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Jesse Van Kalsbeek eager to prove himself at D1 level for South Dakota State

Jun. 11—BROOKINGS — Jesse Van Kalsbeek played two seasons of college basketball at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa, and was nothing short of the best player in the country at the NAIA level.

Now he's taking his talents to Division I, having joined South Dakota State as part of their 2026 recruiting class.

A 6-foot-6 forward from Sheldon, Iowa, Van Kalsbeek was Iowa's Mr. Basketball in 2024 after averaging 26 points and 11 rebounds per game for MOC-Floyd Valley, and followed in the footsteps of three older brothers who had all hooped at Northwestern, a longtime GPAC and NAIA power.

He averaged 20.5 points and 9.1 rebounds per game as a true freshman, and while he surely could have entered the portal and fielded offers at that point, he played another year with the Red Raiders and took his game to almost unheard of levels.

Van Kalsbeek averaged 27.8 points — tops in the nation — as well as 12.4 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game, shooting 61 percent from the floor and 41 percent from 3-point range. It doesn't matter what level you're at, those numbers are difficult to achieve. He was named NAIA and small college player of the year.

Now Van Kalsbeek will get the opportunity to challenge himself at a higher level. He's one of a handful of incoming transfers and freshmen the Jacks are counting on to help them fill the void left by all-conference big man Damon Wilkinson and wash away the bad taste of last year's 14-18 record, which was their first losing season since 2009-10.

Van Kalsbeek spoke with Sioux Falls Live's Matt Zimmer last week about his journey from Orange City to Brookings and how he sees himself impacting the Jackrabbits

MZ: You're a little different than some of the other transfers and new guys in that you're kind of from around here. So I'm sure you're very familiar with the SDSU program and what it's been about. When would you say they got on your radar as far as maybe, I don't know if you were thinking about it before your season ended or after you entered the portal, but when did you start thinking that maybe D1 basketball was in your future?

JV: I mean, I kind of thought about it during the season just because of how things were going. I knew this would be an opportunity.

And then I really started to think about it after the season ended. And then just talking with my family and thinking things through for myself, I thought this was the best decision for me.

MZ: Why do you think SDSU was the best fit?

JV: I really just enjoyed the coaching staff. I had a great visit. I really enjoyed campus, the facilities. It was close to home, so I can still see my family and everything.

And they can all make the games and everything. I think it's just a great place for individual development as well, just because I'm always trying to improve on my game.

MZ: You put up incredible numbers at Northwestern. Did you feel coming out of high school that you maybe were good enough to do something like this and it was only a matter of time before you proved it? Or did you feel like you needed to go to a place like Northwestern to kind of become the player that you are now?

JV: Yeah, I mean, coming out of high school, I knew I definitely had good potential. I knew it was just a matter of time of putting in the work and just being somewhere where I can show off what I can do. So I thought Northwestern was just a great spot for me, just because the family ties and I know the coaching staff really well, and they've just poured into me. And they're a big reason as to why I am where I am right now. Just going there was just a huge piece for me because it really helped me grow as a player and as a teammate as well.

MZ: You had a great freshman year. Did you think about leaving after that year? Or did you want to put one more year in to kind of prove it?

JV: Yeah, I thought after my freshman year, I thought coming back for another year would probably be best for me, just because I had a good freshman year, but it wasn't that amazing, I guess.

I thought that staying for another year would be the best for my development and for being ready for the next level after my sophomore year.

MZ: Where would you say you improved the most between your freshman and sophomore year? Because like you said, you were good as a freshman, but you were obviously better as a sophomore.

JV: Yeah, I think just facilitating and passing. Just getting my teammates involved. My assists went up. I think just trying to do more than scoring. I know my scoring went up a lot, but trying to impact the game on both sides of the ball. Trying to impact the game when I don't have the ball in my hands.

MZ: Did they play you as kind of a point forward sort of thing? Or was it almost like a Jokic sort of deal where you're kicking out to shooters? How did that work out?

JV: Yeah, if I had a specific role, I guess I was sort of the five. But it was sort of like, I think the biggest thing for me was getting the defensive rebound and then pushing the break. Instead of not always giving it to the point guard, just starting the break sometimes myself.

As the offense flowed, finding my way to the perimeter, setting ball screens and getting screens set for me. Just trying to move around the whole court and not just sit on the block. So I guess I wasn't a traditional center.

MZ: Well, yeah, I mean now you're going up to Division 1 and there aren't a lot of 6-6 centers in Division 1. But you obviously have a very versatile skill set. Where do you sort of see yourself contributing? What do you think your role can be for the Jacks?

JV: Yeah, I think just like a 3 or 4, 2-3 or 4. Any of those. Just being someone that could bring a lot of energy and bring a lot of aggressiveness to offense and defense.

Using my athleticism to beat guys and get into spots where I can get shots for myself and then get shots for teammates as well.

MZ: Well, I'm sure you've heard or had conversations that last year's Jacks team was maybe a little bit too reliant on jump shots and they're looking to be more athletic, looking to attack the basket a little bit more. Seems like something that you're pretty good at. Is that something you feel good about being able to bring to this team?

JV: Yeah, I think my athleticism can definitely help get in the paint more. And then once you're in the paint, threes open up a lot more. And then when you get all those pieces working together, it really works out.

MZ: Just as far as the history this program has, like I mentioned, I know you're familiar with it from being from around here. The fan support, the Summit League tournament in Sioux Falls, all of that. Just how much are you looking forward to being a part of that?

JV: Yeah, I'm really excited to just experience this whole situation just because I've never really experienced something like this.

Getting to play in front of the crowd and all the people on the big court, I'm really excited. Kind of just focusing on the day at hand. Just trying to not think too far ahead just because sometimes that can make you lose sight of what's going on.

Just really trying to focus on what I can do to get better now and improve as an individual and as a team.

MZ: Well, yeah, I was just going to say, this team is coming off its first losing season in like 15 years. Do you get a sense from the other players, particularly the guys that are coming back, from the coaching staff, that they're really hungry to get back to winning basketball?

JV: Yeah, while you were actually asking that question, the word that came to my mind was hungry. I think this whole group is really hungry and just excited to show what we can do. Once again, we really just got to focus on today. Focus on what we can do as individuals and as a team to reach the goals that we have in mind.

MZ: What's your impression been of the other transfers that have come in? I know some of them literally just got here, so I don't know if you've even met them, but there's a chance that there's going to be a lot of new guys here that can be a good addition.

JV: Yeah, I think everyone's got their own unique talents. I think everyone's great, as I'm just getting to know them. It's been awesome. I think just the biggest thing is continuing to get to know each other on and off the court so that we can sort of blend and help each other on the court.

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