Completed Event: Men's Basketball versus #2 St. Thomas on March 5, 2026 , Loss , 67, to, 80
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FINAL
Men's Basketball
67
vs #2 St. Thomas
80
South Dakota State University Athletics
Photo by: McKenzie Hansen
Wilson wraps up first year as a Jackrabbit
5/27/2020 8:05:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Douglas Wilson made his presence felt early and often in his first season as a Jackrabbit, leading the team in points and rebounds for the season while earning 2020 Summit League Player of the Year, Summit League Newcomer of the Year, All-Summit League First Team, USBWA and NABC All-District and Lou Henson Mid-Major All-American honors. GoJacks.com caught up with the newly-named team captain (alongside Alex Arians and Matt Dentlinger) to talk about his first year at South Dakota State.
You're coming up on your one-year anniversary of officially stepping on campus for summer workouts as a Jackrabbit. As you think back over the last year, what's stuck out for you?
I think the biggest thing, overall, is the support the community and our fans gave us throughout the year. On and off the court, we had people rallying behind us and supporting us, and that really helped us be successful.
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The other thing that really sticks out is how hard our team worked, and how close we grew throughout the year. A lot of times when you come to a new team, there's a mix of veterans and fresh faces, but last year we had so many new guys and had to start fresh with relationships and learning how to play together. We got after it from day one, though, came together and found success.
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You received Summit League Player of the Year honors this season, becoming the third Jackrabbit to achieve that honor with Mike Daum and Nate Wolters. What's it mean to be listed alongside two pretty historic names?
Receiving that award was special, but I know it wouldn't have happened without the support of the guys around me. It's a great honor to be in that category at SDSU, because those two guys – Mike and Nate – certainly are two of the greatest to play here.
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You're entering your senior year. What do you want to accomplish in your final season as a Jackrabbit?
We want to be successful in basketball, obviously, but for me it's bigger than that. I'm looking forward to improving myself not only on the court, but also in the classroom, and as a person in general. I know I have some big decisions coming down the road, so I want to continue to grow and get better so I'm able to be successful when those opportunities come.
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In addition to having a pretty special year on the court, you had another big thing happen to you last fall. What was it?
I became a father on Sept. 6, 2019 to Douglas Wilson III. That's by far the best thing that has happened to me this year. I remember the day he was born, we wrapped up our practice and everyone was excited because it was our last day of the preseason. I thought I'd be celebrating with my teammates that night but received a call after practice that I needed to hop in the car and get to Des Moines because I was about to become a dad.
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You balanced basketball and college life alongside being a father all season. The last two months, however, you've been able to be home with your son. What's that been like?
There's nothing like it. That's the best thing that's happened with this pandemic, because I've been able to just be with him every day. Watching him grow has been really special.
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We talk a lot about the lessons you can learn from athletics. What are some of those you've carried into being a dad?
Two lessons stick out. The first, is just embracing the moments. There can be hassles you deal with in basketball and being a dad, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. The other is patience, because with a baby there are a lot of moments you just need to sit back and appreciate the little moments and not be in a rush.
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How about vice versa. What will you take from being a dad onto the court next year?
Being a dad has helped me appreciate and love the game even more than I did previously. Every time I step on the court, work out or have an opportunity to get better, I want to strive for greatness and push harder. It means a lot that I can show my son what it takes to be successful and how hard work pays off.
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You're coming up on your one-year anniversary of officially stepping on campus for summer workouts as a Jackrabbit. As you think back over the last year, what's stuck out for you?
I think the biggest thing, overall, is the support the community and our fans gave us throughout the year. On and off the court, we had people rallying behind us and supporting us, and that really helped us be successful.
Â
The other thing that really sticks out is how hard our team worked, and how close we grew throughout the year. A lot of times when you come to a new team, there's a mix of veterans and fresh faces, but last year we had so many new guys and had to start fresh with relationships and learning how to play together. We got after it from day one, though, came together and found success.
Â
You received Summit League Player of the Year honors this season, becoming the third Jackrabbit to achieve that honor with Mike Daum and Nate Wolters. What's it mean to be listed alongside two pretty historic names?
Receiving that award was special, but I know it wouldn't have happened without the support of the guys around me. It's a great honor to be in that category at SDSU, because those two guys – Mike and Nate – certainly are two of the greatest to play here.
Â
You're entering your senior year. What do you want to accomplish in your final season as a Jackrabbit?
We want to be successful in basketball, obviously, but for me it's bigger than that. I'm looking forward to improving myself not only on the court, but also in the classroom, and as a person in general. I know I have some big decisions coming down the road, so I want to continue to grow and get better so I'm able to be successful when those opportunities come.
Â
In addition to having a pretty special year on the court, you had another big thing happen to you last fall. What was it?
I became a father on Sept. 6, 2019 to Douglas Wilson III. That's by far the best thing that has happened to me this year. I remember the day he was born, we wrapped up our practice and everyone was excited because it was our last day of the preseason. I thought I'd be celebrating with my teammates that night but received a call after practice that I needed to hop in the car and get to Des Moines because I was about to become a dad.
Â
You balanced basketball and college life alongside being a father all season. The last two months, however, you've been able to be home with your son. What's that been like?
There's nothing like it. That's the best thing that's happened with this pandemic, because I've been able to just be with him every day. Watching him grow has been really special.
Â
We talk a lot about the lessons you can learn from athletics. What are some of those you've carried into being a dad?
Two lessons stick out. The first, is just embracing the moments. There can be hassles you deal with in basketball and being a dad, but I wouldn't trade it for the world. The other is patience, because with a baby there are a lot of moments you just need to sit back and appreciate the little moments and not be in a rush.
Â
How about vice versa. What will you take from being a dad onto the court next year?
Being a dad has helped me appreciate and love the game even more than I did previously. Every time I step on the court, work out or have an opportunity to get better, I want to strive for greatness and push harder. It means a lot that I can show my son what it takes to be successful and how hard work pays off.
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-GoJacks.com-
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