Shamrock Classic: Scratching The Surface

The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='495981' first='Abigayle' last='Clayton'] (2025) of Hamilton Southeastern High School and [program_tooltip program_id='714250' first='Indiana' last='Pride']-Duke.   Last weekend was the annual Shamrock Classic in Westfield, Indiana. Many of the top players and teams were in action, creating a lot of entertaining games. I was able to watch a lot of action all day Saturday, but I focused primarily on 2025s and 2026s. Below is a look at a handful of ladies who I feel played well, but they each still have a high ceiling and a lot of room to continue getting better. We will have a couple more follow-up articles throughout this weekend.   .   [player_tooltip player_id='495981' first='Abigayle' last='Clayton'], 2025, 5-11 PF/SF, [program_tooltip program_id='714250' first='Indiana' last='Pride']-Duke - Abi is a really nice basketball player who just happens to be in an incredibly deep and loaded high school program. She is a solid all-around athlete, a tough-nosed kid, and she plays with a tremendous motor. She isn't afraid of contact, she'll get inside to defend and rebound, plus she can score it inside of 15-feet. At the same time, she is comfortable around the perimeter, she can drive the ball, knock down an open jumper, and she'll work hard defensively.   [player_tooltip player_id='828084' first='Maddy' last='Knies'], 2025, 6-1 C, [program_tooltip program_id='712550' first='IGB' last=''] S40 17U - Over the past 9-12 months, Maddy has really come a long way as a basketball player, and I think there is still more to come from her. She can play as a strong, physical post, but she also moves well and runs the floor with effort. She has developed some touch facing the basket, so she can act as a dual threat in ball-screening actions, whether she rolls or pops and hits jumpers. At this point, she just needs continued experience against better players.   [player_tooltip player_id='295769' first='Lauren' last='Perry'], 2025, 6-2 SF, [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100'] Platinum E40 - Now that she's entering the final Spring & Summer of her grassroots career, Lauren is putting it all together. She could absolutely still use strength for the next level, and that should come eventually, but she is extremely long and fluidly athletic. She possesses good perimeter skill, she can put it on the floor and get places, plus she's a dangerous perimeter shooter with range well-beyond the arc. She'll be on a lot of radars this year.   [player_tooltip player_id='692242' first='Emerson' last='Vlcan'], 2025, 6-2 PF/C, [program_tooltip program_id='712566' first='Indiana' last='Elite'] Lightning S40 - Emerson is another prospect who is a littler lesser-known because she is on a very good, very deep high school team. She is long, wiry, fluid, and somewhat bouncy. Despite her frame, I like how she tries to be physical and play around the basketball, but she has also developed a really nice mid-post game. As she continues getting stronger, the consistency will come, and once it does, she could be an elite small college prospect in 2025.   Anna Karr, 2026, 5-11 SF, [program_tooltip program_id='715841' first='Indiana' last='Sirens']-Pruitt 17U - Last Saturday was my first time seeing Anna, and like Vlcan (above), she is on a loaded Trojan team. Anna looks like she is still growing, she's extremely long, and she moves very well in most directions. She is likely going to be a full-time wing at the next level, but because of her height she plays some in the mid-post right now. Anna can put it on the floor some, and as she gets stronger, look for her jumper and on-ball defense to become more consistent.   [player_tooltip player_id='486543' first='Brooklynn' last='Renn'], 2026, 6-3 PF/SF, [program_tooltip program_id='712550' first='IGB' last=''] GUAA 17U - For as talented and as productive as Brooklynn has already been through two years of high school basketball, I can't wait to see where she is after her Senior year. At times she makes it look effortless, how smoothly she changes direction at her size, she runs the floor well, but she has also added a perimeter skillset to where she can score at all three levels. A little strength should continue helping her build her consistency and make her tougher inside.   [player_tooltip player_id='751115' first='Payton' last='DuVall'], 2027, 6-2 PF/C, [program_tooltip program_id='712550' first='IGB' last=''] GUAA 16U - Payton is another young "big" to get excited about. She was a major part of Franklin Central's competitive change this past season, and she seemingly continues to improve from month to month. She is probably still most comfortable around the paint with her back to the basket, but she has started to show a bit better mid-post game as well. As she finishes growing and starts to add strength, it should help her play lower & quicker, but also more physical.

The featured image is of Abigayle Clayton Abigayle Clayton 5'11" | PF Hamilton Southeastern | 2025 State IN (2025) of Hamilton Southeastern High School and Indiana Pride -Duke.