South Dakota State University’s 19th-year head women’s basketball coach Aaron Johnston announced Wednesday three members of the high school Class of 2019 have signed National Letters of Intent to attend SDSU and play for the Jackrabbits next season.
Signing Wednesday, the first day of the early signing period, were:
“South Dakota State University is a special place, and we are pleased to announce the addition of three special new Jackrabbits to help continue the successful tradition of our women’s basketball program,” Johnston said. “Kallie, Regan, and Tori will be great additions to our campus and community. Additionally, all three are very accomplished student-athletes and their competitive drive will fit in very well with our team culture.”
Nelson is a four-time Minnesota Star Tribune All-Metro East Team selection and picked up 3AAAA all-sectional honors as a junior. She is Henry Sibley’s boys’ and girls’ all-time leading scorer with 1,869 points entering her senior season. Nelson set school records for single-season scoring (520 points, 2016-17) and blocks (113, 2016-17) and holds the school career record for blocks (353).
A four-time team MVP and team captain, Nelson enters her senior year shooting 46.1 percent from the field and 70.5 percent from the free-throw line while averaging 17.3 points, 7.8 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game.
Nesheim is a two-time second-team All-Central Iowa Metropolitan League and second-team all-region selection. She helped the Dragons to three consecutive appearances in the Iowa 5A state tournament. The 2015-16 team had the second-most wins in school history, finishing 22-4, and as runner-up at the Iowa state tournament.
Nesheim enters her senior season with over 480 points, 280 rebounds, nearly 100 steals and shooting 60 percent from the field while averaging 8.9 points per game.
Theisen is a two-time Minnesota State High School Coaches Association Class 4A all-state and CCX Sports Jam all-area and All-Lake Conference selection. She was also an honorable mention pick on Street & Smith’s 2018-19 all-American Team.
Theisen was honored by the Minnesota Star Tribune on its all-metro team in 2018 and on its preseason Metro Dream Team in 2017-18. She is the top-ranked player for Class of 2019 by Prep Girls Hoops, a Prospect’s Nation 4-Star recruit and the 103rd ranked player in the nation. Theisen was also the 2017 Sun Sailor Athlete of the Year.
Theisen, who participated in the 2017 USA Basketball Women’s U16 National Team trials, enters her senior season averaging 10.7 points, 7.0 rebounds and 2.1 blocks while shooting 50.3 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from 3-point range.
The South Dakota State women’s basketball program has made eight trips to the NCAA Tournament after winning eight Summit League Tournament titles. The Jackrabbits have also won five regular-season league titles in the last 11 years.
SDSU hosts Creighton Thursday at 7 p.m. in the friendly confines of Frost Arena.
