South Dakota boys high school basketball rankings
From the roaring crowd to squeaking sneakers on the hardwood, high school boys basketball is a beloved American pastime.
The sport's school roots date back to its 19th-century beginnings. After all, James Naismith invented basketball as a physical education activity. The concept of a state championship for high school basketball soon followed. Illinois, for example, held a state championship as early as 1908. Other states with early high school basketball championships include Indiana (first championship in 1911) and Wisconsin (1916).
Now, the sport is etched into the ethos of the American high school. Over half a million boys play on their high school basketball team, according to 2021-22 school year data compiled by the National Federation of State High School Associations. That figure represents over 18,000 teams competing across all 50 states, grinding out games in high school gyms on dark winter nights.
But when not every team plays one another, how do you separate the wheat from the chaff? Luckily, the data-driven nature of sports means there are plenty of avenues for rating and ranking basketball teams.
Stacker compiled boys high school basketball rankings in South Dakota using MaxPreps. MaxPreps' rankings factor in win-loss record, win quality, and strength of schedule. Read on through to find out the best boys basketball schools in South Dakota.
Class A
1. Dakota Valley (North Sioux City): 26-0 (10-0 in A Region 4), 32.6 rating, 26 straight wins
2. Sioux Falls Christian (Sioux Falls): 20-6 (3-2 in A Region 3), 25.1 rating
3. Hamlin (Hayti): 22-4 (3-1 in A Region 2), 23.4 rating
4. Sioux Valley (Volga): 23-4 (4-1 in A Region 2), 21.1 rating, 2 straight wins
5. More (Rapid City): 21-4 (7-0 in A Region 8), 20.5 rating
6. Tea: 14-7 (3-2 in A Region 4), 20.4 rating
7. Lennox: 17-5 (5-1 in A Region 4), 19.7 rating, 2 straight losses
8. Elk Point-Jefferson (Elk Point): 18-7 (4-3 in A Region 4), 18.1 rating, 2 straight losses
9. Rapid City Christian (Rapid City): 20-2 (5-1 in A Region 8), 17.9 rating
10. Dell Rapids: 16-6 (4-3 in A Region 3), 16.9 rating
Class AA
1. Jefferson (Sioux Falls): 21-3 (16-2 in AA), 29.4 rating
2. Lincoln (Sioux Falls): 19-5 (16-3 in AA), 25.8 rating, 2 straight losses
3. Yankton: 19-5 (13-5 in AA), 25.6 rating, 6 straight wins
4. Mitchell: 19-5 (14-4 in AA), 24.2 rating
5. Riggs (Pierre): 16-8 (11-7 in AA), 20.1 rating, 2 straight wins
6. Washington (Sioux Falls): 15-9 (13-6 in AA), 19.2 rating, 3 straight losses
7. Harrisburg: 14-9 (10-6 in AA), 18.0 rating
8. Roosevelt (Sioux Falls): 14-10 (11-8 in AA), 17.5 rating
9. Brandon Valley (Brandon): 13-8 (11-6 in AA), 17.2 rating, 2 straight losses
10. O'Gorman (Sioux Falls): 7-14 (6-12 in AA), 10.4 rating, 2 straight losses
Class B
1. DeSmet: 23-3 (6-0 in B Region 2), 20.6 rating, 10 straight wins
2. Lower Brule: 22-4 (0-0 in B Region 6), 17.7 rating
3. Aberdeen Christian (Aberdeen): 23-3 (5-0 in B Region 1), 16.9 rating
4. Castlewood: 20-6 (4-1 in B Region 2), 13.7 rating, 2 straight wins
5. White River: 21-6 (4-0 in B Region 7), 13.0 rating, 2 straight losses
