2023 Grassroots Honors: 16U
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The featured image is of Kennedy Holman Kennedy Holman 5'8" | PG Hamilton Southeastern | 2026 State IN (2026) of Hamilton Southeastern High School. Now that the Spring & Summer grassroots seasons have come to an end, I wanted to…
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Continue ReadingThe featured image is of Kennedy Holman Kennedy Holman 5'8" | PG Hamilton Southeastern | 2026 State IN (2026) of Hamilton Southeastern High School.
Now that the Spring & Summer grassroots seasons have come to an end, I wanted to take the time to offer up a handful of awards based on how participants in 16U performed during that stretch from March of 2023 through July of 2023. As it concerns many of these awards, my decision was based on a number of criteria, from skill, ability, and basketball IQ to production and impact on their team when I was able to see them, while also taking into consideration the level of competition they were playing against. There are obviously multiple candidates for each award below, and I’m sure I missed a big performance here or there, but this is simply an attempt to honor those who I thought stood out when I had the opportunity to see them, and their teams play.
.
TOP 16U HONORS
These postseason awards are an attempt at honoring girls who I thought stood out in the 16U division. Typically, there are multiple candidates for each award, and every award can be easily debatable, but I chose the individuals below based on who I thought filled the description the best. Each award is determined through different criteria, as some awards are based primarily on opinion, while others are decided with a heavy influence from success and statistical productivity when viewed.
Top 16U Team:
IGB
GUAA
– There were several really good 16U teams this year in Indiana, but this
IGB
group stood out to me because, not only were they highly competitive, but of the 11 ladies who consistently played for them throughout the year, they rostered four 2026s and a 2027 who if they didn’t start each game, played “starter’s minutes”. As a group, they were 11-4 overall in the GUAA, finishing near the Top-5 teams in 16U (out of 32). There are so many good players on this group you can talk about, but I felt like Sophomore forward
Kayla Stidham
Kayla
Stidham
6'0" | SF
Hamilton Southeastern | 2026
State
IN
probably improved her recruiting the most this Summer. She looked leaner and more explosive, and she seemed to turn the corner in becoming a multilevel scorer instead of a perimeter shooter. She can still shoot it at an extremely high level, but I really enjoyed seeing her start to attack the rim more aggressively, while also being quicker laterally at the defensive end of the floor. Sophomore forward
Brooklynn Renn
Brooklynn
Renn
6'3" | PF
Silver Creek | 2026
State
IN
also turned some heads this Summer with her improved skillset. She is so smooth and fluid as a 6-2 athlete, but now her abilities to put it on the floor or shoot over defenses are making her a standout in her class. I’m not convinced she’s finished growing either, but as she gets stronger, she will be a legitimate National prospect. I also felt like Junior guard
Ella Bobe
Ella
Bobe
5'9" | CG
South Knox | 2025
State
IN
helped herself, especially during the Spring. There isn’t a lot of familiarity with her on a statewide level, being from the Vincennes area, but she is a strong, versatile, athletic combo guard who does most things at a high level. I would expect to see her (and her school team) make deep playoff runs these next two high school seasons. Other members of this
IGB
team include:
Kenzie Garner
Kenzie
Garner
6'0" | SF
Sheridan | 2025
State
IN
,
Jamaya Thomas
Jamaya
Thomas
6'1" | C
Lawrence North | 2025
State
IN
,
Kaycie Warfel
Kaycie
Warfel
5'9" | SG
Pendleton Heights | 2025
State
IN
,
Mylie Wilkison
Mylie
Wilkison
5'7" | CG
Greensburg | 2025
State
IN
,
Maine Hooks
Maine
Hooks
5'8" | SF
Hamilton Southeastern | 2025
IN
,
Kennedy Holman
Kennedy
Holman
5'8" | PG
Hamilton Southeastern | 2026
State
IN
,
Laniah Wills
Laniah
Wills
6'0" | SF
Lapel | 2026
State
IN
, and Hannah Menser.
Most Outstanding Player:
IGB
GUAA
– While I realize “K.K.” was playing “up”, in what I was able to see, she was the most consistently impactful player for her team, and it wasn’t always about just scoring the basketball. She is a tremendous floor general with unique vision, passing, and ball-handling skills. She is incredibly long, still growing, and quick, fast, and athletic in all directions. She made more non-scoring plays than anyone, but she did score it too, plus she plays with poise, and she has become an excellent defender who can guard both on and off the ball. As she continues to get stronger, look for her to take off even more…if possible.
Best Leader:
Lilly Bischoff
Lilly
Bischoff
5'8" | PG
Center Grove | 2025
State
IN
, 2025, 5-8 PG, Center Grove H.S.,
Indiana Elite
Prime 3SSB
– This was a tough call, because there are several really nice candidates for this spot. However, while there might be more talented prospects out there, I felt like Lilly had the pulse of her team much better than any other player in the 16U age group. She is a competitor, she communicates, and she understands situational basketball and plays with poise against pressure. Additionally, her energy raises up teammates. She can handle and run offense, she doesn’t force the action, but she can also knock down an open jumper, and she will play with urgency defensively as well.
Biggest Stock-Riser:
Joslyn Bricker
Joslyn
Bricker
5'8" | PG
Warsaw | 2026
State
IN
, 2026, 5-8 CG, Warsaw Community H.S., OPS Black-Jordan E40
– Another youngster playing “up”, Joslyn spent the Spring & Summer going from relatively unknown to drawing college interest of all levels. She is a long, fluid, and smooth ballplayer who can play a number of roles. I felt like she was more of a wing or even a point forward back in the early Spring, but as the season progressed, she showed the ability to defend true guards and to play on or off the ball as an offensive guard as well. She has a solid handle, she’s a very good shooter, and she plays with effort and a nice basketball IQ. Once she gets a little stronger, watch out.
Comeback Player of the Year:
Alexis Stillman
Alexis
Stillman
5'11" | SF
Angola | 2025
State
IN
, 2025, 5-11 CF, Angola H.S.,
Always 100
Stars NE2K
– The Comeback Player of the Year award tends to either go to someone who has dealt with an injury, or who essentially took a year off and returned to action. Lexi has dealt with her fair share of injuries over the last year or so, therefore it was good to see her back on the floor with this Stars team. She has tremendous length, she’s getting noticeably stronger, but she can also play at all three levels. Skillfully, she is more of a wing offensively, as she can shoot it and put it on the floor. Defensively, until she regains her full explosiveness, she has defended a variety of forwards, both inside and out. Once she regains that explosion, look for her to be a full-time wing prospect once again.
.
ADDITIONAL 16U HONORS
Toughest Player:
Monique Mitchell
Monique
Mitchell
5'11" | SF
South Bend Washington | 2025
State
IN
, 2025, South Bend Washington H.S.,
Always 100
Takeover E40
Best Motor:
Ayla Krygier
Ayla
Krygier
6'0" | SF
Lake Central | 2025
State
IN
, 2025, Lake Central H.S.,
Indiana Elite
Prime 3SSB
Best Defender:
Ryiah Wilson
Ryiah
Wilson
5'8" | CG
South Bend Washington | 2025
State
IN
, 2025, South Bend Washington H.S.,
Always 100
Takeover E40
Best Athlete:
Kira Reynolds
Kira
Reynolds
6'4" | PF
South Bend Washington | 2025
State
IN
, 2025, South Bend Washington H.S., Legends U S40
Most Versatile:
Nina Garner
Nina
Garner
6'0" | SF
Munster | 2025
State
IN
, 2025, Munster H.S., City Elite Supreme
Best Playing “Up”:
Indiah Hutchinson
Indiah
Hutchinson
5'11" | SF
Hammond Central | 2026
State
IN
, 2026, Hammond Central H.S., Lady Gym Rats EYBL
.
Additional 16U Prospects Who Also Stood Out:
I felt like the above awards limited the number of prospects I was able to mention, so I went back through each 16U roster I have in hand and wanted to mention a player from each team who wasn’t mentioned above, but who I felt stood out when I was able to see them. If someone else played better when I wasn’t around, I apologize, but these are the individuals I felt needed mentioning from when I was in attendance.
Madi Allen
Madi
Allen
5'9" | SG
North Decatur | 2025
State
IN
, 2025, North Decatur H.S.,
Indiana Pride
Xplosion
Naomi Barfield, 2025, Bishop Dwenger H.S.,
Always 100
Suns
Danica Barnes, 2025, Elkhart H.S.,
Always 100
Showtime
Addison Baxter
Addison
Baxter
5'9" | PG
Columbia City | 2025
State
IN
, 2025, Columbia City H.S.,
Always 100
Elite 3SSB
Libby Blythe
Libby
Blythe
5'11" | SF
Evansville North | 2025
State
IN
, 2025, Evansville North H.S., Indiana S.W.I.S.H.
Leonie Boyer
Leonie
Boyer
5'8" | SG
Rushville Consolidated | 2025
State
IN
, 2025, Rushville Consolidated H.S., Indiana Showcase Red BSJL
Chaney Brown
Chaney
Brown
5'9" | SF
Greenfield-Central | 2025
State
IN
, 2025, Greenfield-Central H.S.,
Indy Magic
-Blanding E40
Abigayle Clayton
Abigayle
Clayton
5'11" | PF
Hamilton Southeastern | 2025
State
IN
, 2025, Hamilton Southeastern H.S.,
IGB
UA Rise-Clayton
Avery Elsworth, 2025, Blackhawk Christian H.S.,
Always 100
Force
Lauren Goodman
Lauren
Goodman
5'6" | PG
Concordia Lutheran | 2025
IN
, 2025, Concordia Lutheran H.S., OPS Blue-Friend
Lily Graves
Lily
Graves
5'11" | SG
Franklin Central | 2025
State
IN
, 2025, Franklin Central H.S.,
Indiana Elite
Drive S40
Tanea Hairston, 2025, Fort Wayne Wayne H.S.,
Always 100
Dream
Paulecia Isom
Paulecia
Isom
5'3" | CG
Michigan City | 2025
IN
, 2025, Michigan City H.S., City Elite Force
Anyah Jordan-Turley
Anyah
Jordan-Turley
5'3" | CG
University | 2025
IN
, 2025, University H.S., Lady Gym Rats Orange
Elysia Laub
Elysia
Laub
6'2" | C
Lowell | 2025
IN
, 2025, Lowell H.S.,
NWI Select
Makenzie Mason
Makenzie
Mason
5'6" | SG
Jeffersonville | 2025
IN
, 2025, Jeffersonville H.S., Louisville Legends
Addisyn McKee
Addisyn
McKee
5'6" | SG
Linton-Stockton | 2025
IN
, 2025, Linton-Stockton H.S.,
Indy Magic
-Andrus
Kassie McMasters
Kassie
McMasters
5'8" | SG
Decatur Central | 2025
State
IN
, 2025, Southport H.S., West Virginia Thunder-Garrett
Avah Montgomery
Avah
Montgomery
5'9" | SG
Southridge | 2025
State
IN
, 2025, Southridge H.S.,
Pocket City Basketball
Lauren Perry
Lauren
Perry
6'3" | SF
Carmel | 2025
State
IN
, 2025, Carmel H.S.,
Always 100
Platinum
Ellie Richardson
Ellie
Richardson
5'8" | CG
Scottsburg | 2025
State
IN
, 2025, Scottsburg H.S.,
Indiana Elite
Drive S40
Katy Rooney
Katy
Rooney
5'3" | CG
Silver Creek | 2025
IN
, 2025, Silver Creek H.S., Indiana Prospects
Caroline Sampson
Caroline
Sampson
6'1" | C
Zionsville | 2025
IN
, 2025, Zionsville Community H.S.,
Indiana Sirens
-Pruitt
Emerson Vlcan
Emerson
Vlcan
6'2" | C
Center Grove | 2025
State
IN
, 2025, Center Grove H.S.,
Indiana Red Storm
Komari Booker
Komari
Booker
5'11" | PF
Pike | 2026
State
IN
, 2026, Pike H.S.,
Showtime Academy
Keadriah Butler
Keadriah
Butler
5'9" | SG
Lawrence North | 2026
State
IN
, 2026, Lawrence North H.S.,
Always 100
Platinum
Nylah Peoples
Nylah
Peoples
5'11" | PF
Lawrence North | 2026
IN
, 2026, Lawrence North H.S., Ty Harris Elite UA Rise