Chester Basketball Standout Signs With Dakota State University

All-State senior Center Joe Backus from Chester has signed a letter of intent to play basketball for the Dakota State University Trojans.  Backus led the Chester Flyers to a third place finish in the 2003 State A Basketball Tournament and helped his team win the 2004 State A Championship.  He was selected to the All-Tournament team, scoring 16 points in the championship game and keeping his 17-17 free throw tally perfect for the tournament.

“Joe is a special young man,” commented Tim Schuring, Dakota State University’s Head Men’s Basketball Coach.  “He’ll make an impact on Dakota State, not only because of his ability to play the game of basketball, but because of his love for people.  I can hardly wait to put Joe in a blue and gold Trojan uniform.”

Backus chose DSU over Black Hills State and University of Wisconsin-Platteville. Dakota State was his choice, because as he put it, “I believe that at DSU I can reach my academic and athletic goals, plus I’ve always loved the spirit in this region.”

That spirit is something Backus has become accustomed to during his career as a Chester Flyer.  As a junior, Joe was chosen 1st team All-State, 1st team Big East Conference, 1st team Dakota Valley Conference and named as a member of the 2003 State A All-State Tournament team.

As a senior, Backus averaged 15 points and 9.5 rebounds per game. He had a season high 26 points and 17 rebounds versus West Central in the opening game of District 8 play.  Backus was one of 9 players in the state of South Dakota, and 1,600 players nationwide, nominated for the McDonalds All-American High School Basketball Team.  He was also named to the 1st team Big East Conference team and the 1st team Dakota Valley Conference team.   

Besides being a leader on the basketball court, Joe Backus has been a role model to his teammates and to his fellow Chester students.  Chester Head Boys Basketball Coach Brent Norberg said, “I think they (DSU) landed a great player in Joe.  He is a player who still has a lot of upside.  He is one of those kids who will just keep getting better and is going to be an even better college player than he was in high school.  And they got a quality individual in Joe. His is not just a good basketball player, he is a good person.”

Backus, who plans to major in education at Dakota State University, played with a Chester basketball team that achieved much of its success by applying principals of teamwork.  Backus clearly plans to take that philosophy with him when he plays college basketball. “I’m just looking forward to helping out the (DSU) program,” Backus said.