Class of 2020: Top Small Forward Prospects
The class of 2020 in Indiana has turned the corner and begun their final lap. They’ve played their last Spring, they’re entering the second half of their final July, and they’ll be beginning their Senior years very soon. As we…
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Continue ReadingThe class of 2020 in Indiana has turned the corner and begun their final lap. They’ve played their last Spring, they’re entering the second half of their final July, and they’ll be beginning their Senior years very soon. As we recently updated our player rankings, I wanted to take the time to touch on each position group one by one. This is, and has always been, a tremendous class of wing prospects. While quite a few are already committed, several nice prospects still remain available to colleges. This position group is the strength of the 2020 class. Here is a look at the Top-25 Small Forward prospects in Indiana’s Class of 2020.
Overall |
Prospect |
Ht. |
Pos. |
High School |
Grassroots (Commitment) |
1 |
Madison Layden |
6-1 |
W |
Northwestern |
Purdue |
2 |
Sydney Parrish |
6-2 |
W |
Hamilton Southeastern | Oregon |
4 |
Keegan Sullivan |
5-11 |
W |
South Bend St. Joseph | Sky Digg Flight UAA |
7 |
Jasmine McWilliams |
5-10 |
W |
Indy North Central | Northwestern |
14 |
Abby Stoddard |
6-0 |
F |
Crown Point | Indiana Elite Thunder |
18 |
Justis Gordon |
5-10 |
W |
Cathedral |
Nike Gym Rats Tan |
20 |
K’Ja Talley |
5-9 |
W |
Warren Central |
Lady Team Teague |
22 |
Alana Vinson |
5-10 |
W |
Roncalli | Indy Magic-Scott |
31 |
Kiersten Poor |
5-11 |
W |
Jeffersonville |
Team Indiana-Burton |
32 |
Jordan Reid |
5-10 |
F |
New Palestine |
Indiana Wesleyan |
33 |
Rylie Stephens |
5-11 |
W |
Triton Central | Indy Magic-Blanding |
36 |
Tamia Perryman |
5-8 |
W |
Fishers |
Nike Gym Rats Tan |
37 |
Tasi Kukobat |
5-10 |
W |
West Lafayette Harrison | Team Indiana-Burton |
41 |
Lauren Gunn |
5-9 |
F |
Lawrence North |
Valparaiso |
42 |
Kenna Hisle |
5-10 |
W |
Castle |
Indiana Elite S.W.I.S.H. |
51 |
Claire Knies |
5-9 |
F |
Jasper |
Bellarmine |
53 |
Tia Tolbert |
5-9 |
W |
Vincennes Rivet |
Sky Digg Flight UAA |
56 |
Mackenzie Stien |
5-10 |
W |
Brownsburg | Indianapolis |
58 |
Hannah Farrell |
5-9 |
F |
Greenfield-Central | Indy Magic-Scott |
65 |
Addie Gardner |
5-10 |
W |
Frankton | Midwest Finest |
73 |
Jazmen Watts |
5-8 |
W |
South Bend Riley | |
79 |
Alexus Mobley |
5-7 |
W |
Warren Central | Nike Gym Rats Crimson |
83 |
Kaiti Huber |
5-8 |
W |
Zionsville Community | Nike Gym Rats Crimson |
86 |
Katy Larson |
5-9 |
W |
Park Tudor | |
90 |
Faith Haggard |
5-8 |
W |
Gary Thea Bowman |
From the launch of Prep Girls Hoops Indiana last August, Madison Layden of Northwestern High School has been atop our 2020 list. This was a decision I didn’t take lightly, I even surveyed eight Division-I coaches before doing so, and they were split in their opinion and said they could see an argument in either direction. At the end of the day, though, I think Madison and Sydney Parrish of Hamilton Southeastern High School are 1A and 1B in this class, because both play at an incredibly high level, but they are a little different stylistically. Madison is the epitome of well-rounded, being able to handle, pass, and create for others as well as anyone in this class, but she has also shown the ability to shoot/score, rebound, and defend multiple positions very well. Sydney is one of the most talented and complete scorers to come through the state. Her ability to make different types of shots with range beyond the 3-point line, as well as her mid-range game and improved interior scoring, make her a multi-level threat each time she takes the floor. She has set numerous scoring records in the Nike EYBL Summer league. Both Madison and Sydney are an absolute pleasure to watch, and we should enjoy the one year we have left with these two talented, skillful, High-Major Division-I prospects.
South Bend Saint Joseph High School’s Keegan Sullivan has played at a high level all Spring & Summer. She is built strong and plays as physical as a power forward, but she handles the ball, sees the floor, and passes the ball like a point guard. Her unique makeup as a point forward is very intriguing to several college programs, because she can handle pressure skillfully, and at her size she can go by/through defenders and get into the heart of the defense to score at the basket. Her perimeter shot has also come a long way, and now she’s making contested jumpers from the perimeter. She can be a real offensive mismatch.
One wing who has really elevated her recruiting over the last month is Kiersten Poor of Jeffersonville High School. She came to our showcase in June a little banged up, but she performed as well as anyone at the event, drew a lot of small college interest because of it, and now she is playing with as much confidence as anyone and starting to attract more and more schools. She is a very nice athlete with wiry strength, she can handle it a little, shoot it at all levels, and she can make plays for others. She’s also fairly tough and plays physical when necessary, plus she is as versatile as they come in this class, both offensively and defensively.
Lauren Gunn of Lawrence North High School is sort of the forgotten one in this position group, because she injured her knee in the Class 4A State Finals and has missed the entire Spring and Summer because of it. Lauren is a long, fluid, and athletic forward who plays with a great deal of versatility. She can defend some guards, all wings, and some power forwards even, she does a nice job blocking shots from help-side, and offensively she can knock down open rhythm jumpers, she’s great in the mid-post, and she can even finish inside against bigger players. She verbally committed to Valparaiso a while ago.
Another player I don’t hear a lot of people discussing is Addie Gardner of Frankton High School. Addie spent her early high school years growing and getting stronger, and she was always more of a spot-up shooter when surrounded by the talented older groups at Frankton. But this past season she became a focal point, and since then she has really developed more of a complete game. She is still a dangerous perimeter shooter, but she has added more tools offensively when she attacks the basket, she is absorbing contact much better, and she’s creating and finding others as well. With her length and quickness, she does a really nice job defensively affecting passing lanes.
Feature image of Madison Layden of Northwestern High School. Image courtesy of the Indiana Elite Twitter account.