Skilled Talent

We are talking basketball players with sharp and refined skills.   PGHD is highlighting 12 players from ND and 3 from 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 Talent   [player_tooltip player_id='1057801' first='Ava' last='Cotton'] (2025) |5'9 G/F| Central Cass   She is the top defender in the game for the Squirrels. Cotton guards the best player on each opposing team. She is very crafty with her footwork, but more importantly her hands. She has the fastest hands that Coach Bachman has ever seen. She leads the team in steals and tipped passes. She averages more steals and tips than most girls do in rebounds. Defensively, Ava is the motor of the CC team.   [player_tooltip player_id='1060622' first='Claire' last='Woods'] (2025) |5'6 G| Sioux Falls Washington   She hands the rock with precision, command, and skill. Woods is a smart player with fantastic footwork. On defense, she has impressive timing that leads to blocks, rejections, tips, and steals. Claire is a playmaker in transition who flies down the court and finishes on smoothly around the hoop. Woods can also space the floor, keep the defense honest, and knock down the 3-point shot. She is a skilled all-around baller.   [player_tooltip player_id='1126184' first='Elli' last='Laskowski'] (2028) |6'0 SF| Minot North Laskowski is long and athletic, she affects the game on both ends. Ellie does such a great job of getting her shoulders square on the block.  She also has the ability to step outside and knock down the 3-point shot. She can take you off the dribble and is a 3-level scorer. On D, Elli has the ability to guard on both the inside and outside and serves as Minot North's rim protector. What's impressive is Ellie is in the top 10 of the WDA in points, rebounds, assists, and blocks.   [player_tooltip player_id='404951' first='Grace' last='Peterson'] (2025) |6'0 SF| Sioux Falls Washington   Peterson is a skilled double-digit scoring weapon. She is a tough defensive assignment, Peterson is a talented 3-shooter but has the size/length to do work inside the arc. She is a serious three-level scorer. I am impressed with her in-rhythm shooting. Grace is a fluid, timely, and on-target shooter. She is a skilled and confident shooter for the corners. I like how she uses screens to get open and her footwork looks clean and proper. Peterson is a skilled and smart baller who will be hooping at Augie next year.   [player_tooltip player_id='245104' first='Haidyn' last='Crockett'] (2025) |5'9 G| Northern Cass She is no stranger to scoring baskets. Crockett can go off for 20, 30, or even 40 points on any given night. Haidyn has all the skills and she makes the game looks easy. I am impressed with his finishing, stepback, and pull-up game. She is excellent at creating space, attacking, angles, and using leverage to her advantage. Corocket is a bucket-getter and an opportunistic scorer. She is also a disruptor on defense with sharp reactions that force turnovers. This skilled player and scoring machine is taking her talents to Jamestown next season.   [player_tooltip player_id='935880' first='Josie' last='Biteler'] (2028) |5'9 G| Sioux Falls Washington   She is uber-skilled and does not play hoops like a 9th grader. Josie is an impressive 3-point shooter with a buttery-soft release and perfect balance. She has an excellent follow-through and she reaches into the cookie jar. Biteler is also a skilled and efficient finisher. She sees/surveys the court like a veteran PG and passes accurately. On defense, Josie anticipates steals, tips, and interceptions well. She is a thief who reads and reacts quickly. She has an amazing feel for the game and her skill level is noteworthy.   [player_tooltip player_id='1057798' first='Kenley' last='Haug'] (2029) |5'5 G| Central Cass   She is the best ballhandler and passer on the team. Haug can dribble like no other, especially for her age. She can get to the rack on anyone because she is so crafty with her handles. Kenley crosses people up all the time, often making people fall over. Sometimes she makes people so turned around it looks like no one is guarding her. This Squirrel is a SKILLED baller!   [player_tooltip player_id='1136997' first='Macy' last='Bryans'] (2027) |5'8 G| Westhope-Newburg   She is the leader for W-N in almost every category. Bryans is averaging 14.4 PPG. 9 RPG, 5 APG, and 3.8 SPG. She has one Triple-Double on the year and was one rebound or one assist away from a Triple-Double in 2 other games this year. Macy has done a much better job as of late of getting others involved offensively, and finding the open girl. Defensively, she is a tough match-up as she is decent-sized and very strong for a point guard.    [player_tooltip player_id='1000498' first='Suri' last='Gourd'] (2028) |5'8 G| Four Winds/Minnewaukan   She is a leader and skilled player for 4WM. Gourd is averaging 20.7 ppg as a frosh in Class A and is fresh off a 28-point performance against Grafton. Suri is an exceptional shooter with deep range, exceptional feet, and a soft touch. She is a creative and gifted finisher who can score from every angle with both hands. She is dynamic in transition and sneaky on defense which leads to steals & turnovers.   [player_tooltip player_id='933650' first='Tylie' last='Brodina'] (2027) |5'8 G| Devils Lake   Brodina is a deadly shooter off the catch and bounce. I am impressed with her fluidity, rhythm, mechanics, and base/feet. Tylie also has a feathery-soft shooting touch. Besides being a skilled shooter, Brodina is a fierce competitor, a gamer, and a winner. She is also a quick athlete who can put the rock on the floor and make positive plays. Brodina is a skilled playmaker and an All-State talent.   [player_tooltip player_id='518353' first='Ziah' last='GreyBull'] (2025) |5'8 G| [program_tooltip program_id='712656' first='Mandan' last='']   Ziah is an artist when it comes to dicing up the defense, she can get to the basket at any given time. Her jump shot has come along well and she has had great nights from behind the arc. Her best attributes on the offensive side of the ball are her handles (might be the best in all of AA) and court vision. Ziah is a true traditional PG. At times she will even surprise her teammates with a nice pass even though they know she is a great passer. She is also an excellent defender who will put pressure on you for 9o feet and play with a physicality on the outside that will translate great to the college game.    [player_tooltip player_id='398151' first='Zoie' last='Austin'] (2025) |5'7 G| Bismarck Century   Zoie is able to take over a game in a blink of an eye on both ends. She is an absolute bulldog on the defensive end. She is one of the best defenders in the state, and has played that role on teams that made State Title games in her freshmen and sophomore years. She sees the floor well and is always willing to get her teammates involved. Austin's jump shot has improved but her ability to get to the basket at will is up there with the best of them. She is a strong guard who can finish through contact. If there is one player in the AA ranks that I'm fully confident in with getting a shot at the rim or FT line late in a game it's Zoie. I'm excited to see where her home is next fall.    <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>

We are talking basketball players with sharp and refined skills.