Talented, Young and Hungry....New Names Making Noise

One of the best parts about this sport is seeing players develop over the years. Some of these players we have watched on Saturday and Sundays since they were in 1st and 2nd grade. Overtime it's awesome to see them improve, grow, pick up new skills and become more and more talented doing what they love. In this article let's take a look at 5 Freshman that we may have not heard much about yet, but I promise you before long….they will be familiar names in North Dakota Basketball.   [player_tooltip player_id='461314' first='Fallon' last='Passanante']: Fargo Davies 5'8 G 2026- Fallon is definitely coming into her freshman year with a bang to say the least. So far in 11 games she is shooting 42% and #6 in the EDC with 16.8PPG. On the court she displays great speed, is always scanning the floor and knows exactly what is happening at all times. She has a great first step and isn't afraid to drive hard to the paint with a finish at the rim you can tell she has practiced a thousand times. Fallon has a ton of skills in her bag and isn't afraid to do work. It will be fun watching her the next few years, did I mention she can rebound as well?....I foresee her being a Top 3 player in the class of 2026.   [player_tooltip player_id='454688' first='Lilia' last='Donnelly']: West Fargo Horace 5'6 G 2026- Donnelly is nothing short of a hard-working player that has the drive and ambition to always get better and improve her skills on the floor. So far this year Donnelly has played in 12 games and is a key player/scorer for the Horace Hawks as she is shooting 35%, and averaging 10PPG which is #2 in scoring for her team. She has great speed, handles the ball very well and has confidence to put up shots on the floor, but also packs great court awareness and can find her open teammate in transition. She will be a big part of the Hawks in the years to come...oh and don't forget about her sister [player_tooltip player_id='555488' first='Lakyn' last='Donnelly']....you can think of them as "Double Trouble" on the court in years to come.   Sarah Helderop: Mandan 5'7 G 2026- Helderop is going to be a big key player in Mandan not only this year but in the next ones as well, and for all the right reasons. Helderop is a shifty, fast paced yet composed player who is impactful night in and night out. On the court she moves very well, isn't afraid to take the ball inside against bigger players and has definitely showcased her ability to knock down shots inside, and from long range. This year alone she is one of the best outside shooters in Mandan connecting over 40% from behind the arc. Defensively, she moves just as well as seasoned players and likes to attack the ball. With more time on the court and building confidence she will be a familiar name in the WDA, that I can promise. As for now, keep shooting...I think it's safe to she's already "proven" and she means business.   Mataya Messer: St.Mary 5'11 F 2026- One thing about Messer that stood out to be was how comfortable she looked on the court, and how composed she is. Already with good size to her at 5'11 she knows how to utilize her size to attack the boards but also displays confidence in her shooting abilities. So far this year she is 3rd on the Saints team in rebounding and shooting 40% from the floor. Messer had a breakout game against TMCHS and put up 21 Points and proved she can play. She's fun to watch, athletic as they come and can run the floor very well for her size. If she's still growing, she could be a handful for teams down the road with her skills in the paint. She's young, talented and will be a big piece to the Saints team for years to come. I think it's safe to say she has put plenty of hours in the gym during the off season, and she is definitely showing that.   [player_tooltip player_id='487016' first='Cora' last='Metcalf']: West Fargo Sheyenne 6'4 F 2026- Cora has the ability to really cause trouble for other teams. At 6'4 she is an effective, strong and athletic rebounder who can also score fluidly on the inside. She has a ton of good qualities to her game, and with time she will be a big player in the EDC. One thing that stands out is her overally grit/motor on the floor, she flat out gets after it and doubles as a good ball handler for her size. She has seen plenty of minutes this season so far and is shooting 57% and has accounted for 55 rebounds. With more experience which will for sure come, there is no doubt she will have a very bright future ahead of her.

One of the best parts about this sport is seeing players develop over the years. Some of these players we have watched on Saturday and Sundays since they were in 1st and 2nd grade. Overtime it's awesome to see them improve, grow, pick up new skills and become more and more talented doing what they love. In this article let's take a look at 5 Freshman that we may have not heard much about yet, but I promise you before long….they will be familiar names in North Dakota Basketball.