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2024 NAIA Men's Basketball Scholar-Athletes - 3/20/24

Men's Basketball Nick Huntimer, Dakota State (S.D.) Sports Information Director

Trojans set program single-season record NAIA men’s basketball scholar-athletes

572 student-athletes named to 2024 Daktronics-NAIA Men's Basketball Scholar-Athletes list

March 20, 2024

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) released the 2024 Daktronics-NAIA Men's Basketball Scholar-Athletes Wednesday.  Dakota State (S.D.) established the single season record with six athletes being named to the prestigious national academic award.

The 2024 list features 572 student-athletes that achieved at least a 3.5 cumulative grade point average (GPA) at their institution.  In order to be nominated by an institution's head coach or sports information director, a student-athlete must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale, must appear on the eligibility certificate for the sport and have attended one full year at said institution.

The six Dakota State men's basketball athletes that received the national academic award are (name – year – hometown – major):
  • Taylor Edwards – graduate student – Hill City, S.D. – master's in educational technology
  • Wyatt Olson – junior – White River, S.D. – biology
  • Bryant Paulson – sophomore – Marshall, Minn. – exercise science
  • Ethan Slaathaug – junior – Hayfield, Minn. - finance
  • Scott Wagner – sophomore – Monango, N.D. – elementary education
  • Ben Witt – sophomore – Burke, S.D. – exercise science
Dakota State finished their 2023-24 season under head coach Darren Tighe with an overall record of 17-13.  It was the most victories by a first-year head coach at DSU since 1963-64 season (Ed Harter).  The Trojans' 17 wins also tied for the seventh most wins in a single season with the 2014-15, 1989-90, 1965-66, and 1963-64 squads.
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Players Mentioned

Ethan Slaathaug

#34 Ethan Slaathaug

F
6' 5"
Junior
Taylor Edwards

#25 Taylor Edwards

F
6' 6"
Junior
Scott Wagner

#55 Scott Wagner

C
6' 7"
Sophomore
Ben Witt

#2 Ben Witt

G
6' 0"
Sophomore
Wyatt Olson

#25 Wyatt Olson

G
6' 0"
Junior
Bryant Paulson

#0 Bryant Paulson

F
6' 3"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Ethan Slaathaug

#34 Ethan Slaathaug

6' 5"
Junior
F
Taylor Edwards

#25 Taylor Edwards

6' 6"
Junior
F
Scott Wagner

#55 Scott Wagner

6' 7"
Sophomore
C
Ben Witt

#2 Ben Witt

6' 0"
Sophomore
G
Wyatt Olson

#25 Wyatt Olson

6' 0"
Junior
G
Bryant Paulson

#0 Bryant Paulson

6' 3"
Sophomore
F