Most Outstanding Players (All Classes)

Brandon Bradley March 11, 2025 @ 07:54 PM

The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='295763' first='Jaylah' last='Lampley'] (2025) of Lawrence Central High School (#10 in red).   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 Outstanding Player in each of the four classifications. To me, the meaning of most outstanding player points simply at either the best basketball player or the most productive player, or both, regardless of team quality, depth etc. 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 MOP: [player_tooltip player_id='295763' first='Jaylah' last='Lampley'], 2025, 6-2 W, Lawrence Central H.S. - Jaylah has been a consistent fixture for the Lady Bears each of her four seasons in a high school uniform, and despite being a top-tier talent from the outset, she has continually worked to improve her entire skillset, especially her jump-shooting. She has good size and strength, balanced athleticism, and she has become more creative off the bounce. But her ability to consistently make shots outside has turned her into a matchup problem because of her physicality. Jaylah helped the Lady Bears to a Class 4A state title in 2023-2024, a 22-2 record this year, plus she averaged 21.2 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 2.4 steals, while shooting 46% from the field and burying 78 3-pointers. She will next play at SEC power Mississippi State University.   Class 3A MOP: [player_tooltip player_id='492324' first='Madalynn' last='Shirley'], 2026, 6-1 PF, Evansville Central H.S. - Madalynn might have had the season of seasons in Indiana, at least statistically, and she could easily have swapped awards with our Class 3A MVP...the two are interchangeable. Madalynn has been as skilled as any forward in Indiana's 2026 since I first saw her between her 7th and 8th grade years. She has touch to 3-point range, tremendous accuracy in the mid-post, plus she has an array of post moves and counter moves on the block. She simply outthinks and outworks her matchups every night. She is solid athletically, but it's her mind for the game that stands out most. Madalynn has already verbally committed to the University of Southern Indiana, and this season she helped Central to a 23-5 record, averaging 25.5 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 3.3 blocked shots per game.   Class 2A MOP: [player_tooltip player_id='570374' first='Ella' last='Bobe'], 2025, 5-9 CG, South Knox H.S. - Regardless of what Ella did statistically this year, she was arguably the most important player on a 28-2 South Knox team who tolled to the Class 2A state title, falling only to Class 4A powerhouses Hamilton Southeastern and Homestead at the Hall of Fame Tourney. Ella is tough, strong, and versatile. She understands how to exploit her matchups and utilize her variety of tools. She can handle it and play point, she can consistently knock down open jumpers, she can drive it or post up smaller defenders, plus she plays with an outstanding motor. Ella averaged 19.4 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 2.3 steals per game, while shooting 54% from the field and 41% from deep for the Spartans. She is another one who is headed off to play at the University of Southern Indiana.   Class 1A MOP: [player_tooltip player_id='486522' first='Ava' last='Wheeler'], 2026, 5-11 SF, Borden H.S. - Ava has flashed a great deal of talent in the past, but this year she managed to tie it all together. She helped lead the Lady Braves to the Class 1A state title, and even though she didn't post big scoring numbers in that contest, she managed to help 23-5 Borden with her versatility, scoring 13 points, pulling down 9 rebounds, handing out 6 assists, and collecting 4 steals. On the season, Ava averaged 16.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 3.0 steals per game, including shooting 50% from the field and adding a blocked shot each time out. As a Junior, Ava currently remains uncommitted, but she has already drawn a lot of interest, and I would expect that to pick up significantly once the two Spring "live" periods roll around in April and May of 2025.

The featured image is of Jaylah Lampley Jaylah Lampley 6'2" | SF Lawrence Central | 2025 State IN (2025) of Lawrence Central High School (#10 in red).