East Central Indiana: I-69 North

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='331796' first='Jacelyn' last='Starks'] (2024) of Anderson High School.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Four years ago, when I first started with Prep Girls Hoops, I introduced different areas of the state and their top prospects. I wanted to again work through that this Fall and offer you a much more detailed look at the Hoosiers State's different regions and the prospects who should shine this Winter throughout those regions. This article will focus on the ladies Northeast of Indianapolis, headed towards Fort Wayne along I-69, and over to the Ohio border, specifically from Blackford County, Delaware County, Grant County, Jay County, Madison County, and Randolph County. There are 28 total schools spread throughout those six counties, with a fairly even balance of four schools in Class 4A, six in Class 3A, 11 in Class 2A, and seven in Class A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This area has seen some really good basketball teams, especially in Class 2A. In just the last six years alone, Oak Hill won the 2019 Class 2A State Championship and was the Class 2A runner-up in 2017. Winchester has been the Class 2A runner-up twice (<em>2018 &amp; 2019</em>), Frankton has been the Class 2A runner-up twice (<em>2020 &amp; 2022</em>), and Union City was the Class A runner-up in 2017. Additionally, the combination of those 28 schools have produced a great deal of talent, including a lot of sizeable frontline prospects. Recently, players like <strong>Lauryn Bates</strong> (<em>Frankton 2022</em>), <strong>Mariah Claywell</strong> (<em>Union City 2022</em>), <strong>Carley Culberson</strong> (<em>Yorktown 2021</em>), <strong>Tyra Ford</strong> (<em>Anderson 2021</em>), <strong>Caily Bolser</strong> (<em>Mississinewa 2020</em>), <strong>Ra'Shaya Kyle</strong> (<em>Marion 2020</em>), <strong>Madeline Lawrence</strong> (<em>Winchester 2020</em>), <strong>Taylor Westgate</strong> (<em>Oak Hill 2020</em>), <strong>Jordyn Barga</strong> (<em>Monroe Central 2019</em>), and <strong>Jazmyn Turner</strong> (<em>Marion 2019</em>) have represented their counties well. Ra'Shaya Kyle was a 2020 Indiana All-Star.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Still, though, there are a number of girls who go underrecruited throughout their careers, and this is an area where small colleges can find some real gems, plus there is typically a Division-I prospect in most graduating classes from these six counties. With that said, I wanted to take the time to highlight a handful of girls who may not often grab the spotlight, but who deserve their share of recognition for their basketball abilities. All of these girls are strictly from Blackford County, Delaware County, Grant County, Jay County, Madison County, and Randolph County.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_63064a14c3dc3","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["127227"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Olivia is somewhat unheralded, but she has put together an impressive 3-year career thus far. She eclipsed the 1000-point plateau at the end of her Junior year, she has a 14.9 career scoring average, and she shot 80% from the charity stripe in 2021-2022. Olivia has an athletically strong frame, she's a nice downhill attacker, but she also has touch from 3-point range. She's a willing rebounder as a perimeter player, and she can defend a variety of guards and small forwards. I really like her energy and toughness.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_63064a25c3dc4","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["372351"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Abby has put in a lot of work over the years, and she has turned herself into a quality small college prospect as a point guard. She played mostly JV minutes as a Freshman, but the last two years she has been Delta's primary ball-handler. She is strong for her size, quick, and she plays with a feistiness/toughness. She can run offense, create for herself or teammates, and she's a capable 3-point shooter. I also enjoy her competitive fire and willingness to get after it at the defensive end of the floor.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_63064a31c3dc5","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["331796"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Jacelyn is a really nice, athletic guard who should be on most small college radars. She has some length, a wiry-strong frame, and she plays with a nice motor. She has some touch from around the perimeter and shot a strong 37% from '3' last season, plus she can initiate the offense. But I like her better as a slashing style of scorer who can get to the basket in one to two dribbles. She also does a nice job of combining her length and her athleticism to be an effective defender, whether she's on the ball or one pass away.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_63064a3dc3dc6","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["404111"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Jacklynn had a strong Freshman campaign, averaging 13.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.1 steals per game, but I still feel like her best days are well ahead of her. She has gone through a growth spurt, she still might have an inch or two left in her, and as she adds strength, her game is only going to become more and more consistent. She is a fluid athlete, she has really nice length, and she is a very good perimeter shooter with range. She has a strong basketball IQ, and she is an effortful defender as well.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"preview"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Additional East Central Indiana/I-69 Prospects in Our Rankings for 2023-2025:</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='127219' first='Caitlyn' last='Campbell'], 2023, Winchester Community H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='460836' first='Deannaya' last='Haseman'], 2023, Lapel H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='300078' first='Morgan' last='Lawrence'], 2023, Winchester Community H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='460835' first='Reagan' last='Riggin'], 2023, Winchester Community H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='96091' first='Renna' last='Schwieterman'], 2023, Jay County H.S., <em>committed to Purdue Fort Wayne</em><br>[player_tooltip player_id='127242' first='Olivia' last='Waters'], 2023, Blackford H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='127244' first='Camryn' last='Wise'], 2023, Wapahani H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='239351' first='Sophia' last='Morrison'], 2024, Eastbrook H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='331773' first='Madelyn' last='Poynter'], 2024, Lapel H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='295783' first='Kimber' last='Abshear'], 2025, Monroe Central H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='295797' first='Kaycie' last='Warfel'], 2025, Pendleton Heights H.S.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->