South Dakota State men's basketball senior Luke Appel excited for healthy start to 2023-24 season
South Dakota State men’s basketball coach Eric Henderson couldn’t help but laugh while at the podium during the university’s winter and spring sports media day Wednesday.
The fifth-year head coach was having a little fun at the expense of his seniors.
“I got three of my yahoo's back there. My three seniors … Matt Mims has been here six years,” Henderson said. “I still remember Mike Daum, who’s been gone for 10 years,” and Mills played with him, Henderson said.
“I'm one lucky guy (though),” Henderson continued. “The thing that stands out to me. We've been going at it for about three weeks already this fall in practice and the amount of leadership that these three have shown, and it's not only leadership, it's just positive leadership.”
The Jackrabbits men's basketball team returns three seniors: Mims, Charlie Easley and Luke Appel.
Appel was voted onto the preseason All-Summit League first team after missing all but five games last season with both a shoulder and foot injury.
The redshirt senior had a stellar junior campaign with South Dakota State, averaging 11 points per game on 62% shooting in just over 17 minutes. He had 13 double-digit scoring performances over the course of the season on his way to earning The Summit League Sixth Man of the Year award. That was also the year SDSU went a perfect 18-0 in conference play and went on to win the Summit League.
Last season was much more challenging for Appel. He played in only five games, all between Nov. 15 and Nov. 26, before sitting out the rest of the season. Henderson said Appel being sidelined, unable to help while his teammates fell short of winning the Summit League wore on him.
The senior enters this season feeling healthy though, and he can’t wait to get started.
“This is probably the best I’ve felt going into a season,” Appel said. “I just haven't played a game in forever. So it feels like I'm probably the most excited just to get back out there.”
Henderson said Appel has moved well in practice so far and will bring additional playmaking to the team.
“That's one thing Luke really brings to the table,” Henderson said. “He's a dynamic offensive player that can create and make others around him better.”
With a few weeks of practice under his belt, Appel said what he’s enjoyed most about this team so far has been the selflessness. The trust and chemistry they have with each other is evident in how they move the ball, he said.
The Jackrabbits open their season at Frost Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 6 against Akron at 8:15 p.m.
Jonathan Fernandez covers high school and college sports for the Argus Leader. Contact him at jfernandez1@argusleader.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JFERN31
This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: South Dakota State basketball excited for healthy start to new season
