Six Takeaways From Ball State
June is that time of year where high school teams participate in practices, leagues, and shootouts. Thursday and Friday of this week was the annual Ball State University shootout. I spent the second half of Thursday and the first half…
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Continue ReadingJune is that time of year where high school teams participate in practices, leagues, and shootouts. Thursday and Friday of this week was the annual Ball State University shootout. I spent the second half of Thursday and the first half of Friday sitting in John E. Worthen Arena watching several quality teams compete against each. While I in no way, shape, or form saw every team (or every prospect) compete at the event, below are six teams/prospects that caught my eye for one reason or another.
Knox High School – It’s not often that smaller high schools graduate one of the better players in the program’s history and look to immediately maintain that level of success, but Knox has that chance this year. Coming off of back-to-back 21-win seasons, the Redskins are primed to put together another good year in 2019-2020. While they may not have anyone average huge numbers, they do have some really nice players/prospects, and I think they’ll show a lot more balance, with their focus turning to the paint. Remi Jordan (2021) is as sound as they come in the mid-post and on the interior, and the young post will likely turn into the de facto leader this time around. But Knox also has versatile forward Megan Bolen (2022) and wiry strong post Brianna Korcha (2022) to help form an imposing frontline. In the backcourt, I thought incoming Freshman Riley Messer (2023) did a really nice job taking care of the basketball and picking her spots to score. She’ll need to get stronger, but she is a long, fluid athlete. Add in veteran wings Felicity Olejniczak (2021) and Preston Minix (2021), and Knox will get the next two seasons with those six players all in the lineup. Additionally, they welcome back Makayla Richie (2020), a solid shooter who missed nearly all of last season with an injury.
Newark High School (Ohio) – Having posted a 77-7 record over the last three seasons, it’s no real shock that Newark was really good both days at this event. They look to again eclipse the 20-win plateau in 2019-2020, and they are set up for a few years with good young talent. Plus, they seem to make every single open jumper they take. Emma Shumate (2021) is the most talented prospect of the bunch, and the versatile 6-0 wing had stretches where she just scored at will. She is a good perimeter shooter, she can handle it and initiate the offense, and she is willing to play physical and gritty inside. She still needs a little strength, but she’s a tough kid who can play at all three levels. I also really liked Tamia Kendrick (2020). The little guard is strong for her size, she’s extremely athletic, she finishes through contact, and there wasn’t a better on-ball defender I saw either day at the event. She does a lot of the little things to win. Gwen Stare (2021) is a solid, fundamental combo guard, Madyson Stottsberry (2021) is a long and fluid perimeter shooter with some grit, and Toyonna Childress (2021) is a wiry strong post to pair with Shumate up front. They also have a couple of nice incoming Freshmen who should see some opportunity this season.
Northwestern High School – As long as Core Junior All-Stars Madison Layden (2020) and Kendall Bostic (2020) are in uniform for the Tigers, Northwestern has a chance to beat anyone, regardless of entering Class 4A this coming season. Both of them look leaner, stronger, and they stand out from just about everyone else in the school team environment. But as was the case a year ago, a majority of their supporting cast will be new this time around. One staple who has consistently helped the Tigers is guard Klair Merrell (2020). The Indiana Wesleyan commit has always been a favorite of mine to watch, because she plays with a quiet toughness, good athleticism, and a balanced skillset. One newcomer who is sure to draw college attention is Madison’s younger sister, McKenna Layden (2023). McKenna sort of has this bouncy, happy-go-lucky, baby deer look right now, but in a very good way. Her growth potential, both physically and skillfully, project a really high ceiling for her. She is thin right now, but she plays very physical and will throw herself in harm’s way for a loose ball or rebound, plus she’s extremely long. She’s skilled around the perimeter and in the mid-post, and as she gets stronger, her productivity will only become that much more consistent. I also think Leah Carter (2022) is a solid front-liner who is on the verge of “turning the corner”. She has a wiry strong frame at about 6-0, and she plays with a good motor. It’s just a matter of time before she is a consistent contributor.
Tyra Ford, 2021, 5-8 W, Anderson H.S. – Tyra is a really nice athlete with a good motor. When she got to high school, she was more of an interior player who was one of the better pound-for-pound rebounders in the state. Now, she’s doing so much more off the bounce, plus her perimeter jumper is starting to come around and be consistent. If she can continue this upward trend skillfully, look for her college interest to really grow over the next year or so.
Lillian Mast, 2021, 5-6 G, West Noble H.S. – I saw Lillian briefly in the Spring, so I was glad I got to see her with her high school team. She has a nonstop motor, she’s wiry strong, physical as a guard, and she is always on attack. She is a solid North/South athlete, tough to stop when she gets a head of steam to the basket, and she rebounds her position very well. I have never really seen her shoot a lot of jumpers, and she could be a little quicker laterally, but she is a nice all-around basketball player with some upside.
Ashlynn Shade, 2023, 5-8 G, Noblesville H.S. – Ashlynn is one of Indiana’s most talented incoming Freshmen, so I was curious to see how she would fit in with her high school team. They had a really tough matchup versus the aforementioned Newark (OH) squad, but she definitely looked like one of the better players on the floor. She is strong for her age, a really nice athlete in all directions, and she was just playing at a different pace and attempting different types of shots than most of the other girls in the game. As she begins to settle into her team’s offense and continues to adapt to the size and speed of a varsity game, I think she’ll begin to have some big moments for the Millers this season.
Header photo courtesy of the ballstatedaily.com.