Hoosier Hotbeds: #3 Allen County

<!-- 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, we're nearing the end of our Top 10 list, winding down with #3, Allen 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":["492319"],"_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-66c8bc7925e4e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">When Myah arrived at high school, she was already grown, skilled, and talented. But the best compliment I can give her is, it seems like she has continued to address her areas of weakness and really worked on them, plus she has maintained her quickness and explosion. She has become a pure point guard, she continues to be unselfish at the position, but she also has a good feel as to when to shoot/score the ball and take over from that aspect. Because Homestead lacks height, she is also able to showcase her versatility, especially defensively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["486540"],"_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-66c8bc7925e9f"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">This was the toughest spot to fill, because there are other worthy candidates below, but Whitney had a great Spring &amp; Summer, she continues to grow her game, and she picked up her first Division-I offer with other D1 interest coming quickly. She is tough-nosed, strong, and she plays with a nonstop motor. She can really shoot it from the perimeter, and she rebounds her position well. I'll be curious to see if she can become a more dynamic playmaker off the bounce, because she has good vision and awareness.</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":["492326"],"_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-66c8bc7925ee1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Khala spent the Spring focusing on track and not playing grassroots ball for the first time in a while. However, the 2023-2024 season was a huge step forward for her. She was electric at times, especially down the stretch in January, and she is one of the most athletic kids in the state, regardless of class. She has speed &amp; quickness, a lot of bounce, and she can change directions effortlessly. She is an offensive nightmare if she gets it inside of 15-feet, she's a relentless rebounder, plus she can defend multiple positions.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["414465"],"_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-66c8bc7925f1e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Yet another talented prospect in Homestead's ridiculous 2026 class, Gabby also had a strong Spring &amp; Summer and continues to diversify her game. She can still play in the mid-post, get physical as a defender, box out, rebound, and hold her ground. At the same time, offensively, she is one of the best shooters in the class, and with range. She has a quick release, but she's starting to put it on the floor more and attack the basket North/South. Proving she can sit down and defend quicker players will be critical to her recruiting.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["692249"],"_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-66c8bc7925f5b"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">This was another tough call, because <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='624885' first='Miley' last='Wareing']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486555' first='Lillian' last='George']</strong> (both below) each had good 2023-2024 seasons, but Layla was again great during the grassroots season. She has so much size and potential, great length, plus she'll run the floor with effort. She has some touch in the mid-post, and she likes to put it on the floor and attack a little, but as good as her hands are, if she can continue to build a back-to-the-basket mixture, she could be tough to defend. She has picked up widespread interest, from Division-I on down.</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='761179' first='Carley' last='Moellering']</strong>, 2026, 5-9 PG, Homestead H.S.<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='295801' first='Jersey' last='Paul']</strong>, 2025, 5-6 CG, Carroll H.S., <em>committed to Thomas More University</em><br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486518' first='Swynn' last='Jackson']</strong>, 2026, 5-10 SG/SF, Northrop H.S.<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='743355' first='Isabelle' last='Eke']</strong>, 2027, 6-1 SF, Bishop Dwenger H.S.<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='462366' first='Alivia' last='Bolinger']</strong>, 2026, 6-1 PF, Concordia Lutheran H.S.<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='624885' first='Miley' last='Wareing']</strong>, 2026, 6-1 C, Northrop H.S.<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='486555' first='Lillian' last='George']</strong>, 2026, 6-2 C, Carroll H.S.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->