Summer Rankings: Key Junior Performers

These girls are poised for great junior campaigns.   <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/dakotas/rankings/north-dakota-rankings/2028-rankings/">FULL 2028 RANKINGS</a>    Kaelynn is a shifty guard that will be competing for playing time on a [program_tooltip program_id='712656' first='Mandan' last=''] team with big goals. [program_tooltip program_id='712656' first='Mandan' last=''] will be one of the favorites to not only win the WDA but also the State Title in 2027. They are loaded at the guard position and Talley is part of that talented crew. She is quick up the floor and plays with good effort on the court. She has a quick shot and has shot the ball well this AAU season. Her AAU coach has given her the green light all season to light it up from behind the arc. Kaelynn is looking to take this successful AAU season into next fall.     Marie is a true 6'2 defensive specialist. She was able to find the floor at key times last season and helped anchor Davies' tough defense with her length and rebounding ability. She is great at defending without fouling and altering shots. She runs well for a center and can put the ball in the basket when she gets her feet squared to the hoop. She has been working hard in the offseason on her touch around the basket. Look for Marie to play significant minutes next season for the Eagles.     Coaches sometimes wonder if their athletes love basketball. You don't have to worry about Steger loving hoops. Ashley is a solid player with a great attitude. She has a good energy on the floor and her positive demeaner lifts up her teammates. She works really hard defensively and has improved her ball-handling. She has a nice looking shot and can knock down the three in the half-court. I appreciate players like Ashley who are able to affect the game in ways other than just scoring.     Paige is a menace defensively. She can stick to an opponent like glue and make it very difficult for them to even get open to receive passes. She is excellent at jumping passing lanes and getting steals that oftentimes lead to easy transition buckets. Paige seems to be a very fast athlete and quicker up the floor than most of the girls on the court. She seems to just zip by players whether she is dribbling the ball or sprinting the lanes. She keeps possessions alive by crashing the offensive glass despite being only 5'6. Her effort is excellent. Divide County has a ton of talent coming back. Look for Smithberg to help lead them to more victories in 2027.     Sheyenne is a quality role player for the Sentinels. She does a lot of the work that doesn't always translate to the stat book but coaches appreciate. She is always in a great defensive stance. She battles defensively and does a great job of cutting off driving lanes. She leverages her strength to play against bigger girls. Her fearless nature defensively is something I appreciate. Sheyenne sets screens that open up her teammates for easy baskets. She also is a good rebounder for a guard. She gets the ball at its peak and then looks to push the ball in transition. She is good at throwing outlet passes up the court to teammates.     [player_tooltip player_id='936803' first='Kenley' last='Blasey'] has been playing varsity basketball since she was in eighth grade. She plays with the poise of a seasoned veteran and has high hopes heading into her final two seasons of varsity action. She is a good athlete and good-sized guard at 5'9. She seems to have an explosive first step and good jumping ability. She is able to time jumps correctly and block plenty of shots throughout the season. She is Nelson County's primary scoring option and can get hot quickly from behind the arc. She had multiple games last season where she connected on multiple three point attempts, including 5 made three-pointers against North Prairie.     Anika is a terrific athlete and special player for Hatton-Northwood. She is a multi-sport athlete who is a tremendous asset to the school's athletic department. She earned herself All-Region honors in 2026-2027 and could find herself on the All-State team in the future. She moves extremely well and looks like a college guard. She is a consistent double-figure scorer capable of big nights each time she walks onto the court. She plays both sides of the ball and is a tremendous defender. Pinke will have a chance to be a quality recruit the next two seasons.     Ivy is one of many Kindred Vikings who will be tasked with helping fill the void older sister Liza leaves with her graduation. Liza was responsible for 25-plus points each night in addition to many playmaking and defensive duties. Ivy is primed to step in and take on a bigger role as a junior. She has the length and athleticism to be a productive offensive player. She ducks in near the basket over smaller girls and can finish through contact. She isn't afraid to step out and shoot the three. Ivy is a tremendous defender and rebounder. She was excellent in Kindred's 1-3-1 zone defense last season.     Jaci is a very good player and found herself on the All-Region team this past season as just a sophomore. She is mostly known for her prolific outside shooting. She has one of the best looking shots that I have seen. It has a nice dip, great rhythm, fantastic lift, and outstanding follow-through. All of this is done with a quick release that makes it very difficult to defend. She helped stretch the floor for the Squirrels last season and is only going to get better. She is also a quality ball-handler. She is able to take pressure off of teammate [player_tooltip player_id='1057798' first='Kenley' last='Haug']. I would utilize her in this position more as she does a good job of decision making and taking care of the rock.

These girls are poised for great junior campaigns.