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South Dakota: pipeline of Minnesota basketball talent
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Mike Miller, Mitchell, SD Native
(www.realgm.com)
South Dakota, the new hotbed of basketball talent?
Yes, I'm somewhat prejudiced as someone born in Mitchell, South Dakota, with a dad who was homecoming king of Mitchell High (Class of '61), and a grandpa who was the top feed salesman in the tri-state area for 30 years!
But, the argument could be made that the most impressive new faces on both the Minnesota Timberwolves and Gophers are from South Dakota, that state that used to be know as “The Sunshine State,” before Florida stole it away—okay, I'll admit Florida is sunnier.
For the Timberwolves, one the few bright spots this season—and they are few—is veteran forward Mike Miller, who leads the Wolves in three-pointers, and is putting up some nice numbers (11.5 points/game, 5.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists). It just so happens that Miller honed his skills on the basketball court inside the Corn Palace in Mitchell, and this reporter watched Miller play like a man among boys a decade ago; Miller then get a full ride to the University of Florida, before making the NBA as a lottery pick with the Orlando Magic in 2000.
Mitchell, as much as I love her, isn't the hoppingest place around, though they still have the old Taco John's and a new Cabella's, but basketball has become king over the last few decades, with Mitchell High winning nine state championships since 1984; did I mention that my dad averaged almost three points a game (mostly free throws) in his senior year?
The Golden Gophers newest impressive addition is not Ralph Sampson's son, who has the build but not the talent of his old man, but a 6'-9”, 240 pound load from Yankton, South Dakota, #45 Colt Iverson (get it? Colt 45!). During the recent Gophers-Virginia game, Iverson led Minnesota with seven rebounds and 14 points, with most of those coming on offense boards and put-backs—and when he puts the ball back, the rim shakes in the barn, where all self-respecting South Dakotans feel at home!
This Tuesday, South Dakota State, the only Division-1 basketball program in the Mount Rushmore State (try and steal that, Florida), and sporting an 8-1 record, will visit the Twin Cities to play the Lady Gophers. One of the freshest faces on the SDS Jackrabbits is redshirt freshman Jill Young of Mitchell. Young scored 3317 points in her high school career with 462 three-pointers, was 2007's South Dakota Miss Basketball and Gatorade Player of the Year, was all-conference six times, and all-state first team four times. Oh, yeah, she's also my baby cousin. Go, Jill....er, Go, Gophers!
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Mitchell's Corn Palace: corn on
the outside, hoops on the inside
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