Winter Rankings Update: 2025 Centers

The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='692242' first='Emerson' last='Vlcan'] (2025) of Center Grove High School (in red).   As the 2023-2024 season reaches the midpoint, a variety of showcases and tournaments are ongoing. In a couple of weeks, conference seasons will wind down, and teams will begin preparing for their 2024 state tournament run. After expanding the 2025 rankings list to a Top-100 and a watch list of another 100 prospects, we are now at 200 total 2025 prospects listed on Prep Girls Hoops Indiana. At this time, I wanted to highlight all of the centers in the class who we currently have listed, as well as point out some newcomers and those who have raised their stock since the beginning of the season.   .   <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td>Rk.</td><td>Name</td><td>Pos.</td><td>Ht.</td><td>H.S.</td><td>College</td></tr><tr><td>1.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='295789' first='Avery' last='Gordon']</td><td>C</td><td>6-6</td><td>Brownsburg</td><td>Purdue</td></tr><tr><td>2.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='295793' first='Jamaya' last='Thomas']</td><td>C</td><td>6-1</td><td>Lawrence North</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>3.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='295791' first='Kaelyse' last='Mitchell']</td><td>C</td><td>6-5</td><td>Evansville F.J. Reitz</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>4.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='404106' first='Mary' last='Herman']</td><td>C</td><td>6-3</td><td>Vincennes Rivet</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>5.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='570370' first='Claire' last='Payne']</td><td>C</td><td>6-1</td><td>NorthWood</td><td>Appalachian State (Volleyball)</td></tr><tr><td>6.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='692249' first='Layla' last='Williams']</td><td>C</td><td>6-2</td><td>Fort Wayne Wayne</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>7.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='692233' first='Anna' last='Caskey']</td><td>C</td><td>6-0</td><td>Bishop Chatard</td><td>Belmont (Softball)</td></tr><tr><td>WL</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='828026' first='Maliya' last='Freeman']</td><td>C</td><td>6-0</td><td>South Bend Clay</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>WL</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='453219' first='Randee' last='Garringer']</td><td>C/PF</td><td>6-0</td><td>Mooresville</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>WL</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='324073' first='Nora' last='Gibson']</td><td>C/PF</td><td>6-1</td><td>Floyd Central</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>WL</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='692237' first='Lydia' last='Haskamp']</td><td>C</td><td>6-0</td><td>Batesville</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>WL</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='828084' first='Maddy' last='Knies']</td><td>C</td><td>6-1</td><td>Evansville North</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>WL</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='828063' first='Elysia' last='Laub']</td><td>C</td><td>6-2</td><td>Lowell</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>WL</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='570379' first='Alivia' last='Peoples']</td><td>C</td><td>5-11</td><td>Anderson Prep</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>WL</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='506024' first='Sam' last='Price']</td><td>C</td><td>6-2</td><td>Westfield</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>WL</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='692240' first='Caroline' last='Sampson']</td><td>C</td><td>6-1</td><td>Zionsville</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>WL</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='496072' first='Saniah' last='Sandlin']</td><td>C/PF</td><td>6-0</td><td>Fort Wayne Snider</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>WL</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='570384' first='Sophia' last='Saucerman']</td><td>C/PF</td><td>6-1</td><td>Eminence</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>WL</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='692242' first='Emerson' last='Vlcan']</td><td>C</td><td>6-1</td><td>Center Grove</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>WL</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='626935' first='Maddie' last='Walton']</td><td>C</td><td>6-0</td><td>Andrean</td><td></td></tr><tr><td>WL</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='828080' first='Ariel' last='Watford']</td><td>C</td><td>6-3</td><td>Warren Central</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>   .   WINTER NEWCOMERS:   [player_tooltip player_id='828026' first='Maliya' last='Freeman'], 2025, 6-0 C, South Bend Clay H.S. - Maliya recently popped up on my radar, as she is averaging 9.2 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 2.9 blocked shots per game so far this season. She has broad shoulders, solid strength, nice length, and the potential to develop into a really nice prospect. She's also a three-sport participant.   [player_tooltip player_id='828084' first='Maddy' last='Knies'], 2025, 6-1 C, Evansville North H.S. - Maddy is a strong, fairly physical post prospect. She has some length, and she rim-runs hard from end to end. She can step out and knock down the 17-foot jumper from time to time, but she's best when she establishes herself on the block early and finishes at the rim.   [player_tooltip player_id='828063' first='Elysia' last='Laub'], 2025, 6-2 C, Lowell H.S. - Elysia has come a long way over her high school career, and she has become quite the presence in the paint for the Red Devils this season. She is a traditional post, she likes to play with physicality, but she also has some touch in the mid-post, and she's long and can block shots.   [player_tooltip player_id='828080' first='Ariel' last='Watford'], 2025, 6-3 C, Warren Central H.S. - Ariel is one of those prospects who projects really well because of her potential. She is still a bit raw skillfully, but she has great height, a nice frame, length, and she can change ends of the floor. As she continues to build her skillset and gain strength, she will close in on that potential.   .   WINTER STOCK-RISERS:   [player_tooltip player_id='506024' first='Sam' last='Price'], 2025, 6-2 C, Westfield H.S. - I saw Sam about 18 months ago, and she was a bit thin, but she showed the willingness to be physical, and she had some skill. Fast forward to today, and she has been a key sub for the Shamrocks this season. She is noticeably stronger and much more confident, plus she still has that skill. She can knock down an 18-footer, she can even put it on the floor a little, and around the basket she can finish in a variety of ways. As she continues building her strength, she'll be that much more consistent.   [player_tooltip player_id='295793' first='Jamaya' last='Thomas'], 2025, 6-1 C, Lawrence North H.S. - Jamaya is a big, strong, physical post player. She has always played with great effort, and over the years she has done a tremendous job of developing her skillset. She has soft hands, solid footwork, and she continues to play with that motor. She loves physicality inside, but she also has a little touch to about 12-feet. She has double-double potential each time out, and she is one prospect I can see really gaining recruiting interest as the Spring "live" periods come around.   [player_tooltip player_id='692249' first='Layla' last='Williams'], 2025, 6-2 C, Fort Wayne Wayne H.S. - Layla is an extremely long, tall, wiry-strong front-liner. Even just in the last six months, Layla has gained strength, confidence, and is playing with a lot more passion/intensity. She transferred into Wayne from Homestead this Summer, and she is getting the opportunity to play over 20 minutes per game. She still needs to continue refining her skillset, but she is scoring the ball effectively inside of 15-feet, she is rebounding it well, and she is blocking a lot of shots because of her length and athleticism.

The featured image is of Emerson Vlcan Emerson Vlcan 6'2" | C Center Grove | 2025 State IN (2025) of Center Grove High School (in red).