The Minnesota State High School League's Board of Directors unanimously approved a motion on Thursday to mandate the implementation of a shot clock at the varsity levels of boys and girls basketball, starting with the 2023-24 varsity season.
Minnesota joins California, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota and Washington as the only states to use a 30- or 35-second shot clock.
The mandate only exists at the varsity level, but schools can also use them at lower levels if both schools agree to it. The shot clock will be 35 seconds.
In May, the NFHS urged the adoption of a shot clock across high school basketball with Rule 2-14 which states that each state association may adopt a shot lock beginning in the 2022-23 season — according to guidelines outlined in the Basketball Rules Book — to encourage standardization among states.
"We provided the committee with a lot of information regarding the shot clock, including responses to a 46-question survey sent to states currently using a shot clock," said Theresia Wynns, NFHS Director of sports and officials and liaison to the Basketball Rules Committee.
Although the proposal for a national rule mandating a shot clock was not approved, the ruling is expected to bring momentum to the shot-clock movement across high school basketball.
Jalen Suggs rises up for the dunk during his senior year at Minnehaha Academy.
File Photo by Josh Johnson
