Early Season Stock-Risers (2024)

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='331815' first='Denyha' last='Jacobs'] (2024) of Warren Central High School.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the girls' basketball season already into week #5, I wanted to highlight a handful of uncommitted Seniors who have had big starts to their final campaigns. Below is a quick look at five members of the 2024 class who have gotten out of the gates quickly to begin the 2023-2024 season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+1">[player_tooltip player_id='825863' first='Samantha' last='Redinger']</font></strong><font size="+1">, 2024, 5-7 W, Argos Community H.S.</font><br>- I just highlighted Samantha in another article because of her scoring output early this season, including single-game highs of 50 and 47 points. She is a fairly strong, hard-working, but skillful wing. She has a beautiful lefty stroke that extends beyond the 3-point line, but she also does a nice job of hanging out around the basket and finding offensive put-backs, plus she draws contact fairly well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+1">[player_tooltip player_id='572822' first='Kayla' last='Lacombe']</font></strong><font size="+1">, 2024, 5-8 W, Arsenal Technical H.S.</font><br>- Kayla is another player I have recently pointed out, and she has the state's top single-game output to begin the year, pouring in 52 points just a couple of weeks ago. Kayla has a unique style of game, as she is very physical and strong, but she also has ball skill and the ability to make shots at all three levels. If you defend her with a forward, she'll beat you off the bounce, and if you don't, she'll score it inside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+1">[player_tooltip player_id='331815' first='Denyha' last='Jacobs']</font></strong><font size="+1">, 2024, 5-7 W, Warren Central H.S.</font><br>- Denyha is another one of those strong, physical, but skilled and shifty wings. She can handle the ball and run offense, she can knock down shots at all three levels, but she can also power her way to the basket and finish inside. She is a gritty competitor as well, she's willing to get after it defensively, plus she can defend multiple positions equally well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+1">[player_tooltip player_id='825997' first='Allie' last='Blum']</font></strong><font size="+1">, 2024, 5-6 W, New Palestine H.S.</font><br>- Allie has stepped up about as big as anyone in the state, regardless of class. As a Junior, she averaged a modest 8.3 points per game, but as a Senior, she is scoring 20.0 points per game on average. She can knock down the occasional 3-pointer, but she is very good at getting around the basket, drawing contact, and earning free throw attempts. She has really taken off this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+1">[player_tooltip player_id='631648' first='Nicole' last='Mears']</font></strong><font size="+1">, 2024, 5-10 F, Franklin County H.S.</font><br>- Nicole has done a nice job of improving her ability to be an all-around ballplayer. Growing up, she was more of a physical presence and liked to use her strong frame to work in the mid-post and around the block. But now, she is starting to extend her range with consistency and becoming more of a mid-post to perimeter face-up forward who can also go off the dribble.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->