The Finale: 2026 Wing Play Highlights Day-1

As the Summer begins to wind down, many of the grassroots teams in Indiana are off to any number of locations for the final "live" period of the season where they can be evaluated once again by schools of all levels, including NCAA Division I. I am in Hamilton, Ohio, at the annual "The Finale" tourney held by Select Events at Spooky Nook Sports Champion Mill. Below is a look at some of the top performers in 2026 and 2027 when I was able to see them Friday afternoon.   .    I don't recall ever seeing Ella play, so this was a nice opportunity to highlight someone new to me. Ella is a nice all-around athlete, she possesses some speed & quickness, a strong motor, and a versatile skillset. She is one of those kids who might not be elite in any one category, but she is solid at just about everything. She can handle the ball and initiate the offense, she can attack the basket and create, plus she can step into a rhythm jumper and bury it. I also liked her scrappiness at the defensive end of the floor.     Audrey is making up for a lot of lost time (due to injuries) early in her career by posting an outstanding Spring & Summer on the grassroots circuit. She is a strong, physical wing who doesn't mind contact. She can attack the basket North/South, she's crafty when she finishes inside, but she can also absorb contact. Additionally, she is a knockdown shooter from outside, and that's probably her best trait. She just goes out and competes, and she doesn't ask questions or show too much emotion. She is now drawing Division II interest/offers.     Brinley is a long, wiry, versatile wing who plays with a tremendous amount of toughness and physicality. She isn't afraid of sticking her nose in there and absorbing contact, plus she plays with a great motor. She has some touch outside, she is crafty off the bounce and can change directions in traffic, but she's also a willing passer with good vision and can facilitate as a point forward at times. Defensively, she uses her length and timing well to get a number of steals/deflections, and she flips ends of the court quickly.     I have watched Lillian a number of times over the past couple of years, but I feel like Friday was the most versatile and passionate I've seen her. She is a strong, physical frontline player who doesn't mind mixing it up inside. She plays with a nice motor, battles for boards, but she has also shown good hands, solid footwork, plus nice touch at and inside of 15-feet. She isn't uncomfortable coming out to the perimeter, but she's just much more effective inside the arc right now. I think she could be a highly productive small college post somewhere.     Mylee is on a grassroots team with quite a few quality frontline players with size, so playing in a rotation like that, she doesn't always stand out. I do feel like Friday she was much more confident and aggressive however, and she showed the whole "bag of tricks" offensively. She has nice length, a wiry-strong frame, and she can play inside-out. She has a pretty stroke outside, but she is handling it better out there, too. Inside, she uses her length and a little bounce to out-rebound taller, more physical players. She began The Finale strong.     I've seen Ainsley a couple of times in the past, but I felt like Friday she looked a little stronger, a little taller, and was playing with more of an ease to her game. She has nice length, a wiry-strong, athletic frame, and she glides around the floor. She has nice touch from the perimeter when set and in rhythm, but she can also drive it to the basket North/South some. She recently made a transfer from Scecina to Roncalli, so I'll be curious to see how she fits in with the Royals this Winter. She is just a nice all-around guard and solid small college prospect.     Bryleigh is a prospect who will likely be added to the 2027 rankings next time we do an update in September. She is as tough as they come at her size. She has nice strength, a great motor, and she's always flying around the floor competing. She can handle the ball and initiate the offense, she can create for herself or teammates off the bounce, plus she is a capable perimeter shooter when set and in rhythm. Defensively, she is extremely scrappy and can cause havoc in the half-court or at 84-feet. She's just a nice, solid ballplayer.

As the Summer begins to wind down, many of the grassroots teams in Indiana are off to any number of locations for the final "live" period of the season where they can be evaluated once again by schools of all levels, including NCAA Division I. I am in Hamilton, Ohio, at the annual "The Finale" tourney held by Select Events at Spooky Nook Sports Champion Mill. Below is a look at some of the top performers in 2026 and 2027 when I was able to see them Friday afternoon.