6. Drake Bulldogs
It seems wrong to place the Bulldogs this low. Drake has been winning regular season titles and 25-games-per season ever since Darian DeVries arrived seven years ago. After he left, Ben McCollum won 31 games and another league crown.
McCollum is gone and former South Dakota State coach Eric Henderson has stepped in. Leaving with McCollum were all those players that defeated Missouri in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
So ‘Hendo’ was starting from scratch and has added some outstanding players, but this assembling of pieces will be a mystery until we see them play.
Two, nine-point scorers are the focus of Henderson’s re-loading. Owen Larson came with his head coach from SDS. The 6’1 guard made 39 percent of his three-point attempts and grabbed 4.1 rebounds per game. His 2024-25 season ended with a knee injury.
6’2 guard Jaehshon Thomas arrives from Charlotte where he made 37 percent from deep and both players were good during 80 percent of their free throws. Loyola Chicago transfer Jalen Quinn averaged 7.1 points for Drew Valentine’s team and is an elite defender.
Seven-footer Isaiah Carr impressed Henderson enough while playing against him with Denver that he recruited him to Des Moines. Carr has battled injuries, but is a top flight defender and shot blocker. After beginning his career at Grand Canyon, he averaged 6.3 points during his twelve games at Denver.
Henderson likes versatile players and New Mexico transfer Braden Appelhans, South Carolina transfer Okku Federiko and former Bowling Green guard Wilguens Exacte Junior, fit that bill. Each stands between 6’6 and 6’8 and are multi-tool players. Federiko was a double-digit scorer for his Finnish national team. The 6’7 Appelhans drilled 44 percent of his triple attempts and the 6’6 Exacte can guard virtually position.
Two of Henderson’s three rookies are defending ‘Gatorade Players of the Year’ in their respective states. 6’10 Griffen Goodbary turned the trick twice in South Dakota. 6’4 guard Bryson Bahl was so honored in Nebraska. 6’11 freshman Heri Bukinga (Congo) prepped at the prestigious DME Academy.
Henderson knows talent and winning. His career .683 winning percentage and his two Summit League ‘Coach of the Year’ trophies remind us that Drake is in good hands.