Way Too Early Look at Class 3A

The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id="97264" first="Natalie" last="Noel"] (2022) of Salem High School and Indiana Elite Venom 17U. As I have done to preview the past three high school seasons, I will provide subscribers with a much more thorough and in-depth look at each of Indiana’s four school classifications at some point in mid to late October. But in the meantime, I wanted to take a quick glimpse into five Class 3A teams who I felt, on the surface without a great deal of research, stood out as teams to watch during the 2021-2022 high school season.   THE TOP THREE 1. South Bend Washington (22-6 in 2020-2021, Class 3A State Runner-Up) South Bend Washington might be the "heaviest" favorite in any of Indiana’s four classes to begin the year. They return their top four players from a seven-player rotation, plus three of those four are either committed to, or have been offered by, high-major Division-I schools. Add to that an impressive Freshmen class that includes a top National prospect, along with two other young ladies who are sure to draw their share of college attention, and the Panthers are a better team on paper than the group that made the trip to Bankers Life Fieldhouse in February. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id="97241" first="Mila" last="Reynolds"] (19.0p, 8.9r, 2.2b) returns for her final year, and the 2021 Junior All-Star will be as tough as any frontcourt prospect in the state. She can score on the block, in the mid-post, and she has tools around the perimeter. She has already committed to the University of Maryland. Sister [player_tooltip player_id="59769" first="Amiyah" last="Reynolds"] (9.8p, 7.3r, 6.7a, 3.8s), a 6-0 Junior point guard, returns to the backcourt and causes matchup nightmares with her skill, vision, and length. She has such a natural feel for the game, and her selflessness fuels this team. But the third Reynolds sister, [player_tooltip player_id="295770" first="Kira" last="Reynolds"], could have as much of an impact immediately. The versatile 6-3 Freshman front-liner has proven herself on the grassroots circuit, but now it’s time to make an impression at the Varsity level. Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id="267397" first="Shamarah" last="Allen"] (7.6p, 4.9r, 2.4s) is an athletic playmaker who does a tremendous job at the defensive end of the floor, while Junior point guard [player_tooltip player_id="96086" first="RaShunda" last="Jones"] (17.4p, 4.3r, 3.5a, 4.2s) has absolutely blown up over the last 12-18 months. Her explosiveness and playmaking ability in the backcourt is nearly unparalleled throughout the state. Freshmen [player_tooltip player_id="295766" first="Monique" last="Mitchell"] and [player_tooltip player_id="295780" first="Ryiah" last="Wilson"] will also figure into the mix, giving Washington a bit more talent in 2021-2022 throughout their entire rotation. 2. Mishawaka Marian (19-5 in 2020-2021) The top team gunning for South Bend Washington is Mishawaka Marian, who also happens to share a Sectional with the Panthers. The Knights boast a pair of talented Juniors of their own in [player_tooltip player_id="59748" first="Nevaeh" last="Foster"] (20.7p, 3.8r, 3.4a, 3.3s) and [player_tooltip player_id="127232" first="MaKaya" last="Porter"] (17.0p, 7.6r, 2.6s, 2.4b). Foster is a highly skilled combo guard with a silky smooth jumper and deep range. She also does a really nice job of getting defenders off-balance and attacking the basket. She has already eclipsed the 1000-point mark for her career in just two years, and she holds a number of Division-I offers. Porter is a strong, physical, but skillful and athletic forward. She can carve out space around the basket, score it in the mid-post, or play comfortably around the perimeter. She also plays with an outstanding motor. From there, Senior guards [player_tooltip player_id="203660" first="Kenndall" last="Bethel"] and Payton Rangel look to step more into the forefront and help contribute however possible. Bethel is a cat-quick, feisty guard who can get after it defensively. She’s also a creator off the bounce and hard to contain. Rangel is another athletic, versatile guard who can play on or off the ball. She can score it a little from all areas, plus she plays with a nice motor and toughness. Marian will need a handful of other younger players to step up their game this year and help balance the lineup, but the Knights are definitely a tough "out", and they have two more-than-capable stars. 3. Benton Central (15-4 in 2020-2021) This Bison roster is very good, and they are going to sneak up on people who underestimate them. They don’t have one overwhelmingly talented individual on the team, but they have great balance, skill, and enough size and athleticism to match up with just about everyone in Class 3A statewide. Leading the way for Benton Central are Seniors [player_tooltip player_id="182143" first="Kennedy" last="Tolen"] (16.5p, 8.1r, 2.8a, 2.5s) and [player_tooltip player_id="128135" first="Tressa" last="Senesac"] (14.1p, 4.5r, 4.5a, 4.2s). Tolen, a physical wing, plays with an outstanding motor, she is willing to be physical and will battle inside, but she also has great touch around the perimeter and will score it consistently at all three levels. Senesac is a dynamic athlete, a quick/fast water-bug, and she flies all over the floor making plays. She can flat out defend, plus she is tough to contain off the bounce, especially if she can turn the corner. Manning the middle for the Bison is 6-1 Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="176407" first="Sarah" last="Gick"] (11.1p, 8.7r). She has a wiry-strong frame, good length, and she’s a nice athlete who runs the floor well in transition. She gives them a great back-end defender who will protect the paint and force teams into a lot of jump-shots. Add to that a nice collection of players who understand and excel at their role, and who all have grown up in their system and play with effort. Benton Central should again reach 20+ wins this season.   SLEEPER Z...Z...Z... Salem (20-3 in 2020-2021) Don’t sleep on the Salem Lions. They are a product of developing a deep, strong feeder system, and they always have kids naturally step into roles year-to-year and succeed. I realize they graduated a tough individual player in [player_tooltip player_id="99380" first="Karly" last="Sweeney"], but the Lions return two outstanding players in Senior wing [player_tooltip player_id="97264" first="Natalie" last="Noel"] (14.6p, 5.1r, 2.3a) and Senior forward [player_tooltip player_id="128176" first="Abigail" last="Ratts"] (7.8p, 7.0r, 3.1a, 3.0s). Noel is a long, wiry-strong, fluid, and somewhat smooth perimeter player who shoots it consistently outside. She can make plays off the bounce, and she does a nice job using her length defensively. She has already committed to Maryville University in St. Louis. Ratts is an athletically built, bouncy ball of energy. She is an active rebounder and defender, but she can also score the ball in the mid-post and around the rim. I look for her to make a big leap statistically this season. They’ll need some girls to step up in the backcourt, but 5-11 power forward Kaylea Klinglesmith (2022) and 5-9 forward [player_tooltip player_id="300066" first="Sydney" last="Brown"] (2023) each showed flashes of really strong play throughout the grassroots season. Klinglesmith is a long and wiry kid with some bounce in her step. She could be a nice compliment to Ratts inside. Brown is a stronger wing, and she showed the ability to knock down the occasional perimeter jumper or attack the basket North/South.   UP-AND-COMING Greensburg (12-7 in 2020-2021) Greensburg didn’t post the record last year Pirate fans have grown accustomed to seeing, but 2020-2021 was an odd year for everyone. Despite graduating their top three players, Sophomores Carlee Adams (4.3p, 4.2r) and Janae Comer (3.2p), plus Juniors Jenna Foster (2.2p) and Emilee Ernstes all saw major Varsity minutes last season as part of the rotation. Adams is an intriguing 6-0 post. Additionally, the Pirates welcome a trio of talented Freshmen who are sure to pick up the slack and possibly carry the torch for the next four seasons. Guard [player_tooltip player_id="295779" first="Mylie" last="Wilkison"] will likely take over ball-handling duties and run the show. She is a long, athletic, and fast combo guard who can flat out score the ball in bunches from all spots on the floor. 6-0 front-liner [player_tooltip player_id="295778" first="Leah" last="West"] adds rugged size and strength to the frontcourt, plus she’s a nice athlete who can score the ball inside or to around 15-feet. Add to that wing guard [player_tooltip player_id="324095" first="Kayla" last="Tamm"], who is a nice perimeter shooting weapon outside, and Greensburg looks to have size, good balance, and versatility in their top seven players for the next couple of seasons.