Hoosier Hotbeds: #10 Elkhart County

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='875459' first='Danica' last='Barnes'] (2025) of Elkhart High School.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Over the years, we've taken the time to look at how different counties from Hoosierland stack up against each other. This year, we're back at it, but we're having more of a countdown spread over a few articles, instead of one article highlighting just a few prospects. I began by taking a quick look at eight counties who were close to making our Top 10, but who were just on the outside looking in. Now, I'll move on to our Top 10 list, beginning with #10, Elkhart County.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With our Top 10 counties, they are divided into five "starters" plus seven additional players to act as a "bench". I tried to stay as true to form as an all-star team would, with at least a couple of guards and a couple of wings/forwards as "starters". The fifth "starter" is likely to be a post player, if there are any worthy of making the 12-player list. If there isn't a post in that group of 12 players, I added another guard or forward, depending on what looks like a quality 5-player lineup. From there, the next seven players are based on a combination of PGH ranking, talent, and skill, regardless of position.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>Disclaimer: I specifically used the classes of 2025-2027 to determine county strength, since the 2028 class has yet to play a high school game.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">BACKCOURT "STARTERS"</font></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["331802"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66c2202d46e35"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Rielyn has proven to be a dynamic playmaker for Northridge throughout her career, and with her added growth and strength in the last year, she is even that much more effective. She is quick, fast, and explosive, she plays with an outstanding motor, and she is tough and physical at the point. She would make a great lead guard for this Elkhart County team, and with a number of athletes and versatile players around her, she could rack up assists quickly while also finding open shots without drawing double-teams.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["875459"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66c2202d46e94"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Danica is one of the most explosive athletes in 2025 in the state, let alone in Elkhart County. Her ability to run &amp; jump, coupled with her improved skillset, allow her to make plays at both ends of the floor that other players just can't. She is a slasher who can get to the basket in a hurry, but she has also improved her passing and finds open teammates much more consistently. Additionally, she can be an elite defender at times, and she collects a number of steals and rebounds by using her quickness and length to her advantage.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">FRONTCOURT "STARTERS"</font></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["834963"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66c2202d46ed6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Lily had a nice start to her career, giving the Lady Raiders good minutes as a rookie. Now, as a Sophomore, she looks to be even more involved offensively. She is a strong-for-her-age forward who can play effectively in the mid-post, plus she is building her perimeter game to be much more consistent. She is a nice all-around athlete, she plays with a strong motor, and she has a nose for the basketball as well. Her ability to play at all three levels make her a nice fit for any team, but on this Elkhart County team, she could post double-doubles.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1044755' first='Shaniyah' last='Hughes']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2025","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'9u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12122","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Elkhart","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66c2202d46f61"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Shaniyah is another talented run &amp; jump athlete like her high school teammate <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='875459' first='Danica' last='Barnes']</strong> (<em>above</em>). After putting together a strong July, she will be added to the rankings when we update them in September. Shaniyah is one of the most active, aggressive rebounders I saw all Summer, regardless of class, and with her length, quickness, and bounce, she's incredibly difficult to keep from collecting caroms like crazy. She is most comfortable scoring it around the paint, but defensively, she can sit down and guard wings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["570370"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-66c2202d46fa5"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Claire is a bit of a lesser-known prospect statewide, because she isn't active on the grassroots circuit, and she is a Division-I volleyball commit to Appalachian State University. On the hardwood, however, she was good for a double-double average (<em>10.3p, 10.8r</em>) last season for the Black Swish, and with another year under her belt, she could be even more effective as a Senior. There aren't many great post players in her area either, so at 6-1, she can affect a game much differently than many of the opponents she matches up against.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">THE NEXT SEVEN</font></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486489' first='Jordynn' last='Johnson']</strong>, 2026, 5-4 PG, Elkhart H.S.<br><strong>Shelby Emerick</strong>, 2026, 5-5 PG, Concord H.S.<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='324080' first='Ella' last='Mohamed']</strong>, 2025, 5-5 SG, Northridge H.S.<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='624876' first='Camryn' last='Conley']</strong>, 2026, 5-11 SF, Northridge H.S.<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='773840' first='Mykayla' last='Mast']</strong>, 2026, 5-11 SF, Fairfield H.S.<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='567137' first='Eva' last='Herbert']</strong>, 2026, 5-11 CF, Fairfield H.S.<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='624884' first='Shaniyah' last='Stout']</strong>, 2026, 5-8 PF, Elkhart H.S.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->