Fargo Shanley’s A.J. Jacobson wins Mr. Basketball Award

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BISMARCK — Twenty-nine years after his mother won the first Miss Basketball award in North Dakota, A.J. Jacobson of Fargo Shanley is the latest Mr. Basketball.

The 6-foot-6 senior guard-forward received 11 first-place votes and 65 points in voting by the North Dakota Associated Press Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association. Seven players were selected as finalists for the award presented annually to the top senior in the state by the NDAPSSA.

Jacobson said his goal first and foremost was to win a state championship.

“It’s just an honor to be mentioned with all these great players,” the humble Fargo Shanley Deacon said.

North Star guard Jacob Hagler was second with three first-place votes and 33 points, followed by Nate Mertens of Devils Lake with one first-place vote and 25 points.

In 1984, Lidgerwood’s Pat Smykowski (Jacobson) was named Miss Basketball, concluding a brilliant career that included a state championship, four all-state teams and three trips to the state tournament. She later went on to star at North Dakota State. Her son will also go to North Dakota State next year.

“I try not to think about it, she was such a great player,” Jacobson said of his mother. “I definitely grew up with a basketball in my hand. I don’t try to live up to her, but she’s been a big influence in my life and it’s helped.”

Jacobson averaged 26 points, 13 rebounds, five assists, three blocked shots and three steals.

“He works so hard on his game,” Shanley coach Shane Alderman said. “He doesn’t just go to the gym, he works on specific things. He’s had high aspirations for a basketball career for a long time.

“With his mom, I’m sure it’s a family pride thing for him. All of his family are great competitors.”

Jacobson’s sister, Sarah, is a freshman also playing for Shanley at the state Class A basketball tournament. Sarah started as an eighth-grader. Pat played at Lidgwerwood as an eighth-grader.

The mother said her family’s focus is on competing hard and not necessarily winning awards. But she is excited for her son.

“I’m very proud of him. . To know what he has done to get there,” Pat Jacobson said. “The kid has drive and he’s a four-plus student. He’s a well-rounded person. We couldn’t be more proud.”

As for the Mr. and Miss Basketball award?

“My name was brought up a lot early on because I was the first,” she said. “But we try to keep our family focus on it being a team game.”

North Star’s Hagler, a 6-2 guard, averaged 23 points, five rebounds, six assists and four steals, and Devils Lake’s Merten, a 6-2 guard, averaged 28 points, eight rebounds, six assists and three steals.

The other finalists were: Jacob Volk, Erron Collins, Mac Kroeplin and Trevor Zacher.

Volk, a 6-3 guard from Dickinson Trinity, averaged 20 points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals. He received six points in the voting.

Collins, a 5-11 guard from Mandan, averaged 20 points, five rebounds and three steals. He received three points.

Kroeplin, a 6-2 guard from Grand Forks Red River, averaged 22 points, eight rebounds, six assists and three steals. He received two points.

Zacher, a 6-5 guard-forward from Beulah, averaged 18 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals. He received one point.

Tags: high school basketball, mr. basketball award, a.j. jacobson, fargo shanley, sports, basketball, preps