Grassroots Review: Indiana Flight
The 2019 grassroots season has come and gone, and teams are already starting to take shape for 2020. But before that happens, I wanted to have a little fun and take the time to reflect on some of the notable…
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Continue ReadingThe 2019 grassroots season has come and gone, and teams are already starting to take shape for 2020. But before that happens, I wanted to have a little fun and take the time to reflect on some of the notable players from this past season. These aren’t necessarily the most talented prospects in their respective programs, as much as they are ladies who stood out for one reason or another because of their play. Also, there are likely a few players who could qualify for multiple categories, but I have decided to limit each person to just one accolade. Below is a look into some of the Indiana Flight girls who stood out in 2019.
BIGGEST STOCK-RISER
Hanna Knoll, 2021, 5-8 G, Angola H.S., Indiana Flight UAA 16U
Every grassroots season there is a prospect or two who turns that corner and starts to draw a great deal more attention than they have in the past. Hanna was one of those prospects this year. Throughout the entire grassroots season, she was strong with her play, and it resulted in a number of Division-I offers too high to keep track of. She has always been a high-motor combo guard with good all-around skill and a nice feel for the game, but this year she was a little taller, a little stronger, she shot it more consistently, and her handle was tighter…all culminating in her suddenly being that prospect who every mid-major is interested in. She probably isn’t the most elite prospect at any specific trait, but she is good at everything and is so well-rounded, that she fits into most systems at the next level. Plus she’s coachable and will defend. I look for her to have a big season for Angola.
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER
Destiny Jackson, 2021, 5-10 F, Fort Wayne Northrop H.S., Indiana Flight UAA 16U
A season ago, Destiny was really just a nice athlete who seemed to be learning her way around the basketball floor. Yes, she had some skill then, but she made plays primarily off of her athleticism. This season, however, she looked much more refined skillfully, she thought the game a lot better, and while she still relied on her athleticism a lot, she did so in combination with an improved handle, improved decision-making, and an improved jumper that is starting to be more consistent near the 3-point line. She is a wiry strong talent, who if she shows the same growth in the next year that she showed this past year, she could start to see Division-I interest & offers rolling in. She just needs to continue getting in the gym and working on developing her skillset.
MOST INTANGIBLE PLAYER
Ava Henson, 2020, 5-8 W, Westfield H.S., Indiana Flight Pearl White-Ryle 17U
I wanted to issue this award instead of a most valuable player, because I feel like the kids who do a lot of the “blue-collared” work don’t get enough credit. I have been watching Ava for three years now, and one thing has remained consistent…she is one of the most “team-first” kids I have seen play the game, maybe ever. All she has ever done is gone about her business, do whatever is asked of her, and make a ton of little plays that stack up to become a major contribution to her team each time out. She is a wiry, bouncy, and all-around athletic kid who plays with a tremendous motor. She has a quiet demeanor that is very businesslike, and while at times she might be overmatched from a talent or size standpoint, she never shows it and plays against every opponent the exact same way. Because of her effort and “team-first” mentality, she has earned some small college opportunities.
MOST INTRIGUING YOUNGSTER
Kendall Hale, 2023, 6-1 C, Cannelton H.S., Indiana Flight UAA 15U
For this category, I limited my choices to those young ladies who are in the classes of 2023 or 2024, and who displayed a nice combination of substance in their game, as well as the potential to really improve over the next few seasons. Kendall is an extremely intriguing youngster because of her combination of size, skill, and ability. She has a strong frame, broad shoulders, and the potential to add good muscle-mass over the next few years. She has some length, good hands, and she’s a nice North/South athlete who runs well in transition. In the half-court, she does a solid job of being physical and establishing position, but she could keep the ball a little higher more consistently. I also think she has a good understanding of how to play with her back to the basket, but at times she almost thinks her way through moves. Once she has enough repetition and becomes an instinctual post player, she could be somewhat dominant because she definitely has the size to be.
TOUGHEST PLAYER
Karly Sweeney, 2021, 5-6 W, Salem H.S., Indiana Flight Grey/South 16U
Karly made quite the impression on me during Salem’s state tournament run this year, but then to see that carry over in her play throughout the Spring & Summer against better talent, really solidified my intrigue into her as a prospect. Karly is built strong, she plays very physical, and she’s tough-nosed and gritty. She is often the first one on the floor for a loose ball, she’ll set physical screens for teammates, and she rebounds the ball well for her size/position. I also like how much effort she gives at the defensive end of the floor, and she doesn’t mind matching up against girls much bigger than herself. She is a skillful wing as well, and she can put it on the floor to go score or knock down shots from the perimeter, but this “award” is really about her toughness, and she is one of the toughest pound-for-pound kids in Indiana in this 2021 class.
BEST MOTOR
Jaylah Mays, 2020, 5-6 G, Scottsburg H.S., Indiana Flight Storm 17U
This is a very difficult award to hand out, because if you look up and down this article, I bet you can easily find four or five players worthy, not to mention a couple of players I haven’t included. I chose Jaylah because over the years the best thing she has done is play with a nonstop motor. Sure, she is a tough-nosed, strong, physical combo guard who can score the ball by attacking the basket, plus she can knock down an open rhythm jumper. But she is an intelligent, willing-to-do-whatever-it-takes, high-motor kid who plays with a lot of energy and gets others to play that way as well. And the fact that she gives as much energy at the defensive end of the floor as she does at the offensive end really stands out to me as well.
MOST ENJOYABLE BACKCOURT
Indiana Flight-Duke 17U
This was not the tallest or most talented backcourt in the state, or maybe even in the Indiana Flight program, but they were incredibly fun to watch every game, and they all play with great motors. This is a very diverse group, with prospects from the classes of 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. The leader of the pack is point guard Bayleigh Runner (2020) of Hamilton Heights. She is a long and slender athlete, with good fluidity, toughness, and skill. She can score the ball by attacking the basket, she can knock down open jumpers with range, and she is a willing & capable defender. Karly Kirkpatrick (2021) of East Noble is someone who really came on this year. She is a wiry strong athlete who plays with a great motor. She can handle the ball a little bit, score it going to the basket, and knock down the occasional outside shot, plus she’s a nice defensive player as well. Lilli Mohler (2022) of Bishop Chatard had some nice moments, despite playing “up” two age groups. She is a long and fluid combo guard who does a little of everything for this team. Alexis Vanihel (2020) of South Putnam is a strong, tough-nosed guard who comes in and scraps really well. She’s also a nice all-around athlete with some skill. Sydney Deters (2023) of Castle is an extremely intriguing wing prospect. She is long, fluid, and athletic, but she is still somewhat thin and will need to add muscle at some point, but she has a nice ceiling. And Rylie Boezeman (2023) of Columbus North is another solid, do-everything type of combo guard who plays hard.
MOST ENJOYABLE FRONTCOURT
Indiana Flight Silver/Attack 17U
This Flight frontcourt had a nice variety of skillful and talented individuals. The one drawing the most college interest right now is Tenleigh Phelps (2021) of Triton Central. I’ve talked about her before here, and she continued to play strong all Spring & Summer, showcasing her powerful attacking style and soft lefty touch from the perimeter. Anneke Furr (2020) of Bloomington South is a prospect who is still somewhat under-appreciated. She has really good length, wiry strength, and she’s a fluid athlete in all directions. I really enjoy her verastility, as she can play almost a point forward position, or she can battle inside like a power forward. Either way she plays hard and makes plays. Sally Mortensen (2021) of Perry Meridian is another strong and versatile forward somewhat in the mold of Tenleigh Phelps (above). Sally probably doesn’t shoot it as well from the perimeter, but she can knock down an open shot. Where she’s best is in the mid-post, as she can shoot it consistently from there or use her strength and attack the basket/rebound. One prospect who I think has a lot of upside if she can figure it out and turn that corner, is Ashley Pettigrew (2020) of Heritage Christian. At 6-1, she has a great frame, solid athleticism, length, and she possesses good hands and decent skill inside of about 10-feet. I also like Alli Lothamer (2021) of Center Grove. She’s another nice, versatile, skillful forward who is most effective in the mid-post, but who can play an inside-out game fairly comfortably. All-in-all this group is just solid top to bottom.