24-04-2025
All-around skill set earns Talley POTY nomination
MITCHELL, S.D. (KELO) — Our first two finalists for KELOLAND's Player of the Year have been announced. Our third nominee is Mitchell guard Markus Talley, who's playing style has stemmed from Kernels that came before him.
A love for basketball was instilled in Markus when he was five years old, fueled by his father, who played his college basketball for Dakota Wesleyan.
'It's just something we connect together with really well,' Mitchell guard Markus Talley said. 'He played here and he's always got something to say. And I feel like he can give me a lot of tips because he played college basketball. So he kind of knows everything. And he's been helping me my whole life.'
As Talley grew older, he found another source of inspiration in former Player of the Year nominee, Caden Hinker.
'Just how good he was when he was a Kernel, and just the work he put in off the court really stuck with me. I used to go to workouts with him and stuff, so, just showing how much work he put in, really motivated me,' Talley said.
Markus led the team in scoring, posting 18 points per game this season. He also drew the assignment of guarding opposing teams' best players, including the state championship.
'Even if he's not scoring 25 or 30, defensively, he's guarding the best player. He's guarding Delaney in that game and did a great job on him. He made some big buckets to keep us in it down the stretch. He's a guy that you know he's going to show up when it matters,' Mitchell head coach Ryker Kreutzfeldt.
That success has helped Talley earn a Player of the Year nomination, showcasing a season's worth of talent both on and off the court.
'What people notice is just how he does everything the right way. He's not a loud person, he's not talking out there. He's just quiet. He plays, he works hard, he's coachable. But it all is kind of encapsulated in him winning the spirit of Su,' coach said.
Talley is sixth on Mitchell's all-time scoring list with 1,135 career points scored. He'll play with Caden at Augustana in the fall.
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