Hoosier Hotbeds: #4 Lake County

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='834925' first='Kylah' last='Patterson'] (2027) of Hammond's Oliver P. Morton 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, we're nearing the end of our Top 10 list, winding down with #4, Lake 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":["295781"],"_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-66c7f1aad7a99"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Vanessa helped lead Lake Central to the State Finals this past year, and without several graduated 2024 guards, she'll be leaned on even more to help the Indians succeed in 2024-2025. With her length, speed &amp; quickness, and ability to break down defenses, that shouldn't be a problem. She began to shoot the ball more consistently this past year as well, and she has always been a problem at the defensive end of the floor, creating turnovers. Vanessa recently made a verbal commitment to Albama A&amp;M University.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["756240"],"_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-66c7f1aad7b1a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Malika burst onto the scene as a rookie, proving that she can affect the game in many different ways. She has an athletic frame, nice length, and she can play either backcourt spot. She is unselfish, can run offense, and will often find open teammates. At the same time, she is a multilevel scorer who can get to the rim or knock down open jumpers. Defensively, she also plays with versatility and gets her hands on a lot of passes. As a Freshman, Malika averaged 12.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.9 steals per game.</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":["567131"],"_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-66c7f1aad7b71"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Indiah is one of the most under-recruited talents in Indiana. She has a strong, athletic frame, she is a talented run &amp; jump athlete, and she plays with tremendous versatility. She is strong enough to rebound, defend, and post up around the block, she is outstanding scoring the ball in the mid-post, but she can also get out and go in transition and act as a point forward. She plays with a nice motor, has a little touch outside, and can defend some guards, wings, and forwards. She averaged 17.3 points and 3.3 steals last season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["834925"],"_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-66c7f1aad7bc3"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The best way to describe Kylah's game is controlled chaos, and I mean that in a good way. I don't know that any kid plays with such a nonstop motor, changes directions as much as she does, and does it all with power and athleticism in all directions. She is a strong, physical forward who can play around the basket, in the mid-post, or get out and push it in transition. She is all over the boards, she can defend multiple positions, plus up or down 20, she never quits. As a Freshman, "K.P." averaged 26.6 points, 12.0 rebounds, and 4.5 steals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["626935"],"_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-66c7f1aad7c14"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Maddie is one of the most athletic posts few people know about. She has never been a grassroots kid, but she has been very good for Andrean the last two years. As a Sophomore, she was more of a defensive presence, still learning how to score, but last season she looked much more comfortable on the block, and there were times the 59ers ran offense through her. She has length, a solid, athletic frame, and she moves well in all directions. She can rebound and defend, and she does a nice job of blocking/altering shots.</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='570383' first='Kahlen' last='Robinson']</strong>, 2025, 5-6 CG, Thea Bowman Leadership Academy<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='624883' first='Jordan' last='Steele']</strong>, 2026, 5-8 SG, Highland H.S.<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='295810' first='Lindsay' last='Arcella']</strong>, 2025, 5-9 SF, Andrean H.S., <em>committed to Indiana University, South Bend</em><br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='366805' first='Kylie' last='Wells']</strong>, 2025, 5-10 SF, Merrillville H.S.<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='553157' first='Nina' last='Garner']</strong>, 2025, 6-0 SF, Munster H.S.<br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='295811' first='Ayla' last='Krygier']</strong>, 2025, 6-0 CF, Lake Central H.S., <em>committed to Indiana Wesleyan University</em><br><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='932698' first='Giniya' last='Williams']</strong>, 2027, 6-1 C, Bishop Noll Institute</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->