Naptown (Indianapolis)

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='331770' first='Daneijah' last='Wynn'] (2024) of Lawrence Central High School.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Indianapolis has a multitude of nicknames, from Naptown, to the Circle City, as well as The Crossroads of America. It is home to the WNBA's Indiana Fever, the NBA's Indiana Pacers, the NFL's Indianapolis Colts, as well as colleges of all sizes. The Indiana Repertory Theatre, the Madam Walker Legacy Center, Clowes Memorial Hall, and the Murat Theatre, among other venues, also bring a number of events to the Hoosier State's capital city. And if you're into speed, you can always venture over to Speedway, Indiana, and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway...The Racing Capital of the World.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Five 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 Hoosiers State's different regions and the prospects who should shine this Winter throughout those regions. This article will focus on Indianapolis itself, specifically those prospects who play at the more than 40 high schools within Marion County. Of the 13 schools in the state with an enrollment greater than 3000 students, five of them are located inside the Indianapolis city limits, including three of the four biggest (<em>Ben Davis-4557, Warren Central-3868, &amp; North Central-3709</em>).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Year after year, Indianapolis produces a great deal of talent and highly ranked teams, so it should come to no one's surprise that players like 2021 Miss Basketball <strong>Jayla Smith</strong> (<em>Lawrence North</em>) comes directly from Naptown, as did prospects like <strong>Tanyuel Welch</strong> (<em>North Central 2022</em>), <strong>Ariana Wiggins</strong> (<em>Heritage Christian 2021</em>), <strong>Meg Newman</strong> (<em>North Central 2021</em>), <strong>Khera Goss</strong> (<em>Ben Davis 2020</em>), <strong>Jasmine McWilliams</strong> (<em>North Central 2020</em>), <strong>Shaila Beeler</strong> (<em>Warren Central 2019</em>), and <strong>Rikki Harris</strong> (<em>North Central 2019</em>). All of those ladies were Indiana All-Stars and are currently playing at Division-I schools.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At the same time, with so many big schools and so many schools in such a small area, prospects can often go underrecruited and even unnoticed at times within their own area/school. I often encourage small colleges to visit Indianapolis and watch entire rosters at schools, not focusing solely on one or two players, because there are several hidden gems each year in Naptown. 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 schools in Marion County and Indianapolis.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="#FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+1">[player_tooltip player_id='572822' first='Kayla' last='Lacombe'], 2024, 5-8 SF, Arsenal Technical H.S.</font></strong><br>- Kayla is a very strong/powerful, bruising style of small forward. She does a nice job of using her body to take care of the ball and create space, plus she's a crafty scorer who can finish in a variety of ways inside of 15-feet. She is incredibly productive, to the tune of 21.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2.3 steals per game as a Junior, plus she knocked down 40 triples in 23 games played. She can also handle the ball in transition, or she can post smaller defenders around the block. She is very versatile.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+1">[player_tooltip player_id='455933' first='Emani' last='Washington'], 2024, 5-7 SG, Lawrence North H.S.</font></strong><br>- Emani is an extremely long, wiry-strong athlete who moves well in all directions. She is a playmaker off the bounce, and she's great in the open floor, creating scoring opportunities for herself or teammates in transition. She has some touch from behind the arc, but it's her playmaking ability off the bounce that stands out. She rebounds her position well, and I like the fact she can defend multiple positions with her length and athleticism. She will be a part of a very strong backcourt for the Lady Wildcats this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+1">[player_tooltip player_id='331770' first='Daneijah' last='Wynn'], 2024, 5-11 CF, Lawrence Central H.S.</font></strong><br>- "Jourdyn" is a powerfully strong, physical forward who plays with the utmost versatility. She has plenty of strength and toughness to play around the basket, defend the post, and rebound by boxing out, plus she can pursue caroms. Additionally, she has some ball skill, she can create a little off the bounce, and she's a nice downhill attacker. Her touch is very good in the mid-post, and she can occasionally extend it to beyond the arc, causing mismatch problems for opponents who try to take away her interior play.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+1">[player_tooltip player_id='324069' first='Kristian' last='Dinkins'], 2025, 5-8 SF/SG, North Central H.S. (Indianapolis)</font></strong><br>- Kristian has always flashed potential during the grassroots seasons, but this June she also shined for the Lady Panthers during the IBCA team event. She has an accurate stroke from 3-point range, plus she's a strong driver who can get downhill and power through contact to finish. Additionally, she can act as a point forward at times, initiate the offense, or create openings for teammates. I have a feeling if she plays as much this Winter as she did for North Central in June, she could be primed for a breakout year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+1">[player_tooltip player_id='567135' first='D'Aaliyah' last='Kemp'], 2026, 6-2 PF, Park Tudor H.S.</font></strong><br>- D'Aaliyah is one of the more intriguing prospects in the state's 2026 class, because she isn't even close to reaching her ceiling, and she continues to improve each time out. She has tremendous length, the potential to grow another inch or two, and the frame to add solid muscle mass, but she already tries to play with contact and physicality. She has good instincts around the basket, she pursues rebounds, but she can also shoot the ball facing the basket to the 3-point line. Once she finishes growing, watch out!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="#FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+1">Additional Marion County Prospects in Our Rankings for 2024-2026:</font></strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='718299' first='Hermoni' last='Andrew'], 2024, Ben Davis H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='572823' first='Jaycianna' last='Clark'], 2024, Herron H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='298253' first='Catherine' last='Cline'], 2024, Cathedral H.S., <em>committed to Loyola University Chicago for soccer</em><br>[player_tooltip player_id='718303' first='KeKe' last='Cole'], 2024, Pike H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='331820' first='Morgan' last='Crowe'], 2024, Pike H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='496064' first='Mya' last='Davis'], 2024, Heritage Christian H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='572819' first='Alex' last='DeLisle'], 2024, Speedway H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='326480' first='Isyss' last='Donelson'], 2024, Warren Central H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='572803' first='Malaysha' last='Flanagan'], 2024, George Washington H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='326485' first='Natalia' last='Franklin'], 2024, Lawrence North H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='406432' first='Jadyn' last='Harris'], 2024, Pike H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='326493' first='Kaitlyn' last='Hoff'], 2024, North Central H.S. (Indianapolis)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='331797' first='Candyce' last='Hollins'], 2024, Warren Central H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='718308' first='Jasmine' last='Horsman'], 2024, Roncalli H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='331815' first='Denyha' last='Jacobs'], 2024, Warren Central H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='177331' first='Scottlynn' last='Johnson'], 2024, Ben Davis H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='177337' first='Kaiden' last='Kreinhagen'], 2024, North Central H.S. (Indianapolis)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='326477' first='Taylor' last='Lewis'], 2024, Cathedral H.S., <em>committed to Villanova University for volleyball</em><br>[player_tooltip player_id='239349' first='Claire' last='Lindsey'], 2024, Roncalli H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='455948' first='Veronica' last='Lugo'], 2024, Warren Central H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='177341' first='Koryn' last='Marshall'], 2024, Heritage Christian H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='572824' first='Kamara' last='Mills'], 2024, Lawrence North H.S., <em>committed to Queens University of Charlotte</em><br>[player_tooltip player_id='718314' first='D.J.' last='Pannell'], 2024, North Central H.S. (Indianapolis)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='718317' first='Heaven' last='Thompson'], 2024, Decatur Central H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='326484' first='Alexis' last='Warren'], 2024, Pike H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='718319' first='Gianna' last='Wheeler'], 2024, Indiana School for the Deaf<br>[player_tooltip player_id='572797' first='Zoe' last='Wheeler'], 2024, Ben Davis H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='264120' first='Carys' last='Wilson'], 2024, Franklin Central H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='455945' first='Adrianna' last='Woods'], 2024, Lawrence North H.S.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='295753' first='Laila' last='Abdurraqib'], 2025, Lawrence North H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='506017' first='Abby' last='Beasley'], 2025, Cathedral H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='295787' first='Gabrielle' last='Burrus'], 2025, North Central H.S. (Indianapolis)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='692233' first='Anna' last='Caskey'], 2025, Bishop Chatard H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='324071' first='Casey' last='Frost'], 2025, Heritage Christian H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='453215' first='Soriah' last='Gouard'], 2025, Decatur Central H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='295800' first='Lily' last='Graves'], 2025, Franklin Central H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='295799' first='Kya' last='Hurt'], 2025, Lawrence North H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='468535' first='Mariah' last='Kenter-Garrett'], 2025, Lawrence Central H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='295763' first='Jaylah' last='Lampley'], 2025, Lawreance North H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='324078' first='Joslyn' last='Marshall'], 2025, Heritage Christian H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='570372' first='Kassie' last='McMasters'], 2025, Southport H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='331803' first='Emma' last='McVey'], 2025, Franklin Central H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='296265' first='Sara' last='Rosko'], 2025, Roncalli H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='453221' first='Savannah' last='Schafer'], 2025, Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory<br>[player_tooltip player_id='453218' first='Ashiyah' last='Teague'], 2025, Pike H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='295793' first='Jamaya' last='Thomas'], 2025, Lawrence North H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='496026' first='Jaeda' last='Wilson'], 2025, Cathedral H.S.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='331774' first='Kamrah' last='Banks'], 2026, Decatur Central H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='492315' first='Kenadi' last='Banks'], 2026, Decatur Central H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='624874' first='Mia' last='Barnes'], 2026, Decatur Central H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='686306' first='Komari' last='Booker'], 2026, Pike H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='624875' first='Laila' last='Brown'], 2026, Ben Davis H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='492317' first='Keadriah' last='Butler'], 2026, Lawrence North H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='486542' first='Alonna' last='Divine'], 2026, Ben Davis H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='567135' first='D'Aaliyah' last='Kemp'], 2026, Park Tudor H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='486530' first='Alyx' last='Kendall'], 2026, Bishop Chatard H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='492321' first='Lola' last='Lampley'], 2026, Lawrence Central H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='486536' first='Jelyza' last='Lapsley'], 2026, Heritage Christian H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='492322' first='Aniyah' last='McKenzie'], 2026, Lawrence Central H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='486474' first='Nylah' last='Peoples'], 2026, Lawrence North H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='486537' first='Naja' last='Winston'], 2026, Lawrence North H.S.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->