Rankings Review: 2021 Small Forwards

On Thursday, March 28th, we posted our updated rankings for the Class of 2021. While there has been some talk that the class doesn’t necessarily rival the 2020 or 2022 classes around it, in my mind there are still several really nice prospects to consider. Below is a look at the Top-15 small forwards in Indiana’s Class of 2021:   1. Ryin Ott, 5-10 SF, LaPorte H.S. Ryin is the younger sister of 2019 Indiana All-Star Riley Ott, but trust that Ryin has a very nice game of her own. She is very long, fluid, and smooth. She slices through defenses to score it around the basket, she's a great mid-range shooter, and she's starting to become a much more consistent perimeter shooter. I think as she adds more strength, she'll be even better outside and might add some range to her shot. But growing up around an older sister who is a natural point guard, Ryin has learned how to handle the ball herself, and she can play almost a point forward role and handle it in transition or occasionally start the offense in the half-court. I'm not sure how much more she'll grow, but she is very skillful, she has physical talent, she plays hard, and honestly she just needs to continue gaining strength.   2. Lilliann Frasure, 5-9 SF, North Judson-San Pierre H.S. Lilliann is a really nice high school basketball player, and she's one of the most productive players in the entire state, regardless of class. She isn't necessarily elite at any one thing, but she is tremendously well-rounded skillfully and doesn't have many weaknesses when it comes to that. She is a solid ball-handler, she can knock down shots at all levels, and she understands position defense. She also plays with a relentless motor and never quits or takes possessions off. She could stand to be a little quicker and work on change-of-direction stuff, but I think she's one of those prospects who the sum of all her parts eclipses many of the prospects who have one elite trait. She is a really nice ballplayer and someone you can't define by position, plus I think she'll approach some records before her high school career ends.   3. Vanessa Shafford, 5-9 SF, Linton-Stockton H.S. Vanessa has a lot of similarities to Frasure (above) in terms of being a highly productive wing, but she probably doesn't get the statewide recognition as Frasure. I really enjoy watching Vanessa play, and she has helped to put Linton girls' basketball on the map the last two years. She is strong, tough-nosed, and she's a very good passer and ball-handler, almost like a point forward. She is good going to the basket, but her change-of-direction stuff needs to improve as well. She's also a capable perimeter shooter when left alone and in rhythm. I think this could be a big Spring & Summer for her, especially with Ally Becki (2021 PG) being injured, because now she'll have the opportunity to showcase her skill a lot more in front of coaches watching all of the talented "bigs" on their Indiana Elite team.   4. Grace Adams, 5-11 SF/PF, Penn H.S. Grace isn't the most productive Sophomore on her high school team; she's actually third, behind Trinity Clinton (below) and Jordyn Smith (2021 PG). However, I feel that Grace's combination of height, length, athleticism, and skillful potential make her one of the better prospects in the 2021 class. She moves around the floor fairly well, she can run and jump, and she plays with a good motor. She was always somewhat slender, but she's starting to show more strength, and she has the ability to finish around the basket, play in the mid-post, and be comfortable on occasion around the perimeter. If she can continue developing her ball skills and perimeter game, I think she has the chance to become a nice-sized Division-I wing prospect. She is what I like to call a wait-and-see kid, because I think her potential outweighs her productivity right now.   5. Chloe McKnight, 5-8 SF, Bedford North Lawrence H.S. It was good to see Chloe back on the court this season, after missing the 2018 grassroots season due to a knee injury she suffered during the 2018 IHSAA state tournament. She is a strong, tough-nosed, gritty wing forward who can really shoot the basketball. She knocked down 59 3-pointers this year in 29 games. She is also starting to put it on the floor more and attack the basket straight-line. She could still stand to change direction a little better off the bounce, but she absorbs contact well and rarely turns it over. I also like her basketball IQ and overall feel for the game, and you see that show up when she moves without the basketball and at the defensive end of the floor. Now that she's a year removed from her injury, I am anxious to see her play this Spring & Summer.   The Next 10: 6. Kami Miller, 5-9 SF, Gibson Southern H.S. 7. Alexis Gibson, 5-8 SF, Jeffersonville H.S. 8. Tally Seitz, 5-9 SF, Carmel H.S. 9. Mary Wilson, 5-9 SF, Center Grove H.S. 10. Trinity Clinton, 5-7 SF, Penn H.S. 11. Tyra Ford, 5-8 SF, Anderson H.S. 12. Tyranny Brown, 5-7 SF, Heritage Christian School 13. Alivia Terry, 5-8 SF, Indianapolis North Central H.S. 14. Anna Henderson, 5-9 SF, West Lafayette Harrison H.S. 15. Emma Henderson, 5-9 SF, West Lafayette Harrison H.S.   Header photo of Ryin Ott of LaPorte High School. Photo courtesy of Michael Caterina of the South Bend Tribune at southbendtribune.com.