Former Thunderbird William Kyle III to make NCAA Tournament debut in Omaha with South Dakota State

OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - Only two years removed from sporting a Bellevue West jersey, South Dakota State sophomore forward William Kyle III is having a special homecoming this week in Omaha. After winning the Summit League Tournament, and punching their ticket to the NCAA Tournament, the 15th-seeded Jackrabbits landed in Omaha, where they’ll take on No. 2 seed Iowa State in the first round on Thursday at 6:35 p.m.

”I’m so excited to play in this type of event and be back home,” said Kyle Wednesday ahead of SDSU’s practice. “I feel like it was almost meant to be and just to be back home and playing here is just amazing and I’m super blessed.”

Current Bellevue West boys basketball head coach Steve Klein and several of Kyle’s former T-Bird teammates were in the stands during the Jackrabbits’ open practice Wednesday afternoon inside of CHI.

“I always follow Bellevue West basketball and I feel like that kinda speaks to the connection you have with the school and the team,” said Kyle. “I feel like I’m always gonna have a love for Bellevue West basketball.”

Kyle has hit his stride in the second half of the season, starting the last 19 games for SDSU and being named First Team All-Summit League. The Bellevue, Neb. native also became the second Jackrabbit ever to be chosen as The Summit League Defensive Player of the Year.

“Midway through the year we were able to tweak a few things with how we were guarding certain things, and I think it put William in a lot more comfortable position,” said South Dakota State head coach Eric Henderson. “Honestly, ever since then the amount of impact that he’s been able to have on the defensive end has been tremendous. He’s done a terrific job of protecting the paint.”

A lot of Kyle’s early success in college he credits his high school coach, Doug Woodard, for preparing him to play at the next level.

“Almost like it wasn’t a huge jump for me. It’s felt like everything we did in high school was preparing me for this moment. At times it might’ve felt like [a bit] much for a freshman and a 14-year-old or a teenager,” said Kyle. “When I got to the college level I realized all of it was for a reason. There were times when [Doug] Woodard’s workouts were even tougher than what we do here.”

Thursday evening Kyle makes his NCAA Tournament debut when South Dakota State tries to upset the Cyclones in the first round of March Madness.

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