Still Sleeping In 2020
Now that the Spring session of the grassroots season is in the books, I wanted to go back and highlight a few girls who I feel like are still somewhat under-the-radar as far as their recruiting and statewide recognition go. …
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Continue ReadingNow that the Spring session of the grassroots season is in the books, I wanted to go back and highlight a few girls who I feel like are still somewhat under-the-radar as far as their recruiting and statewide recognition go. Below are five such girls in Indiana’s Class of 2020 who I feel are really nice basketball players, but maybe they don’t quite get the attention they should from either colleges, the media, or both.
Hannah Farrell, 2020, 5-9 F, Greenfield-Central H.S.
Hannah has always been a tremendously productive high school player, with this past season being her strongest, averaging 19.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.4 steals, and 3.0 assists per game. She’s also shooting it a lot more comfortably outside (45 made 3’s this season), but her shooting percentages could still improve across the board. But what I like most about her, is she’s one of the toughest, most physical wings you’re going to find, she can defend bigger guards, wings, and forwards, and she plays with one of the best motors you’ll see as well. However, she has dealt all too often with the injury bug, and this Spring she was out until mid-May, so I don’t feel like many colleges have seen her at 100% and looking like herself. Once they do, I think her interest will take off from there.
Caroline Herman, 2020, 5-10 W, Vincennes Rivet H.S.
Unless you followed Rivet or watched the State Finals closely this year, I’m guessing you are terribly unfamiliar with Caroline. She was actually Rivet’s leading scorer and rebounder in the State Championship game, and she stood out to me because she really looked comfortable in that environment. She is very long, fluid, and somewhat smooth. I wouldn’t exactly call her a point forward, but she can handle the ball a little and find teammates. She has a nice-looking jumper, and she buried a couple of long 2-point jumpers in that game, but she also glided to the rim off the dribble a couple of times as well. I think she could be a really nice college player, especially once she adds a little bit of strength, but I don’t know that she’ll get much exposure being from Southwest Indiana and not playing grassroots basketball.
Lauren Morris, 2020, 5-4 PG, Hamilton Southeastern H.S.
There’s just something about Lauren’s game that I really like, and I think she’s a hidden gem in a talented high school program. She has broad shoulders, wiry strength, she’s quick/fast, and she’s actually quite long for her stature. She plays with a real quiet toughness about her, and she always plays with a good motor. She is a facilitator first and foremost, and I almost think she’s a little too unselfish at times. She has a really nice one and two-dribble pull-up jumper, she can slice through the lane and collapse a defense, and she has good court vision. I also like her ability and willingness to defend at a high level. I think she’ll make a college coach really happy and will have a really nice college career.
Bayleigh Runner, 2020, 5-7 PG, Hamilton Heights H.S.
It’s a little surprising Bayleigh doesn’t have more college interest at this point in time, because she plays for a very competitive high school team, she has played Varsity all three years, and she’s closing in on 1000 points. She is a long, somewhat slender, but North/South fast athlete. Despite being a little thin, she attacks contact and doesn’t hide from it, and she seems like a fairly tough-nosed kid. She has a solid handle, she’s a good perimeter shooter with some range, but I still think it’s her first step that really gets defenders in trouble. She shoots a lot of free throws because she gets them on her hip and drives right through them. I do also think she has the length and physical talent to become an elite defender.
K’Ja Talley, 2020, 5-9 W, Warren Central H.S.
I have really enjoyed watching K’Ja since I saw her in the first game of her Sophomore season. She is an extremely long, fluid, and bouncy kid who plays with a tremendous motor. She moves around the floor effortlessly, and she’s so smooth and athletic that she almost plays too fast because she outruns even her own teammates. She is always engaged/focused, and she plays just as hard, if not harder, at the defensive end of the floor. She is great and instinctive in traps, good 1-on-1 guarding the ball, and I think she has some defensive versatility to where she might be able to defend some point guards as well. She will need to continue developing a perimeter shot to keep defenses honest, but otherwise she’s just about everything you want in a wing prospect.