Hoosier Hotbeds: #2 Hamilton County

The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='324072' first='Kenzie' last='Garner'] (2025) of Sheridan High School.   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, we're at the runner-up spot in our Top 10 list, coming to a close with #2, Hamilton County.   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.   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.   .   BACKCOURT "STARTERS"    "K.K." has always been extremely enjoyable to watch, because she plays her position the "right way". She always has her eyes up scanning the floor, she finds open teammates on time/on target, plus she takes care of the basketball and plays efficiently. She has great length, speed & quickness, and she can turn a corner with burst. She's also incredibly active defensively and is always in passing lanes. She has started to shoot it more consistently from the perimeter, and as she continues to lock in outside, I think her recruiting will benefit from it.     Meredith is one of the fiercest competitors in the state. She plays with an outstanding motor, she is always around the ball battling for every inch, plus she is willing to be physical at the guard spot. She has nice length, an athletically strong frame, and she has really nice North/South speed plus some bounce. Meredith is best off the dribble attacking the basket, but she has proven in big games that she can knock down big shots from outside as well. Additionally, she is an effortful and versatile on-ball defender who likes a challenge.    .   FRONTCOURT "STARTERS"    Maya put together a really nice Spring & Summer, and she continues to gain strength and be more aggressive to the basket. Her willingness to attack more and use the free throw line as a weapon has been one of her biggest areas of growth over the past 12-15 months, and it makes her that much more dangerous as a shooter. At 6-3, she already has an advantage on the perimeter, plus she has a quick release, so unless you are within inches, she's getting a shot off. She has also worked to be better defensively and is playing lower and longer.     Kayla is another really nice perimeter shooter for the Royals of Hamilton Southeastern, plus she adds a nice mid-range game as well. She has the strength and ability to get inside and defend, rebound, etc., plus she can step outside offensively and bury shot after shot. She likes to find space on the wings and in the long corners, especially, and she will drive it North/South from the perimeter. She has started to become a more complete scorer over the past year, and that multilevel ability has helped her in terms of her recruitment.     Nevaeh has always flashed great potential, and over the past year or so, she has really expanded her game. She has the strength and physicality to be a force inside of 15-feet, and she will often battle in there for rebounds or defend bigger players. Outside, she can act as a "trail big" and stick a 3-pointer in transition, but she has also gotten more comfortable putting it on the floor and attacking the basket. The MAC is a taller mid-major conference, so I'll be curious how the University of Buffalo commit will be used early on.    .   THE NEXT SEVEN   [player_tooltip player_id='506016' first='Mackenzie' last='Woods'], 2025, 5-8 PG, Carmel H.S. [player_tooltip player_id='295812' first='Isabelle' last='Shepherd'], 2025, 5-5 CG, Carmel H.S., committed to Huntington University [player_tooltip player_id='295759' first='Aubrey' last='Crockett'], 2025, 5-9 CG, Westfield H.S. [player_tooltip player_id='295771' first='Allison' last='Scheu'], 2025, 5-10 SG/SF, Fishers H.S., committed to the University of St. Francis (IN) [player_tooltip player_id='324072' first='Kenzie' last='Garner'], 2025, 6-1 SF, Sheridan H.S., committed to Ferris State University [player_tooltip player_id='295769' first='Lauren' last='Perry'], 2025, 6-3 SF, Carmel H.S. [player_tooltip player_id='486478' first='C.C.' last='Quigley'], 2026, 6-2 PF/C, Noblesville H.S.

The featured image is of Kenzie Garner Kenzie Garner 6'1" | SF/PF Sheridan | 2025 State IN (2025) of Sheridan High School.

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, we're at the runner-up spot in our Top 10 list, coming to a close with #2, Hamilton County.

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.

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.

BACKCOURT "STARTERS"

Kennedy Holman

HEIGHT 5'8"

POS PG

CLASS 2026

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Kennedy Holman

State: Indiana

School: Hamilton Southeastern

Club: IGB GUAA

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Meredith Tippner

HEIGHT 5'10"

POS SG

CLASS 2025

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Meredith Tippner

State: Indiana

School: Noblesville

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FRONTCOURT "STARTERS"

Maya Makalusky

HEIGHT 6'4"

POS SF

CLASS 2025

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Maya Makalusky

State: Indiana

School: Hamilton Southeastern

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Kayla Stidham

IN #18

SF #7

HEIGHT 6'0"

POS SF

CLASS 2026

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Kayla Stidham

State: Indiana

School: Hamilton Southeastern

Club: Always 100 Elite P32

Kayla is another really nice perimeter shooter for the Royals of Hamilton Southeastern, plus she adds a nice mid-range game as well. She has the strength and ability to get inside and defend, rebound, etc., plus she can step outside offensively and bury shot after shot. She likes to find space on the wings and in the long corners, especially, and she will drive it North/South from the perimeter. She has started to become a more complete scorer over the past year, and that multilevel ability has helped her in terms of her recruitment.