2024s To Keep An Eye On

The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='326484' first='Alexis' last='Warren'] (2024) of Pike High School and the [program_tooltip program_id='712381' first='Indiana' last='Blaze'] 16U (in red).   Recently we updated the rankings for the Class of 2024. The other day we introduced an article with the top stock-risers from that class, however, there have been many girls who have stood out throughout the Spring and Summer grassroots season. While they might not have made our stock-risers article, to follow are seven ladies in the Class of 2024 whose efforts haven't gone unnoticed.     [player_tooltip player_id='298260' first='Ellie' last='Falkenstein'], 2024, 5-9 W, Jeffersonville H.S., [program_tooltip program_id='712568' first='Indiana' last='Flight South'] 16U - Ellie is probably still flying under the radar a bit, but she has nice upside/potential, and there are a number of Midwestern small colleges who would like her style of play. She is long, wiry-strong, and fluidly athletic. She is a gliding athlete who can attack the basket with either hand, plus she has some touch around the perimeter. She can even handle the ball a little and initiate the offense, plus she can play in the mid-post and willingly rebounds. I also think once she gets stronger, she can become a versatile defender.   [player_tooltip player_id='239353' first='Riley' last='Pepple'], 2024, 5-6 G, Fort Wayne Northrop H.S., [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100'] Rebels 16U - Riley began her basketball career growing up in the Angola program, but after her rookie year, she moved to Fort Wayne and the Northrop program. She is hard to label by position, so we'll just call her a ballplayer. She is tough, gritty/feisty, and likes to constantly be a part of the action, whether that means defending, rebounding, or getting after loose balls. Offensively, she can handle it a little and play either guard spot, she can make shots from the perimeter, but she also has a burst and attacks the basket well.   [player_tooltip player_id='326492' first='Mariah' last='Stoltzfus'], 2024, 5-2 PG, Bethany Christian School, [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100']-Gamble 16U - Mariah has always been entertaining to watch, because she plays with so much passion and energy, and she brings her teammates along with her for that ride. However, during the Run 4 Roses tournament in Louisville, she was on a different level, helping her team to a number of big wins. She is more than making up for lost time, after missing a lot of the high school season. She is tough, strong for her size, quick, and crafty. She can knock down open jumpers with some range, and she is a creative playmaker off the bounce.   [player_tooltip player_id='177359' first='Adrianne' last='Tolen'], 2024, 5-10 W, West Lafayette H.S., [program_tooltip program_id='714266' first='PAC' last='Flight North'] Elite 16U - Adrianne has spent this Spring and Summer putting herself "on the map". She is a talented athlete, she has nice length, an athletic frame, and she plays with a good motor. She possesses a lot of versatility as well, at both ends of the floor. She can handle the ball and play a point forward role, she can knock down the occasional jumper, plus she can operate in the mid-post and play an undersized power forward position if necessary. Defensively, she can take on some point guards, most bigger guards, as well as wings and forwards.   [player_tooltip player_id='326484' first='Alexis' last='Warren'], 2024, 6-1 PF/C, Pike H.S., [program_tooltip program_id='712381' first='Indiana' last='Blaze'] 16U - Alexis has come a long way over the last couple of years. As a Freshman, I felt like she had a lot of athletic talent, but she was a bit raw skillfully. So far this Spring and Summer, she has been tremendously more productive, and a lot of that can be attributed to her expanded understanding of the game, and her developing skillset. She is a more consistent shooter from 15-feet, plus she's strong with the ball and can attack the basket off the dribble. I also like her defensive versatility, as she's doing a better job of defending the perimeter.   [player_tooltip player_id='369827' first='Riley' last='Whitlock'], 2024, 6-0 F, West Lafayette Harrison H.S. - Riley is actually the one kid on this list who I didn't see with a travel team, but I did see her during a couple of games with her school team in June. She is extremely long, fluid, and somewhat bouncy. She plays with a motor, and she is a nice compliment to Harrison Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='59747' first='Riley' last='Flinn'] and [player_tooltip player_id='241186' first='Campbell' last='Moore']. Riley finds ways to be productive, whether she scores it in the mid-post, collects offensive rebounds for put-backs, or attacks the basket from the perimeter. With more experience, and a little more strength, she will be a real handful.   [player_tooltip player_id='298252' first='Ava' last='Ziolkowski'], 2024, 6-1 F, Crown Point H.S., [program_tooltip program_id='712566' first='Indiana' last='Elite'] Prime 16U - I've been a big fan of Ava's for a couple of years now, but some kids just have that moment, and Ava's was during the first "live" period while in Louisville. With a big crowd, against a top opponent, Ava had one of her best games. She was accurate from the perimeter, strong and aggressive attacking the basket, and she gave a nice defensive effort, grabbing rebounds, defending the ball well, and helping out teammates regularly. With her height, length, and accurate jumper, she is becoming a nice inside-out college prospect.

The featured image is of Alexis Warren Alexis Warren 6'1" | C Pike | 2024 State IN (2024) of Pike High School and the Indiana Blaze 16U (in red).