November Review: Class of 2020
Over the first month of the season, I spent a great deal of time evaluating teams and prospects along I-69 Northeast of Indianapolis. Below is a look at 11 members of the 2020 class who I thought stood out in…
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Continue ReadingOver the first month of the season, I spent a great deal of time evaluating teams and prospects along I-69 Northeast of Indianapolis. Below is a look at 11 members of the 2020 class who I thought stood out in the action I was able to take in. There will be follow-up articles with members of the 2021, 2022, and 2023 classes.
Breann Barger, 2020, 5-11 F, Norwell H.S.
I have watched Breann play since she was younger, and her progression has been really fun to see. She has an athletic frame with length, she moves well in most directions, and she plays with a good motor. When she was younger, she was much more limited to the interior, but now she is comfortable around the perimeter, she can attack the basket a little off the bounce, but she’s best attacking or hitting shots from the mid-post. Without a big history of playing travel ball, her exposure has been limited, but I think she could be a nice, versatile, small college “sleeper”.
Kassidy Dishman, 2020, 5-7 G, Delta H.S.
I have seen Kassidy since her Sophomore year, and she is by far and away playing much better and more completely than she ever has. She is a strong, physical, and skilled combo guard. For Delta, Kassidy is the primary ball-handler, she operates their offense efficiently, but she is also hitting shots from the perimeter more consistently and doing a nice job of getting to the basket and drawing free throw opportunities. If she could do anything better, it would be to defend the ball a bit better, as she needs to be more explosive. But she is a really nice prospect many small colleges have likely never even heard of.
RaShaya Kyle, 2020, 6-6 C, Marion H.S.
When motivated, RaShaya is not only one of the best prospects in the state, but also in the country. So far this season, she has been very motivated and posted 30-point games, triple-doubles, etc. She has the skill to handle the ball in transition, she has the skill to knock down outside jumpers, but this season I see her playing more in the mid-post, aggressively attacking the basket off the bounce, and going straight to the low-block and dominating. She is using her physical traits to overwhelm opponents much more than in past seasons. RaShaya has signed to attend and play at Purdue University next season.
Erin Lehner, 2020, 5-7 W, Southwood H.S.
Erin has been a integral part of Southwood’s team the past two seasons, and she’s one of their best players again this season. She has good length, some athleticism, and she plays with versatility. At times she acts as a point forward and primary ball-handler, plus she can slash to the basket to get easy scores. Her perimeter shot has been more consistent this year, but that part of her game can continue to improve to make her a dual-threat offensively. I also like her potential to become a tough defensive matchup.
Izabella Mitchell, 2020, 5-9 W, Wes-Del H.S.
Izzy is a solidly built wing who has been a Varsity regular for most of her career. Towards the end of the 2018-2019 season, Izzy suffered an ACL injury, but she is back playing already. She still isn’t quite as explosive as she was a year ago, but she should get there in time. She has a solid handle and plays a point forward position for Wes-Del, she can shoot it a little from outside, and she’s a physical rebounder from the perimeter. I really like a lot of what she does for the small college level, and I think she could eventually be a versatile, impactful wing at the next level.
Makenna Pace, 2020, 5-5 G, Southwood H.S.
Makenna is another Southwood perimeter player who has been vital to their lineup since she got to high school. She has a solid frame, she’s a decent athlete, though she could stand to be a bit more explosive, but she has been their best threat to shoot/score the ball. She moves very well without the basketball and does a nice job of finding space. She has become a real threat who can knock down rhythm jumpers with consistency, and she’s doing more off the dribble this season. At her size, if she could ever show the ability to be more of a traditional point guard full-time, I think it would help her recruiting.
Gracie Phillips, 2020, 5-3 G, Tipton H.S.
Gracie is one of the few Varsity regulars who returns from the Blue Devils strong 2018-2019 team. Despite her size, she is better off the ball. She can handle it and play point, but her ability to move without the basketball, coupled with her consistency knocking down outside jumpers, make her a real threat alongside the athletic younger wings Tipton possesses. Size will be an issue with her recruitment, but she is tough-nosed, somewhat feisty, and really understands her role and how to play. I think she could be an asset at the small college level as a “glue” kid.
Marissa Quiroz, 2020, 5-11 F/C, Muncie Central H.S.
Marissa is back, following a 2018-2019 knee injury that kept her out all season. She is a solidly built, strong front-liner, but she also possesses good skill around the perimeter. She handles it reasonably well for her size, she has good instincts and is a nice passer, plus she can knock down the occasional perimeter jumper, though her shot selection could definitely improve. I think by the end of the season, once she fully returns to herself, she could be a very recruitable, small college, face-up ‘5’ for the next level.
Abby Shaw, 2020, 5-6 W, Oak Hill H.S.
Oak Hill was the 2019 Class 2A State Champion, but they also graduated a number of statistical performers who are now playing at the next level. Minus those losses, Abby has seen her role increase a great deal, and she has become their #2 option. She has a solid, wiry strong frame, she’s a decent athlete with a great motor, but she’s also an accurate shooter who I think can help provide a 3-point presence to a small college one year from now. She could stand to be a bit more versatile, but her ability to make shots could be coveted by the right coach.
Ellie Vermillion, 2020, 5-5 PG, Marion H.S.
A year ago when I saw Ellie, I was intrigued by her overall game. This season, I am very impressed with how far she has come in such a short time. She is strong, physical, and tough-nosed as a point guard. She shows good quickness, solid speed, but she also understands how to change speeds at the right time. Her perimeter stroke is more accurate than ever, and you must respect her from the moment she crosses into her team’s side of half-court. She has also worked on speeding up her release and shooting an athletic, true jump-shot. She has signed with Indiana Wesleyan University, and I think they might have found themselves a real “sleeper”.
Taylor Westgate, 2020, 6-1 F/C, Oak Hill H.S.
Taylor is a player in the 2020 class who I thought was under-recruited throughout the entire recruiting process. I think she has found a great location/fit for herself after signing with Taylor University, and they have likely gotten a steal in her. She has good size, strength, and she plays with physicality. There aren’t many front-liners in Indiana who rim-run end to end like she does. In the past for Oak Hill, she has fulfilled a vital role as a rebounder, defender, and post player. This season, minus several 2019 graduations, she has taken on a much bigger role and is showing her all-around skill with regards to handling the ball away from the basket, knocking down jump-shots, and allowing to offense to flow through her.
Feature image is of RaShaya Kyle of Marion High School.