ND Predictions - WDA Top 2 | Prep Girls Hoops

The WDA is going to be like the Wild-Wild-West. It is as good of a conference as I can remember. My prediction is that the state champion will come from the West. Below are my top two teams that will have the best chance of winning the conference.   <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/dakotas/rankings/north-dakota-rankings/2027-rankings/">2027 RANKINGS</a> <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/dakotas/rankings/north-dakota-rankings/2028-rankings/">2028 RANKINGS</a> <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/dakotas/rankings/north-dakota-rankings/2029-rankings/">2029 RANKINGS</a> <a href="https://prepgirlshoops.com/dakotas/rankings/north-dakota-rankings/2030-rankings/">2030 RANKINGS</a>   Bismarck Century Patriots    The number one prospect in the 2028 class is the floor general on one of the most talented teams in the state. She already holds offers from NDSU and USD and it's only a matter of time until the number of offers grows exponentially. She has great athleticism, quickness, and size for a point guard. What sets her apart from others is her incredible basketball IQ. She almost never makes mistakes and can positively affect the game in every way possible. She is a big-time recruit on a big-time team. Last season Kaylie averaged 13.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 2.8 steals per game and shot 52.5% from the field, 31.9% from three, and 71.6% from the free-throw line.     Kinley is another Division 1 prospect with offers from NDSU and USD, just like Welstad. Thorton plays a little differently than her teammate but is obviously incredibly talented. She is one of the best athletes in the state and a high level shooter. I expect her to be one of the top shooters in the WDA this season. Thorton has the potential to be an exceptional defender and rebounder. Her competitive edge is impressive and I can't wait to see what she does this season. Last year Kinley averaged 10.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1 steal per game. She shot 39.9% from the field, 35.3% from three, and 80% from the free-throw line.     Edinger is what pushes this squad to the top of the WDA. She is only a freshmen but averaged nearly a double-double last season as an eighth grader. She will anchor what is already one of the best defenses in the state by her length at the basket. It will be incredibly difficult for opponents to score on the Patriots. Lily defends without fouling and alters most shots at the rim. She runs well and can defend in the ball-screen. She continues to improve offensively and has a good mid-range jump shot and a soft touch when shooting layups. Lily will be a multi-year All-WDA selection and future All-State selection. Last season Lily averaged 11.7 points, 9.9 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game. She shot 51.7% from the field and 70.4% from the free-throw line.    [program_tooltip program_id='712656' first='Mandan' last=''] Braves    Bugbee had arguably the best AAU season of any North Dakota athlete, picking up a ton of Division 1 offers. She is one of the top players in the state and one of the best players in recent memory. Her effort to pursue rebounds reminds me of Horace graduate and current Gonzaga standout Jaiden Haile. She is the best rebounder in the state and so much more physical than anyone else. I think [program_tooltip program_id='712656' first='Mandan' last=''] is one of the few teams that can compete with Century and it's because of the physical strength of [player_tooltip player_id='969855' first='AnnaClaire' last='Bugbee']. Last season she averaged 17.3 points, 13.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2 steals per game. She shot 49.7% from the field and 63.7% from the free-throw line.     Alli is honestly one of the only players in the state who has a chance of pushing Bugbee around. This gives [program_tooltip program_id='712656' first='Mandan' last=''] a shot at winning the WDA. She is another incredibly strong athlete. When you watch her play it is hard to believe she is only a sophomore. She also has Division 1 offers after having an excellent AAU campaign. She is very difficult at stopping at the basket and is one of the best in the state at getting to the free-throw line. Alli is already an All-Conference talent and should have even more impressive numbers this season. Last year she averaged 10.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game. She shot 45.9% from the field, 28.6% from three, and 70.2% from the free-throw line.     Sierra started at point guard last season and was a very steady player. She doesn't get fazed by pressure and makes great decisions with the ball. She is exceptionally quick and utilizes that quickness when breaking the press. She is a very good on-ball defender and difficult to get past when going to the basket. She fills her role perfectly as a pass-first point guard who can score when needed. Last season she averaged 5.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 3.3 steals per game. She shot 30.8% from the three-point line.

The WDA is going to be like the Wild-Wild-West. It is as good of a conference as I can remember. My prediction is that the state champion will come from the West. Below are my top two teams that will have the best chance of winning the conference.