The NAIA announced the All-American Honors at the conclusion of the national basketball tournament. Included were two Dakota State players, Jessica VanLoy and Joe Backus. Both were named NAIA All-American Honorable Mention.

VanLoy, a 5’10” junior forward from Wabasso, MN was named NAIA Women’s Basketball Division II All-American Honorable Mention for the second straight year.  For the season, she averaged 9.3 points per game and 6.5 rebounds per game.  VanLoy stole the ball 100 times, averaging 3.1 per game and is ranked 8th in the NAIA in steals per game and is 2nd in the Lady T’s record book for career steals (237).  She broke a school record for most steals in a game versus Jamestown with 10 steals.  She was also honored as DAC All-Conference 2nd team for her second straight year.  VanLoy also had 126 assists during the season, which is 7th in the Lady T’s record book for most assists in a season.  She is an exercise science major at DSU and the daughter of John and Susan VanLoy of Wabasso, MN.

Backus, a 6’8” junior forward from Wentworth, SD, was listed as NAIA Men’s Basketball Division II All-American Honorable Mention.  During the season, Backus had scored in double digits in all 29 games played, averaging 19.8 points per game which ranks him at #23 in the NAIA.  He scored his 1,000th career points at Dakota State in early February.  He also averaged 7.7 rebounds per game where he is #47 in the nation according to the NAIA DakStats statistical website.  In addition, Backus was named by the DAC as 1st Team All-Conference earlier as he leads in both scoring and rebounding per game in the conference.  He is the son of Wayne and Bonnie Backus of Wentworth, SD.