After a one-year hiatus, the Hoop City Classic is back. 

The 11th annual event, which was canceled last year due to COVID-19, is Dec. Tuesday and Wednesday at the Corn Palace and Sanford Pentagon. The 25-game schedule will include 11 games at the Corn Palace and 14 games at the Pentagon. (The complete schedule is listed below)

Here’s a look at games to watch, some notable players and other nuggets for this year’s event:

Class B powers to collide in Mitchell

White River and Aberdeen Christian -- a pair of 2021 State B boys basketball tournament participants -- will play in the nightcap Tuesday at the Palace.

White River is powered by junior Joe Sayler, who is an all-state guard committed to South Dakota State University. Sayler averaged 33.25 points per game at the Lakota Nation Invitational in Rapid City. White River, which finished as runner-ups at the event, is ranked No. 3 in the recent South Dakota Prep Media Basketball Poll. 

Last year’s Class B state runner-ups, Aberdeen Christian is 4-0 this season and is beating its opponents by 25.25 points per game. The No. 2-ranked Knights are powered by all-state junior guard Malek Wieker.

Houston, Totino-Grace to clash at Corn Palace

On Tuesday, Houston (Tenn.) and Totino-Grace (Minn.) will play at the Corn Palace in a contest oozing with major Division I talent.  

The Houston Mustangs graduated a host of talent from last year’s Tennessee Class AAA state championship team. Mitchell native Mike Miller coached the Mustangs to last year’s state title, but is longer the coach of the Mustangs. Miller’s oldest son, Mason, is redshirting at the University of Creighton. 

Houston does return juniors Mavrick Miller and Brock Vice. Miller, a 6-foot-5 forward, is Mike Miller’s youngest son. Vice is a 6-foot-10 power forward that holds offers from Division I schools Tennessee Tech and Central Arkansas.

Totino-Grace, a private Catholic high school in Minnesota, is loaded with major Division I prospects. Taison Chatman, a junior shooting guard, holds offers from Minnesota, Iowa, Iowa State, Marquette and Louisville. He’s a four-star prospect and ranked 31st nationally by 247 Sports.  

Demarion Watson and Ahjany Lee, a pair of three-star 2022 forwards, have signed with Division I programs. Watson, a 6-foot-6 small forward, is headed to Iowa State. Lee, a 6-foot-8 power forward, will play at new Summit League member University of St. Thomas. C.J. O'Hara, Patrick Bath and Tommy Humphries, a trio of 2023 prospects, are also members of the Eagles.

Lower Brule, Viborg-Hurley to play at Pentagon

Fresh off this year’s Lakota Nation Invitational, Lower Brule faces No. 5 Viborg-Hurley on Tuesday at the Sanford Pentagon. 

Lower Brule won its first LNI championship since 2004 and catapulted into No. 4 in the latest South Dakota Prep Media Basketball Poll as a result. Brian LaRoche Jr., was named MVP and also scored his 1,000th career point at the four-game event. 

Like Lower Brule, Viborg-Hurley qualified for last year’s state tournament. The Cougars are coming off a 53-45 loss against Elk Point-Jefferson on Dec. 21. 

Mitchell’s Hinker climbs up scoring list

Mitchell senior boys basketball player Caden Hinker recently moved into top-3 on the program’s all-time scoring list. 

Hinker, a 6-foot-8 forward, scored 17 points in his last game and has 1,154 career points, third most in program history. He surpassed both Scott Morgan (1,151) and Bart Friedrick (1,149) in his last outing. Mike Miller (1,724) and Tyson Theeler (1,192) are first and second, respectively.

Mitchell plays Thunder Basin (Wyo.) and Campbell County (Wyo.) on Tuesday and Wednesday, respectively. 

Colorado signee to play at Pentagon

Enderlin, North Dakota’s Joe Hurlburt will headline Thursday's lineup at the Sanford Pentagon. 

Hurlburt is a 6-foot-10 four-star center that has signed to play basketball at the University of Colorado. 

Hurlburt won last year’s North Dakota Gatorade player of the year after averaging 26.7 points and 12 rebounds per game. Hurlburt has logged multiple double-doubles this season, including 30 points and 17 rebounds against Sargent County, North Dakota, on Dec. 21.  

Hurlburt’s twin brother, Gus, is a 6-foot-9 forward that’s yet to make a college decision. Enderlin will play Canton at the Pentagon. 

First timers 

Sixteen teams are making their first appearance, including South Dakota boys programs Canton, Freeman Academy/Marion, Garretson, St. Thomas More, Sioux Falls Jefferson, Viborg-Hurley and Waubay-Summit. Out-of-state boys programs include Enderlin (N.D.), Totino-Grace (Minn.), Campbell County (Wyo.) and Thunder Basin (Wyo.), while girls newcomers include Bridgewater-Emery, Brandon Valley, Campbell County (Wyo.) and Thunder Basin (Wyo.).

Schedule

Dec. 28 at Corn Palace

Bridgewater-Emery girls vs. Campbell County, 9 a.m.

Gregory vs. Canistota, 10:30 a.m.

First Assembly Christian School (Tenn.) vs. Thunder Basin (Wyo.), noon

Yankton vs. Campbell County (Wyo.), 1:30 p.m.

Bridgewater-Emery vs. Waubay/Summit, 3 p.m.

Mitchell girls vs. Thunder Basin (Wyo.), 4:30 p.m.

Houston (Tenn.) vs. Totino-Grace (Minn.), 6 p.m.

Mitchell vs. Thunder Basin (Wyo.), 7:30 p.m.

White River vs. Aberdeen Christian, 9 p.m.

Dec. 29 at Corn Palace

Mitchell girls vs. Campbell County (Wyo.), 3 p.m.

Mitchell vs. Campbell County (Wyo.), 4:30 p.m.

Dec. 29 at Sanford Pentagon

Thunder Basin (Wyo.) vs. Elk Point-Jefferson girls, 11 a.m.

Howard vs. Freeman Academy/Marion, 12:30 p.m.

Thunder Basin (Wyo.) vs. Houston, 2 p.m.

Garretson vs. Lennox, 3:30 p.m.

Lower Brule vs. Viborg/Hurley, 5 p.m.

Sioux Falls Jefferson vs. Houston (Tenn.), 6:30 p.m.

Sioux Falls Christian vs. First Assembly Christian School (Tenn.), 8 p.m.

Dec. 30 at Sanford Pentagon

Hamlin vs. Twin Cities Academy, 11 a.m.

Viborg-Hurley vs. Gregory girls, 12:30 p.m.

Canton vs. Enderlin (N.D.), 2 p.m.

Brandon Valley vs. Thunder Basin (Wyo.) girls, 3:30 p.m.

First Assembly Christian School (Tenn.) vs. Aberdeen Christian, 5 p.m.

Brandon Valley vs. Thunder Basin (Wyo.), 6:30 p.m.

Houston (Tenn.) vs. St. Thomas More, 8 p.m.