Conference Look-In: Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference
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The featured image is of Denyha Jacobs Denyha Jacobs 5'7" | SF Warren Central | 2024 State IN (2024) of Warren Central High School. As we approach the midpoint of the 2022-2023 high school season, I wanted to take the…
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Continue ReadingThe featured image is of Denyha Jacobs Denyha Jacobs 5'7" | SF Warren Central | 2024 State IN (2024) of Warren Central High School.
As we approach the midpoint of the 2022-2023 high school season, I wanted to take the time to highlight some of the better conferences in the state. I’ll take a quick look at the teams at the top, statistical leaders, players on the rise, a top Freshman, plus an under-the-radar recruit. In order to select which conferences get the first glance, I’ve taken the Sagarin ratings (as of 12/4/22) of each team in each conference and averaged them out to give each conference a “score”, if you will. As for individual statistical leaders, I am working off of whatever has currently been provided on MaxPreps. If your team’s stats on MaxPreps are incomplete, I apologize, but please ask your coach to put them there if you would like to be considered for stat-based portions in the future.
MIC Team Standings:
Warren Central (8-2 overall, 2-0 MIC)
Lawrence North (8-3, 1-0)
Ben Davis (6-3, 1-1)
North Central (4-5, 1-1)
Lawrence Central (3-2, 0-1)
Pike (2-7, 0-2)
The MIC took on some major changes, as Carmel and Center Grove are no longer involved. Several other teams have reversed roles as well. North Central has suffered major graduation losses the last couple of seasons, so they are young and learning. Pike is another team adjusting to players in new/bigger roles, plus a new coach, but they have competed most nights. Warren Central might have their best team since their 2018 Class 4A State Championship. They rebound and defend as well as anyone. Lawrence Central is on the rise with a talented group of youngsters. Lawrence North and Ben Davis join Warren Central at the top with veteran experience, and the Wildcats & Giants have been very steady for some time now. Honestly, anyone in this field can win the MIC, but Warren Central has a nice head start at 2-0 and having already beaten Ben Davis.
MIC Statistical Leaders:
Scoring Leaders: | Rebounding Leaders: | Assist Leaders: |
Jaylah Lampley Jaylah Lampley 6'2" | SF Lawrence Central | 2025 State IN , 2025, LCHS: 18.2 | Cristen Carter Cristen Carter 6'3" | C Ben Davis | 2023 State IN , 2023, BDHS: 13.2 | Sanaa Thomas Sanaa Thomas 5'5" | PG Warren Central | 2023 State IN , 2023, WCHS: 7.0 |
Cristen Carter Cristen Carter 6'3" | C Ben Davis | 2023 State IN , 2023, BDHS: 18.0 | Asiah Baxter Asiah Baxter 5'10" | SF Warren Central | 2023 State IN , 2023, WCHS: 11.6 | Kaleah Toomer Kaleah Toomer 5'10" | SF Ben Davis | 2023 State IN , 2023, BDHS: 3.8 |
Denyha Jacobs Denyha Jacobs 5'7" | SF Warren Central | 2024 State IN , 2024, WCHS: 16.7 | Denyha Jacobs Denyha Jacobs 5'7" | SF Warren Central | 2024 State IN , 2024, WCHS: 7.1 | Laila Abdurraqib Laila Abdurraqib 5'7" | PG Lawrence Central | 2025 State IN , 2025, LCHS: 3.8 |
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Steals Leaders: | 3-Pointers Made: | Free Throw %: |
Denyha Jacobs Denyha Jacobs 5'7" | SF Warren Central | 2024 State IN , 2024, WCHS: 5.2 | Laniya Early Laniya Early 5'10" | SF Lawrence North | 2023 State IN , 2023, LNHS: 18 | Laila Abdurraqib Laila Abdurraqib 5'7" | PG Lawrence Central | 2025 State IN , 2025, LCHS: 84% |
Lola Lampley Lola Lampley 6'3" | PF Lawrence Central | 2026 State IN , 2026, LCHS: 4.0 | Monica Williams Monica Williams 5'10" | SF Lawrence North | 2023 State IN , 2023, LNHS: 15 | Kamara Mills, 2024, LNHS: 79% |
Monica Williams Monica Williams 5'10" | SF Lawrence North | 2023 State IN , 2023, LNHS: 3.8 | Zoe Wheeler, 2024, BDHS: 13 | Kya Hurt Kya Hurt 5'7" | PG Lawrence North | 2025 State IN , 2025, LNHS: 79% |
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On The Rise:
Denyha Jacobs
Denyha
Jacobs
5'7" | SF
Warren Central | 2024
State
IN
, 2024, 5-7 G/W, Warren Central H.S.
– Denyha began her career at Lawrence Central, and she was in the mix, contributed regularly, and would have been solid there again this season. But she is now at Warren Central, and she’s a key to their up-tempo lineup, averaging nearly 17 points per game, rebounding the ball well defensively, and causing havoc at that end as well, leading the conference in steals. She is a strong, physical wing, she is always on attack off of the dribble, and she is really good at scoring it inside of 15-feet or at the basket. She has improved her perimeter shooting as well, and that certainly helps her versatility offensively, plus she has always been a nice facilitator for teammates.
Under-The-Radar Recruit:
Laniya Early
Laniya
Early
5'10" | SF
Lawrence North | 2023
State
IN
, 2023, 5-10 W, Lawrence North H.S.
– Lawrence North typically possesses a lot of guard/wing talent, so at times you find players who might not post huge numbers, but who have noticeable ability and/or skill. Laniya is an athletically built, run-and-jump kid, who can fly around the floor and make plays at either end. She can defend multiple types of guards and wings, plus she’s tough-nosed, in-your-face, and aggressive as well. Offensively, she is more of a slasher who uses her physical talents to get places, but she can create offense for herself or others, and she does a nice job of slicing through the defense to get to the rim. She can also knock down the occasional 3-pointer, keeping opponents honest.
Impressive Freshman:
Lola Lampley
Lola
Lampley
6'3" | PF
Lawrence Central | 2026
State
IN
, 2026, 6-3 W/F, Lawrence Central H.S.
– This seems like such an obvious and easy choice, as Lola is a top prospect nationally. In her young career, she has already shown the ability to score the ball at all levels, she is a physically dominant and athletic talent who can play consistently at all three levels, and I’ve been most impressed with her attention to detail at the defensive end of the floor so far this season, averaging 4.0 steals per game. She is also averaging 12.8 points per game through five games, but as she continues to learn & grow, and she utilizes her size and overwhelms opponents, earning more free throw opportunities, she can easily boost that to about 17 or 18 points per game later this season.