Forwards on the Watch List in 2027

It can be very easy to get caught up in focusing on the top players in a specific graduating class, so occasionally I like to take the time to point out a handful of talented ladies who currently find themselves on the watch lists. Below is a look at a few such ladies who have talent, skill, and the ability to help a college program down the road.   .    Claire is that rare prospect who doesn't play for an IHSAA member school, so you have to find her grassroots team to have a good shot at seeing her play. She is long, wiry-strong, fluidly athletic, and even somewhat bouncy. She plays with a nice motor, plus she is comfortable at all three levels. I would say she's probably best in the mid-post where she can shoot or attack, but she has the height/length to battle a little inside, and she can handle it around the perimeter as well. She definitely has a lot of small college appeal to her game.     While Valparaiso has a talented Senior backcourt, they haven't been blessed with size or depth the last couple of seasons, so Chyanne has gotten a lot of opportunity at the Varsity level to play and develop through live action. She is a strong, physical forward who can play inside or out. She has some ball skill and likes to push in transition, even initiating the offense from time to time. In the halfcourt, however, she looks most comfortable in the mid-post, where she's able to use that physicality to attack the basket/boards and to defend.     Layla is a player who I have raved about over the last six months, because she is every small college's dream. She has a strong frame, the physicality to enforce her will at either end of the floor inside the paint, plus she has soft hands, and solid finishing moves around the basket. Additionally, she has a good enough handle to push it in transition, and she is an outstanding passer with great vision from the top of the key. Ideally, she's one of those face-up '4s' who can give you 15 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists while filling multiple roles.     Kara plays alongside one of the state's best and deepest backcourts at Plainfield High School, so it makes her job that much easier. She is a strong, physical wing/forward who is able to play at all three levels, and she comes up with a lot of "scraps" baskets because of the pressure put on her teammates. She plays with a nice motor, always finds herself in positions for easy baskets, and she plays much bigger than she is defensively and on the boards. She could find college interest as either a '3' or a '4', depending on need.     Ashley is a part of a nice, balanced lineup at Bloomington North, and she has been able to see plenty of action while continuing to expand her game. She is a really nice mid-post '4' who has good touch at 15-feet, the ability to put it on the floor from there, plus enough size, strength, and length to battle on the boards. She is a solid all-around athlete with fluidity and a little bounce, and she can get out and run in transition. I think she could be an ideal fit for a lot of Midwestern small colleges who like those long, versatile '4s'.     When I was able to see her, I felt like Zoe had a nice June and July. She is a strong, physical athlete who loves to battle inside of 15-feet. She utilizes both her athleticism and strength well and always has double-double potential. She is honestly probably more of a post at the high school level, but because of her ability to come out on the floor and defend, she is more of a power forward prospect for the next level. If she can extend her range a little and work on her ball security around the perimeter, I think she's definitely a '4'.

It can be very easy to get caught up in focusing on the top players in a specific graduating class, so occasionally I like to take the time to point out a handful of talented ladies who currently find themselves on the watch lists. Below is a look at a few such ladies who have talent, skill, and the ability to help a college program down the road.