JACKS 2ND IN PRESEASON POLL, TWO ON FIRST TEAM

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The South Dakota State men's basketball team is expected to contend for a Summit League title again in 2023 as the conference announced its preseason poll on Tuesday. Two Jackrabbits earned preseason All-Summit League First Team recognition in Luke Appel and Zeke Mayo.

SDSU received 11 of 40 first-place votes and 668 points in the poll. Oral Roberts was chosen as the league favorite by claiming 28 first-place votes and 731 points. South Dakota picked up a first place vote and 602 points.

The Jackrabbits have won at least a share of The Summit League regular season title in each of the last five seasons. SDSU completed arguably the most historic season in conference history during the 2021-22 campaign as the Jackrabbits went 18-0 versus league opposition. The Jacks went on to complete a conference tournament title run en route to their sixth Summit League championship title and sixth NCAA Division I Tournament appearance.

Appel returns for his third season at SDSU after a 2021-22 slate that saw him earn the 2022 Summit League Sixth Man of the Year award. He played over 17 minutes per game and during the conference schedule averaged 11.1 points and was 62% from the field. He had 13 double-digit scoring performances over the course of the season and was honored as the TicketSmarter Summit League Men's Basketball Player of the Week on Feb. 28 following a 40-point double-double at Oral Roberts.

Mayo heads into his second year in Yellow and Blue after a season in which he was selected to The Summit League All-Newcomer Squad. The only freshman to make the All-Newcomer team, Mayo played in all 35 games a season ago and was second on the team with 27.1 minutes per contest. He scored at a 10.6 points per game clip in conference play while shooting 46.7% from the field during the campaign. He set his career-high mark of 21 points in games against South Dakota and Omaha and also had a season-high nine assists in a matchup versus Omaha.

The two were joined on the All-Summit League First Team by Preseason Player of the Year Max Abmas (Oral Roberts), Frankie Fidler (Omaha), Trenton Massner (Western Illinois) and Grant Nelson (North Dakota State).

Preseason honors are voted on by a group comprised of the league's coaches, sports information directors and select media.

The South Dakota State men's basketball program makes its first public appearance of the 2022-23 season on Wednesday, Nov. 2, when the Jackrabbits host Concordia St.-Paul for their lone exhibition game. The Jacks officially begin their slate on Monday, Nov. 7, at Akron.

-GoJacks.com-

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Players Mentioned

Luke Appel

Zeke Mayo

Completed Event: Men's Basketball versus #2 St. Thomas on March 5, 2026 , Loss , 67, to, 80

Completed Event: Men's Basketball at South Dakota on February 28, 2026 , Loss , 70, to, 75

Completed Event: Men's Basketball at Kansas City on February 26, 2026 , Win , 73, to, 59

Completed Event: Men's Basketball versus North Dakota on February 21, 2026 , Win , 91, to, 83

Completed Event: Men's Basketball versus North Dakota State on February 18, 2026 , Loss , 66, to, 74

Completed Event: Men's Basketball at Oral Roberts on February 14, 2026 , Win , 87, to, 69

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