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Feb. 13—MITCHELL — Anthony Riggans' path to a breakout senior season with the Dakota Wesleyan University men's basketball program wasn't paved with guarantees.
It was built on patience, belief, and a willingness to take a chance when few options existed.
A native of Carthage, Texas, Riggans began his collegiate basketball career at Jacksonville College in Jacksonville, Texas, where he spent two seasons developing his game at the junior college level. When it came time to move on, opportunities were limited.
And DWU emerged as one of the only programs willing to offer him a place to continue both his athletic and academic career — and Riggans trusted his instincts.
"Out of junior college, I really didn't have anywhere else to go," Riggans said. "But once I heard about this place I looked it up and did all the research and it felt like a good home. And the people just love you out here no matter where you are from, and I am grateful for that."
That leap of faith led Riggans to Mitchell and into the Tiger men's basketball program ahead of the 2024-25 season. In his first year with Dakota Wesleyan, Riggans carved out a role off the bench, appearing in 27 games and logging 341 total minutes. He shot the ball efficiently, connecting on 41.9% from the field, 43.6% from 3-point range and 81.8% from the free-throw line. Riggans totaled 129 points on the season and provided a glimpse of his offensive potential, highlighted by a season-high 17 points in a win over Waldorf.
Still, his role was limited, particularly on the defensive end, and his season was slowed early by a bad ankle sprain that hampered his movement. Then, following his junior season, uncertainty arrived. Former head coach Kevin Williamson departed to take the head coaching job at Dakota State, leaving Riggans and the rest of the roster facing a major decision heading into the 2025-26 season.
For Riggans, transferring was an option but he decided DWU was his place. DWU was the place he had already invested in and had relationships, especially with assistant coach Sam Nicholson, who was promoted to head coach this season.
"Coach Nicholson is such a great guy," Riggans said. "He really genuinely cares about you and I kind of didn't want to give that up, so I ended up staying here with him. I don't know if I would still be here if he would have left, or if he didn't get the job. It's hard to not want to play for a coach like him because he wants to see me succeed."
Nicholson said that trust went both ways, and Riggans' decision to stay meant more than just keeping a talented player.
"It's really easy to have great relationships with guys when you are an assistant, and I think some of that went into his decision to stay," Nicholson said. "He knew that I really believed in him, and I think he knows that I love him and I love all of our guys. But for him to stay, it gave me a little confidence boost that 'Hey, I can do this thing.' He's a kid that I am going to remember forever as long as I am coaching because he made that decision."
Now in his senior season, the 6-foot-5 wing has emerged as one of DWU's most reliable and versatile contributors. Riggans has started 23 games, averaging 30.4 minutes per contest while leading a balanced Tigers offense in scoring with 14 points per game. He is shooting 50.4% from the field, 37.6% from beyond the arc and 79.2% at the free-throw line, while also pulling down 4.7 rebounds and adding 1.2 assists per contest.
Riggans has scored 15 or more points in 10 games this season, including a career-high 22-point performance in a 13-point home victory over Hastings on Jan. 31. Despite the jump in scoring, Riggans is quick to deflect credit to those around him.
"I feel like it's not even me. It's just my teammates staying confident in me because we all know we can score the ball," Riggans said. "We don't have one single guy carrying the scoring. You never know whose night it's going to be, it's as simple as that."
Equally impressive has been Riggans' transformation on the defensive end. After spending the offseason rehabbing his ankle back home in Texas, his improved mobility has allowed him to take on new responsibilities.
"I have been able to move a lot better this year after a bad ankle sprain I had last season early on," Riggans said. "And defensively, it has helped me in guarding some of (the opposing teams') best players, and I know this team needs that."
On the season, Riggans has tallied 27 steals and 13 blocks and is routinely tasked with defending the opponent's top scorer.
"Defensively, I would say he is the most improved defender in the country," Nicholson said. "And it all comes down to believing in himself and knowing that he's got teammates and a staff that believes in him. He didn't really see the floor much last year because of defense, and now he is usually guarding the opponent's best scorer every night. I just can't say enough of how much improvement we have seen from him on the defensive end."
For Riggans, the decision to stay at Dakota Wesleyan has paid off — not just statistically, but in growth, confidence and trust. What began as an opportunity has become a defining chapter in his basketball journey, one built on loyalty and belief, and capped by the best season of his career.
"This place has been a blessing for me, and I am excited to see what the rest of the year has in store for us as a team," Riggans said.
Continue reading...
It was built on patience, belief, and a willingness to take a chance when few options existed.
A native of Carthage, Texas, Riggans began his collegiate basketball career at Jacksonville College in Jacksonville, Texas, where he spent two seasons developing his game at the junior college level. When it came time to move on, opportunities were limited.
And DWU emerged as one of the only programs willing to offer him a place to continue both his athletic and academic career — and Riggans trusted his instincts.
"Out of junior college, I really didn't have anywhere else to go," Riggans said. "But once I heard about this place I looked it up and did all the research and it felt like a good home. And the people just love you out here no matter where you are from, and I am grateful for that."
That leap of faith led Riggans to Mitchell and into the Tiger men's basketball program ahead of the 2024-25 season. In his first year with Dakota Wesleyan, Riggans carved out a role off the bench, appearing in 27 games and logging 341 total minutes. He shot the ball efficiently, connecting on 41.9% from the field, 43.6% from 3-point range and 81.8% from the free-throw line. Riggans totaled 129 points on the season and provided a glimpse of his offensive potential, highlighted by a season-high 17 points in a win over Waldorf.
Still, his role was limited, particularly on the defensive end, and his season was slowed early by a bad ankle sprain that hampered his movement. Then, following his junior season, uncertainty arrived. Former head coach Kevin Williamson departed to take the head coaching job at Dakota State, leaving Riggans and the rest of the roster facing a major decision heading into the 2025-26 season.
For Riggans, transferring was an option but he decided DWU was his place. DWU was the place he had already invested in and had relationships, especially with assistant coach Sam Nicholson, who was promoted to head coach this season.
"Coach Nicholson is such a great guy," Riggans said. "He really genuinely cares about you and I kind of didn't want to give that up, so I ended up staying here with him. I don't know if I would still be here if he would have left, or if he didn't get the job. It's hard to not want to play for a coach like him because he wants to see me succeed."
Nicholson said that trust went both ways, and Riggans' decision to stay meant more than just keeping a talented player.
"It's really easy to have great relationships with guys when you are an assistant, and I think some of that went into his decision to stay," Nicholson said. "He knew that I really believed in him, and I think he knows that I love him and I love all of our guys. But for him to stay, it gave me a little confidence boost that 'Hey, I can do this thing.' He's a kid that I am going to remember forever as long as I am coaching because he made that decision."
Now in his senior season, the 6-foot-5 wing has emerged as one of DWU's most reliable and versatile contributors. Riggans has started 23 games, averaging 30.4 minutes per contest while leading a balanced Tigers offense in scoring with 14 points per game. He is shooting 50.4% from the field, 37.6% from beyond the arc and 79.2% at the free-throw line, while also pulling down 4.7 rebounds and adding 1.2 assists per contest.
Riggans has scored 15 or more points in 10 games this season, including a career-high 22-point performance in a 13-point home victory over Hastings on Jan. 31. Despite the jump in scoring, Riggans is quick to deflect credit to those around him.
"I feel like it's not even me. It's just my teammates staying confident in me because we all know we can score the ball," Riggans said. "We don't have one single guy carrying the scoring. You never know whose night it's going to be, it's as simple as that."
Equally impressive has been Riggans' transformation on the defensive end. After spending the offseason rehabbing his ankle back home in Texas, his improved mobility has allowed him to take on new responsibilities.
"I have been able to move a lot better this year after a bad ankle sprain I had last season early on," Riggans said. "And defensively, it has helped me in guarding some of (the opposing teams') best players, and I know this team needs that."
On the season, Riggans has tallied 27 steals and 13 blocks and is routinely tasked with defending the opponent's top scorer.
"Defensively, I would say he is the most improved defender in the country," Nicholson said. "And it all comes down to believing in himself and knowing that he's got teammates and a staff that believes in him. He didn't really see the floor much last year because of defense, and now he is usually guarding the opponent's best scorer every night. I just can't say enough of how much improvement we have seen from him on the defensive end."
For Riggans, the decision to stay at Dakota Wesleyan has paid off — not just statistically, but in growth, confidence and trust. What began as an opportunity has become a defining chapter in his basketball journey, one built on loyalty and belief, and capped by the best season of his career.
"This place has been a blessing for me, and I am excited to see what the rest of the year has in store for us as a team," Riggans said.
Continue reading...
