Ndjakalenga Mwenentanda Gatorade 2021 - 2022: Player of the Year Girls Basketball

“Ndjakalenga is obviously a tremendous player, but what’s more impressive to me is her as a leader. She sees needs for her team and fills them however she can at both ends of the floor. She’s become extremely versatile and has added something to her game each year on the offensive end—making her a better shooter this year—which makes her a hard matchup for teams”

Mike Zerr

Head Coach - head coach of Brandon Valley High

Athletic Excellence

The 6-foot-2 senior guard and forward had led the Warriors to an 19-1 record and a berth in the Class AA state tournament at the time of her selection. Mwenentanda averaged 18 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.4 assists through 19 games. A McDonald’s All-American nominee, she is ranked as the nation’s No. 34 recruit in the Class of 2022 by HoopGurlz.

Academic Achievement

Mwenentanda has maintained a weighted 3.97 GPA in the classroom. She has signed a national letter of intent to play basketball on scholarship at the University of Texas this fall.

Exemplary Character

Mwenentanda has volunteered at the Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center in Sioux Falls. She has also donated her time at Bishop Dudley House, where she serves meals and packs lunches for the homeless.

Girls Basketball - South Dakota