RAPID CITY - Two point guards who impacted their programs both on and off the floor, a coach's son who helped bring his school its first-ever state title and two of the more athletic 6-foot-6 forwards the state has ever produced headline this year's South Dakota Class A boys all-state basketball team.

Four of the five first-team selections played on teams that made it to this year's Class A state tournament in Sioux Falls. Platte-Geddes' Keith Cutler, Madison's Tony Fiegen, Red Cloud's Christian McGhee and Lennox's Jordan Vlastuin all helped lead their teams to the state tournament. The only first-teamer not to play in the tourney was St. Thomas More's Nathan Jacobson, who won state titles as a sophomore and junior before his Cavaliers lost to McGhee and the Crusaders, 56-55, in the Region 8A championship game.

Vlastuin, a senior, was named to the Class A second team last season, while Cutler, a junior, was named to the third team as a sophomore.

Jacobson finished his career at St. Thomas More with the school record for assists in a season and career and steals in a season and career. In his three seasons of varsity action, Jacobson helped the Cavaliers amass a 73-4 record. Jacobson averaged 16.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, 7.6 assists and 3.1 steals per game, all while shooting 58.6 percent from the floor.

"His contributions on the floor were obvious to anybody that watched us play over the past few years," St. Thomas More head coach Dave Hollenbeck said of Jacobson. "But the great thing about coaching Nate came down to all the little things he did. The young man is simply a leader, on the floor, off the floor, in the classroom, wherever he goes. It's no slight to anybody that's played for me before to say that Nate is the best point guard I've ever coached."

McGhee captained Red Cloud to a No. 1 seed in the state tournament, its first tourney appearance since 1997. McGhee averaged 19.9 points and 5.9 assists per game, but he too had an all-encompassing effect on the Crusader program.

"He's an excellent leader with a 4.0 GPA," Rama said. "He's just a positive person all the way around. We're definitely going to miss his energy and his leadership. When I open the gym he's the first one there. When we run ladders, he's the first one done. That's the type of leader we've had at point guard for the last few years and it's going to be hard to replace that next season."

Cutler, a 6-foot-3 junior, averaged 18.3 points and 7.4 rebounds per game to help lead Platte-Geddes to its first state basketball title with a win over Fiegen and Madison. Cutler's running partner in the backcourt, point guard Jordan Johnson, was named to the second team.

"Keith and Jordan Johnson both had excellent years in helping Platte/Geddes to its first ever state championship," Platte-Geddes head coach Frank Cutler said. "Both players have the ability to play big in big games as evidenced by their state tourney appearance."

Fiegen, a 6-foot-6 junior, has already verbally committed to attend South Dakota State with teammate Chad White - who was named to the third team despite spending the season recovering from a surgically-repaired ACL.

Fiegen averaged 18.7 points and 10.1 rebounds per game for the Bulldogs, while using a rare combination of inside-outside skills to do his damage. Fiegen's 485 points set a new single-season record at Madison, breaking Brady Wiebe's record of 441 set last season.

"Tony had a great season for the Bulldogs," Madison head coach Michael Ricke said. "He was our most consistent player all season long. In his first full season as a starter, he was able to increase his averages in every statistical category from the previous season. He has really worked hard to become a better player and is a dedicated athlete that has a bright career in front of him."

Vlastuin, an ultra-athletic 6-6 forward, finished his senior season at Lennox having played in a program that reached the state tournament all four years of his career. Vlastuin also won the Class A long jump title as a junior and is one of the better high jumpers in the state. He averaged 20.2 points, 8.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists and shot 63.1 percent from the floor in leading the Orioles to a 22-4 record and a Class A consolation championship.

"Jared's leaping ability and strength made him one of the best offensive players ever to come out of Lennox," Lennox head coach Jeff Larson said. "He improved his game every year and his best years of basketball are still ahead of him. He could score 30 points if you played him straight up one on one and could just as easily have 10 assists if you doubled him. Like all good players he took what the defense gave him."

The selections of Jacobson and McGhee weren't it for West River players, as coaches from around the state recognized the talents of Little Wound's Brice Hornbeck (second team), Custer's Isaac Parsons (third team) and Lead-Deadwood's Tanner Adler (third team).

Hornbeck, a senior, was simply ridiculous all season long for Little Wound and head coach Rob Mendoza. The Mustang senior was the leading scorer in Class A, pouring in just over 28 points per game, while averaging 12.5 rebounds, 8.0 assists and 6.5 steals per contest. Hornbeck scored a season-high 58 points in a January loss to Aberdeen Roncalli, including 40 in the second half.

Parsons capped off a stellar high school career with a season where he averaged a double-double - 18 points and 11 rebounds per outing. Parsons helped the Wildcats to an 18-4 record, with all four losses coming to Red Cloud and St. Thomas More.

A 6-foot-3 junior, Adler averaged 21.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game on 52 percent shooting. He scored a season-high 40 points against Hill City and gave opponents fits with his athleticism and ability to slash to the basket. Adler leads a talented young team for the Golddiggers, one that looks to be the heir apparent to Red Cloud and St. Thomas More for Region 8A supremacy next year.