GameChangers: PGH Freshman Showcase-Top Frontline Performers
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Sunday, August 28th, Prep Girls Hoops Indiana hosted its first-ever Freshman Showcase. The event, which took place at Fishers High School, included exactly 100 registered participants, all from the 2026 class. While a number of girls stood out throughout the duration of the event, I wanted to take the time to highlight a handful who I thought exceeded expectations based on previous viewings, or who were great in this opportunity to see them for the first time. This is not everyone who played well, just a select few, so I will have follow-up articles throughout the week highlighting each player who was in attendance. Thank you to all of the players, parents, and support staff who made this event a success!
Violet is an extremely long, fluid, and somewhat smooth forward. She seemingly glides around the floor effortlessly, and she always plays with a nice motor. Despite needing to gain some strength, she still attempts to seek contact and play the “right” way. She has some touch to near the 3-point line, and I think as she gets stronger, her lefty stroke will be that much more consistent. She could stand to handle the ball a bit lower, especially in tight spaces, but that could improve with added strength. I also like her awareness defensively.
Highlights
C.C. is an intriguing post who I think will only continue to improve as she finishes growing and figures out what she is as an athlete. She has nice length, wiry strength, and she runs the floor fairly well North/South. Right now, laterally quickness and playing lower should be a focus, but that should come naturally with added strength. She has good hands, she understands how to score effectively, and the more she makes her post-moves instinctive, the more dangerous she’ll become down low. I like her willingness to be physical as well.
Highlights
Katie is a solid to strong post with a lot of upside. I first saw her in the Spring, and she looks an inch or two taller since then. She plays with a nice motor, she will pursue rebounds outside of her area, and she’s willing to be physical boxing out/posting up around the paint. She’s a solid athlete who runs the floor fairly well North/South, and as she finishes growing, she should get a little quicker laterally. She was solid scoring the ball, and I think she can add a nice mid-post game, but for now she’s more of a defender/rebounder type.
I know I’ve talked about Brooklynn on multiple occasions, but she just continues to improve and figure out ways to be productive. I haven’t seen her over a long period of time, but she strikes me as a kid where the switch just flipped, and she’s improving rapidly. She’s also growing quickly, and she could see another inch or two in no time. She has a wiry-strong frame, great length, and some bounce. She’s a fairly fluid athlete, she runs the floor well, and she has a nice inside-out game skillfully. As she adds a consistent 3-point shot, watch out.
When I saw Hannah in the Spring, I really liked her versatility as someone who could play effectively with her back to the basket or in the mid-post. However, yesterday she was doing a lot off the bounce, handling the ball in transition, and making plays for others. Her older sister, Kylee, grew to be 6-feet tall, and she had a nice perimeter game to go with her mid-post game. If Hannah continues to develop a similar type of skillset, and she adds another couple of inches, she could be a really nice inside-out forward prospect.
Natalie stood out in the very first game, with her ability to do some things from the low-block and the mid-post. She looks like a strong, traditional post, she has good hands, solid footwork, and she scored the ball around the basket at times. But she also flashed the confidence and touch to bury multiple shots from around 15-feet. She plays with a nice motor, she’ll get after loose balls, and she’s willing to be physical on the boards. If she can remain physical and continue developing her face-up skill, she could be a tough matchup long-term.
Laniah is a long, wiry-strong, fluidly athletic, and bouncy prospect. She absolutely looks the part from the moment you first see her run up and down the floor. She loves to attack the basket and finish inside, she will pursue rebounds outside of her area, plus she is probably a bit more physical inside than I initially thought. She has a natural feel for the game as well. I think she’s athletic enough, that if she put some time in working on her handle and perimeter jumper, she can defend the wing and become more of a small forward.
Highlights
Right now, Naja is an overwhelming, strong, physical, and bouncy athlete. She just dominates opponents with her strength and athleticism, plus she plays with an outstanding motor. She likes to seek contact, and she will play above opponents as well, whether it’s snagging a rebound or scoring over them. She can defend multiple positions, and she works hard at that end as well. I’m not sure she’s going to grow much at all, but she is a talented athlete, so with some skill work on her handle and jump-shot, she can develop into a nice wing.