Super Six: Lincoln's Sam DeGroot Claims POTY Honors

DeGroot powered Lincoln's success with scoring, defense and leadership, earning the award for Super Six Player of the Year to cap his prep career.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 12:08pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting a basketball player in motion, with sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in vibrant colors like deep blue, fiery orange, and emerald green, conceptually representing the multi-faceted nature of DeGroot's game.DeGroot's versatility and all-around game made him a dominant force for Lincoln, leading the Patriots to a 45-3 record over his final two seasons.Sioux Falls Today

DeGroot, a 6-foot-7 forward, unleashed an average of 21.1 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game as a senior leader for a Lincoln team that won 23 straight games before falling just short in the Class AA championship game. He etched his name in the school's record book as the second all-time leading scorer in a single season (507 points), and his 1,001 career points ranks sixth all-time in program history.

Why it matters

DeGroot's versatility and all-around game made him a dominant force for Lincoln, leading the Patriots to a 45-3 record over his final two seasons. His individual accolades, including being named the AA Player of the Year and earning the Spirit of Su Award, cement his legacy as one of the top high school players in South Dakota.

The details

DeGroot first began playing basketball around age 4 or 5, but it wasn't until third grade that he started to get more serious about the sport. As a junior in 2024-25, DeGroot averaged 14.4 points and 6.0 rebounds per game, helping Lincoln more than double its win total from the previous year. His senior season in 2025-26 saw him average 21.1 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game, setting a new single-game program record with 10 made 3-pointers.

  • DeGroot first began playing basketball around age 4 or 5.
  • DeGroot started to get more serious about basketball in third grade.
  • As a junior in 2024-25, DeGroot averaged 14.4 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.
  • In his senior season in 2025-26, DeGroot averaged 21.1 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game.
  • DeGroot set a new single-game program record with 10 made 3-pointers on March 3, 2026.

The players

Sam DeGroot

A 6-foot-7 forward who was the centerpiece of Lincoln's success, averaging 21.1 points, 9.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocks per game as a senior. He is the 2025-26 Gatorade South Dakota Boys Basketball Player of the Year and a three-time team MVP for the Patriots.

Luke Hannemann

The head coach of the Lincoln boys basketball team, who has seen DeGroot's development from a quiet sophomore to a dominant senior leader.

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What they’re saying

“When you see his shot and you watch it, you expect it to go in every single time, and his form doesn't change from shot to shot. I think it's just those skills that make him so dangerous, but in addition to that, a lot of people don't think about him as a defender. He's an incredible defender.”

— Luke Hannemann, Lincoln Head Coach

“I think just us being the top team both years going into the state tournament, it's hard to achieve that, especially with seniors leaving from one year to the other. Then, keeping that success going from my junior to senior year is always big.”

— Sam DeGroot

What’s next

DeGroot will now turn his attention to the college level, keeping it close to home in Sioux Falls after signing with Augustana in November. The Vikings are entering their third season under the direction of coach Cody Schilling, who will be looking to rebuild his starting lineup next season, potentially providing DeGroot with plenty of opportunities to showcase his value early on in his college career.

The takeaway

DeGroot's combination of scoring, defense, and leadership made him a dominant force for Lincoln, leading the Patriots to a 45-3 record over his final two seasons. His individual accolades, including being named the AA Player of the Year and earning the Spirit of Su Award, cement his legacy as one of the top high school players in South Dakota. As he moves on to the college level at Augustana, DeGroot's work ethic and all-around game will be key assets in helping the Vikings rebuild their starting lineup.