BY PLAINSMAN STAFF
HURON — Blake Ellwein was named as the 2026 South Dakota Mr. Basketball winner on Thursday and received the honor, which is given annually by Hansen-Anderson Basketball during the Huron High School Athletic Awards Banquet at Huron Arena.
Ellwein is the third player from Huron to be named Mr. Basketball. Rod Merriam earned the honor for the Tigers in 1980, and Eric Hall was selected in 2004.
Ellwein, who has committed to playing in the fall at South Dakota State University, is the all-time leading scorer at Huron High School with 1,535 career points. He averaged 21.5 points per game in his senior season, leading the Tigers to the state ‘AA’ tournament championship, shooting an impressive 25 for 27 from the free-throw line over three days.
Ellwein is a three-time all-state selection, three-time all-conference player, and three-time all-tournament award winner.
Other finalists included: Samuel DeGroot of Sioux Falls Lincoln, Marvin Richard III of Pine Ridge, Jackson Wadsworth of Hamlin and Will Kuhl of West Central.
The award is voted on yearly by all boys’ basketball coaches in the state.
Hansen Anderson Basketball was founded in 1977 by Richard Hansen and Dave Anderson. It has been published annually, highlighting teams and players from across the state.
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