Submitted Photo
Minot High senior Eve Knutson signs her letter of intent to play basketball at Williston State College beginning next year as her mother Nancy, father Dave and younger sister Ava, look on during a press conference at Magic City Campus on Friday, Oct. 31.
Minot High senior Eve Knutson has been playing basketball since she was in kindergarten, and while she couldn’t pinpoint exactly what it was about the sport that first piqued her interest, she does know that she will be playing at the college level next year.
Knutson signed her letter of intent to play for Williston State College and coach Bill Triplett beginning in 2026 during a press conference alongside her family at Magic City Campus on Friday, Oct. 31.
“It means a lot,” Knutson said. “I’ve been playing basketball my whole life. Everything has been leading up to this. “It was a relief to finally get it done. It feels great.”
The senior guard has been part of the varsity squad since being called up as an eighth-grader. The Majettes won the state title that year, and Knutson appeared in eight games. Since then, Knutson has suited up for 70 games, becoming a full-time starter her sophomore and junior campaigns.
As a sophomore, Knutson set a school record with a 41.9 3-point percentage, hitting 49 of 117 shots from behind the arc. She put up 182 points, grabbed 78 rebounds, handed out 37 assists, made 12 steals and blocked 10 shots to earn all-WDA honors. The Majettes finished undefeated in WDA play that year, winning both the regular season title and tournament championship.
Knutson again earned all-WDA accolades as a junior last season, posting career highs in points (189), rebounds (112), assists (75), steals (35) and blocks (17). For her career with the Majettes, Knutson has amassed 414 points while shooting 39 percent from the field and 37 percent from 3-point range, 208 rebounds, 121 assists, 50 steals and 29 blocks. The Majettes are 94-16 overall with Knutson on the roster, winning a state title, two WDA regular season titles and two WDA tournament championships.
“That’s probably her biggest asset on the floor is her athleticism,” Minot High coach Jason Schwarz said. “She’s pretty long and she’s as athletic of a kid as I’ve ever coached. There’s so many things that she can do and there are times where she is our best defender and we have to put her on and lock her on somebody. Just seeing the growth she’s made from that eighth-grade year as a kid, as a student, as an individual, as a basketball player, just the amount of the growth, it really helped her having that extra year as an eighth-grader and we should really see her blossom this year even moreso. Williston’s getting a good basketball player and they know that. I’m excited to see her make that leap.”
Knutson said she has enjoyed her years playing with the Majettes and is looking forward to one final year with her teammates.
“It’s been great,” Knutson said. “I’ve been playing since I was an eighth-grader and I’ve loved everything about it.”
It was only a month ago that Knutson was in the crowd, watching one of her teammates announce their college basketball plans. Leelee Bell announced to the country that she would be playing at Division I Oklahoma beginning next year. Bell and Knutson came up together through the Minot High system and have been varsity teammates since eighth grade. Despite most of the attention landing on Bell, Knutson has created her own identity through her 3-point shooting and her defense.
“She set a school record two years ago for her 3-point percentage,” Schwarz said. “She’s known around the state for the most part as one of the top 3-point shooters in the state and one of the best defenders as well. We know she can play at that level based on what she’s done in the past. She has created her own identity by doing some of those things defensively and offensively being the shooter that she is. We’re looking for her to expand her roles in other areas as well.”
Knutson has become one of Minot High’s top defenders, often drawing the toughest assignment. In 2024, she was tasked with matching up with Grand Forks Red River’s Jocelyn Schiller, who would be named Miss Basketball and go on to play for North Dakota State.
The decision to join the Tetons was an easy one for Knutson. Whereas other schools were contacting her about joining their track and field program, Williston State wanted her for her basketball skills. Knutson is a three-sport athlete at Minot High, playing volleyball, basketball and track and field, but will focus solely on basketball at Williston State.
Knutson said she’s been in contact with Triplett and Williston State since the summer and toured the campus in September. She said both the coaching staff and the welcoming feeling of the team and campus solidified her decision.
Triplett is a familiar name in the Minot area. He served as the Minot State softball coach and the assistant women’s basketball coach during his 10-year career with the Beavers from 2007-17. He was part of a staff that helped lead the women’s basketball program to two national basketball tournaments. Triplett is entering his sixth season with the Tetons and is 101-48 during his tenure.
Knutson will be one of five expected seniors on the roster for the Majettes this upcoming season and Schwarz is expecting big things from the future Teton.
“Be a huge leader on and off the floor,” Schwarz said. “You can never have too many leaders. We need multiple leaders and the best teams have multiple leaders and she’s been that, but we need her to be that this year even moreso.”