Winter Rankings Review: 2023 Small Forwards

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last Friday, we released the Winter rankings update for the Class of 2023. There were more than 25 new additions, plus a few players who raised their "stock", so to speak, so subsequently there was some movement throughout the list. I wanted to take this time to circle back and address all of the ranked prospects, position by position. Below is a look at 65 small forward prospects who make up 26.0% of the rankings this time around, with analysis on a handful to "keep an eye on" detailed at the bottom.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="#FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong><font size="+1">Rank</font></strong></td><td><strong><font size="+1">Name</font></strong></td><td><strong><font size="+1">Height</font></strong></td><td><strong><font size="+1">High School</font></strong></td><td><strong><font size="+1">Commitment</font></strong></td></tr><tr><td>1.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='59762' first='McKenna' last='Layden']</td><td>6-2</td><td>Northwestern</td><td><em>Purdue</em></td></tr><tr><td>2.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='96087' first='Riley' last='Makalusky']</td><td>6-2</td><td>Hamilton Southeastern</td><td><em>Butler</em></td></tr><tr><td>3.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='96091' first='Renna' last='Schwieterman']</td><td>6-0</td><td>Jay County</td><td><em>Purdue Fort Wayne</em></td></tr><tr><td>4.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='155437' first='Monica' last='Williams']</td><td>5-10</td><td>Lawrence North</td><td><em>Ohio</em></td></tr><tr><td>5.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='59751' first='Layla' last='Gold']</td><td>6-0</td><td>Cathedral</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>6.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='96077' first='Ava' last='Couch']</td><td>5-10</td><td>North Central (Indianapolis)</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>7.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='59726' first='Asiah' last='Baxter']</td><td>5-10</td><td>Warren Central</td><td><em>Ohio</em></td></tr><tr><td>8.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='59778' first='Alison' last='Stephens']</td><td>5-11</td><td>Homestead</td><td><em>Nebraska Omaha</em></td></tr><tr><td>9.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='155438' first='Kaleah' last='Toomer']</td><td>5-10</td><td>Ben Davis</td><td><em>Indianapolis</em></td></tr><tr><td>10.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='59758' first='Saniya' last='Jackson']</td><td>6-0</td><td>Fort Wayne Northrop</td><td><em>Valparaiso</em></td></tr><tr><td>11.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='127226' first='Bailey' last='Kelham']</td><td>5-10</td><td>Garrett</td><td><em>Huntington</em></td></tr><tr><td>12.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='127211' first='Emily' last='Mattingly']</td><td>5-10</td><td>Evansville Memorial</td><td><em>Indiana Wesleyan</em></td></tr><tr><td>13.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='59759' first='Nevaeh' last='Jackson']</td><td>6-0</td><td>Fort Wayne Northrop</td><td><em>Valparaiso</em></td></tr><tr><td>14.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='59747' first='Riley' last='Flinn']</td><td>5-11</td><td>West Lafayette Harrison</td><td><em>Transylvania</em></td></tr><tr><td>15.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='203658' first='Taylor' last='Double']</td><td>5-10</td><td>Huntington North</td><td><em>Marian</em></td></tr><tr><td>16.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='59744' first='Julia' last='Economou']</td><td>5-11</td><td>Penn</td><td><em>Purdue (Track/XC)</em></td></tr><tr><td>17.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='127210' first='Hannah' last='Lach']</td><td>5-10</td><td>Carmel</td><td><em>DePauw</em></td></tr><tr><td>18.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='127212' first='Laniya' last='Early']</td><td>5-10</td><td>Lawrence North</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>19.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='127219' first='Caitlyn' last='Campbell']</td><td>5-11</td><td>Winchester</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>20.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='96074' first='Allison' last='Capouch']</td><td>5-11</td><td>Kouts</td><td><em>Trine</em></td></tr><tr><td>21.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='127242' first='Olivia' last='Waters']</td><td>5-11</td><td>Blackford</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>22.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='300067' first='Kyndell' last='Jochim']</td><td>5-11</td><td>Franklin Community</td><td><em>Huntington</em></td></tr><tr><td>23.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='178232' first='Ava' last='Weber']</td><td>5-11</td><td>Corydon Central</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>24.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='203652' first='Autumn' last='Rucker']</td><td>5-8</td><td>Pike</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>25.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='203661' first='Anjelicia' last='Del Valle']</td><td>5-9</td><td>Portage</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>26.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='59728' first='Lydia' last='Betz']</td><td>5-10</td><td>Forest Park</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>27.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='96081' first='Lizzie' last='Graham']</td><td>5-8</td><td>Triton Central</td><td><em>IU-South Bend</em></td></tr><tr><td>28.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='59786' first='Sydney' last='Warran']</td><td>6-0</td><td>Cascade</td><td><em>Illinois-Springfield</em></td></tr><tr><td>29.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='59725' first='Teegan' last='Acres']</td><td>5-10</td><td>Hamilton Southeastern</td><td><em>Huntington</em></td></tr><tr><td>30.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='59791' first='Isabelle' last='Wooten']</td><td>5-8</td><td>Danville</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>31.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='178238' first='Skylar' last='Bos']</td><td>6-0</td><td>DeMotte Christian</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>32.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='96076' first='Alexia' last='Cole']</td><td>5-9</td><td>Pike</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>33.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='59772' first='Payton' last='Seay']</td><td>5-6</td><td>University</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>34.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='372345' first='Brooke' last='Lindesmith']</td><td>5-9</td><td>Crown Point</td><td><em>Holy Cross-IN</em></td></tr><tr><td>35.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='59777' first='Ava' last='Sowder']</td><td>5-8</td><td>Eastern (Pekin)</td><td><em>Hanover</em></td></tr><tr><td>36.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='300066' first='Sydney' last='Brown']</td><td>5-9</td><td>Salem</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>37.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='361750' first='Lizzie' last='Redar']</td><td>5-10</td><td>Lawrenceburg</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>38.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='127243' first='Ava' last='Weisheit']</td><td>5-9</td><td>Gibson Southern</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>39.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='127244' first='Camryn' last='Wise']</td><td>5-10</td><td>Wapahani</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>40..</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='300071' first='Sophia' last='Frasure']</td><td>5-9</td><td>North Judson-San Pierre</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>41.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='127231' first='Abby' last='Parsons']</td><td>5-8</td><td>Cascade</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>42.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='300078' first='Morgan' last='Lawrence']</td><td>5-8</td><td>Winchester</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>43.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='241190' first='Madelyn' last='Bohman']</td><td>5-9</td><td>North Decatur</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>44.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='127217' first='Lydia' last='Bordfeld']</td><td>5-11</td><td>Evansville Memorial</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>45.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='241196' first='Hannah' last='Stutsman']</td><td>5-9</td><td>Scottsburg</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>46.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='127218' first='Olivia' last='Burkett']</td><td>5-8</td><td>North Judson-San Pierre</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>47.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='460826' first='Shayla' last='Alexander']</td><td>5-9</td><td>Mishawaka Marian</td><td><em>Bethel-IN</em></td></tr><tr><td>48.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='96083' first='Kennedy' last='Hayden']</td><td>5-9</td><td>John Glenn</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>49.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='410037' first='Lela' last='Scott']</td><td>5-10</td><td>Southport</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>50.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='331785' first='Myah' last='Johnson']</td><td>5-9</td><td>Jeffersonville</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>51.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='372352' first='Faith' last='Riehl']</td><td>5-7</td><td>Lakeland</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>52.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='574552' first='Tranika' last='Randolph']</td><td>5-7</td><td>Lake Station Edison</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>53.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='574554' first='Mallory' last='Pride']</td><td>5-9</td><td>Bedford North Lawrence</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>54.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='96090' first='Leah' last='Petty']</td><td>5-8</td><td>Warren Central</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>55.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='516350' first='Natalie' last='Fernandez']</td><td>5-9</td><td>Guerin Catholic</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>56.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='406158' first='Hannah' last='Hodgen']</td><td>5-10</td><td>Twin Lakes</td><td><em>IU-Kokomo</em></td></tr><tr><td>57.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='372359' first='Gretchen' last='Farley']</td><td>5-7</td><td>Park Tudor</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>58.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='574557' first='Ashley' last='Lewis']</td><td>5-9</td><td>Monrovia</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>59.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='460827' first='Brighton' last='Bird']</td><td>5-9</td><td>Culver Academy</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>60.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='127224' first='Mya-Lee' last='Jackson']</td><td>5-8</td><td>Merrillville</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>61.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='460829' first='Charity' last='Beal']</td><td>5-10</td><td>Hamilton Southeastern</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>62.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='460836' first='Deannaya' last='Haseman']</td><td>5-8</td><td>Lapel</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>63.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='59750' first='Madison' last='Geary']</td><td>5-8</td><td>Heritage Christian</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>64.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='460842' first='Mallory' last='Barrow']</td><td>5-10</td><td>Bloomington North</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>65.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='59782' first='Lillian' last='Tolmen']</td><td>5-8</td><td>South Central (Union Mills)</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="#FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">NEW ADDITIONS:</font></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='460842' first='Mallory' last='Barrow'], Bloomington North - Versatile forward can play inside-out. Good perimeter shooting threat.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='127224' first='Mya-Lee' last='Jackson'], Merrillville - Strong, physical, and fairly athletic wing. Attacks, rebounds, and defends.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='574557' first='Ashley' last='Lewis'], Monrovia - Long, fluid, somewhat smooth wing. Good shooter, can score at all levels.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='574554' first='Mallory' last='Pride'], Bedford North Lawrence - Long, wiry-strong, well-balanced wing. Skilled compliment on a loaded BNL team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='574552' first='Tranika' last='Randolph'], Lake Station Edison - Athletic wing, can play some guard, some forward. Multilevel scoring threat.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='59782' first='Lillian' last='Tolmen'], South Central (Union Mills) - Strong wing, has ball skill like a point forward. Good feel and basketball IQ.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="#FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">KEEP AN EYE ON:</font></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["127212"],"_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":"Laniya is a really nice athlete with a lot of upside for the next level. She has a strong frame, nice length, and end-to-end speed. She can sit down and defend a combination of guards, wings, and forwards 84-feet, and she makes plays off the ball defensively as well. Offensively is where she has improved the most throughout high school. She could stand to tighten her handle a little, but she can push it in transition, and you aren't going to just take it from her. And while she has typically been great attacking the basket, she's shooting 38% from 3-point range this year as well.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["127242"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Liv is a really nice, versatile wing prospect who is probably still a little underrecruited at this time. She has good height, wiry strength, she's skilled, and she understands how to play. She can handle the ball and act as a point forward type, and she can create offense for herself off the bounce as well. She's also a solid enough shooter to keep defenses honest. Defensively, at times, she has needed to protect the paint to help her high school team (u003cemu003ebecause she's the tallest kidu003c/emu003e), but she's crafty and understands how to get a lot of deflections, steals, and blocked shots from all levels.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["178232"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Ava is just a ballplayer, and she'll likely graduate with more than 1500 points, 600 rebounds, 200 assists, and 200 steals. She is a fairly strong athlete who plays with an outstanding motor, and she can play all over the floor. She can handle the ball like a point forward, she has good vision, and she makes a lot of plays in transition. In the half-court, she prefers to operate in the mid-post, where she can attack the basket in one dribble or knock down the 15-footer. Defensively, she can take on bigger guards, wings, and undersized forwards as well, plus she has a nose for the ball.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":3,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63b5db214549d"} /-->