12 Skilled Ballers: ND & SD

The basketball season is moving quickly and intensifying as each game passes. It is hard to believe that the playoffs are looming on the horizon.   As the games and competition get ramped up, the most skilled players should shine and stand out.   Skilled Ballers are the topic of this article and we are highlighting 12 of them from ND & SD.   How do you know a skilled baller when you see them?   A skilled basketball player possesses a combination of technical skills, game intelligence, physical ability, and mental sharpness. Key attributes include: Clean, proper, fluid, and accurate shooting mechanics, precision & timely passing, handling & passing with left & right hands, throwing & completing a variety of passes, combo dribble moves, ball-on-a-string handles, manipulating defenders/tempo/screens, running the offense, post moves, footwork, balance, a versatile finishing package, 3-level scoring, using screens, fakes, pivots, craftiness, changing speeds, creativeness, using counter moves, beating double teams, proper closeouts, shot-blocking, help defense, exploiting mismatches and many others.   SKILLED BALLERS   [player_tooltip player_id='1104657' first='Abba' last='Heinzen'] (2026) |5'8 G| Garrison   Abba has grown into a very good post-player with great footwork. She has an excellent left hand which makes for a tough match-up for the opposition. Her ability to pass out of the high post and make quick decisions has really helped the Troopers be a successful basketball team this year. Heinzen is a skilled and important player for the 13-5 Troopers.   [player_tooltip player_id='377192' first='Ashlyn' last='Koupal'] (2026) |6'3 SF| Wagner   She is a 3-level scorer and a match-up nightmare. Koupal can pull post players out on the perimeter and beat them off the bounce or come off screens for triples. She can take guards down inside and post them up with her back to the basket. Ashlyn can play the 1-5 on the court offensively, she is skilled, smart, and versatile. Defensively, Koupal can guard 1-5. At 6'3, she can use her length to disrupt shooters on the perimeter. She can use her athletic ability to keep up with smaller quicker guards and alter shots at the rim. As a sophomore, Ashlyn had 96 blocks! In the post, she can play physical and alter shot after shot with the BIGs. Koupal is a 1 woman press break who handles the ball with multiple dribble moves. She played the point guard at the varsity level as a 7th-9th grader. She can dribble out of traps and is quick enough to go coast to coast from getting a defensive rebound. Ashlyn's court vision allows her to see the traps coming and who is open to get them the ball. Her best attribute that most might overlook is her passing. Whether she is passing off the dribble, or at a standstill, her passing is elite and next-level. Koupal played quarterback in little league football and can deliver passes the length of the court on the dime. She knows where the double and triple teams come from and gets shooters the ball. Ashlyn is always making the extra pass for a better shot when at times she could score even more points.   [player_tooltip player_id='1169500' first='Cara' last='Schelhr'] (2026) |5'10 G/F| Garrison   She has helped the Troopers to a 13-5 record. Cara is a lengthy ball handler who sees the floor well, she also high a high basketball IQ. Schelhr is a mismatch nightmare for teams. The Troopers have been using her in many different scenarios this year and they are taking advantage of her versatility and effectiveness. Cara's ability to play from the inside out makes her a huge scoring threat Garrison.   Carrinton Hanson (2025) |5'9 F| Webster   Carrington is a confident and skilled ball handler, she creates space and handles defensive pressure. Hanson can also shoot the three-point ball with accuracy or take it inside for points around the basket. She is tough to handle around the basket. Carrinton averages 8.2 ppg, 5 rpg, 1.4 apg, 65.4 FG%, 66.7 FT%.   Erin Sannes (2025) |6'0 F| Webster   Sannes is a long left-handed post player and a dangerous scoring weapon. She is a difficult matchup for most teams. Erin has good footwork and an impressive step-through move that is effective for putting up points. Sannes is averaging 15.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 1.4 bpg, 47.5 FG%, and 82.6 FT%.   [player_tooltip player_id='1178966' first='Hadley' last='Talkington'] (2027) |5'6 G| Belfield   She plays the game with great pace and the game flows effortlessly through Hadley. She handles the ball well, sees the floor, and sets up others for shots. Talkington is also a good on-the-ball defender. Her defensive skills are evident when playing off the ball by reading passes, creative turnovers, and providing help-side defense. Talkington is a skilled 2-way baller.   [player_tooltip player_id='392878' first='Harley' last='Johnson'] (2025) |5'8 G| Webster   Harley is a skilled but ruthless defender who gives opposing teams fits. On offense, she has a powerful drive/slash game that produces buckets or assists. Johnson is also a skilled and confident ballhandler. Harley averages 8.6 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.4 apg, 1.2 spg, and 37.5 FG%.   [player_tooltip player_id='380222' first='Kyra' last='Beckman'] (2025) |6'0 F| Bottineau   She is 6'0" and moves just as well as anyone on the floor. Beckman runs the 1-spot/PG sometimes, and often also plays the 5-spot/C. Kyra can shoot the 3-pointer well, it is hard to defend with her quick high release. She can drive and pull up for a jump shot, Kyra is an accurate and consistent shooter. She is able to make any move by the basket and is super effective. Kyra takes a lot of defensive attention from other teams, yet she is still able to score at a high rate, but she also opens things up for her teammates! Beckman is an all-around skilled player.   [player_tooltip player_id='377639' first='Lennix' last='Dupris'] (2025) |5'6 G| Pierre   She is halfway through her senior season and is averaging 17.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 3.9 apg, 3.5 spg. Those are All-State type of numbers and Dupris has All-State talent! Lennix has Incredible vision and playmaking ability. Her fundamentals are top-notch and allow her to affect the game in multiple ways. When you add that to her focus and intensity level, that equals one of the best guards in South Dakota.   [player_tooltip player_id='878211' first='Mari' last='Richards'] (2025) |6'2 C| McLaughlin   She is a big reason why the Mustangs are 12-3 this season. Richards is a post player but she is full of versatility. Mari has impressive handles with strong ball skills. She is a skilled passer with eyes like a hawk. Richards is long and a tough defender. She jumps well, is a productive rebounder, and is a very skilled shot-blocker. Mari is an all-around productive and successful ball player.   [player_tooltip player_id='1104745' first='McCall' last='Chase'] (2030) |5'5 G| Garrison   She might be very young but she is super skilled. Chase is one of, if not the best ball handlers in the area around Garrison. She sees the floor so well and is averaging 4.5 assists/game. That is a mind-boggling number when you realize she is just a 7th grader. McCall's unique skill set and ability to shoot the ball from 3 make her a very tough matchup. Her potential and upside and sky high, this Trooper is sharply skilled.   [player_tooltip player_id='1178964' first='Sydney' last='Froehlich'] (2026) |5'7 G| Belfield   Froehlich is a skilled Bantam baller. She has noteworthy handles and impressive court vision. She does a great job of handling the rock and creating looks for others. She is also a talented defender. Sydney creates problems with ball pressure and she is skilled off the ball by reading passes and offensive players.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepgirlshoops.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/4/2024/11/prepGIRLShoopsdakotas.jpg?w=865" alt="" class="wp-image-1056252" /></figure>

The basketball season is moving quickly and intensifying as each game passes. It is hard to believe that the playoffs are looming on the horizon.