Week 3 Standouts: Underclassmen Guards on the Rise

Week 3 of the 2025–2026 Indiana Girls Basketball season is officially in the books, and the early storyline across the state continues to center around the emergence of young backcourt talent. From established programs to rising small-school contenders, underclassmen guards are stepping into major roles sooner than expected and delivering production that is impossible to ignore.   What makes this stretch of the season so impressive is not just the scoring totals, but the confidence, pace, and poise these young guards are showing against varsity competition. Whether it's freshmen making seamless transitions from middle school to high-level varsity play or sophomores taking significant leaps after gaining experience last year, the impact has been felt in every corner of Indiana.   This week's coverage focuses specifically on the freshman and sophomore guards who have elevated their teams with efficient scoring, improved decision-making, defensive energy, and clutch performances. These players aren't just contributing—they're helping shape the early-season landscape and proving they belong among the state's most exciting young prospects.    I had the chance to watch Nyomi this past week, and for it being my first time seeing her play, she made an immediate impression with the way she set the tone early against Elwood. At her size on the wing, she created matchup problems all night bigger, stronger, and more versatile than most players she faced. She controlled the glass on both ends, giving Marion second-chance opportunities while limiting Elwood's ability to respond.   What stood out even more was her decision-making in transition. Whether she was pushing the ball to create numbers, making the extra pass, or reading the defense to score at the rim, Nyomi consistently made the right play. She finished through contact, scored on both sides of the basket, and showed poise that isn't common for a young wing.   She capped the night with an impressive 39-point performance efficient, confident, and dominant from start to finish. Marion has a special player on its hands for the next three years, and she's already proving she can be a major building block for the program's future.     I had the chance to watch Kendall VanderWal play against Garrett, and she immediately stood out as the best player on the floor. The transfer guard from Marietta (Ohio) has fit seamlessly into the Angola girls basketball program, and it's clear she brings a level of skill and confidence that elevates the entire team.   Kendall's ability to score at all three levels makes her a constant threat. She shoots the ball with consistency, but she's just as effective putting the ball on the floor and attacking the rim. What makes her even more dangerous is how well she positions herself to finish around the basket she rebounds at a high rate for a guard, giving herself and her team extra scoring opportunities.   Against Garrett, she put together a dominant double-double performance, finishing with 34 points and 10 rebounds. It was a complete showing of her scoring versatility, competitiveness, and physical presence on both ends of the floor. Angola has landed a major impact player, and Kendall is already proving she can be one of the most productive guards in the area this season.     I've had the chance to watch Lillian both in the summer with her AAU team and now early on in her high school career, and the best word to describe her game is smooth. There's a natural ease to the way she plays whether she's stepping into a pull-up jumper, creating separation for her step-back three, or flowing within the offense, everything she does looks controlled, confident, and polished beyond her years.   This past Tuesday, she delivered one of the most impressive underclassman performances of Week 3, dropping 33 points against one of the top programs in the state, Pike. What makes that showing even more impressive is that Lillian came off the bench. Scoring 33 in a high-level matchup without starting speaks volumes about both her scoring ability and the depth of talent Westfield has on the floor.   Right now, she leads Westfield in scoring at 10.2 points per game, and she's doing it with efficiency and poise. Lillian is already proving she can be a major offensive spark, and as the season continues, she has the tools to become one of the most reliable young scoring guards in Indiana.     Natalie Stranger continues to impress with the way she not only scores the basketball, but also creates scoring opportunities for others a rare blend of production and playmaking for a sophomore guard. What stands out most is her ability to score from all three levels. Whether she's knocking down perimeter shots, attacking off the dribble, or finishing through contact, Natalie has already developed a complete offensive game at a young age.   She's the engine of an undefeated East Central team, currently averaging an impressive 19.9 points per game for a group that sits at 7–0. Her consistency is just as notable as her scoring totals every game, she gives her team exactly what they need to stay ahead.   This past week, she added another standout performance with a 29-point outing, showcasing her confidence, composure, and ability to take over stretches of play. Natalie is quickly emerging as one of the top sophomore guards in the state, and her early-season production is a major reason East Central continues to roll.     [player_tooltip player_id='1263959' first='Arianna' last='Rowell'] is quickly emerging as the next star out of the South Bend area, and her impact as a freshman has been nothing short of remarkable. What separates her from most first-year players is her ability to score the basketball at all three levels. She shoots it with confidence, gets downhill with purpose, and finishes efficiently showing a level of poise that usually takes years to develop.   She's off to one of the best starts to a freshman season in recent memory. Arianna is averaging an eye-opening 31.6 points per game while shooting 49% from the field, numbers that instantly place her among the most productive underclassmen in the state. Her high-volume scoring isn't just empty production, either she has been a major driving force behind her team's best start since the 2021–2022 season.   This past week, she added another standout performance with 32 points on an efficient 61% shooting night. Arianna is already proving she can carry a varsity scoring load, and as the season continues, she's establishing herself as one of Indiana's most exciting young prospects.     [player_tooltip player_id='1144620' first='Ella' last='Barry'] brings a level of athleticism to the floor that immediately jumps out, and she's using it to her advantage in every phase of the game. Not only can she run the floor and create pressure in transition, but she also shoots the ball at a high level making her one of the toughest matchups for opposing defenses. When a player is both explosive and a consistent perimeter threat, it forces teams to make tough decisions, and Ella capitalizes on those gaps.   This past week, she delivered another strong performance, finishing with 26 points and knocking down four threes. Her ability to stretch the floor while also attacking off the bounce makes her the focal point of Southmont's offense, and she continues to deliver with confidence.   Ella has played a major role in Southmont's impressive 8–0 start their best opening stretch since the 2020–2021 season. With the way she's producing on both ends of the floor, she's shaping up to be one of the key sophomore guards to watch as the season progresses.

Week 3 of the 2025–2026 Indiana Girls Basketball season is officially in the books, and the early storyline across the state continues to center around the emergence of young backcourt talent. From established programs to rising small-school contenders, underclassmen guards are stepping into major roles sooner than expected and delivering production that is impossible to ignore.