2025 Boys State Basketball Media Picks

It's the boys' turn this week, and SDPB will cover all three state boys' basketball tournaments in Sioux Falls, Rapid City, and Aberdeen.

In Class AA, Sioux Falls Lincoln is the number one seed with an impressive 20-1 record. Being the favorite in the tournament also translated to being the favorite pick, with 95% of our media pickers choosing Lincoln to take the title this year. Only one media member picked against the grain, and that pick was the only team to take down the Patriots this season, Mitchell. The January 31st meeting saw the Kernels claim a 69-58 victory.

There is also a clear favorite in Class A, as Sioux Falls Christian garnered 70% of the picks. The Chargers are the one to watch, coming into the tournament with a 21-1 record. Their lone loss came to out-of-state opponent Western Christian on February 13th, 89-86.

The defending Class A champions Hamlin are back in the tournament as the two seed with a 20-2 record. The Charger's two losses on the season came to out-of-state opponent Houston, TN (74-71) at the Hoop City Classic on December 30th and to the number one seed Sioux Falls Christian on January 11th, 75-60. Hamlin grabbed 20% of the vote.

Could we see a rematch of last year's title game between Sioux Falls Christian and Hamlin? Not if Rapid City Christian has something to say about it. The Comets, who placed fourth a year ago, are 20-2, the three seed, and took the final 10% of the picks. Rapid City Christian's losses on the year come to the one and two seeds, Sioux Falls Christian (71-62) and Hamlin (71-59).

Our media pickers feel the Class B tournament is more wide open. The favorite pick is Castlewood, which gathered 35% of the votes. The Warriors, who placed third a year ago, are the one seed this season with a 21-2 record. Those two blemishes came to Hamlin (74-52) and Viborg-Hurley (49-44).

St. Mary's and Viborg-Hurley tied for the number two picks in Class B, each gathering 30% of the vote. The Cardinals come into the tournament as the two seed with a 22-1 record. Their lone blemish on the season came to the one-seed Castlewood 63-59 on January 21st. Viborg-Hurley is the third seed with a 21-2 record. Their two losses come to Rapid City Christian (59-38) and the opponent they will face to open the tournament, Freeman (57-53).

Don't miss a moment of the 2025 South Dakota Boys Basketball Tournaments Thursday through Saturday on SDPB-TV, SDPB.org/Basketball, or YouTube.