Summer Summary: Central Indiana
Feature image is of Kuryn Brunson Kuryn Brunson 5'10" | SF Franklin Community | 2022 State IN of Franklin Community High School and Indiana Red Storm. In a year with a great deal of uncertainty, Central and Northern Indiana turned…
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Continue ReadingFeature image is of Kuryn Brunson Kuryn Brunson 5'10" | SF Franklin Community | 2022 State IN of Franklin Community High School and Indiana Red Storm.
In a year with a great deal of uncertainty, Central and Northern Indiana turned out to be quite the places to host a number of grassroots events. With the conclusion of the Run 4 Roses Classic a couple of weekends ago, and with kids participating in Fall leagues or playing Fall sports for their high schools, I wanted to turn my attention to reviewing what I saw all Summer long. This article is the eighth in a series of nine articles over a two-week span doing so. The programs who entered six or more teams in the 17U-14U age groups have gotten their own articles, while the remaining programs/teams are being divided into articles focusing on Northern, Central, or Southern teams. Below is a look at some of the approximately ten teams in those age groups from Central Indiana who took the court throughout July and early August (there have been some recent roster changes to a few teams, plus a handful of teams had fluid rosters from week to week anyway, so in this article I’ll try to focus on who played the majority of the Summer with each team/coach when I was able to see them).
17U Teams:
First Lady’s O.G.: I was unfortunately only able to watch this group for part of one game this Summer, unlike their 16U team who I saw a few times. Still, though, I felt like there were a couple of girls who stood out in the limited time I got to see them. 5-8 wing Jayda Shannon (2022) of Tindley was highly intriguing. She is extremely long, fluid, and somewhat smooth athletically. She glides to the rim and can finish at odd angles. She’ll need to continue tightening her handle a bit and making her jumper a little more consistent outside, but she has noticeable talent, and I feel like she could develop into a really nice on-ball defender. 5-4 guard Aniya Washington Aniya Washington 5'4" | SG Tindley | 2021 State IN (2021) of Tindley is a strong, physical, tough-nosed guard who can really score the thing. She is strong attacking the basket, she has a solid mid-range game, plus she can knock down the occasional 3-pointer when in rhythm. I like her grit and toughness as a scorer, and she doesn’t mind going toe to toe with anyone. I do think she can become a really good defender when engaged at that end of the floor. 5-5 guard Micah Jett (2021) of Ben Davis is a player who I think goes a little unnoticed at times. She has seen Varsity action since her Freshman year, and she is a strong, tough-nosed, solid all-around athlete. She isn’t great at any one thing, but she’s solid at most things, and she is a willing and capable defender. She is unselfish on the ball, but she can also attack and score it a little. I like her motor as well.
Indy Lady Impact: The Lady Impact team has several Central Indiana kids flying under the radar. 5-6 guard Le’Aije Ellington Le’Aije Ellington 5'6" | SG Warren Central | 2022 State IN (2022) of Warren Central is one of those prospects who could see a bigger role this Winter for the Warriors. She has an athletic frame, good length, and she is explosive and fast in all directions. She can defend 84-feet, she’s quick to the rim and can take contact, plus her skillset is starting to come around. She’ll still need to tighten her handle a bit and play a little more efficiently, but she has track-star type physical talent. 6-0 front-liner Jordan Richmond (2022) of Avon also possesses a great deal of upside. She needs to get much stronger and continue working on developing her offensive skillset, but she is incredibly long, bouncy, and very explosive in all directions for a player of her height. She accomplishes a lot right now because of her physical talent, so once she adds a polished skillset and understanding of the game, she could be a real problem. 5-7 guard Bonnie Lew Ludlow Bonnie Lew Ludlow 5'7" | SG Covenant Christian | 2021 State IN (2021) of Indianapolis Covenant Christian has always been a highly skilled, high IQ basketball player with a nice all-around feel for the game. She has a strong frame, good length at her height, and she plays with a nice motor as well. She is a good perimeter shooter, she has a solid handle and can run offense at times, but she’ll need to get just a little more explosive laterally, especially on the ball defensively. I was also very impressed with the play of 5-9 power forward Johnai Wimbleduff (2022) of Ben Davis. She is a strong, broad-shouldered, powerful frontline prospect who plays with a nice motor. She is tough and physical on the inside, but she also showed quick feet, a nice spin-move, good balance, and some touch around the basket. I wish she was just a little more explosive vertically, but she was productive against taller, longer kids when I saw her. It would benefit her to really work on her mid-post game to show some offensive versatility.
Shelby Sting Black: The Sting program consists of kids primarily from Shelby County, just Southeast of Indianapolis. This particular group had a mixture of 2021s, 2022s, and 2023s. One of the biggest surprises to me was 5-10 front-liner Madison Phares (2022) of Shelbyville. She has a broad frame, good strength/power, but she also showed some finesse in her game. She has touch to the 3-point line, she was really effective in the mid-post facing the basket, plus she could score it a little with her back to the basket. She has deceptive length, and she plays with a really nice motor. I felt like she simply outworked her opponents every time I saw her. 5-6 guard Kylee Edwards Kylee Edwards 5'7" | SG Shelbyville | 2023 State IN (2023) of Shelbyville is a talented multisport kid who is just a natural athlete. She has a great frame, some length, and wiry strength. She moves well in most directions, and she plays with a really nice motor. I don’t know that she necessarily does anything at an elite level, but she’s also not deficient at anything. She can handle it a little, shoot it a little, attack the basket and score, and defend multiple positions. I would assume if she focused on any one of her sports, she’s probably a full-scholarship kid in that sport. 5-7 forward Lizzie Graham Lizzie Graham 5'8" | SF Triton Central | 2023 State IN (2023) of Triton Central played extremely well when I saw this team. She is as tough as they come, strong, physical, and a little mean at times. She rebounds the ball and scores it on the interior like a post, but she is a solid athlete and has skill around the perimeter as well. She might be a little undersized for how she plays, but she is highly productive. I also liked Raegan Kleine (2023) of Morristown. The 5-2 point guard has good speed and quickness, she plays with a nice motor, plus she has a strong-for-her-size, athletic frame. She seems more like a game-manager than anything, but she took care of the ball well, got it to their primary scorers, and she defended hard. I just like her awareness, grit, and poise on the ball.
Biggest Stock-Riser: Madison Phares, 2022, 5-10 PF/C, Shelbyville H.S.
Most Under-Recruited Prospect: Jordan Richmond, 2022, 6-0 PF/C, Avon H.S.
Best Motor:
Lizzie Graham
Lizzie
Graham
5'8" | SF
Triton Central | 2023
State
IN
, 2023, 5-7 SF, Triton Central H.S.
16U Teams:
First Lady’s GRIND: The 16U First Lady’s team was incredibly active and scrappy when I was able to see them, and actually Jayda Shannon (above) helped them out when I saw them. 5-4 guard Darryn Hood Darryn Hood 5'5" | CG Tindley | 2022 State IN (2022) of Tindley is a nice, versatile combo guard. She is strong and plays low to the ground, she can handle the ball and create offense for herself or teammates, plus she can score the ball at all three levels herself. She is a solid all-around athlete with some quickness, and I think she’s an intriguing prospect, but she’ll just need to be a little more efficient as a traditional point guard. 5-11 power forward Alaysia Divine (2022) of Ben Davis is just one of a number of talented athletes for the Giants who possess nice upside. She is extremely long, a little thin, but she doesn’t mind contact and tries to post, rebound, and defend inside. She is a fluid athlete who runs the floor well, and she plays with a solid motor. If she can develop a face-up game in the mid-post, she could be a nice small college “sleeper” down the road. 5-6 guard Khin-Irrawaddy Tin (2022) of Ben Davis is another prospect I saw for the first time this Summer, and I thought she did a really nice job of acting as a game-manager. She handled pressure well, ran offense with poise, but also showed the ability to make an outside jumper or attack the basket and finish when her defender gave her too much space. She is a solid athlete and she plays with a nice motor.
Grand Park Premier: For the last three Summers, I have been enjoying this Grand Park team because their roster has been consistent, they play very well together, and they are always well-coached and execute as well as any team in their age group. One player missing from our rankings, but who will be added next week when we update the Class of 2022, is 5-11 power forward Taylor Bowen (2022) of Culver Academy. Taylor chose not to play last Winter, so I was unsure of her status, but she was very good in the couple of times I saw her this Summer. She has a strong, somewhat athletic frame with some length. She is tough-nosed, willing to be physical, plus she plays with a solid motor. What’s even more intriguing about her, is that she has ball skill and shooting touch around the perimeter and almost plays like a European face-up ’4’. I think she has a lot of value at the college level, if she wants to play college basketball. I’ve said it before, but I thought the most improved player on this team was Chesney Tebbe Chesney Tebbe 5'7" | CG Westfield | 2022 State IN (2022) of Westfield. The 5-7 combo guard was outstanding at both ends of the floor each time I saw her. She has tremendous length, she’s quick/fast, and she has some feistiness to her. She can defend both on and off the ball, she has solid ball skills, a high basketball IQ, plus she can knock down open rhythm jumpers. She will still need to add some muscle, but she at least plays strong. 5-9 wing Kennedy Tolen Kennedy Tolen 5'9" | SF Benton Central | 2022 State IN (2022) of Benton Central also looked improved over the Summer. She was taller and much stronger than I remember from 2019. She has always been a nice shooter from around the perimeter, but now she’s driving it more aggressively, rebounding the ball well, and playing effectively in the mid-post. I like her motor and toughness, and she always seems to come up with hustle plays at either end of the floor. 5-4 point guard Annika Marlow Annika Marlow 5'5" | PG Rushville | 2022 State IN (2022) of Rushville has always been the primary ball-handler of the group. While she isn’t necessarily flashy, she is steady and efficient, and she seems to make the right play more often than not. She is tough, strong for her size, and she’ll get after it defensively. She also seems like a cerebral player who does a nice job of thinking through situational basketball.
Indiana Red Storm: This Red Storm team is always solid, and I think a lot of it is having kids who fit well together. 5-9 wing Kuryn Brunson Kuryn Brunson 5'10" | SF Franklin Community | 2022 State IN (2022) of Franklin looks strong and healthy again, which is scary for her high school opponents. She is a physical wing, a nice all-around athlete, but she’s highly skilled with the ball and has a natural feel for the game. She is a point forward type, she can create offense off the dribble, and she is a tremendous passer who knows where her teammates are. She is shooting it more consistently outside, and that’s where she’ll need to continue working the most. 6-2 post Madeline Robertson (2022) of Mitchell was added late in the Summer, and she is a new name to me. She is incredibly intriguing as a prospect, and I think she could end up drawing a great deal of college interest. She has a lot of length, but she’s also solidly built and doesn’t mind contact at all. She is a physical defender, she has some bounce, and she blocks/alters a lot of shots. Offensively, she runs the floor well, has solid hands, and has decent footwork. She has some touch in the mid-post, but she’s most comfortable with simple drop-stop and pivot post-moves. 5-8 wing Kearsten Willen (2022) of Martinsville and 5-5 point guard Madelynn Denny Madelynn Denny 5'4" | PG Mooresville | 2022 State IN (2022) of Mooresville showed much-improved play this Summer. Willen is a really nice athlete, she has a wiry strong, athletic frame, and she can make plays at all three levels. She has become dangerous as a perimeter shooter, and you can’t let her get rhythm, but if you get too tight, she can go by you and score it at the basket. She’s also versatile defensively and can play either a ’2’ or a ’3’ position. Denny looks so much stronger, explosive, and confident. She darts around the floor with good speed and quickness, but she’s tough and strong enough to absorb contact, get into gaps, and put a ton of pressure on defenses. Add to that her ability to consistently bury shots outside, and she can be a real problem.
Biggest Stock-Riser:
Chesney Tebbe
Chesney
Tebbe
5'7" | CG
Westfield | 2022
State
IN
, 2022, 5-7 CG, Westfield H.S.
Most Under-Recruited Prospect:
Kuryn Brunson
Kuryn
Brunson
5'10" | SF
Franklin Community | 2022
State
IN
, 2022, 5-9 W, Franklin Community H.S.
Best Motor:
Madelynn Denny
Madelynn
Denny
5'4" | PG
Mooresville | 2022
State
IN
, 2022, 5-5 PG, Mooresville H.S.
15U Teams:
Lady Team Teague: This group showcased a really nice mix of 2023s, 2024s, and 2025s this Summer. Most surprising to me, but new to the team/scene, was 6-1 post Cristen Carter Cristen Carter 6'3" | C Ben Davis | 2023 State IN (2023) of Ben Davis. She has a wiry strong, athletic frame with good length. She’s a really nice North/South athlete who runs the floor well and plays with a motor. She can be tough-nosed and physical inside, but she also has some touch in the mid-post. She does a nice job of establishing herself on the low-block, and she looks like she has some low-post skill, but now she needs more reps to make everything a bit more instinctual. She’s also a presence in the paint defensively. 5-6 wing Giavonnie Belton Giavonnie Belton 5'7" | SG Pike | 2023 State IN (2023) of Indianapolis Pike is often fun to watch, as she flies around the floor trying to make plays. She is a long, wiry athlete with speed and quickness. She can handle it a little, she’s good getting to the rim off the bounce, plus this Summer she showed an improved, consistent jump-shot outside. 5-3 point guard Jocelyn Davis (2023) of Hamilton Southeastern is a jet on the floor. She’s one of those quick/fast little water-bugs who can just annoy opponents with her physical ability and her motor. She sees the floor well, finds teammates early and often, but she is starting to score the ball with more confidence as well. I also like her intensity and willingness to defend the ball 84-feet. 5-2 guard Joirdyn Smith Joirdyn Smith 5'4" | CG Fishers | 2024 State IN (2024) of Fishers is one of a handful of youngsters they had rostered, and she is always in the gym working. She is very strong for her size, she attacks the basket and absorbs contact well, and she’s figured out how to score inside against taller, longer defenders. She has a really nice handle and creates space well, plus she can knock down shots from around the perimeter. I also think she has the athletic tools to become a very good defender on the ball.
Biggest Stock-Riser:
Cristen Carter
Cristen
Carter
6'3" | C
Ben Davis | 2023
State
IN
, 2023, 6-1 C, Ben Davis H.S.
Prospect With The Highest Ceiling:
Joirdyn Smith
Joirdyn
Smith
5'4" | CG
Fishers | 2024
State
IN
, 2024, 5-2 CG, Fishers H.S.
Best Motor:
Giavonnie Belton
Giavonnie
Belton
5'7" | SG
Pike | 2023
State
IN
, 2023, 5-6 W, Pike H.S.
14U Teams:
Grand Park Premier-Robbins: This was a group who as a whole I was unfamiliar with heading into July, but they were impressive each time out and often out-played better-known opponents. 5-6 point guard Alli Harness Alli Harness 5'8" | CG Carroll (Flora) | 2024 State IN (2024) of Carroll (Flora, Indiana) always stood out to me. She isn’t very big and is somewhat unassuming, but she will control a game at times. She has a really nice handle and gets defenders off-balance, she has a good sense of finding open teammates once she penetrates, plus she can finish with a variety of pull-ups and runners. However, her best skill is burying shot after shot consistently with range to the volleyball line. High School teammate Madison Wagner (2024), a 5-8 wing from Carroll, is a really nice small school basketball player who could make an immediate impact for the Cougars. She plays with toughness, a little physicality, and a lot of versatility. She can battle bigger girls and essentially play almost a ’4’ position, she’s great in the mid-post, but she’s also skilled like a point forward and can play comfortably around the perimeter. I felt like 5-7 wing Isabel Scales (2024) of Caston was another versatile player who stepped up in the games I saw. She is skilled like a guard and offensively plays on the wing or can create from the top at times. But she’s also strong enough to defend bigger girls, she plays with a motor, plus she rebounds her position well. 5-7 guard Morgan Roberts (2024) of Fishers is a long, fluidly athletic lefty who had her moments as well. She can occasionally glide to the basket and score, but she’ll need to finish growing and add some strength in order to absorb contact better. Like Harness, she is a nice perimeter shooter, but Roberts likes to hide in the long-corners and inch up to the wings for reversal passes.
IGB-Morse: This group was very deceptive over the Summer. When you watch them warm up, they looked like any ordinary eight kids. By the end of nearly every game, they had beaten even the best of opponents by double-figures, some by 30+, with simply effort and execution. Leading the way for them was 5-7 point guard Reagan Wilson Reagan Wilson 5'7" | PG Noblesville | 2024 State IN (2024) of Noblesville, who has quickly become a fan favorite. She plays with great energy and intensity, toughness, and nice all-around athleticism. She is skilled with the ball, strong enough to absorb contact and finish at the basket, plus she has some touch around the perimeter. Additionally, she’s an in-your-face defender who doesn’t back down from anyone. 5-6 guard Olivia Nickerson Olivia Nickerson 5'7" | SG Twin Lakes | 2024 State IN (2024) of Twin Lakes is another really nice guard who does a little of everything well. She’s a solid athlete, wiry strong, and she plays with a motor as well. She can handle it and run offense as a point guard, but she’s also capable of scoring it at all three levels and has nice touch around the 3-point line. She just has a natural feel for the game. 6-0 front-liner Kate Thomas Kate Thomas 6'1" | PF Fishers | 2024 State IN (2024) of Fishers is intriguing and could have a bright future ahead of her. She is extremely long, fairly fluid for her age and height, plus she has some skill. She is comfortable both at the rim and in the mid-post, but I think ultimately she’ll become more of a face-up type of player. She does have touch around 15-feet, but I’m not convinced she’s done growing just yet. Another nice prospect who might still be growing is 5-7 guard Elizabeth Kelleher Elizabeth Kelleher 5'10" | PG Westfield | 2024 State IN (2024) of Westfield. She has really nice length, a wiry strong frame, and she’s a fairly fluid and smooth athlete in most directions. Like Nickerson, she’s another who can handle the ball and run offense like a point guard, but she too can play off the ball and effectively score it at all three levels. I also like her potential to become a high-level defender, because she has good length and athleticism.
Indy Swish: This Indy Swish group played in a few tournaments over the Summer and had a combination of 2024 prospects and younger. The most noticeable of the bunch was 6-0 wing Brooklyn Bell (2024) of Greenwood. She is extremely long, fluid, and almost smooth. She is very thin right now, so she will need to add strength at some point. But she’s not an interior player, as she has a nice handle, good vision, and plays sort of a point forward role. She is a tremendous matchup problem because of her size and ability to see over the defense. She can also cause problems defensively because of her length and athleticism. 5-7 wing Carys Wilson (2024) of Franklin Central was one of the best athletes on the team. She has a long, wiry strong, athletic frame. She is always looking to make plays off the bounce, and she does a nice job of getting to the basket. She’ll need continued work on developing her handle and making her perimeter shot more consistent, but she is definitely an athletic talent. 5-6 guard Autumn Onken (2024) of Martinsville completes this team’s trio of consistent scoring threats. She has a wiry strong, athletic frame, she plays with a solid motor, and she showed the ability to play on the wing, knock down open rhythm jumpers, and attack the baseline to score at the rim. She’ll need to be a little more dynamic with the ball, but I felt like she did a nice job of playing efficiently within herself.
Biggest Stock-Riser: Brooklyn Bell, 2024, 6-0 SF, Greenwood Community H.S.
Prospect With The Highest Ceiling:
Reagan Wilson
Reagan
Wilson
5'7" | PG
Noblesville | 2024
State
IN
, 2024, 5-7 PG, Noblesville H.S.
Best Motor: Madison Wagner, 2024, 5-8 SF, Carroll H.S. (Flora, IN)