Most Improved Players (All Classes)

Now that the 2024-2025 season has come to a close, I wanted to take this time, as I have done in years past, to offer up several awards to those her performed well throughout the 2024-2025 IHSAA season. I am changing my format a little, and instead of offering every award for each classification in one article, I wanted to aim more focus toward the bigger awards and our recipients for those awards. Below is a look at the Most Improved Player in each of the four classifications. I wanted to choose someone who was both (a) highly impactful for their team this season, and (b) showed a significant increase in production from last season to this season. While there were some tough calls in a couple of classifications, it's difficult to argue against how each of the four ladies below represent these awards.   .   Class 4A MIP: [player_tooltip player_id='928878' first='Marley' last='Jeffers'], 2026, 6-0 PF/C, Pike H.S. - Marley made a huge jump from her Sophomore year to her Junior year, more than doubling her scoring and rebounding output. She went from contributions of 5.1 points and 4.6 rebounds per game in 2023-2024, to 10.8 points and 11.6 rebounds per game in 2024-2025, helping with Pike's 8-win rise in success (12-15 to 20-7). The 6-0 front-liner is very strong and physical, and she loves to seek contact around the rim. She enforces her will, creates space, and finishes well through contact. Her play has drawn a lot of interest from schools, and I would anticipate she is set for a big Spring & Summer, not to mention another rise when we release the Spring rankings update later this month.   Class 3A MIP: [player_tooltip player_id='732354' first='Vanessa' last='Rosswurm'], 2026, 5-10 SF, Norwell H.S. - Vanessa was the lone non-2024 graduate to start for Norwell in their State Finals runner-up appearance in 2023-2024. This year, despite all those graduation losses, she led them to a Class 3A title. She is a wiry but strong, long and athletic wing who really slashes to the basket effortlessly. She has improved her perimeter shooting, plus she can be a lockdown defender on bigger guards and small forwards. She plays extremely hard, she's tough, and she's passionate. As a Sophomore, Vanessa averaged 11.6 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game, but as a Junior she upped those to 22.4 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 3.2 steals, and she was recently named a 2026 Indiana Junior All-Star.   Class 2A MIP: [player_tooltip player_id='1218572' first='Mia' last='Bustos'], 2025, 5-9 PF, Eastbrook H.S. - Mia is another prospect who saw a good number of 2024 teammates graduate last Spring, so she was able to improve organically through a massive opportunity to play a lot and step into a leadership role. She has nice length, wiry strength, and she's a solid all-around athlete with a motor. She's most comfortable in the mid-post, but she can battle inside or step outside and handle it a little in a pinch. As a Junior, Mia averaged a modest 8.2 points and 6.3 rebounds per game, but as a Senior she was much more heavily involved, averaging 13.2 points, 12.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 2.4 steals per game, while shooting 52% from the field. She is uncommitted to the best of my knowledge.   Class 1A MIP: [player_tooltip player_id='1131990' first='Jillian' last='Salts'], 2026, 5-11 PF, Carroll H.S. (Flora, IN) - Jillian experienced a combination of growth, more experience, and opportunity, leading to her improvement from last year to this. She is a very long & wiry prospect, but she has gotten noticeably stronger in time, and it has really helped her with her ability to absorb contact and finish inside. Additionally, she has improved her perimeter skillset and is shooting/handling it better outside, making her a versatile weapon for the Cougars. As a Sophomore, Jillian averaged 4.9 points and 4.8 rebounds per game, and she had only attempted 21 3-pointers the first two years of her career, making 3. This year, she had marks of 14.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 2.0 blocked shots per game, with 19 made 3-pointers.

Now that the 2024-2025 season has come to a close, I wanted to take this time, as I have done in years past, to offer up several awards to those her performed well throughout the 2024-2025 IHSAA season. I am changing my format a little, and instead of offering every award for each classification in one article, I wanted to aim more focus toward the bigger awards and our recipients for those awards. Below is a look at the Most Improved Player in each of the four classifications. I wanted to choose someone who was both (a) highly impactful for their team this season, and (b) showed a significant increase in production from last season to this season. While there were some tough calls in a couple of classifications, it's difficult to argue against how each of the four ladies below represent these awards.