Hannigan signs with NSU basketball program

ABERDEEN, S.D. – Northern State University men’s basketball coach Don Meyer has announced the signing of local Aberdeen native Jared Hannigan to a National Letter of Intent to play basketball for the Wolves next season. Hannigan signed during the NCAA’s recently completed early signing period.

The Aberdeen Central High School product will join the Wolves after a stand-out multi-sport high school career for the Golden Eagles. Hannigan has been a key member of both the football and basketball squads and is the 2-time defending state long jump champion heading into his senior season this spring. The speedster also recorded the fastest 100-meter dash time in the state last season before finishing 7th in that event at the state meet in May.

Hannigan recently completed his football career and is heading into his senior season on the hardwood. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound guard is a 2-time Honorable Mention All-Conference selection for Head Coach Brent Norberg. Hannigan earned the All-Conference nod last season despite playing in just nine games due to an injury he suffered during the football season. Despite that setback, however, he still averaged more than 15 points and four rebounds per game while playing in the final nine games of the season.

“Jared is a tremendous athlete and an even better kid,” said Norberg. “I think he’ll fit in well with Northern, not just with their style of play but their philosophy on having quality individuals in the program, and Jared certainly is that. I think once he can focus on one sport, the sky is the limit for him.”

The decision of which sport to focus on proved to be as hard or harder than the choice of schools for Hannigan.

“That was probably the hardest thing, picking between sports,” he said. “Pretty much it came down to the simple fact that I loved basketball more than football, but it was tough. I’m excited about it.”

Most recently, Hannigan quarterbacked the Golden Eagles to a No.1 state ranking and a berth in the 2009 South Dakota AA state championship game. Despite falling to Sioux Falls Washington in that game, Hannigan earned First Team All-State and All-Conference honors after throwing for more than 2,000 yards. He was an honorable mention selection at both levels in 2008 despite his injury and ends his career with more than 5,000 passing yards and more than 2,000 yards on the ground.

“Jared is the total athlete,” said Mike Flakus, head football coach at ACHS. “He’s a total team player with impeccable character and a very good athletic sense about him. Northern is very lucky to have him, and I know he’ll do great there.”

“Our players and coaches are really happy that Jared has decided to become a Wolf,” said Meyer. “He’s proven that he’s a winner in any sport that he participates in, but most of all, he’ll do whatever it takes to make us and his team better. He’s a perfect fit for our program, and we’re lucky to have him.”
*Courtesy: NSU Sports Information