North Central Indiana
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The featured image is of Ashlee Schram Ashlee Schram 6'3" | C Tipton | 2023 State IN (2023) of Tipton High School. Four years ago, when I first started with Prep Girls Hoops, I introduced different areas of the state…
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Continue ReadingThe featured image is of Ashlee Schram Ashlee Schram 6'3" | C Tipton | 2023 State IN (2023) of Tipton 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. This article will focus on the ladies in North Central Indiana, and specifically the counties of Cass, Fulton, Howard, Miami, Pulaski, Tipton, and Wabash. There are 21 total schools spread throughout those seven counties, and there is a strong small school influence of schools, with just two being from class 4A, five being from Class 3A, nine being from Class 2A, and five being from Class A.
Over the last ten years, the area has seen a great deal of tournament success. Northwestern had a dominant three-year stretch, winning Class 3A state titles in 2018 and 2019, plus they collected a Class 4A runner-up trophy in 2020. Pioneer was the Class A runner-up in 2020 and the Class A state champion in 2021, before moving to Class 2A last season. Additionally, Western earned 2014 Class 3A state champ honors, while Tipton (2021) and Eastern (2013) were Class 2A runners-up. The combination of these 21 schools have also produced a great deal of talent, with a number of girls moving on to college basketball of all levels. Recently, players like Hailey Cripe (Pioneer 2022), Lilly Maple (Maconaquah 2022), Chloe McClain (Kokomo 2022), Emma Hoover (Northfield 2021), Haley Scott (Western 2021), Kendall Bostic (Northwestern 2020), Elle Deardorff (Logansport 2020), Madison Layden (Northwestern 2020), Taylor Boruff (Taylor 2019), Cassidy Crawford (Tipton 2019), and Ariel Dale (Northfield 2019) have represented this area well at the next level. Plus, Bostic and Layden were each selected as 2020 Indiana All-Stars.
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 seven 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 Cass, Fulton, Howard, Miami, Pulaski, Tipton, and Wabash.
Ella is a tough-nosed, strong-for-her-size guard who plays with a great deal of competitive energy. She does have some ball skill and can initiate the offense from time to time, but she is a scorer at heart. She is a dangerous perimeter shooter with some range, so you can’t allow her much space or the ability to get into any rhythm whatsoever. She is also a solid athlete who can attack the basket off the bounce and draw contact/free throws. She is a really nice small college prospect who can definitely help someone at the next level.
Caroline is a twin, and her sister is listed below. She is a strong, somewhat powerful, and physical frontline prospect who can play either a power forward or undersized center role. She has nice length, and she plays with a great motor/competitive fire. She has good hands, solid footwork, and she has shown nice touch from the mid-post this year. She has drawn a lot of small college interest this Summer, because she is one of those kids who always figures out a way to produce. If she could defend out on the floor a little better, it could only help.
Gabby is a nonstop ball of energy who flies around the floor. She is strong at her size, she’s more so quick than fast, and she tries to make plays constantly. In the past, her approach has gotten her into trouble at times, but as she has aged, she has learned to let the game come to her more, she has shown improved vision, therefore she has become a more efficient player at both ends of the floor. She has some touch outside, but she’s better playing off the bounce. She can also really get after defensively, and she’ll bother opposing ball-handlers.
Isabel has been a huge reason the Lady Comets have been highly competitive the last two seasons. She is a do-everything type of ballplayer. She can act as a point forward, initiate the offense, and create scoring opportunities for teammates. She’s also a nice downhill attacker who can get to the basket and finish/draw fouls. Additionally, she rebounds aggressively, even those caroms outside of her area, and she’s an effortful defender who can take on bigger guards, wings, and forwards. Her versatility should draw elite small college interest.
Additional North Central Indiana Prospects in Our Rankings for 2023-2025:
Ashlynn Brooke
Ashlynn
Brooke
5'7" | PG
Pioneer | 2023
State
IN
, 2023, Pioneer H.S., committed to Ball State
McKenna Layden
McKenna
Layden
6'2" | SF
Northwestern | 2023
State
IN
, 2023, Northwestern H.S., committed to Purdue
Lily Long
Lily
Long
5'10" | PF
Western | 2023
IN
, 2023, Western H.S.
Logan Mouser
Logan
Mouser
5'6" | CG
North Miami | 2023
IN
, 2023, North Miami H.S.
Ashlee Schram
Ashlee
Schram
6'3" | C
Tipton | 2023
State
IN
, 2023, Tipton H.S.
Anna Bishir
Anna
Bishir
5'7" | CG
Northwestern | 2025
IN
, 2025, Northwestern H.S.
Brookelynn Buzzard
Brookelynn
Buzzard
5'7" | CG
Manchester | 2025
State
IN
, 2025, Manchester H.S.