The University of Mary Marauders

PRIOR TO U-MARY
All-state performer and two-time captain Darius Sparks of St. Mary's Central High School in Bismarck. N.D., chose to play collegiate basketball for the hometown team.
 
A three-year starter and a two-time captain at St. Mary's, Sparks is a 6-1, 185-pound guard who earned second team all-state honors after leading the Saints to a runner-up finish in the Class A state tournament and a record of 20-5 in 2014. An all-conference first team selection who also made the state championship all-tournament team, Sparks scored over 1,000 points in his career. As a senior he averaged 18 points and four rebounds per game while making 37 per cent of his three point attempts.
 
As a high school junior, Sparks averaged 15 points per game, earned all-conference honors and helped St. Mary's to a season record of 20-4 and a sixth place finish at the state tournament. Sparks also led St. Mary's to a sixth place finish in the state tournament and a 15-10 record overall as a sophomore, averaging 11 points per game.
 
Sparks also earned second-team all-state honors at linebacker as a senior and helped lead the Saint's to a state football championship in 2013.
 
Darius is the son of Mike and Janel Schmitz and will pursue a degree in history or English at U-Mary.