Prairie to the Paint: ND’s Pipeline to College Basketball

In a state where winter gyms echo with community pride and high school basketball still feels personal, North Dakota has quietly built one of the most efficient pipelines to college hoops in the Upper Midwest. From Class B gymnasiums tucked along the prairie to the packed arenas of Class AA programs in Fargo, Bismarck, and Minot, a new generation of athletes is showing that big dreams don't need a big-city zip code.

Across every level of the college game — from Division I's bright lights to the hardworking rosters of Division II, Division III, and the NAIA — North Dakota high school standouts are making their mark. They've traded in hometown colors for college jerseys, but their roots still run deep in the Dakota soil that shaped their fundamentals, discipline, and grit.

The 2025–26 season showcases the widest spread yet of former North Dakota prep talent playing college basketball. Some are battling Power 4 competition on national television; others are key contributors in small-town college gyms that mirror the ones they grew up in. But collectively, they tell one story — of a state whose basketball tradition continues to punch above its population.

North Dakota's Division I Presence Grows Stronger

From the Red River Valley to the Missouri River corridor, a remarkable wave of North Dakota talent will take the floor for Division I programs this winter — a sign that the state's basketball reputation continues to rise beyond its borders. The University of North Dakota anchors that movement, with a core of in-state products such as Ryan Erikson, Anthony Doppler, Zach Kraft, Karson Ouse, and Wylee Delorme all wearing the green and white. They'll give the Fighting Hawks one of the most homegrown rosters in the Summit League, a point of pride for fans who've watched those players grow through the state tournament ranks.

Beyond Grand Forks, the reach of North Dakota prep basketball now stretches deep into major-conference territory. Former Jamestown standout Boden Skunberg and Fargo Davies guard Mason Klabo will share a Missouri Valley backcourt at Illinois State, while Enderlin twins Joe and Gus Hurlburt continue their D1 journeys at Davidson and Northwestern. Bismarck's Treysen Eaglestaff heads into Big 12 play at West Virginia, and former West Fargo Sheyenne forward Tommy Ahneman — now at Cretin-Derham Hall — joins Notre Dame in the ACC. Collectively, these players reflect both the widening map and the elevated ceiling for North Dakota basketball: small-school fundamentals meeting big-stage opportunity.

Division II: North Dakota's Foundation of Collegiate Hoops

If Division I is where North Dakota's brightest lights shine, Division II is where the state's basketball roots truly anchor. Across the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, familiar names from Class A and Class B gyms fill rosters and starting lineups, most notably at Minot State and the University of Mary. Minot State's roster alone reads like an All-State roll call — Grayson Schaeffer, Darik Dissette, Trey Brandt, Carson Yale, Parker Falcon, Ramsey Walz, and Drew Kempel all represent the next generation of Magic City and western-region talent. Just down Highway 83, the University of Mary continues the trend, suiting up Ryan Larson, Andre Austin, Parker Brodina, Alex Dvorak, and Wyatt Westin — five more examples of North Dakota's ability to feed quality athletes into one of the country's toughest DII leagues.

The footprint stretches well beyond Bismarck and Minot. Fargo Davies graduate Owen Hektner headlines a strong in-state contingent at the University of Jamestown, joined by Turo Moni, Landon Moser, Trey Skoglund, and Garrett Sullivan. Augustana features Conner Kraft of Fargo Shanley and Jacob Brandt of Hillsboro-Central Valley, while Brady Westphal (West Fargo Horace) laces up for Minnesota-Crookston, Isaiah Schafter (Bismarck Century) contributes at Southwest Minnesota State, and Presley Peraza (Kindred) represents the state out west at Colorado Christian in the RMAC. Together they form the backbone of North Dakota's college basketball presence — athletes who carry their high-school rivalries into new colors while proving that the state's talent depth runs far past its borders.

Division III and NAIA: The Heartbeat of North Dakota Hoops

Beyond the bright lights of Division I and the high-intensity grind of the Northern Sun, North Dakota's basketball soul thrives in the small-college ranks. The state's NAIA and Division III programs have long served as extensions of local high-school rivalries — gyms that feel familiar, communities that rally around their own, and players who embody the stay-and-compete mentality. Dickinson State, Bismarck State, Valley City State, and Mayville State continue to stock their rosters with homegrown athletes who could easily be recognized by fans from Minot to Minto. The Blue Hawks of Dickinson State once again feature a core of western-region products — Britton Cranston, Aric Winczewski, Aidan O'Brien, Jake Shobe, and Weston Zacher — while Bismarck State leans heavily on in-state talent such as William Ware, Alex Proctor, and a host of other familiar Class A and B standouts.

Further east, Valley City State and Mayville State remain powerhouses of local opportunity. Valley City's lineup includes Nick Carlson, Sam Kobbervig, and Jayger Meschke — all players who helped shape their prep programs into contenders — while Mayville's roster stretches across the state with contributors like Riley Robinson, Trevor Schmidt, and Gavin Krogstad. Bismarck State College, continues to be a proving ground for local talent. This winter, the Mystics' roster is stacked with North Dakota standouts including William Ware (Bismarck Century), Alex Proctor (Fargo Davies), David Schilling (Fargo North), and Atticus Wilkinson (Shiloh Christian), alongside Belcourt products Tristin and Houston Davis. For many of these players, the JUCO route offers a critical bridge — a place to grow physically, academically, and competitively before making the leap to higher levels of college basketball.

Even beyond North Dakota's borders, the pipeline continues: Ian Motschenbacher (Morningside), Mike Siffoi (Dakota Wesleyan), and several MIAC standouts at Concordia and Hamline all represent the same tradition of in-state development leading to long collegiate careers. Together, these players form the enduring heartbeat of North Dakota basketball — proving that pride, loyalty, and a love for the game matter just as much as the division printed on the schedule.

NJCAA and NCCAA: Building Blocks and Fresh Starts

At the junior college and small-faith levels, opportunity and development go hand in hand — and North Dakota's basketball presence remains strong here too.

Elsewhere, the state's basketball reach extends into smaller national circuits like the NCCAA and other affiliated leagues, where the focus often blends faith-based education with athletic ambition. Whether developing at the junior college level or pursuing a mission-driven experience at NCCAA schools, these players form the grassroots core of the state's broader basketball landscape — young men who keep their dreams alive through persistence, community, and a deep love for the game.

A Statewide Basketball Legacy Still Growing

Taken together, the names on this list tell a story far larger than any single program or player. Across Division I, II, III, NAIA, NJCAA, and NCCAA teams, more than 100 North Dakota high school graduates will suit up for college basketball programs this winter — a remarkable number for one of the nation's smallest states. From Power Five arenas to intimate campus gyms, they represent every corner of the state: from Devils Lake to Dickinson, Fargo to Minot, Bismarck to Beach. Each of them carries with them the competitive fire forged in state tournaments, long road trips, and community gyms where the game still feels personal.

This collective wave of talent underscores how deeply basketball is woven into North Dakota's fabric. The state's coaches, youth programs, and small-town fans have built an environment where hard work and fundamentals matter as much as flash and exposure — and the results are showing at every level of the college game. Whether they're chasing conference titles in the Summit League, carving out roles in the Northern Sun, or keeping the spirit of competition alive in the NAIA and junior college ranks, these players share one unifying trait: they're proof that great basketball doesn't need a big population, just a big commitment. And with more than a hundred North Dakota products competing this season, that commitment has never been stronger.