VERMILLION, S.D. – South Dakota men's basketball head coach Todd Lee announced the addition of Max Burchill, Damani Hayes and Edin Smjecanin to the 2020-21 roster Friday.
 
Damani Hayes | Mankato, Minn. | SD School of Mines | Guard
The 6-5 guard from Mankato East High School comes to USD from the South Dakota School of Mines where he was a two-year starter. This past season, Hayes played in all 30 games while averaging 27.8 minutes per game. He shot 45.1 percent from the field and snagged 4.9 rebounds a game while dishing out two assists per game. Hayes averaged 6.8 points on the season and recorded a season-high 15 points against Western Colorado.
 
In the 2018-19 season, Hayes averaged 8.9 points and 6.3 rebounds. He recorded a double-double of 16 points and 11 rebounds against New Mexico Highlands. Both totals were season-highs. Hayes left Mankato East as the second all-time leading scorer, a two-time section champion and a MBCA MN All-Star.
 
In addition to his talents on the court, Hayes earned a spot on the Dean's List at Mines four times and transfers to USD with a 3.61 GPA in biomedical engineering.
 
Due to NCAA transfer rules, Hayes will have to sit out the 2020-21 campaign and have two years of eligibility remaining when he steps on the hardwood of the Sanford Coyote Sports Center.

 
Max Burchill | Sioux Falls, S.D. | Sioux Falls Lincoln | Guard
A 6-4 guard from the home state of South Dakota, Burchill was among the state's best players his senior year. Burchill was a two-time all-conference player as well an all-state player his senior season. He led the Patriots in points, rebounds, 3-point percentage and free throw percentage on the season. He finished his senior season with 14.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game.
 
In addition to his talents on the court, Burchill was a pitcher on the diamond for the Patriots. His older brother, Nolan, is a pitcher for the Minnesota Gophers. Burchill was also a member of the academic all-state team his senior year and was a scholar athlete all four years in baseball and basketball. His father, Tom, played basketball and tennis at the University of South Dakota.
 
Burchill will be a freshman this coming season and plans on majoring in pre-med.

 
Edin Smjecanin | Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina | Mesquite HS | Forward
Smjecanin is a 2019 graduate of Mesquite and a 2020 prep school post graduate of PHHoenix prep. While at Mesquite HS, he help led the team to a 4A Elite Eight appearance. Smjecanin led the Desert Sky section in double-doubles and ranked third in the 4A conference in double-doubles. He averaged 15 points, 10 rebounds and one assist per game and ranked second in scoring in the 4A conference at his position.
 
While at PHHoenix prep he helped the team win the Arizona men's basketball league championship. He averaged 12.7 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game last season.
 
Smjecanin will be a freshman this coming season and plans to major in computer science.


 
The additions of Hayes, Burchill and Smjecanin brings the 2019-20 class to six student-athletes. Junior college transfers Boogie Anderson, Xavier Fuller and Mason Archambault are immediately eligible to play this coming season. A.J. Plitzuweit, Kanon Koster and Brady Heiman will also be eligible to play this coming season after sitting out last season due to transfer rules.