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The featured image is of Lauren Walsh Lauren Walsh 5'7" | PG Penn | 2024 State IN (2024) of Penn High School. As the Spring grassroots season comes to an end and prospects return to their school teams for an…
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Continue ReadingThe featured image is of Lauren Walsh Lauren Walsh 5'7" | PG Penn | 2024 State IN (2024) of Penn High School.
As the Spring grassroots season comes to an end and prospects return to their school teams for an intense month of June, I wanted to take the time to update some of the bigger areas of the state. Saint Joseph and Elkhart Counties combined, plus the surrounding areas, have produced some of the state’s better teams over the past few years. They possess talent, and a great deal of that talent hidden from year to year, so here is a look at who headlines each class in the area.
.
CLASS OF 2024
The Class of 2024 in the South Bend/Elkhart area has a really nice balance of talent for next season, and it seems like dynamic duos headline the region. 6-2 Goshen post
Kyra Hill
Kyra
Hill
6'2" | C
Goshen | 2024
State
IN
is a 2023 Junior All-Star and stands atop the group with her strong interior play, though she is currently working through an injury. Elkhart has a talented and athletic backcourt, led by
Samiyah Stout
Samiyah
Stout
5'7" | CG
Elkhart | 2024
State
IN
and
Jaya Johnson
Jaya
Johnson
5'7" | SG
Elkhart | 2024
IN
. Stout is a dynamic playmaker and scorer with the ball in her hands, and she is one of the state’s better guards. Johnson is a really nice run & jump athlete who can make plays inside and out. Northridge brings a nice pair of players to the table in guard
Morgan Cross
Morgan
Cross
5'7" | CG
Northridge | 2024
State
IN
and forward
Gaby Gates
Gaby
Gates
5'11" | PF
Northridge | 2024
State
IN
. Cross can play either backcourt spot and is a nice perimeter shooter, while Gates is a versatile inside-out threat and a strong athlete. The duo of
Mariah Stoltzfus
Mariah
Stoltzfus
5'2" | PG
Bethany Christian | 2024
State
IN
and
Zoe Willems
Zoe
Willems
5'7" | SG
Bethany Christian | 2024
State
IN
put themselves on the map this February, leading Bethany Christian to the Class 1A State Finals. Stoltzfus is a tough-nosed, dynamic playmaker who brings her heart and soul to the court every game. Willems is a multilevel shot-maker who can play much bigger than her 5-7 frame might suggest. Guard
Justyce Williams
Justyce
Williams
5'8" | CG
Jimtown | 2024
State
IN
helped the Jimmies to nine wins last season, their most since the 2010-2011 season. Williams is another athletic guard, and she has already verbally committed to Indiana’s Bethel University. Also keep an eye on Penn point guard
Lauren Walsh
Lauren
Walsh
5'7" | PG
Penn | 2024
State
IN
. She is a transplant from North Carolina, but she has made Northern Indiana home the last two years, and she is a really nice, traditional point guard colleges will definitely enjoy.
.
CLASS OF 2025
Despite the graduation of three Indiana All-Stars between the 2022 and 2023 classes, South Bend Washington remains strong behind an incredibly talented 2025 class. Headlining that group is 6-4 inside-out forward
Kira Reynolds
Kira
Reynolds
6'4" | PF
South Bend Washington | 2025
State
IN
. She has tremendous skill, great athletic talent, and she can affect the game in many different ways. Forward
Monique Mitchell
Monique
Mitchell
5'11" | SF
South Bend Washington | 2025
State
IN
and guard
Ryiah Wilson
Ryiah
Wilson
5'8" | CG
South Bend Washington | 2025
State
IN
have seen their college interest skyrocket following two strong “live” periods this Spring. Mitchell is a talented run & jump athlete who can play at all three levels effectively. Wilson is a fast and athletic point guard who can defend the ball 84-feet, plus she’s quite the creator offensively. But that’s not all for the Lady Panthers. 6-2 forward
Zion Belcher-Arill
Zion
Belcher-Arill
6'2" | PF
Campbell Hall | 2025
CA
moved in from Michigan early this past season and contributes the combination of size, strength, and skill, while 5-11 forward
Ayanna Nicholson
Ayanna
Nicholson
5'11" | PF
South Bend Washington | 2025
IN
is another strong and physical front-liner who adds rebounding and a defensive presence. Also standing out this Spring is Penn guard Jessa Troy. She has a long-running reputation as a perimeter shooter, but she is also a strong and physical perimeter player who has developed into a solid on-the-ball option offensively and can play anywhere in the backcourt. Another intriguing prospect is 6-1 front-liner
Claire Payne
Claire
Payne
6'1" | C
NorthWood | 2025
State
IN
of NorthWood. She is a multisport athlete, but she is a potential double-double machine on the basketball court.
.
CLASS OF 2026
There are a few nice prospects in the Class of 2026, maybe not nearly as loaded at the top as 2024 or 2025, but still several ladies worth a hard look for colleges. Northridge wing
Camryn Conley
Camryn
Conley
5'11" | SF
Northridge | 2026
State
IN
might be the most intriguing of the bunch. She is extremely long, fluid, and fairly smooth athletically, plus she is a dangerous perimeter shooter when she’s able to get her feet set and find rhythm. Fairfield wing
Eva Herbert
Eva
Herbert
5'11" | SF
Fairfield | 2026
State
IN
has some similarities to Conley, and Herbert saw quite a bit of opportunity as a Freshman for a very good Fairfield team that made it to Indianapolis in February. Another prospect I’ve thoroughly enjoyed watching this spring is
Shaniyah Stout
Shaniyah
Stout
5'8" | PF
Elkhart | 2026
IN
, the younger sister of Samiyah (2024 above). Shaniyah is a strong, physical forward, who can play at all three levels. She can rebound and defend the interior, she can score it from the mid-post, and she’s somewhat comfortable around the perimeter as well.