, 57 eFG%   "Parker is a lengthy wing player who has a high basketball IQ. Parker made a number of big plays in the State Championship game last season that helped us win that game. He is coming into this senior season off of his best off-season of his career. We are excited to see what kind of jump he can make in his senior season and will be a key component of our offense."   [player_tooltip player_id='1503839' first='Sutton' last='Thompson'] - 6'0, Guard, Senior - 2 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 2.4 apg, 32 FG%, 37 eFG%   "Sutton is a great plug-and-play player for us as he has the ability to play and defend multiple positions. He has always been a kid that we know what we are going to get out of him when he is on the floor and does not make many mistakes. Sutton also had a great off-season and if he is a consistent 3pt shooter it will make us much more difficult to guard."   Mason Herman - 6'4, Center, Senior   "Mason is a very physical post-player. Although he did not see many minutes for us last season, he played key minutes in the State Championship game due to foul trouble. He can be relied on to play his role and knows how to help get his teammates open."   <figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/image_087a66.png"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/image_087a66.png" alt="" class="wp-image-2637028" /></a></figure>   With Ryker Kreutzfeldt   Could you write a couple sentences summing up last season?   "Last season we were fortunate enough to end the year as State Champions. We ended the year with a 23-1 record with our loss coming to Harrisburg. We were able to grab a piece of the ESD Championship for our 3rd straight season. We had great senior leadership on and off the floor with Gavin Soukup, Nic Moller, and Abe Gunnare."   PHD: Does your program/team have any non-negotiables?   "The only thing we really preach is to always put the team before yourself. We > Me."   PHD: What will your defense "hang its hat on"?   "We have really transitioned into a more conservative defensive approach. We want to limit paint touches. Our defense really relies on the scout as we guard each team a little bit different than the last."   PHD: Who will be your primary ballhandler this year?   "[player_tooltip player_id='1297809' first='Markus' last='Talley']. Markus is an elite player in South Dakota. He will be a kid that Mitchell folks are saying "remember when" about long after his career is over."   PHD: How did the offseason go for your team/program?   "We had a great off-season. Right or wrong, we have always put an emphasis on just playing as much as we can. We got to head down to Orlando to compete at the UCF Team Camp, as well as at DWU, SDSU, and the Summer League at Impact Sports Center."   PHD: Who are a few of your top players to look out for?   "[player_tooltip player_id='1297809' first='Markus' last='Talley'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1466940' first='Colton' last='Smith']"   PHD: Who are a couple of up-and-comers to look out for?   "We are lucky to be pretty deep in our sub-varsity classes which feature a lot of kids that will be fighting for Varsity minutes this year and will be relied upon heavily in the 2025-2026 season. Some of our Juniors are [player_tooltip player_id='2080295' first='Luke' last='LeBrun'], [player_tooltip player_id='2344013' first='Jaxson' last='Hartman'], [player_tooltip player_id='2340684' first='Tyler' last='Christensen'], [player_tooltip player_id='2340685' first='Kendan' last='Skinner'], Jacob Ebert, and Carter McCormick. We have a talented Sophomore class which is led by [player_tooltip player_id='2250315' first='Collin' last='Weier'], [player_tooltip player_id='2132568' first='Lincoln' last='Bottum'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2250346' first='Owen' last='Raml']. We did have a Freshman who played up as an 8th grader last season, [player_tooltip player_id='2344233' first='Owen' last='Schelske'], who will also be in the mix to compete for Varsity minutes."   PHD: Who do you think will be your best rebounders?   "[player_tooltip player_id='1466940' first='Colton' last='Smith'], [player_tooltip player_id='2310403' first='Gavin' last='Hinker'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1297809' first='Markus' last='Talley']."   PHD: What are your team goals this year?   "Our goal each season is to win an ESD Title, make the State Tournament, and play on Friday night at the State Tournament. Of course are over-arching goal of the season would be to win another State Championship but we will need to focus on one game at a time to get to that point."   PHD: Who will be your hardest worker?   "We have been really lucky to have kids the last few years that we do not have to coach their effort. We do believe that all of our kids are hard workers. I can't really pin down one kid who will work the hardest but I do think of all of our Juniors and Sophomores who have been "practice players" for our Varsity teams that have helped them be so prepared for each game while also preparing themselves for their time at the Varsity level."   PHD: who are the top teams in AA?   "Everyone in the Metro Conference will be very difficult to beat. I also think that Huron and Rapid City Stevens will be very good teams."   BEST OF LUCK TO THE KERNELS!!   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/kernals-crop-1125x739-1731647121.jpg"><img src="https://prephoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2024/11/kernals-crop-1125x739-1731647121.jpg?w=800" alt="" class="wp-image-2637017" /></a></figure>

PHD is looking at the reigning South Dakota State Champions in Class AA!!