First Look: 17U
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This week Central Indiana has played host to a number of grassroots events. For me, I attended the USJN Premier Showcase at Finch Creek in Noblesville, Indiana, and at the Pacers Athletic Complex in Westfield, Indiana, July 5 & 6,…
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Continue ReadingThis week Central Indiana has played host to a number of grassroots events. For me, I attended the USJN Premier Showcase at Finch Creek in Noblesville, Indiana, and at the Pacers Athletic Complex in Westfield, Indiana, July 5 & 6, and I attended the Tournament of Champions Session #1 at the Indianapolis Convention Center on July 7. Considering I spent a lot of time in recent articles highlighting teams I was seeing for the first time, I wanted to dedicate this article to pointing out the 17U teams I saw for the first time this week at those two great events.
Indiana Elite Phoenix – Wolfe
This group is new as of June, and it’s the core group from the original Indiana Elite/Team Indiana squad, plus some added members to give them a full bench. I was really impressed with the play of 5-5 point guard
Kyra Baker
Kyra
Baker
5'5" | PG
Franklin Community | 2021
State
IN
(2021) of Franklin Community. Now that she’s fully healthy, she looks quicker, faster, and much feistier at both ends of the floor. She’s strong for her size, tough-nosed, and she has good all-around court sense and finds open teammates. She can also knock down open rhythm jumpers or get to the basket. 6-2 post
Lauren Carie
Lauren
Carie
6'2" | C
Vincennes Rivet | 2021
State
IN
(2021) of Vincennes Rivet has drawn her share of small college interest because of her height and mobility. She has an athletic frame, good length, and she’s certainly a defensive presence in the paint. She also has the skill to step up into the mid-post and knock down 15-footers consistently. Another Lauren, 5-11 forward
Lauren Sandrock
Lauren
Sandrock
5'11" | PF
Franklin Community | 2021
State
IN
(2021) of Franklin Community, has always intrigued me. She is long, fluidly athletic, and has good inside-out skill. She will still need to get stronger, but she has good next-level upside. I also think 5-9 wing
Irye Gomez
Irye
Gomez
5'9" | SG
Bedford North Lawrence | 2021
State
IN
(2021) of Bedford North Lawrence is somewhat underrecruited. She is a long and athletic slasher who can get to the rim and finish, she can initiate offense at times, plus she’s a versatile defender who can play on or off the ball. This group is a solid collection of some really nice small college prospects.
Indiana Elite Platinum – Eldredge
Based on what I’ve seen so far the last three weeks, this is probably the best true team and the best collection of talent in 17U this season from Indiana. When I saw them on Tuesday, I was really impressed with the effort of 6-3 forward
Meg Newman
Meg
Newman
6'3" | PF
North Central (Indianapolis) | 2021
State
#84
Nation
IN
(2021) of Indianapolis North Central. The Arizona State University commit was fully engaged at both ends of the floor, grabbing rebounds, knocking down shots, finishing at the basket, and finding open teammates. When she plays like this, it’s no wonder she earned all of the high-major offers she did. It was also great getting to see a healthy
Ally Becki
Ally
Becki
5'8" | PG
Brownsburg | 2021
State
IN
(2021) of Brownsburg on the floor again. The 5-8 Ball State University commit is an athletic point guard prospect who just “gets it”. She is tough-nosed, feisty, and energetic. She has great court vision but also possesses the ability to score the ball at all three levels consistently. I thought “youngsters”
Lilly Stoddard
Lilly
Stoddard
6'4" | PF
Crown Point | 2022
State
#73
Nation
IN
(2022) of Crown Point and
Alyssa Crockett
Alyssa
Crockett
6'3" | SF
Westfield | 2022
State
#62
Nation
IN
(2022) of Westfield did some nice things as well. Stoddard, a 6-4 power forward, runs like a deer, she plays with good energy, and she shows a nice combination of skill away from the basket plus the willingness to be physical inside. Crockett, a 6-2 combo forward, has the size and strength to play in the mid-post or on the block, but she’s so skilled with the ball around the perimeter and is a tough matchup for most opponents. Finally, 5-6 guard
Jessica Castor
Jessica
Castor
5'6" | CG
Westfield | 2021
State
IN
(2021) of Westfield is a nice combo guard who does a little of everything well. She always competes, she’ll defend hard, plus she is a good perimeter shooter when she is in rhythm.
Indiana Elite S.W.I.S.H. – Kessler
The primary program out of Evansville over the years, this S.W.I.S.H. team is a sound group of good ballplayers who just understand how to play. This was the best I’ve seen 6-0 post
Mariah Dickerson
Mariah
Dickerson
6'0" | C
Evansville Mater Dei | 2021
State
IN
(2021) of Evansville Mater Dei play since she was injured a couple of years ago. She looked strong, active, and fairly athletic. She possesses great hands, good footwork, and she has nice touch to about 15-feet. This was my first time seeing 5-11 power forward
Hope Lensing
Hope
Lensing
5'11" | PF
Evansville Memorial | 2021
State
IN
(2021) of Evansville Memorial. She has really good length, wiry strength, and she’s a nice inside-out face-up ‘4’. She is probably best suited in the mid-post, but she is comfortable around the perimeter as well. High school teammate
Peyton Murphy
Peyton
Murphy
5'9" | SF
Evansville Memorial | 2021
State
IN
(2021) also looked solid. The 5-9 forward is another one who can knock down open rhythm jumpers from the perimeter, but she can also use her strength and motor in the mid-post to outplay undersized defenders. 5-5 combo guard
Hannah Sisk
Hannah
Sisk
5'5" | CG
Princeton Community | 2021
State
IN
(2021) of Princeton Community is someone who I think flies way under the radar. She is quick/fast, extremely feisty, and she plays with a lot of swagger. She has a lot of “shake” to her game, she can create offense off the bounce, and she knows how to score the ball. If she can prove to be an effective facilitator who happens to score instead of just a shooter/scorer, I think it would benefit her recruiting a great deal, but she is a nice little ballplayer regardless.
Indiana Elite Thunder – Marlin
The flagship team for Indiana Elite, they had several really nice performances out of different individuals. I don’t know what it is about July, but I’m not sure
Madelyn Bischoff
Madelyn
Bischoff
5'10" | SG
Roncalli | 2021
State
IN
(2021) of Roncalli ever misses a shot during this month. The 5-10 guard is a deft shooter who knows how to find space without the ball. She is extremely long, fluid, and somewhat smooth, plus she can take on ball-handling duties when necessary. I felt like 5-10 wing
Jaelynne Murray
Jaelynne
Murray
5'11" | SF
Pike | 2022
State
IN
(2022) of Pike also had some big moments, especially against the tough Philly Belles EYBL squad. Jaelynne is a tremendous athlete with great length, and she showed off a much improved perimeter shot all week. She can play a point forward type of role as well, when she isn’t needed to score the ball. 5-7 point guard
Jessica Carrothers
Jessica
Carrothers
5'7" | CG
Crown Point | 2022
State
IN
(2022) of Crown Point maintained her aggressiveness to the rim. She does a tremendous job of earning free throw opportunities, whether it’s at CPHS or during the Summer months. She was solid with the ball, and she played with the typical motor we’ve come to expect out of her. I also thought 6-1 power forward
Alex Richard
Alex
Richard
6'1" | PF
Avon | 2021
State
IN
(2021) of Avon did some really nice things against top-tier competition. The Butler University commit was strong and physical inside, she rebounded it well, and she scored at the basket through defenders. Her toughness and attitude will certainly be a welcomed addition for the Bulldogs.
Indiana Flight South – Wilson
This Flight team is always enjoyable to watch, because they’re well-coached, they play extremely hard, and they just understand how to play. I felt like 5-9 wing
Jaclyn Emly
Jaclyn
Emly
5'10" | SF
Silver Creek | 2021
State
IN
(2021) of Silver Creek played about as well as I’ve seen her. She has gotten stronger, she’s a solid all-around athlete, and she’s versatile skillfully. She can initiate the offense at times, she’s a nice straight-line driver to the basket, and she can knock down an open rhythm jumper consistently. 5-9 forward
Gracie Adams
Gracie
Adams
5'9" | SF
Lanesville | 2021
State
IN
(2021) of Lanesville might be one of the most productive kids in the state at her size. She is strong, tough-nosed, and a nice athlete. She plays with a tremendous motor and doesn’t back down from anyone. She’s great in the mid-post, comfortable around the perimeter, and she hits the boards hard every possession. I’ve always been a fan of 5-7 guard
Karly Sweeney
Karly
Sweeney
5'7" | SG
Salem | 2021
State
IN
(2021) of Salem. She may have run through more walls throughout her career than anyone else I can think of in 2021. She is as tough as they come, she’s a fierce competitor, but she’s also skilled and can score the ball at all three levels. One youngster on this team with a lot of potential is 5-5 point guard
Taylor Treat
Taylor
Treat
5'5" | PG
New Albany | 2022
State
IN
(2022) of New Albany. Taylor is long for her height, she’s quick/fast, and she’s a very nice athlete in all directions. She can handle the ball and get to the basket or create for others, plus she’s a gritty on-ball defender as well.
Nike Lady Gym Rats EYBL – Riego
The top team in the Gym Rats program, they were playing minus Purdue University commit
Jayla Smith
Jayla
Smith
5'11" | SG
Lawrence North | 2021
State
#73
Nation
IN
(2021) of Lawrence North, University of Michigan commit
Ariana Wiggins
Ariana
Wiggins
5'8" | PG
Heritage Christian | 2021
State
#28
Nation
IN
(2021) of Heritage Christian, and IUPUI commit
Nakaih Hunter
Nakaih
Hunter
5'11" | PF
North Central (Indianapolis) | 2021
State
IN
(2021) of Indianapolis North Central. Taking three 2023s and a 2024 into battle against some of the better 17U teams in the tournament was a tall task, but they certainly had some nice moments. 5-10 combo guard
Ashlynn Shade
Ashlynn
Shade
5'10" | SG
La Lumiere Prep | 2023
State
#33
Nation
IN
(2023) of Noblesville probably played about as well as she could have on that stage. She’s a strong-for-her-age kid who can handle the ball and create offense, plus she shot the ball very well from the perimeter. She was the one young one you couldn’t tell was playing up two or more age groups. 5-10 wing
Mary Wilson
Mary
Wilson
5'10" | SF
Center Grove | 2021
State
IN
(2021) of Center Grove is a favorite of mine, and she shot the ball better and better as the tournament wore on. She is a wiry strong kid with a great motor and a nice basketball IQ. She is still underrecruited, and I have a feeling some school is going to end up with a great steal of a player. 6-0 power forward
Trinity Thompson
Trinity
Thompson
6'0" | PF
Michigan City | 2021
State
IN
(2021) of Michigan City established herself on the interior most games. She’s a strong athlete, but she also has good skill and understanding of the game. She can battle on the interior and grab rebound after rebound, or she can step into the mid-post and make plays for herself or others. 5-6 point guard
Karsyn Norman
Karsyn
Norman
5'7" | PG
Bedford North Lawrence | 2023
State
IN
(2023) of Bedford North Lawrence was switched over to this team to provide depth, and I felt like she handled herself very well against the older guards she faced. She has a calming presence and a confidence about herself, she is a good floor general who can really handle and pass the ball, plus she’s capable of hitting shots from the perimeter.
Northwest Indiana Thunder Gold – Gates
Year after year this NWI Thunder program does a nice job of assembling teams with talent from Porter County and the surrounding counties. One player who has really transformed her game over the years is 5-5 combo guard
Emma O’Brien
Emma
O’Brien
5'5" | CG
Morgan Township | 2021
State
IN
(2021) of Morgan Township. She is taller, a little stronger, and much more confident in her abilities. She can handle the ball and play point guard, plus she’s a consistent perimeter shooter who can cause problems outside. Since seeing her during the state tournament, I’ve become a fan of 5-8 point guard
Abigail Tomblin
Abigail
Tomblin
5'8" | CG
South Central (Union Mills) | 2022
State
IN
(2022) of South Central-Union Mills. She is a fairly strong athlete, she has an instinctual feel for the game, and she does a little of everything very well. It would benefit her to have a niche, but I do like her all-around balance and understanding of the game. 6-0 post
Kassie Stanko
Kassie
Stanko
6'0" | C
Morgan Township | 2021
State
IN
(2021) of Morgan Township is a capable “big” who I think many small colleges would like, but they are mostly unfamiliar with her game. She is strong, physical, and plays with a great motor, plus she has good hands, solid footwork, and she can score it around the block or in the mid-post. She could be another nice steal in this 2021 class. Finally, this was my first time focusing on 5-8 wing Olivia Marks (2023) of South Central-Union Mills, and she is a really nice, wiry strong athlete who plays with a great deal of energy. She is a slashing scorer from the perimeter, plus she plays bigger than she is and will battle on the boards inside.
Team Blaze Select – Cross
Team Blaze and Coach Cross have been synonymous with Bloomington-area boys’ basketball over the years, but he has now put together this girls’ entry the last couple of Summers. One player who is really unique in how she plays is 5-9 forward
Anya Friend
Anya
Friend
5'9" | SF
Bloomington South | 2021
State
IN
(2021) of Bloomington South. She is built like a power forward/post, but she’s deceptively quick, and she can really shoot the ball from the perimeter. When she gets going, she’s liable to knock down five or six consecutive jumpers in a row. She plays hard, rebounds, and just knows how to play. I’ve also been really high on 6-0 forward
Haley Rose
Haley
Rose
6'0" | PF
Linton-Stockton | 2021
State
IN
(2021) from Linton-Stockton this past year, and I continue to feel that way. Her combination of height, length, and fluidity, coupled with her inside-out skillset, make her a viable option for a variety of Division-I schools and upper-tier small colleges. And she only gets better each year. I also felt like 5-7 wing
Ashlyn Traylor
Ashlyn
Traylor
5'8" | SG
Franklin Community | 2022
State
IN
(2022) of Martinsville did a nice job consistently this week. She is one of those players who battles and competes each possession; she plays much bigger than she is. She was strong on the boards, she earned repeated trips to the free throw line, and she did a nice job defensively as well. 5-7 combo guard
Kendall Harmon
Kendall
Harmon
5'7" | CG
Bloomington South | 2022
State
IN
(2022) of Bloomington South is another player who probably gets more out of her ability than most. She is highly skilled with the ball in her hands, plus she’s a good shooter with deep range. She does a nice job of creating space with the dribble, and she has a natural all-around feel for the game.