Sanford Pentagon basketball teams and Dakota Schoolers merge

SIOUX FALLS, S.D., Nov. 10, 2017 – Two of the most prominent summer basketball programs in the Dakotas have combined resources to form one comprehensive program with a bolstered coaching staff.

The Dakota Schoolers and Sanford Pentagon basketball teams will now be known as the Pentagon Schoolers.

“We are excited to bring these two programs together, and I have no doubt this will bring out the best in our athletes,” said Allan Bertram, director of the Sanford POWER Basketball Academy. “The level of competition they will go up against during every practice will be the highest in the region and will help prepare them for the next level.”

The Pentagon Schoolers will consist of two teams each from age groups 12U-17U, for a total of twelve teams. Former NBA star Kirk Hinrich and Allan Bertram will lead the teams with assistance from Paul Seville and area high school coaches.

“Over the last 20-plus years, I’ve had the privilege of working with the premier high school basketball players in the state,” said Seville, former director of the Dakota Schoolers. “Now we get to take the history and reputation of the Schoolers that all those athletes helped build and combine it with the Sanford Pentagon’s outstanding staff and program.”

The Schoolers alumni includes former NBA players Mike Miller and Jared Reiner, former Vikings Pro Bowl linebacker Chad Greenway, Heisman trophy runner-up Josh Heupel and University of Wisconsin assistant basketball coach Joe Krabbenhoft.

To kick off Kirk Hinrich’s addition to the Sanford POWER Basketball Academy, the Sanford Pentagon is hosting a free basketball clinic from 2-3:30 p.m. on Nov. 19. The Kirk Hinrich Skills Camp is open to athletes in grades 2-12.

About the Sanford Pentagon
The cornerstone of the Sanford Sports Complex in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is the Sanford Pentagon, a 160,000-square-foot, five-sided facility featuring nine basketball courts, including the 1950s/1960s-inspired Heritage Court. The venue combines state-of-the-art amenities—including high-definition video boards and executive suites—with period-specific finishes that are a nod to the nostalgic days of basketball.

The 3,200-seat Pentagon is home to Sanford POWER Basketball Academy, Sanford POWER Volleyball Academy, the NBA G League’s Sioux Falls Skyforce, the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Women’s and Men’s Basketball tournaments and the South Dakota High School Basketball Hall of Fame. For more information, visit sanfordpentagon.com.