Grassroots Review: Class of 2023
In this article:
The featured image is of Jaci Menard Jaci Menard 5'11" | PF Boone Grove | 2023 IN (2023) of Boone Grove H.S. and NWI Thunder Gold 17U.
With the 2021 grassroots season wrapping up a couple of weeks ago, I wanted to circle back, have a little fun, and offer up a handful of awards based on how everyone in the Class of 2023 performed when I was able to see them this Spring and Summer. While I can’t see every prospect play every game, I did see nearly all of the more than 200 grassroots teams in 17U-14U at least one time, and most of them I saw multiple times. This is simply an attempt to honor girls from the Class of 2023 who I thought stood out during my viewings.
MOST OUTSTANDING PLAYER
Ashlynn Shade
Ashlynn
Shade
5'10" | SG
La Lumiere Prep | 2023
State
#33
Nation
IN
, 2023, 5-11 CG, Noblesville H.S., Nike Lady Gym Rats 17U EYBL
Despite having one more grassroots season in front of her, Ashlynn has made a name for herself on the 17U stage for the last three Summers, two of which were in the EYBL. She is an athletically strong, bouncy, and explosive athlete who plays with an outstanding motor. She can score the ball at a high level from just about every area of the floor, but she also has good ball skill and vision, and she can slide over and run the offense whenever necessary. Her strong play this Summer only helped her to add to the impressive list of elite Division-I offers she already possessed. Noblesville seemed to turn a corner in 2020-2021, but I would look for Ashlynn and friends to help lead the Millers through a deep state tournament run the next couple of seasons.
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
Nasiya Gause
Nasiya
Gause
5'7" | SG
Lake Station Edison | 2023
State
IN
, 2023, 5-7 SG, Lake Station Edison H.S., Example Sports Red
In the Class of 2023, this was a difficult decision because there were so many teams and prospects who played with great balance. And While Nasiya didn’t play for an Indiana grassroots program, she is a Hoosier and definitely qualifies for this award. The Example Sports Red group was solid, but there were times when Nasiya was a standout and down right unstoppable for them. She is a strong, athletic, and aggressive attacking style of guard. She is a true playmaker off the bounce, and she can fill it up with a variety of finishes at the basket or in the mid-range game. Her perimeter jumper has improved, plus she can be a tough defender to get by when she’s fully engaged. I’d expect for her to have a big season this year for the Fighting Eagles.
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER
Taylor Fordyce
Taylor
Fordyce
5'10" | SG
Carroll (Fort Wayne) | 2023
State
IN
, 2023, 5-10 SG, Carroll H.S. (Fort Wayne),
Always 100
Elite 16U
I’ve talked about Taylor a couple of times already this Spring & Summer in regards to her improvement, so it’s no surprise she finds herself in this position. Taylor looks taller, stronger, and leaner, more explosive in all directions, and consequently much more productive. She had a solid Sophomore season for the Chargers, but due to graduations and transfers, I would expect her to be a big piece of what they do this year. She plays with a great motor, she’s tough and not afraid to rebound or defend, and she can handle, attack the basket and finish through contact, or knock down the occasional outside jumper.
ADDITIONAL INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Toughest Player:
Hailey Smith
Hailey
Smith
5'10" | SG
Fishers | 2023
State
IN
&
Olivia Smith
Olivia
Smith
5'10" | SG
Fishers | 2023
State
IN
, Fishers H.S., Indy Magic BlueStar 16U
Best Shooter:
Maci Chamberlin
Maci
Chamberlin
5'7" | SG
Blue River Valley | 2023
State
IN
, Blue River Valley H.S., Dayton Lady Hoopstars Elite 17U
Best Scorer:
Ashlynn Shade
Ashlynn
Shade
5'10" | SG
La Lumiere Prep | 2023
State
#33
Nation
IN
, Noblesville H.S., Nike Lady Gym Rats 17U EYBL
Best Passer:
Amiyah Reynolds
Amiyah
Reynolds
6'0" | PG
South Bend Washington | 2023
State
#35
Nation
IN
, South Bend Washington H.S., Sports City U 17U
Best Rebounder:
MaKaya Porter
MaKaya
Porter
5'11" | PF
Mishawaka Marian | 2023
State
IN
, Mishawaka Marian H.S., 5 Star/MBA Select Platinum 17U
Best Defender:
RaShunda Jones
RaShunda
Jones
5'7" | PG
South Bend Washington | 2023
State
IN
, South Bend Washington H.S., Nike Lady Gym Rats 17U EYBL
Best Shot-Blocker:
Kelsey DuBois
Kelsey
DuBois
6'2" | PF
University | 2023
State
IN
, University H.S., Indy Magic BlueStar 16U
Best Athlete:
Laila Hull
Laila
Hull
6'1" | PF
Zionsville | 2023
State
#49
Nation
IN
, Zionsville Community H.S., Nike Lady Gym Rats 17U EYBL
Most Versatile:
McKenna Layden
McKenna
Layden
6'2" | SF
Northwestern | 2023
State
IN
, Northwestern H.S., Indiana Elite Prime 16U
CLASS OF 2024 ALL-SUMMER TEAMS
Most Improved Team
Savanna Bischoff
Savanna
Bischoff
5'9" | SG
Center Grove | 2023
State
IN
, 2023, 5-8 CG, Center Grove H.S., Indiana Elite Prime 16U
Taylor Double
Taylor
Double
5'10" | SF
Huntington North | 2023
State
IN
, 2023, 5-9 SF, Huntington North H.S., OPS-Jordan 16U
Laniya Early
Laniya
Early
5'10" | SF
Lawrence North | 2023
State
IN
, 2023, 5-10 SF, Lawrence North H.S., Lady Team Teague 16U
Emily Mattingly
Emily
Mattingly
5'10" | SF
Evansville Memorial | 2023
State
IN
, 2023, 5-10 SG, Evansville Memorial H.S., IGB-Bradley 16U
Autumn Rucker
Autumn
Rucker
5'8" | SF
Pike | 2023
State
IN
, 2023, 5-8 SF, Pike H.S., Indiana Showcase Black 16U
All-Motor Team
Ava Couch
Ava
Couch
5'10" | SF
Indy North Central | 2023
State
IN
, 2023, 5-9 SF, North Central H.S. (Indianapolis), Nike Lady Gym Rats 16U EYBL
Eva Fisher
Eva
Fisher
5'8" | SG
Northridge | 2023
State
IN
, 2023, 5-8 SG, Northridge H.S.,
Always 100
United 16U
Lizzie Graham
Lizzie
Graham
5'8" | SF
Triton Central | 2023
State
IN
, 2023, 5-8 SF, Triton Central H.S., Indiana Showcase Red 16U
Josie Trabel
Josie
Trabel
6'0" | PF
East Central | 2023
State
IN
, 2023, 6-0 PF, East Central H.S., Indiana Elite Prime 16U
Linzie Wernert
Linzie
Wernert
5'8" | PF
Lanesville | 2023
State
IN
, 2023, 5-8 SF, Lanesville H.S., IGB-Bradley 16U
New to the Spotlight
Kyndell Jochim
Kyndell
Jochim
5'11" | SF
Franklin Community | 2023
State
IN
, 2023, 5-11 SF, Franklin Community H.S., Indiana Elite Phoenix Orange 16U
Jaci Menard
Jaci
Menard
5'11" | PF
Boone Grove | 2023
IN
, 2023, 5-11 PF, Boone Grove H.S., NWI Thunder Gold 17U
Brooklyn Smitherman
Brooklyn
Smitherman
6'4" | C
Noblesville | 2023
State
IN
, 2023, 6-4 C, Noblesville H.S., Indiana Elite Lightning 16U
Amber Tretter
Amber
Tretter
6'1" | PF
Forest Park | 2023
State
IN
, 2023, 6-1 PF, Forest Park H.S., S.W.I.S.H. City 16U
Ali Wiesmann
Ali
Wiesmann
5'10" | SG
Center Grove | 2023
IN
, 2023, 5-9 SG, Perry Meridian H.S., Indiana Pride Xpress 17U