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South Dakota State University Athletics
L-R: Jesse Van Kalsbeek, Joe Sayler, Kalen Garry
SDSU’S SAYLER HEADLINES TRIO IN LEAGUE PRESEASON RECOGNITION
10/6/2026 9:05:00 AM | Men's Basketball
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The Summit League announced its men's basketball preseason all-conference teams and preseason poll on Tuesday, Oct. 6. The voting panel included the league's eight head coaches, sports information directors and select media members.
The Jackrabbits were voted to finish third among the conference's eight teams during the upcoming 2026-27 season. South Dakota State accumulated 396 points behind seven first-place votes. The Jacks trailed 2026 champion North Dakota State – which totaled 418 points with a conference-high 13 votes – as well as St. Thomas that tallied 410 points along with 11 first-place votes.
Omaha was fourth in the conference's preseason poll behind 296 points and one first-place vote. Rounding out the poll was South Dakota (240), North Dakota (194), Oral Roberts (183) and Kansas City (127).
South Dakota State had a trio of players selected with Preseason All-Summit League honors.
Junior Joe Sayler was picked to the First Team and chosen as the Preseason Player of the Year. Sayler earned All-Summit League honorable mention accolades a season ago, serving as one of three returners that claimed similar recognition across the conference. North Dakota State's Andy Stefonowicz and St. Thomas' Carter Bjerke also were honorable mentions last year and are on the Preseason First Team. Sayler is SDSU's first Summit League Preseason Player of the Year choice since Zeke Mayo was garnered with the title prior to the 2023-24 season.
Sayler played in all 32 games and started in every appearance during his sophomore season. Across 16 conference matchups a season ago, Sayler averaged a team-best 17.9 points per game. He also played a team-high 35.4 minutes per contest to go along with 3.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. Sayler shot 46.6% from the field, including a 47.1% clip from deep in league play.
Returning senior Kalen Garry, along with junior newcomer Jesse Van Kalsbeek, were tabbed with Preseason Second Team All-Summit League honors.
Garry was a 2025 honorable mention to the all-Summit League teams and last season was a preseason first team choice. Garry played and started in all 32 games for the Yellow and Blue last year. He ended the season averaging 10.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. Garry shot 42% from the field and 36.7% from 3-point range.
Van Kalsbeek is one of two newcomers to The Summit League that earned preseason recognition. Van Kalsbeek spent the previous two years at Northwestern College. The Sheldon, Iowa, native led the NAIA level last season scoring 27.8 points per game, while he finished second in rebounds with a 12.4 per game average. His 2025-26 season saw him honored as the Bevo Francis Award, given annually to the player who had the finest overall season within small college basketball. Van Kalsbeek was also recognized as the NAIA Player of the Year, GPAC Player of the Year and an NAIA All-American.
South Dakota State begins its 2026-27 season on Tuesday, Nov. 3, with a road contest at Kansas State.
The Jackrabbits were voted to finish third among the conference's eight teams during the upcoming 2026-27 season. South Dakota State accumulated 396 points behind seven first-place votes. The Jacks trailed 2026 champion North Dakota State – which totaled 418 points with a conference-high 13 votes – as well as St. Thomas that tallied 410 points along with 11 first-place votes.
Omaha was fourth in the conference's preseason poll behind 296 points and one first-place vote. Rounding out the poll was South Dakota (240), North Dakota (194), Oral Roberts (183) and Kansas City (127).
South Dakota State had a trio of players selected with Preseason All-Summit League honors.
Junior Joe Sayler was picked to the First Team and chosen as the Preseason Player of the Year. Sayler earned All-Summit League honorable mention accolades a season ago, serving as one of three returners that claimed similar recognition across the conference. North Dakota State's Andy Stefonowicz and St. Thomas' Carter Bjerke also were honorable mentions last year and are on the Preseason First Team. Sayler is SDSU's first Summit League Preseason Player of the Year choice since Zeke Mayo was garnered with the title prior to the 2023-24 season.
Sayler played in all 32 games and started in every appearance during his sophomore season. Across 16 conference matchups a season ago, Sayler averaged a team-best 17.9 points per game. He also played a team-high 35.4 minutes per contest to go along with 3.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game. Sayler shot 46.6% from the field, including a 47.1% clip from deep in league play.
Returning senior Kalen Garry, along with junior newcomer Jesse Van Kalsbeek, were tabbed with Preseason Second Team All-Summit League honors.
Garry was a 2025 honorable mention to the all-Summit League teams and last season was a preseason first team choice. Garry played and started in all 32 games for the Yellow and Blue last year. He ended the season averaging 10.7 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game. Garry shot 42% from the field and 36.7% from 3-point range.
Van Kalsbeek is one of two newcomers to The Summit League that earned preseason recognition. Van Kalsbeek spent the previous two years at Northwestern College. The Sheldon, Iowa, native led the NAIA level last season scoring 27.8 points per game, while he finished second in rebounds with a 12.4 per game average. His 2025-26 season saw him honored as the Bevo Francis Award, given annually to the player who had the finest overall season within small college basketball. Van Kalsbeek was also recognized as the NAIA Player of the Year, GPAC Player of the Year and an NAIA All-American.
South Dakota State begins its 2026-27 season on Tuesday, Nov. 3, with a road contest at Kansas State.
-GoJacks.com-
Players Mentioned
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