Shamrock Notes: Class of 2026

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='419439' first='Lillian' last='Barnes'] (2026) of Valparaiso High School.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>During the Saint Patrick's Day Weekend, the annual Shamrock Classic took place at the Pacers Athletic Center in Westfield, Indiana. While there might not have been as much top-end talent as is typical for the event, there were some outstanding young ladies in attendance. Below is a look at seven players from Indiana's Class of 2026 who stood out while I was able to see them at the always strong event.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["419439"],"_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-67e3822016046"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I have obviously seen Lillian many times over the years, but I felt like comparing her from last season to this season, she looks a bit more explosive, and some of that could do with her being healthier. She has always been one of the highest IQ, most skilled kids in Indiana's 2026 class, and she is an absolute playmaker. She has a tremendous feel for the game, good vision, plus she is shooting it better from the perimeter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["624877"],"_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-67e38220160b0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Juliana has always been a versatile guard who can score it in a variety of ways. Last weekend, however, she was noticeably stronger, absorbing contact better, getting through the lane with greater ease, and finishing at the rim more consistently. She is long and shifty, creative off the bounce, and while she does play with a scorer's mentality, she does have good vision and is a willing passer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["883672"],"_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-67e382201610e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I was really impressed with Jade when I saw her during a holiday tournament this Winter, and I was happy to see her again so early this Spring in this environment. She is strong/powerful, very physical, and she plays with a nice motor. She possesses good hands, solid post moves around the paint, and a soft touch with her ability to finish over taller defenders. She has become a really nice small college prospect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["492324"],"_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-67e382201616c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">What [player_tooltip player_id='419439' first='Lillian' last='Barnes'] <em>(above)</em> is to the perimeter, Madalynn is to the frontline. Maddy is incredibly skillful, she plays with an extremely high basketball IQ, and she always outworks her matchup. She is one of the best mid-range shooters in the state, plus she has range to the 3-point line, and she can play a little with her back to the basket. She has nice length, a wiry strong frame, and she pursues rebounds aggressively.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["885178"],"_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-67e38220161c9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Emery really hasn't been a big-time grassroots kid in the past due to her volleyball abilities, but this year she has opted to play with the DistinXion program out of Southwest Indiana. She is extremely long and wiry, bouncy, and effortful. Additionally, she has touch to near the 3-point line, she can put it on the floor productively for 3-4 dribbles, and she can sit down and defend wings, forwards, and some posts.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"[player_tooltip player_id='1256524' first='Nina' last='Whitehead']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"5'4u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"12123","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"North Central (Indianapolis)","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='821312' first='Ty' last='Harris Elite']","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-67e3822016271"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Nina isn't very big, but she was really good in the game I was able to see. She is strong for her size, tough-nosed, and feisty. She is constantly playing with her head up surveying the floor, and she is a more than willing passer. However, where she stood out was burying deep 3-point shots, using the dribble to create space from defenders. As she gains consistency, watch for her to draw more and more college interest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["486537"],"_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-67e38220162bc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Naja has always been a very athletic prospect with a great deal of upside. She is a nice run-and-jump athlete, she plays with a good motor, and she's able to make plays at all three levels. She has improved her shooting, but she is probably still most comfortable in the mid-post. She is an active rebounder, plus she is a willing and capable defender. She should draw a varied amount of interest this Spring.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block -->