Mike Miller Classic loaded with talent
The third annual Mike Miller Classic will be held Dec. 27-29 at the Corn Palace in Mitchell, with South Dakota teams facing off against powerhouse programs from five different states.
South Dakota involved this year are Pierre, Roosevelt, Mitchell, O’Gorman, Lincoln, Washington, Watertown and White River.
No. 1 Pierre and No. 2 Roosevelt offer the best hope for South Dakota this time around, and both will face tough opponents on the event’s final day (Dec. 29).
The Rough Riders will face The Rock (Fla.), a Gainesville school recommended to Miller and Kuyper by Florida coach Billy Donovan that features eight Division I recruits. Most notable is 6-foot-11 center Joel Emblid, a Kansas commit and Cameroon native who chose the Jayhawks over Florida and Texas.
A graduate of the “Basketball Without Borders” program, Emblid is a four-star recruit with a huge upside because he’s still learning the game.
“He’s picked up the game faster than a lot of the guys I’ve had,” coach Justin Harden told ESPN. “His combination of size, athletic ability and coordination is really something.”
Pierre will face Our Savior New American (New York), a team that features forward Cheick Diallo, a 6-9 sophomore who has offers from schools such as Arizona, Washington, Rutgers, Iowa state and Connecticut. Our Savior went 25-5 last season and finished No. 10 in the MaxPreps national academy rankings.
Here’s a look at the Mike Miller Classic schedule:
Thursday, Dec. 27
7 p.m. – Our Savior New American (N.Y.) vs. The Rock (Fla.)
8:30 p.m. – Mitchell vs. Coronado (Nev.)
Friday, Dec. 28
4 p.m. – Lincoln vs. Coronado (Nev.)
5:30 p.m. – DeLaSalle (Minn.) vs. Our Savior New American (N.Y.)
7 p.m. – Coronado (Nev.) vs. The Rock (Fla.)
8:30 p.m. – Watertown vs. La Lumiere (Ind.)
Saturday, Dec. 29
2:30 p.m. – Roosevelt vs. The Rock (Fla.)
4 p.m. – Mitchell vs. O’Gorman
5:30 p.m. – Washington vs. La Lumiere (Ind.)
7 p.m. – White River vs. DeLaSalle (Minn.)
8:30 p.m. – Pierre vs. Our Savior New American (N.Y.)
