1172: From the Heartland to the Spotlight: Putting North Dakota Basketball on the Map with Watford City High School PG Sears Wiredu
Sears Wiredu covers High School Hoops in this Marketer of the Day episode. Sears Wiredu explains how he went from limited North Dakota exposure to a Made Hoops East High School Academy invite and an all-star spot. He credits a June camp where he played well, met coaches, and got on their radar. About a month later, a Made Hoops director texted him to compete at the next academy. He averaged 17 points, leaned into "iron sharpens iron," and absorbed lessons from high-level guards. Between games he reviewed what worked, especially pace, pressure, and decision-making. A Villanova assistant coach told him he would be watching, while Wiredu keeps early offers quiet and gears up for a breakout junior season with a stacked roster.
Small-town athletes often put in extra effort to gain the recognition they deserve from top college programs. With persistence, determination, and natural talent, they rise to become some of the nation's top high school prospects. Their dedication opens doors to multiple offers from prestigious schools, setting them on a promising path toward basketball success and a bright future.
Sears Wiredu is a rising basketball star hailing from Watford City, North Dakota. Despite the challenges of growing up in a basketball-sparse region, Sears has proven his mettle on the national stage, showcasing his skills at the prestigious Made Hoops East High School Academy. Today, Sears discussed his experience at the Made Hoops event, where he averaged 17 points and made the all-star team, competing against top prospects from across the country. He also touched on the process of getting invited to the event, the conversations he's had with college coaches, and his excitement for the upcoming junior season with his talented Watford City High School team. Stay tuned!
Quotes
“The experience was very good and fun. There were a lot of competitors out there; they played hard, worked hard, and accomplished a lot. It was just a fun experience.” - Sears Wiredu
"They're athletes, they're very good. The competition was solid—it was iron sharpening iron. Everyone was just getting better." - Sears Wiredu
“I'm still trying to find the right fit for me. I'm not really rushing into it, but yeah, I'm still looking for the right team right now.” - Sears Wiredu
Takeaways
00:27 Sears' experience at the Made Hoops East High School Academy was very positive, with the event providing a high level of competition that helped him improve his game.
02:04 Sears has been noticed by coaches and has received offers from several schools, though he is keeping the details private for now.
03:08 Sears is excited for his junior season, with a strong team around him that he believes has a good chance of performing well.
03:41 Sears is still in the process of deciding which AAU team he will play for this year, as he is looking for the right fit.
03:59 Sears is grateful for the opportunity to be featured on the podcast and is appreciative of the support he has received.
Resources
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Transcript
Download transcript (.txt)Hey, today we got Sears Wiredu with us, the PG for Watford City High School class of 2026, so Sears, how are you doing today?
I'm doing good. I'm doing good. Thank you. Thankyou.
Glad to have you. Glad to hear it. So you recently got invited to play at the made hoops East High School Academy. So how was that experience for you? And what was the surrounding like?
The experience it was, it was very good fun. You know, lot of dogs out there, you know, they played hard, they worked hard to accomplish very good and, you know, it was just a fun experience
Wonderful. So what was the process of you getting invited to a highly competitive event with you being in state like North Dakota, where I hear it's hard to get recognition?
Um, I originally went to a camp back in, I'll say, June, and I did really well. You know, I have gotten in contact with a lot of coaches and stuff, and so I kind of got on like their radar. And I'll say, maybe a month ago, one of the main hoops directors texted me and they said that they wanted me to come to the next event. And, yeah,
amazing. Well, you averaged 17 at the event, and you made the all star team playing against top prospects in the country, such as jermel Thomas, Tyler, Sutton, Anthony Brown and many more. How was that like for you?
Um, like I said, it was just a very good experience. Uh, they're dogs, you know, they're very good. The Comp was good. It was just iron, sharpen iron, you know. You know, you know, everybody's just getting better. And it was just good to have players around me that, you know, learn stuff from, and just just see how it was like. So, yeah, it was fun. It's good.
So I have been told by a couple sources, you have been offered to play at a couple schools. I won't say names, because I was told you want to keep it on the low for now. But what has that been like for you?
It's been good. I haven't really told nobody, but yeah, I'm just still trying to kind of make it like a decision on what I'm gonna do. But yeah, yeah, sources are right.
Okay. Well, I have also been told that after one of your games during the event, Villanova was assistant coach, had a talk with you. What was said, if you don't mind me asking,
um, he was just asking where I was from, and, um, he was just saying how he was going to keep an eye on me. He just, like, the the way I played my game. And it was, it was just a little conversation, but he basically said he was going to, like be watching me from, you know, over there? Yeah, he was gonna keep his eye on me.
So Sears, are you originally from North Dakota?
No, I'm from Virginia, Alexandra. I was there until, I'll say I was in fourth grade, and then I moved up to North Dakota, and I've been here since,
okay, are you excited for your junior season? I'm hearing this is going to be a breakout season for you.
Yes, I'm very excited. Got a stack team. I feel like we're going to do really good this year. And, you know, I feel like my coach, my coach, definitely deserves a coach gunk. And got a lot of good players around me for the season. Landon, better Xavier, mcgorman, Dayton, Arnold, Demetrius, Brantley, so Carter, bright Bob, you know, just, just good players all around me. So, yeah, I'm looking forward to
that. Sounds exciting. Well, have you decided on what AAU team you will be playing for this year?
Oh no, I'm still looking currently, just trying to find a good pick for me. I'm not really like rushing into it, but yeah, I'm just still kind of looking for that right now.
All right, wonderful. Well, that gets us to the end of the questions, do you have any final words or thoughts to add at the end here?
No, thank you for having me. I really appreciate it.
Appreciate you too. That's all I have for you today. I hope to stay in contact with you. I can't wait to watch you play this year, and I wish you the best. Thanks for being on the podcast. Thank you for tuning in to the marketer of the day podcast. Marketer of the day is managed by d f y podcast. Claim your 12 podcast boosters at d f y podcast.com/free you. Transcribed by https://otter.ai
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