I-65 South & I-74 East to the Ohio River
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The featured image is of Kayla Tamm (2025) of Greensburg High School. 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…
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Continue ReadingThe featured image is of Kayla Tamm (2025) of Greensburg High School.
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 Hoosier State’s different regions and the prospects who should shine this Winter throughout those regions. As we near the end of these reports, we have a couple of odd-shaped areas left to cover. This article will focus on the ladies from Brown County and Jackson County, East to the Ohio State Line and the Ohio River. It specifically includes the counties of Bartholomew, Brown, Dearborn, Decatur, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Jennings, Ohio, Ripley, and Switzerland. There are 27 total schools spread throughout those 11 counties, and there is nice balance in terms of school sizes, with five being from class 4A, seven being from Class 3A, seven being from Class 2A, and eight being from Class A.
It has been a few years, but over a four-year stretch within the last eight seasons, the area has seen a lot of tournament success. Jac-Cen-Del (2015-2016 Class A) and Columbus North (2014-2015 Class 4A) have each won state titles, while Columbus North (2015-2016 Class 4A) and Greensburg (2017-2018 Class 3A) have each been state runners-up in their respective classes. The combination of these 27 schools have also produced quite a bit of talent, with a number of girls moving on to college basketball of levels. Recently, players like Hope Fox (East Central 2022), Koryn Greiwe (Columbus East 2022), Katherine Benter (Brownstown Central 2021), Sydney Jaynes (Trinity Lutheran 2021), Paige Ledford (Jac-Cen-Del 2021), Jade Nutley (Madison 2021), Kyrstin Bond (South Dearborn 2020), Aliyah Evans (Greensburg 2020), Juliana Kemper (Lawrenceburg 2020), Makenna Fee (Seymour 2019), and Hattie Westerfeld (Batesville 2019) have represented these counties well. Fox and Jaynes were also selected as Indiana All-Stars in their respective graduating classes.
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 11 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 the counties of Bartholomew, Brown, Dearborn, Decatur, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Jennings, Ohio, Ripley, and Switzerland.
Like a lot of the smaller guards in the state, Lauren is incredibly energetic, tough-nosed, and hard-working. She plays with a very competitive fire, and she can play both on and off the ball. She is a highly accurate perimeter shooter, so screening to get her open outside is a must. But she also has a solid handle, she can initiate/run offense, and she is a willing passer with a nice all-around feel for the game. She’s also a quality athlete in most directions, and as she’s aged, she has really learned how to change speeds and sense tone in a game.
I first saw Madelyn during the state tournament her Freshman year, and she was already impactful for the Lady Chargers. She hasn’t been a grassroots participant, so not many people know her on a statewide level, but she can play. She has really nice length, wiry strength, and very good North/South speed for a wing. She can handle the ball a little, she prefers to attack the basket off the bounce, and she plays with a lot of energy. I also like her ability to defend multiple positions, and I think she can be a really nice small college contributor.
Lizzie has continually improved from year to year, and as a Senior should be a focal point for the Lady Tigers. She has a solid to strong frame with some length. She’s a nice North/South athlete, she plays with a good motor, and she’s physical for a wing. She does a nice job of moving without the basketball and finding open shots at all levels, but she’s especially dangerous as a 3-point weapon. Having played a little inside in the past, she is a nice rebounder, and she’s capable of defending bigger players as well.
Highlights
Alivia unfortunately missed the Spring and Summer grassroots season in 2022 due to a knee injury, but she should be back to contribute for the Lady Panthers this Winter. Alivia is a high-motor, high-energy competitor. She is always on the floor collecting loose balls, she’s a great rebounder at her size, and she seeks contact and loves to mix it up inside. She’s probably most comfortable in the mid-post, and she’s an athletic attacker off the bounce, but she also has a developing perimeter skillset plus the versatility to defend guards and/or wings.
Highlights
Madi is another nice, young star for the North Decatur Lady Chargers, and she is primed for a big year alongside Madelyn Bohman Madelyn Bohman 5’9″ | SF North Decatur | 2023 IN (above). Madi Allen Madi Allen 5’9″ | SG North Decatur | 2025 State IN is another long, wiry-strong wing type of prospect. She is a very nice athlete in all directions, she plays with a motor, and she actually acts as their primary ball-handler quite a bit and is a point forward by nature. She can attack the basket for scores, she’s solid in the mid-post, and while she doesn’t take a ton of perimeter jumpers, she is fairly accurate outside. She’s also a versatile defender.
Additional Southeastern Indiana Prospects in Our Rankings for 2023-2025:
Leah Bachmann
Leah
Bachmann
6'0" | C
Columbus East | 2023
State
IN
, 2023, Columbus East H.S.
Laney Baker
Laney
Baker
5'8" | CG
East Central | 2023
State
IN
, 2023, East Central H.S.
Rylie Boezeman
Rylie
Boezeman
5'7" | SG
Columbus North | 2023
IN
, 2023, Columbus North H.S., committed to Marian for Lacrosse
Allison Craig
Allison
Craig
5'7" | SG
Columbus East | 2023
IN
, 2023, Columbus East H.S.
Madelyn Hackman
Madelyn
Hackman
5'8" | SG
Brownstown Central | 2023
State
IN
, 2023, Brownstown Central H.S.
Emma Long
Emma
Long
5'9" | SG
Columbus North | 2023
IN
, 2023, Columbus North H.S.
Saige Stahl
Saige
Stahl
6'1" | PF
Columbus East | 2023
State
IN
, 2023, Columbus East H.S., committed to Indiana State
Bailey Tabeling
Bailey
Tabeling
5'10" | SG
Trinity Lutheran | 2023
State
IN
, 2023, Trinity Lutheran H.S., committed to Ohio
Josie Trabel
Josie
Trabel
6'0" | PF
East Central | 2023
State
IN
, 2023, East Central H.S.
Journee Brown
Journee
Brown
6'1" | C
Seymour | 2024
IN
, 2024, Seymour H.S.
Alexis Carson
Alexis
Carson
6'0" | C
Jennings County | 2024
IN
, 2024, Jennings County H.S.
Liza Froedge
Liza
Froedge
5'10" | SF
Trinity Lutheran | 2024
IN
, 2024, Trinity Lutheran H.S.
Jenna Guse
Jenna
Guse
5'9" | SG
Columbus East | 2024
IN
, 2024, Columbus East H.S.
Madelyn Poe
Madelyn
Poe
5'6" | PG
Columbus East | 2024
State
IN
, 2024, Hauser H.S.
Elise Preston
Elise
Preston
5'7" | CG
Columbus North | 2024
IN
, 2024, Columbus North H.S.
Kendall Sterling
Kendall
Sterling
5'10" | SF
Seymour | 2024
State
IN
, 2024, Seymour H.S.
Juliann Woodard
Juliann
Woodard
6'1" | PF
Jennings County | 2024
State
IN
, 2024, Jennings County H.S.
Anabell Hunter
Anabell
Hunter
5'11" | PF
Columbus North | 2025
IN
, 2025, Columbus North H.S.
Kayla Tamm, 2025, Greensburg H.S.
Leah West
Leah
West
6'1" | PF
Greensburg | 2025
State
IN
, 2025, Greensburg H.S.
Mylie Wilkison
Mylie
Wilkison
5'7" | CG
Greensburg | 2025
State
IN
, 2025, Greensburg H.S.