Saturday Wing Play at The Classic

Brandon Bradley May 18, 2025 @ 03:31 AM

The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='486495' first='Olivia' last='Jones'] (2026) of Pendleton Heights High School and IBC-Crowe S40 17U.   As "The Classic" continued on Saturday in Louisville, Kentucky, several Indiana players showed strong play and even improvements in their games. There were a number of prospects who really helped themselves with their recruitment and below is a look at a handful of wings who played well when I was able to see them.   .   [player_tooltip player_id='486531' first='MaKayla' last='Hatcher'], 2026, 5-8 W, Westfield H.S., [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100'] Hustle 17U - MaKayla is a strong, physical, assertive wing prospect who has been a steady contributor to each team she's been on over the years. She plays with a nice motor, she seeks out contact, and she can affect a game at all three levels at either end of the floor. She rebounds her position and can defend multiple types of wings and undersized forwards. Offensively, she has some touch around the perimeter, she can get downhill and attack, and she can even initiate the offense from time to time.   [player_tooltip player_id='486495' first='Olivia' last='Jones'], 2026, 5-9 G/W, Pendleton Heights H.S., IBC-Crowe 17U - Olivia is one of the most enjoyable kids to watch in this class because she plays with such an outstanding motor and a nice sense of "team" in an effort to simply win. She has a long, wiry-strong frame, she gets up and down the floor, and she's willing to do a lot of the "little things" others aren't. What impressed me the most Saturday was her improved handle against pressure, plus she was all-around better with the ball in all situations. She also defended the ball better off the dribble.   [player_tooltip player_id='773842' first='Ruby' last='Murrell'], 2026, 5-9 W, Martinsville H.S., [program_tooltip program_id='714250' first='Indiana' last='Pride'] Xtreme 17U - I have seen Ruby a few times each year over the past three years, and she has steadily just continued to improve. She is a strong, physical wing but also a multilevel scorer with a nice feel for scoring the basketball. She can hit rhythm jumpers from the perimeter, she can attack the basket North/South and finish through contact, but she also has a really nice mid-range game. She can catch & shoot, drive & pull up, or post up and pull up in the 15 to 17-foot range and just knows where she is.   [player_tooltip player_id='1221123' first='Olivia' last='Simpson'], 2026, 5'10 G/W, Southwestern H.S. (Hanover), [program_tooltip program_id='714250' first='Indiana' last='Pride'] Xtreme 17U - This was my first opportunity to see Olivia in-person, and she is definitely an intriguing prospect. She has tremendous length, skill with the ball in her hands, and she can score the ball a little from each level. She is fluid, somewhat smooth, and seems to like to act as a facilitator. She shot it more than I expected, but she made a couple of deep 3-pointers late in the game I saw. She will need to absorb contact a little better for the next level, but this Spring should help ready her for that.   [player_tooltip player_id='751062' first='Grace' last='Fischer'], 2027, 5-10 W, Waldron H.S., IBC-Stillabower 17U - First, it was great to see Grace back in action after an injury took her high school season away from her. Last Spring & Summer she was really good, and I'd expect her to return to 100% very soon. Saturday, she looked like she was getting out and going well. She is extremely long & wiry, fluidly athletic, and even somewhat bouncy. She can handle and shoot the ball around the perimeter, but she's also effective in the mid-post. She's more physical than she looks, plus she'll rebound & defend.

The featured image is of Olivia Jones Olivia Jones 5'9" | SG/SF Pendleton Heights | 2026 State IN (2026) of Pendleton Heights High School and IBC-Crowe S40 17U.