March 25, 2025
MADISON, S.D. – Sophomore guard
Brayden Pankonen of Dakota State (S.D.) was listed on the 2024-25 College of Sports Communicators (CSC) All-District® Men's Basketball Team, announced Tuesday. The 2024-25 Academic All-District® Men's Basketball teams were selected by CSC and recognized the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the court and in the classroom.
Academic All-District® honorees were considered for advancement to the CSC Academic All-America® ballot, in which Pankonen had advanced to the ballot. First-, second- and third-team Academic All-America® honorees will be announced April 15.
The NAIA CSC Academic All-America® program is partially financially supported through the NAIA governance structure.
Pankonen was named to the North Star Athletic Association Men's Basketball All-Conference Honorable Mention in 2024-25. He was also the recipient of the NSAA Men's Basketball Champions of Character award.
He finished the season with 10.5 points per game overall and 10.1 points per game during the conference season for the Trojans.
Pankonen racked 69 3-point field goals made this season, which tied him for 10
th most single season 3-point field goals made with Blake Hyde in 2004-05. Pankonen also drained 134 career 3-pointers at DSU, ranking him eighth all-time in the Trojan men's basketball school record book.
He led the team with 33 steals (1.1 steals per game). He also averaged 3.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game for Dakota State.
Pankonen collected the league's Freshman-of-the-Year during his first year at DSU in 2023-24. He is also the NAIA and NSAA Scholar-Athlete awards for his academic success in the classroom.
Brayden is a general studies major at Dakota State University.
