Winter Update: 2028 Newcomers

The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='984355' first='Lola' last='Morelli'] (2028) of Roncalli High School.   A couple of weeks ago, we began our annual class by class Winter update for rankings on Prep Girls Hoops Indiana. As it relates specifically to the Class of 2028, we expanded the list from a watch list of 65 prospects to one of 85 prospects. That 20-player increase is typical growth for a Freshman Class expansion quarter, and we have several new prospects to highlight. Below is a look at those 20 new additions, along with comments and analysis on a handful of them. The Class of 2028 updates have already been posted.   .   Point Guards (2):   [player_tooltip player_id='990165' first='Serenity' last='Conyers'], 5-4 PG, Liberty Christian School [player_tooltip player_id='1144629' first='Cala' last='Haffner'], 5-9 PG, Carroll H.S. (Fort Wayne)   With a number of quality Freshmen in the Fort Wayne area, [player_tooltip player_id='1144629' first='Cala' last='Haffner'] has created quite the buzz herself. She has good size and strength for her position/age, and she's a nice all-around athlete. She has a balanced, fairly dynamic skillset, and she has started her career with averages of 14.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.4 steals per game for the Chargers.   .   Combo Guards (2):   [player_tooltip player_id='751047' first='Carlee' last='Lanzer'], 5-7 CG, New Castle H.S. [player_tooltip player_id='992357' first='Katharine' last='Lehr'], 5-7 CG, Bloomington H.S. North   When I saw [player_tooltip player_id='992357' first='Katharine' last='Lehr'] over Christmas Break, I was much more impressed than when I first saw her in July. She is very long, fluidly athletic, and she can really shoot the basketball. She does so much for the Cougars, from handling it against pressure, to initiating the offense, to creating offense for herself and teammates. She also does a nice job of using her length defensively.   .   Shooting Guards (6):   [player_tooltip player_id='1144618' first='Jayla' last='Ash'], 5-10 SG/SF, Shelbyville H.S. [player_tooltip player_id='1144620' first='Ella' last='Barry'], 5-9 SG, Southmont H.S. [player_tooltip player_id='1144641' first='Rylie' last='Johnson'], 5-9 SG/SF, Yorktown H.S. [player_tooltip player_id='984355' first='Lola' last='Morelli'], 5-7 SG, Roncalli H.S. [player_tooltip player_id='1144654' first='Aubrey' last='Sparks'], 5-8 SG, Owen Valley H.S. [player_tooltip player_id='1144658' first='Delani' last='Williams'], 5-6 SG, Mt. Vernon H.S. (Fortville)   [player_tooltip player_id='1144654' first='Aubrey' last='Sparks'] is a really nice, intriguing athlete. She is strong for her age, she moves well in most directions, and she plays with a really nice motor. She's shown the ability to make open rhythm jumpers from all different levels when I was able to see them earlier this year, but she also likes to attack the basket. She is averaging 21.1 points and 9.8 rebounds per game as a Freshman.   .   Small Forwards (7):   [player_tooltip player_id='992354' first='Jillian' last='Conrad'], 5-10 SF, Danville Community H.S. [player_tooltip player_id='1144627' first='Quinnly' last='Fife'], 5-10 SF, Bloomington H.S. South [player_tooltip player_id='1144630' first='Nyomi' last='Hahn'], 6-0 SF, Marion H.S. [player_tooltip player_id='990224' first='Kennedy' last='Kemper'], 5-8 SF, Center Grove H.S. [player_tooltip player_id='884402' first='Madelynn' last='Matelic'], 5-11 SF, Speedway H.S. [player_tooltip player_id='1001646' first='A'Myah' last='Sowell'], 5-8 SF, Lawrence Central H.S. [player_tooltip player_id='1144661' first='De'Zyrra' last='Willingham'], 5-8 SF, Hammond Morton H.S.   [player_tooltip player_id='1144630' first='Nyomi' last='Hahn'] is someone I think everyone will hear more and more about in the coming months. She has good size, a solid to strong frame, and nice length. At the same time, while she looks like a power player, she handles the ball a lot in transition and has very good vision, plus she will break down defenders and attack in the half-court. She has a little touch, but she's more of a driver now, and she will be a mismatch moving forward.   .   Power Forwards (2):   [player_tooltip player_id='1144653' first='Amaya' last='St. Hilaire'], 6-1 PF/C, West Lafayette H.S. [player_tooltip player_id='1144657' first='Jaylee' last='Townsend'], 5-9 PF/SF, Marion H.S.   [player_tooltip player_id='1144657' first='Jaylee' last='Townsend'] has helped Hahn (above) with Marion's resurgence this season. Townsend is a high-motor, all-energy forward who hustles everywhere and creates second chances. She is strong, athletic, and she can score it in the mid-post or by finishing around the basket. She already understands how to use her body to absorb contact, plus she has nice hands/touch at the basket.   .   Centers (1):   [player_tooltip player_id='1144623' first='Rachel' last='Bonde'], 6-2 C, Trinity Lutheran H.S.   [player_tooltip player_id='1144623' first='Rachel' last='Bonde'] is already an effective frontline player whose best days are probably well ahead of her. She is extremely long and wiry, but also fairly fluid and active. She is a talented volleyball player as well. On the hardwood, however, she has given Trinity Lutheran a presence at both ends of the floor, averaging 8.6 points and 4.4 rebounds while shooting 56% from the field and 63% from the free throw line.

The featured image is of Lola Morelli Lola Morelli 5'7" | SG Roncalli | 2028 IN (2028) of Roncalli High School.