"Defensive Fire With a Shooter’s Touch"

Paige Determan

@Paigedeterman

5'7, Class of 2028

Sauk Centre HS, MN

Paige brings fierce energy to the court, and she loves turning a defensive stop into a chance for her team to score. She gets after the ball, looks for open teammates, and can use her strength to finish at the rim or rain in threes. That mix helped her average 12 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals per game last season.

Sauk Centre reached state in back-to-back years with Paige on the team for both trips, giving her two moments she is proud to have shared with her teammates. With one starter gone from last year’s high school team, she expects to take on a bigger role while helping the team stay competitive. She also plans to play with the Crossfire 2028 Lady P32 AAU team, where she wants to grow every part of her game.

Her biggest improvement has been in her mind. A missed shot or a turnover doesn't linger with Paige anymore; she gets back on defense and focuses on the next play. She's dealt with injuries and fatigue from pushing her body too hard, so she took time off when she needed it and began paying closer attention to what helps her stay healthy.

Paige has put serious work into extending her three-point range. She trains with coaches several times a week, does conditioning on her own, and spends plenty of time in the weight room. She wants to score more this season, but raising her assists and steals matters just as much to her because those plays help her teammates.

She believes her defense is the most underrated part of her game. Even when her shot is not falling, Paige brings the same intensity on that end and has held opponents to single digits in big games. Coaches can expect her to bring energy, compete for every possession, and handle the small jobs that help a team win. When somebody scores on her, she takes it personally and comes back ready to make the next matchup tougher.

I assess that Paige has a strong sense of what her team needs in the moment. She can bring calm when a possession gets messy, then lift the pace when there is a chance to attack. That awareness gives her game a spark that reaches beyond her own scoring.

Paige’s competitive edge shows in how she responds when she is challenged. She stays engaged, asks more of herself, and gives her team someone willing to fight through a hard stretch. As her role grows, that attitude can help her become a stronger voice on the court.