A Way-Too-Early Top 5 For 2025-2026

The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='492322' first='Aniyah' last='McKenzie'] (2026) of Lawrence Central High School.   While June winds down and high school teams continue their Summer play and preparation for the upcoming school year, I wanted to have a little fun and offer a way-too-early-prediction on how the top teams could stack up for the 2025-2026 season. Considering results from the last couple of seasons, graduation losses, transfers in & out, plus a few overstated results from some Summer competition, below is a look at who I think the top teams will be to begin the season based on how everything stands right now. After selecting this list, I went back and looked at the Sagarin Ratings from this past Winter, and all of them were in the Top 8 from the 2024-2025 season as well, plus all of them had a strength of schedule rated 31st or higher (out of roughly 400 schools).   .   1. Homestead (24-3, Sectional Champs in 2024-25)   Even though they were extremely talented and deep this past season, the Homestead Spartans have been gearing up for this coming year behind a deep and talented 2026 class, plus an equally deep and talented 2028 class. Their season ended at the hands of Hamilton Southeastern (below), 65-48, so expect the Spartans to play with a bit of a chip on their shoulder come tournament time and attempt to return to Gainbridge Fieldhouse for the first time since 2017. 5-10 point guard [player_tooltip player_id='492319' first='Myah' last='Epps'] (2026) and 5-11 wing/forward [player_tooltip player_id='414465' first='Gabby' last='Helsom'] (2026) are a great starting point. Both were Indiana Junior All-Stars this summer, and they each bring a different kind of scoring punch. Epps, a University of Louisville commit, is the long, creative playmaker off the dribble who can find teammates or score it consistently herself. Helsom, a University of Toledo commit, is a strong, aggressive, but smooth-shooting inside-out forward who does a little of everything for them. Fellow classmates and Indiana Wesleyan University commits [player_tooltip player_id='761179' first='Carley' last='Moellering'], a 5-9 combo guard, and [player_tooltip player_id='486540' first='Whitney' last='Ankenbruck'], a 5-9 wing, return with major experience and add a veteran savvy, high-level perimeter shooting, and toughness. 5-8 forward [player_tooltip player_id='486546' first='Kendall' last='McLaughlin'] (2026) is another Senior who can contribute, and she has really upped her game this Spring during grassroots play. She is another shooting threat who can defend and battle for boards inside.   The Junior-to-be class isn't very deep, but 5-9 wing [player_tooltip player_id='751059' first='Eva' last='Scarbeary'] has had a fantastic Spring as well. She is long & wiry, but she's scrappy, willing to be physical inside, while also showcasing a nice perimeter game, plus defensive versatility. 5-2 point guard [player_tooltip player_id='691221' first='Maggie' last='Coolman'] (2027) joins her in that class and brings a high level of skill and understanding to the court. Then there is the talented rising Sophomore class. 5-9 guard [player_tooltip player_id='902152' first='Delaney' last='Noll'] saw the most action as a rookie, and she has drawn a great deal of Division I interest/offers. She is strong, skilled with the ball, and she is an elite shooter with a quick release. I would expect her to potentially step into a starting role this year. 6-2 wing/forward [player_tooltip player_id='888190' first='Suzy' last='Perego'] is the wildcard here. She has great length, fluid athleticism, and the ability to play a point forward role, a wing shooter role, a slashing scorer role, or a mid-post forward role with her height. She also possesses a great deal of Division I interest/offers already. 5-11 inside-out forward [player_tooltip player_id='933384' first='Leah' last='Werth'] and 5-9 shooting guard [player_tooltip player_id='990956' first='Agnes' last='Bell'] have also grown, gotten stronger, and really improved their skillsets. Look for them to add quality depth to the rotation, while 5-7 point guard [player_tooltip player_id='990167' first='Kenna' last='Taylor'] could also see a little time in the backcourt for the Spartans. And if they need any size, keep an eye out for 6-1 Freshman post Malia Williams. She made her presence known at the Indiana Wesleyan shootout a couple of weeks ago. She has a broad, strong frame, but she also moves very well and has a nice skillset for a younger post. They just keep coming, don't they??   .   2. Lawrence Central (22-2 in 2024-25)   The Bears are back...but they will look a lot different in 2025-2026. With the graduation losses of Indiana All-Stars Jaylah Lampley (Mississippi State University) and Laila Abdurraqib (University of New Mexico), they will need to find more offense, and quickly. Lucky for them, they return a pair of 2025 Indiana Junior All-Stars in all-everything 6-3 forward [player_tooltip player_id='492321' first='Lola' last='Lampley'] and 6-0 power forward [player_tooltip player_id='492322' first='Aniyah' last='McKenzie']. The younger Lampley is primed to explode this season. She is a Team USA member, a Top 25 National prospect, and she has the size and strength to play at the basket but the skill and athleticism to operate out of a point forward role. McKenzie has one of the best motors in the state. She is physical, tough, athletic, and you aren't going to beat her to a rebound or loose ball. The only other two returnees who saw any significant time last season are 2028s [player_tooltip player_id='1001646' first='A'Myah' last='Sowell'] and [player_tooltip player_id='990043' first='LeAnah' last='Hyatt']. Sowell came in last year as a physical forward who battled around the paint, but by midseason she also showed some touch outside and the ability to put the ball on the floor. She could make a big jump this season. Hyatt is a long, wiry, quick, fast, and feisty combo guard. She can slice through gaps in the defense and create offense quickly for herself or teammates.   So why are the Bears so high? Well, the addition of two recognizable transfers will definitely do the trick. 5-9 guard [player_tooltip player_id='492317' first='Ke'Adriah' last='Butler'] (2026) has come across the township after winning a state championship and should add an athletic boost to the backcourt. The lefty is explosive off the bounce, she gets downhill quickly, plus she has worked on her midrange and perimeter jumper. Additionally, she can be an elite on-ball defender when engaged. Joining Butler in the backcourt will be Fishers transfer [player_tooltip player_id='990044' first='Riley' last='Schellhammer'] (2028), a 5-9 point guard. She is a smooth shooter with a nice handle, and she can fill it up from outside or initiate the offense and find open teammates. She was second for the Tigers in scoring (13.8) last season as a rookie, but she will likely be chased less playing alongside Lampley and Butler. Without much depth, keep an eye out for 2029s [player_tooltip player_id='1263945' first='Kristina' last='Hollowell'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1263975' first='Amyla' last='Williams']. Hollowell is a 5-9 wing/forward who has a good understanding of the game and plays with a nice motor. Williams is a 5-7 jet who will fly around the court and try to make plays. All in all, while Lawrence Central might not be the deepest group suiting up each night, they very well might have the toughest first five to match up with, and they've shown in the past they don't need many more than six or seven to be highly successful.   .   3. Warsaw (26-2, Class 4A State Runners-Up in 2024-25)   The Warsaw Tigers put together a fantastic 26-2 season in 2024-2025, falling only to Homestead in the regular season, before defeating Hamilton Southeastern in the Semi-State Championship game and ultimately coming up just short against Lawrence North in the State Finals. The Lady Tigers must now deal with the loss of their top sizeable option in 6-0 forward Brooke Winchester, who is headed to Ball State University. Starter Braylie Chastain and key "sixth starter" Abbey Peterson also collected their diplomas and will be missed. At the same time, the starting backcourt is intact and incredibly skilled. 5-9 point guard [player_tooltip player_id='567134' first='Joslyn' last='Bricker'] (2026), 5-8 sniper [player_tooltip player_id='403531' first='Brooke' last='Zartman'] (2026), and 5-7 combo guard [player_tooltip player_id='686307' first='Alexis' last='Neely'] (2026) each bring something different to the table for the black & orange. Bricker, a recent Butler University commit, is the playmaker, the creator, and at times, an explosive scorer. Zartman, a Miami University (OH) recruit, gets on shooting streaks that no opposing coach wants to defend, plus she's a scrappy defender, while Neely, a Huntington University target, is a ball of energy who can facilitate, score, defend, and rebound.   From there, really only 5-8 forward Kyra Kiser (2026) saw significant rotation minutes, but she does bring some toughness and plays much bigger than she is. Warsaw got a big offseason boost with the transfer of 5-11 wing [player_tooltip player_id='747044' first='Reagan' last='Huss'] (2027). She will bring athleticism, length, height, plus a versatile inside-out skillset that allows her to score from the perimeter plus defend the interior some. With the perimeter being more than secure, look for the combination of 5-9 wing [player_tooltip player_id='1231133' first='Erin' last='McManus'] (2026) and 6-1 front-liner [player_tooltip player_id='908500' first='Cayleigh' last='Goheen'] to back up Kiser & Huss and offer at least a little size to an otherwise smaller roster. McManus has been outstanding all Spring, both shooting it well from the perimeter and battling inside the arc at the defensive end of the floor. Goheen has been a favorite of ours since seeing her at a showcase several months back. She is strong and physical, but she is also deceptively athletic and plays with a tremendous motor. There is plenty of additional talent in the Warsaw cupboard, so don't think the above is all of it, but look for the Lady Tigers to stick to their experienced backcourt and surround them with a couple of solid interior defenders and rebounders as they look to repeat their 2024-2025 performance behind their Senior experience and incredible perimeter skill.   .   4. Pike (20-7, Regional Champs in 2024-25)   Following a 6-year stretch without a winning record, the Pike Red Devils bounced back in a big way and made their presence felt, driving deep into the playoffs before falling by a single point, 45-44, to Class 4A State Champion Lawrence North. With no 2025 graduate playing significant rotation minutes and an impressive group of incoming Freshmen to add to the mix, they have only excitement building for the upcoming season. They could play as many as 12-deep each time out, but let's start with their frontcourt. The quartet of 6-0 forwards [player_tooltip player_id='686306' first='Komari' last='Booker'] (2026), [player_tooltip player_id='928878' first='Marley' last='Jeffers'] (2026), Morgan Anderson (2026), and [player_tooltip player_id='909349' first='Elyssa' last='Nichols'] (2027) bring a combination of length, strength, toughness, physicality, rebounding, defense, and paint enforcement. Booker is a talented athlete who can flex out to the perimeter a little, she was an Indiana Junior All-Star earlier this month, and lately she has drawn a lot of Division I interest. Jeffers is the best combination of interior bully plus skill, as she can overpower opponents or finish with touch/finesse around the rim. Anderson is another incredibly physical interior player who transferred in from Ben Davis, and she is capable in the mid-post as well, while Nichols has length, post skill, a little strength, plus some bounce and the ability to get out and run the floor. Collectively, they are nothing less than imposing as a group.   The backcourt is equally talented, deeper, and incredibly versatile. Whatever type of guard/wing you want to plug in, and the Red Devils probably have someone to fit the bill. [player_tooltip player_id='486542' first='Alonna' last='Divine'] (2026) is the returning leading scorer, and she brings some height and length at the point guard position, plus she's a creative distributor. [player_tooltip player_id='751118' first='Saniya' last='Smith'] (2027) is a water-bug quick combo guard with a yo-yo handle who can fill it up or find open teammates in positions to score. For a defensive edge, look at [player_tooltip player_id='1038873' first='Deniyah' last='Warren'] (2026) and [player_tooltip player_id='751088' first='Korinne' last='Nickolson'] (2027) who can get into opposing ball-handlers 84-feet. Warren is also a nice slasher, while Nickolson can run offense and find teammates consistently. Wing [player_tooltip player_id='751077' first='Jazlyn' last='Miller'] (2027) is a long, wiry shooter who glides around the floor, while [player_tooltip player_id='999451' first='Chami' last='Williams'] (2028) is an intriguing young athlete who could see more opportunity as a Sophomore because of her versatility and ability to be a multilevel scorer. Speaking of youngsters, keep an eye out for 5-8 guard [player_tooltip player_id='1263952' first='Savayah' last='Mitchell'] (2029) and 5-10 wing [player_tooltip player_id='1263942' first='Malyiah' last='Evans'] (2029). Both possess a mature game, skill, talent, and each is already drawing major Division I interest. Not only are they the future for the Red Devils, they could very easily be the present in 2025-2026 as rookies. Pike should cause problems for a lot of opponents with their ability to wear them out in waves.   .   5. Norwell (23-6, Class 3A State Champs in 2024-25) - OR - Hamilton Southeastern (27-1, Regional Champs in 2024-25)   With those first four schools, I kind of felt like they were in a category of their own for next year, but I wanted to get to five teams, and Norwell & Hamilton Southeastern are both very good as well, and I had a difficult time choosing between the two, especially after the weekend Norwell had in the IBCA/IHSAA team showcase.   NORWELL - The Lady Knights should again be the team in the North for Class 3A, as they return everyone from last season's State Championship team. The top talent is 5-10 wing [player_tooltip player_id='732354' first='Vanessa' last='Rosswurm'] (2026). She is an athlete, skilled & versatile, she was a 2025 Indiana Junior All-Star, plus she is almost always the hardest worker on the court. She might backpedal as fast as others run in transition. 5-7 guard Addison Norris (2026) brings a nice toughness, energy, and physicality to the backcourt. She can play on or off the ball and does whatever her team needs. And 5-8 guard [player_tooltip player_id='1137282' first='Macie' last='Saalfrank'] (2026) is a dangerous knockdown shooter who defenses must locate early in transition. If she has any rhythm, it's going in. Beyond that leadership trio are several of members of the 2026 and 2027 classes who return tremendous big-game experience. Norwell has strong guard play throughout its roster, a little size, and system kids who have bought into a successful program.   HAMILTON SOUTHEASTERN - Hamilton Southeastern must play without 2025 Indiana Miss Basketball Maya Makalusky for the first time in four seasons, plus they have five additional 2025 graduates to replace. However, the Royals do return a pair of talented Seniors-to-be in point guard [player_tooltip player_id='486487' first='Kennedy' last='Holman'] and wing/forward [player_tooltip player_id='486486' first='Kayla' last='Stidham']. Holman is a fast, athletic, traditional lead guard prospect with a great handle, good vision, and lockdown defender type of talent. Stidham has good size and strength, she can rebound and defend inside the arc, plus she is an excellent perimeter shooter who can put it on the floor and create offense. Both have a variety of widespread Division I interest. From there, 5-5 point guard [player_tooltip player_id='486488' first='Antonette' last='Green'] (2026), 5-6 guard [player_tooltip player_id='613303' first='Ava' last='Kashani'], and 5-4 point guard [player_tooltip player_id='751032' first='Abigail' last='Orme'] (2027) return the most experience. The Royals won't be very tall or very deep, but the combination of Holman & Stidham should overcome a lot of deficiencies.

The featured image is of Aniyah McKenzie Aniyah McKenzie 6'0" | PF/SF Lawrence Central | 2026 State IN (2026) of Lawrence Central High School.