In The Crossroads: 17U

Throughout July, the Indianapolis Convention Center has played host to a number of girls’ and boys’ basketball tournaments. I don’t know that I ever recall the facility being used in this capacity, so it was, in a way, really nice and exciting to have a lot of great action locally without really needing to travel much with the global pandemic we are all subject to still ongoing. This past weekend, a pair of tournaments originally slated for other destinations came together to form one last tournament downtown in the Crossroads of America. I was able to see a couple of more teams for the first time this Summer, I saw a few more teams I felt I needed to see again, and I was able to catch some nice national programs for the first time as well. Below is a look at the 17U Indiana teams I was able to see throughout the 3-day tournament.   Indiana Elite Platinum - Eldredge This group had a strong 3-1 showing, falling only by 2 points to an impressive SMAC Lady Ballers team with their own share of talented young ladies. When I got to see Platinum, I thought 6-3 forward [player_tooltip player_id="130310" first="Meg" last="Newman"] (2021) of Indianapolis North Central looked strong again. She was active on the boards, it might have been the best I’ve ever seen her communicate defensively, she was aggressive in transition, and she scored the ball all over the floor, as she often does. She has already committed to Arizona State University. I was also very impressed with 5-7 point guard Shae Littleford (2021) of Charleston High School in Illinois. She is a quick/fast and very feisty player. It’s hard to call someone at her height a water-bug, but that’s her style of play, and she has tremendous length. She was disciplined but aggressive defensively, she got to the rim and finished, she knocked down open jumpers, and she found teammates for easy scores. Shae has committed to the University of Tennessee at Martin. I was also happy to see 6-0 front-liner [player_tooltip player_id="130319" first="Gigi" last="Eldredge"] (2021) of Westfield back on the floor again. She has had a rough go of it with injuries, and I’ve always been fond of her game. She is a strong and physical presence, but she moves fairly well in all directions and has a nice mid-post game as well. She reminds me a little of Taylor University signee [player_tooltip player_id="64120" first="Taylor" last="Westgate"] (2020) of Oak Hill. I also felt like 6-2 forward [player_tooltip player_id="10744" first="Alyssa" last="Crockett"] (2022) of Westfield played well. She has always been a highly skilled and versatile player, but the one thing missing was a little meanness to her game. This past weekend she looked a little tougher, more assertive, and you can see that side of her really starting to show through more and more. She has a number of Power-5 offers already. Indiana Elite Thunder - Marlin This Indiana Elite group also finished the weekend 3-1, falling to a good Ohio Future Black team Sunday afternoon. However, they were missing a few pieces and added a couple of new ladies to the mix. 5-10 guard [player_tooltip player_id="62532" first="Madelyn" last="Bischoff"] (2021) of Roncalli continues to make shots from everywhere. I don’t recall her missing any/many shots at all, open or contested. Her length, fluidity, and ball skill just make her that much tougher to defend. While she already has a few Division-I offers, there are plenty of mid-major schools looking for shooters who would absolutely love her game. I also felt like 6-1 power forward [player_tooltip player_id="10679" first="Alex" last="Richard"] (2021) of Avon played very well. I really think she can go into Butler University and contribute next year because she’s strong, tough, and physical, but she also has length and plays with good athleticism. She has a developing offensive skillset, so she can at least be a rebounder and enforcer for them early on, plus she runs the floor hard. 5-10 wing [player_tooltip player_id="128119" first="Jaelynne" last="Murray"] (2022) of Pike has put together a really nice June and July. She has slowed her game down, she’s playing with much better discipline, and she’s shooting and handling the ball as well as I’ve ever seen her. She has gone from being a talented athlete to a really nice basketball player who happens to be very athletic. One of the new additions who I thought stood out when I saw them was 5-7 point guard [player_tooltip player_id="128116" first="Kynidi" last="Striverson"] (2022) of Silver Creek. She is very long, wiry strong, and a nice athlete. She has such quick feet and is a tremendous on-ball defender, she handles it and takes care of it offensively, and she can blow by defenders and get into the paint for finishes. She looked much more aggressive than she did a year ago. Indiana Flight Silver/Attack - Casteel This Indiana Flight group went 5-0 in the 17U Cyan division, and they did so with some nice, balanced efforts from different players. One player who did some really nice things who I haven’t talked about much in the past, if at all, is 5-10 forward [player_tooltip player_id="128155" first="Kylah" last="Lawson"] (2022) of Columbus North. She is an extremely long, somewhat thin, but very bouncy and athletic forward. She was really active inside of 15-feet, snaring rebounds and finishing with put-backs and short jumpers. She was good defensively, and she played with a sort of unassuming toughness. 5-7 wing [player_tooltip player_id="99410" first="Brooke" last="Grinstead"] (2021) of Bloomington South might be able to help the Panthers’ football team this Fall the way she plays. She has a great motor, she runs through walls for her teammates, and she’s always on the floor after loose balls or taking charges. In addition to that, she has a solid basketball IQ and is a very good perimeter shooter. I’m a little surprised more small colleges aren’t lined up for 5-10 forward [player_tooltip player_id="130355" first="Sally" last="Mortensen"] (2021) of Perry Meridian. She has a great frame, good strength, and she’s willing to be physical inside. But she’s also fairly athletic, she can put it on the floor 2-3 dribbles and get somewhere, and she’ll knock down open rhythm jumpers. She strikes me as the perfect small college face-up ’4’ Midwestern schools look for. I’ve always been a fan of 5-8 guard [player_tooltip player_id="99361" first="Alexa" last="McKinley"] (2021) of Columbus North. She looks a little taller and stronger, but still lean and athletic in all directions. She does whatever is needed, whether that’s handling the ball and running offense, creating shots for herself, or burying jumpers when open. She’s also a really nice on-ball defender. Indy Lady Impact - Dickson (First Look) The Lady Impact team plays extremely fast and athletic, and they split four games over the weekend. It was my first time seeing them this year, and there were some notable players for sure. 5-7 guard [player_tooltip player_id="130337" first="Bonnie" last="Lew Ludlow"] (2021) of Indianapolis Covenant Christian is back healthy and as strong as ever. She is a physical, tough-nosed, and highly skilled guard who can handle the ball at times. She is a very good perimeter shooter who is now absorbing contact better as she attacks the basket. I have always enjoyed her natural feel and understanding of the game. 5-6 guard [player_tooltip player_id="182138" first="Le’Aije" last="Ellington"] (2022) of Warren Central is an absolute physical talent. She is extremely long, very fast, and athletic in all directions. She can make plays with her ability that most girls just can’t. At the same time, it would benefit her to change speeds a little better and sense tone, because at times I think she outruns her own team and ends up in disadvantaged situations. She does have a lot of talent and upside to work with, though. I thought 5-9 power forward Johnai Wimbleduff (2022) of Ben Davis had a good showing. She is powerfully strong and physical, and she plays with a good motor. She is quick-footed in the post and has good balance, so she’s able to score it inside with a variety of spin-moves off of post-ups. One younger player with this group who is worth noting is 5-6 guard Kristian Dinkle (2025) of the Indiana Math & Science Academy. She is a nice, long athlete who runs and jumps pretty well, and as she continues to develop her skillset, I think she can turn into a really nice scorer. Nike Lady Gym Rats EYBL - Riego This Gym Rats group has taken on a much younger look than they might have in a normal Summer. Playing in the top 17U division with one 2021, six 2023s, and a 2024, they still managed a 2-2 record with narrow losses to Indiana Elite Platinum (-1) and Kentucky Premier (-5). 5-10 wing [player_tooltip player_id="10723" first="Mary" last="Wilson"] (2021) of Center Grove was up to her usual tricks, burying shots from all spots around the perimeter, playing with the great motor we’re all fond of, plus she has been a noticeable communicator and leader for such a young group. 5-7 point guard [player_tooltip player_id="96086" first="RaShunda" last="Jones"] (2023) of South Bend Washington earned a promotion this weekend to the 17U group, and she was again outstanding. While it took her a minute to adjust, she did so with zero passiveness whatsoever, and by the end of the first game Friday night, she was settled in, making plays all over the floor for herself and teammates. I think I am most impressed by the improvement I’ve seen in her shot-making ability. 5-10 guard [player_tooltip player_id="59773" first="Ashlynn" last="Shade"] (2023) of Noblesville continues to shine, regardless of who the opponent is. She has played 17U all Summer and really gone to work offensively against opposing defenders. She is making shots outside, attacking and finishing with either hand, but I think I’ve been most impressed with her awareness and ability to catch the ball inside the arc and make the right move instinctually regardless of where the defensive is without forcing shots. Another player who has been very good this last month is 6-1 forward [player_tooltip player_id="59757" first="Laila" last="Hull"] (2023) of Zionsville Community. She is a long, wiry strong, very athletic prospect, but her skillset continues to improve. She is shooting the ball consistently outside now, plus she’s putting it on the floor better and playing more consistently defensively as well. Other Notes: While I didn’t get a long look at the Northwest Indiana Thunder Black 17U team, I did notice a long, tall, young prospect with that group. 6-0 post Victoria Detraz (2023) of Morgan Township is certainly intriguing. She will need to add a lot of strength and physicality to her game, but she is bouncy, she runs the floor well, and she seemed to play hard in what short time I got to see her. I also wanted to point out 5-9 guard [player_tooltip player_id="35013" first="Katie" last="Burton"] (2021) of Fishers. She is playing with the Kentucky Premier 17U EYBL team, and she has put together really nice games each time I’ve seen her over the Summer. She continues to be one of the strongest guard finishers I’ve seen around the basket in Indiana’s 2021 class, and she is getting after it a lot more consistently defensively as well.