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South Dakota State University Athletics
(L-R) Blake Ellwein, Semaj Stampley, Cam Swearengen
JACKRABBITS INK TRIO ON SIGNING DAY
11/12/2025 6:31:00 PM | Men's Basketball
BROOKINGS, S.D. – South Dakota State men's basketball completed its first fall signing class under the direction of head coach Bryan Petersen on Wednesday as Blake Ellwein (Huron, S.D.), Cam Swearengen (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Semaj Stampley (Godfrey, Ill.) signed their financial aid agreements to join the Jackrabbits next season.
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"We are very excited to announce the three additions to our men's basketball family today in Blake Ellwein, Semaj Stamply and Cam Swearengen," Petersen said. "All three of these young men will be tremendous fits for our basketball program both on and off the floor. Our staff did an outstanding job of identifying these three talented young men, recruiting them and developing great relationships. We can't wait to see the impact they make."
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Blake Ellwein | 6-9 | Forwad | Huron, S.D. | Huron High School | Team Warwick
Blake Ellwein enters his senior season of basketball at Huron High School. The local product has been a standout for the Tigers throughout his prep career.Â
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Ellwein is a two-time first team all-state performer. He also is a multiple time choice to his all-conference team. Last season, Ellwein was named to the Argus Leader First Five and was a State AA All-Tournament Team choice. He's helped guide the Tigers to two straight state tournament trips.
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His sophomore year saw Ellwein average 18 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.7 steals per game. He improved a majority of those per game numbers as a junior averaging 21 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and a block.
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Ellwein has been on his school's Honor Roll multiple times and been in National Honor Society. A 4.0 student this year, Ellwein plans to major in business or sport management while at SDSU. He is ranked by Prep Hoops as South Dakota's top recruit for the class of 2026.
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"It was very important to our staff to continue to recruit this state extremely hard and get the best players in South Dakota," Petersen said. "We feel that we have done that with the signing of Blake Ellwein. Blake is an extremely skilled, versatile player that can cover multiple positions on the floor. He is a great, and more importantly, willing passer. He also has the ability to make shots from the perimeter and score around the rim. He only continues to develop and get better."
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Semaj Stampley | 6-1 | Guard | Godfrey, Ill. | Alton HS | Southwest Illinois Jets
Semaj Stampley has been a standout for Alton High School the past two seasons and is entering his senior year for the Redbirds.Â
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Stampley is coming off a junior campaign that saw him help lead Alton to a Class 4A regional title. The season saw him average 18.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game. He was named a 3rd Team IBCA All-State selection. He set a school record for 3-pointers in a season at 99 while he set the career record with 196.
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Stampley's been named his area's Gallatin Player of the Year twice. His sophomore season saw him average 17.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.4 steals per contest. A back-to-back all-conference selection, Stampley has also had the top free throw percentage in his area two consecutive years.
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Stampley has been solid in the classroom as well. He's been a two-time National Honor Society member, two-time academic all-conference performer, a Mu Alpha Thete member, as well has been named a Student-Athlete of the Month. Stampley plans to study entrepreneurial studies at SDSU.
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"We're super excited to add Semaj Stampley to our basketball family," Petersen said. "Semaj is a very quick, athletic combo guard that can play both on and off the basketball. He is an elite shooter with a really-high basketball IQ. He also plays with a great competitive spirit and plays for a great, winning program down in Alton, Illinois. He has the ability to uplift his teammates in a very positive way. We're looking forward to him and his leadership translating to our program."Â
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Cam Swearengen | 6-5 | Guard | Knoxville, Tenn. | Webb School of Knoxville
Cam Swearengen will join the Jackrabbits from the Webb School of Knoxville in Tennessee. Swearengen helped lead the Spartans to a Division 2-AA Tennessee State Tournament Championship in 2025. He was named the Tournament MVP for the team's run through the state playoffs.Â
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Webb enters the 2025-26 season as the 13th ranked boys high school program in the nation according to MaxPreps.
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As a junior, Swearengen averaged 11.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. He was chosen as the Division 2-AA Tennessee East Region MVP. A TSWA 1st Team All-State choice, Swearengen was Second Team All PrepXtra for 2025 and was a nominee for the 2025 Knoxville Area Boys Basketball Player of the Year award.
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In the classroom, Swearengen was a member of the National Art Honors Society. He plans to major in engineering at South Dakota State.
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"Cam Swearengen is a big guard that can do a lot of things on the offensive and defensive end," Petersen said. "We are thrilled about adding his versatility, his athleticism and length to our roster. He's a state champion, so he knows what it takes to win and plays for a great program down at Knoxville Webb. We think Cam can become an elite defender at our level. We look forward to Cam joining us in Brookings."
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The South Dakota State men's basketball team returns to action on Wednesday evening. The Jackrabbits play at Oregon with tipoff at 8:30 p.m. CT.
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"We are very excited to announce the three additions to our men's basketball family today in Blake Ellwein, Semaj Stamply and Cam Swearengen," Petersen said. "All three of these young men will be tremendous fits for our basketball program both on and off the floor. Our staff did an outstanding job of identifying these three talented young men, recruiting them and developing great relationships. We can't wait to see the impact they make."
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Blake Ellwein | 6-9 | Forwad | Huron, S.D. | Huron High School | Team Warwick
Blake Ellwein enters his senior season of basketball at Huron High School. The local product has been a standout for the Tigers throughout his prep career.Â
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Ellwein is a two-time first team all-state performer. He also is a multiple time choice to his all-conference team. Last season, Ellwein was named to the Argus Leader First Five and was a State AA All-Tournament Team choice. He's helped guide the Tigers to two straight state tournament trips.
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His sophomore year saw Ellwein average 18 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 2.0 blocks and 1.7 steals per game. He improved a majority of those per game numbers as a junior averaging 21 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and a block.
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Ellwein has been on his school's Honor Roll multiple times and been in National Honor Society. A 4.0 student this year, Ellwein plans to major in business or sport management while at SDSU. He is ranked by Prep Hoops as South Dakota's top recruit for the class of 2026.
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"It was very important to our staff to continue to recruit this state extremely hard and get the best players in South Dakota," Petersen said. "We feel that we have done that with the signing of Blake Ellwein. Blake is an extremely skilled, versatile player that can cover multiple positions on the floor. He is a great, and more importantly, willing passer. He also has the ability to make shots from the perimeter and score around the rim. He only continues to develop and get better."
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Semaj Stampley | 6-1 | Guard | Godfrey, Ill. | Alton HS | Southwest Illinois Jets
Semaj Stampley has been a standout for Alton High School the past two seasons and is entering his senior year for the Redbirds.Â
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Stampley is coming off a junior campaign that saw him help lead Alton to a Class 4A regional title. The season saw him average 18.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game. He was named a 3rd Team IBCA All-State selection. He set a school record for 3-pointers in a season at 99 while he set the career record with 196.
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Stampley's been named his area's Gallatin Player of the Year twice. His sophomore season saw him average 17.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.4 steals per contest. A back-to-back all-conference selection, Stampley has also had the top free throw percentage in his area two consecutive years.
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Stampley has been solid in the classroom as well. He's been a two-time National Honor Society member, two-time academic all-conference performer, a Mu Alpha Thete member, as well has been named a Student-Athlete of the Month. Stampley plans to study entrepreneurial studies at SDSU.
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"We're super excited to add Semaj Stampley to our basketball family," Petersen said. "Semaj is a very quick, athletic combo guard that can play both on and off the basketball. He is an elite shooter with a really-high basketball IQ. He also plays with a great competitive spirit and plays for a great, winning program down in Alton, Illinois. He has the ability to uplift his teammates in a very positive way. We're looking forward to him and his leadership translating to our program."Â
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Cam Swearengen | 6-5 | Guard | Knoxville, Tenn. | Webb School of Knoxville
Cam Swearengen will join the Jackrabbits from the Webb School of Knoxville in Tennessee. Swearengen helped lead the Spartans to a Division 2-AA Tennessee State Tournament Championship in 2025. He was named the Tournament MVP for the team's run through the state playoffs.Â
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Webb enters the 2025-26 season as the 13th ranked boys high school program in the nation according to MaxPreps.
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As a junior, Swearengen averaged 11.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game. He was chosen as the Division 2-AA Tennessee East Region MVP. A TSWA 1st Team All-State choice, Swearengen was Second Team All PrepXtra for 2025 and was a nominee for the 2025 Knoxville Area Boys Basketball Player of the Year award.
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In the classroom, Swearengen was a member of the National Art Honors Society. He plans to major in engineering at South Dakota State.
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"Cam Swearengen is a big guard that can do a lot of things on the offensive and defensive end," Petersen said. "We are thrilled about adding his versatility, his athleticism and length to our roster. He's a state champion, so he knows what it takes to win and plays for a great program down at Knoxville Webb. We think Cam can become an elite defender at our level. We look forward to Cam joining us in Brookings."
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The South Dakota State men's basketball team returns to action on Wednesday evening. The Jackrabbits play at Oregon with tipoff at 8:30 p.m. CT.
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