2022 Mighty Mites
If you are a fan of Indiana basketball and you are a subscriber to our site, you already know Indiana is just different when it comes to celebrating hoops and ballplayers around our state. Where else do they have a…
Access all of Prep Girls Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingIf you are a fan of Indiana basketball and you are a subscriber to our site, you already know Indiana is just different when it comes to celebrating hoops and ballplayers around our state. Where else do they have a “Mini Miss Basketball” award every year? That achievement, presented by Hoosier Basketball Magazine each season, was kind of my inspiration for this series of articles. Below is a look at five young ladies in the Class of 2022 who come in under 65 inches, but who play much bigger than that every night.
Annika Marlow
Annika
Marlow
5'5" | PG
Rushville | 2022
State
IN
, 2022, 5-4 PG, Rushville Consolidated H.S.
Annika is a very heady and cerebral traditional point guard prospect, and you can tell by how she plays that she is a coach’s daughter. As a Freshman, she stepped into the lineup immediately and was a facilitator for an experienced Lady Lions team. However, as a Sophomore this past season, she was needed to score a bit more, and she showed the ability to knock down open shots, or get inside the defense and finish. She is a solid 38% 3-point shooter in two years (with 96 makes), plus she can score (524 points), distribute (137 assists), and cause problems defensively (109 steals).
Graycie Poe
Graycie
Poe
5'4" | CG
North Knox | 2022
State
IN
, 2022, 5-4 CG, North Knox H.S.
Graycie’s career has taken on some similarities to
Annika Marlow
Annika
Marlow
5'5" | PG
Rushville | 2022
State
IN
(above). She too joined a veteran squad as a Freshman and was able to fit in nicely, averaging 12.7 points and 4.5 rebounds per game as a rookie. But this past season, once she was given the ball full-time, she really took off, scoring 16.7 points per game, but still finding open teammates regularly (2.5 assists per game). She has solid length, some wiry strength, and she plays with a very good motor. Graycie can also cause problems for opponents at the defensive end of the floor.
Olivia Smith
Olivia
Smith
5'4" | PG
Fort Wayne South Side | 2022
State
IN
, 2022, 5-3 PG, Fort Wayne South Side H.S.
Olivia is the mightiest of all the mites in this 2022 class. She is a strong and physical, but quick/fast guard who can really play. She has a tremendous handle and can make a singular move and go by or rock defenders to sleep and get them off-balance. She is a strong finisher at the basket despite her size, and she is a walking and-1, even against taller, longer defenders. Olivia is capable of knocking down rhythm perimeter jumpers, but her game is attacking the basket. She is a willing and capable passer as well. Defensively, opponents need to take care of the ball or she’ll take care of it for them.
Amanda Thatcher
Amanda
Thatcher
5'4" | CG
Fort Wayne Northrop | 2022
State
IN
, 2022, 5-4 CG, Fort Wayne Northrop H.S.
Amanda’s older sister, Arielle Thatcher (Northrop Class of 2018), was an absolute jet flying around the court, and Amanda seems to be following in her footsteps in that regard. Amanda has a similar wiry frame, with good length, and great speed/quickness. She still plays a little on the verge of out-of-control, but at times that actually benefits her, as she makes plays because of it. She can be a gnat defensively, she can create scores for herself or others offensively, and she is a willing passer. She is part of a deep and talented Lady Bruins roster, and if you give others too much attention, she will burn you.
Taylor Treat
Taylor
Treat
5'5" | PG
New Albany | 2022
State
IN
, 2022, 5-4 PG, New Albany H.S.
Taylor is another in the category of quick/fast little water-bugs. She has really good length for her height, she has good end-to-end speed, and she has solid lateral quickness. Taylor is a playmaker, and she is always looking to create something offensively. She can get by defenders and finish in the lane, she is a willing passer, plus she has a solid little pull-up game as well. I also like her grit and tenacity at the defensive end of the floor, as she just hounds opposing ball-handlers at times. Like
Amanda Thatcher
Amanda
Thatcher
5'4" | CG
Fort Wayne Northrop | 2022
State
IN
(above), as she begins to play more efficiently, look for colleges to really take notice.