End of Summer: Top 2027 Stock-Risers

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='882835' first='Olivia' last='Esquivel'] (2027) from Griffith High School.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>With the 2026 grassroots season coming to a close Monday, I wanted to go back and highlight a handful of prospects who I felt stood out during the Spring &amp; Summer grassroots season. Now, with right around 50 teams from Indiana at each level (<em>17U, 16U, 15U, etc.</em>), it's impossible to see every team every single game. However, based on what I've seen and what I've heard from discussions with college coaches, I felt like these were the prospects who have helped themselves the most with their play since March.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["834926"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a6aa10141edc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I've been watching Averi since between her 8th and 9th Grade years. She has always been a good basketball player, tough-nosed for a guard, skilled with the ball, and able to make shots. She played like a solid small college prospect over the years, then something changed. She moved from East Noble to Northridge late in the Spring due to dad's work situation, and she seemed to absolutely take off. In May, June, and July, she was on a different level and has drawn upper tier NAIA and Division II offers/interest. She has also fit seamlessly into the lineup for the Lady Raiders.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1118516"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a6aa10141f3e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I've seen Tatum and her DistinXion team probably a half dozen times or so in April, May, and July, and I have yet to see her have a bad shooting game. Last Summer she was new to Indiana, so there was an adjustment period. But from the moment this Spring began, she was locked in, lights out, and a major offensive weapon for this Southern Indiana group. Tatum has nice length, she's a solid all-around athlete, and she is a smart ballplayer. At the end of the day, however, her ability as a sniper is what has a variety of schools from all levels interested in her as a prospect.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["751051"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a6aa10141f90"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I know, I know, she's been committed to Ball State for a while, so how does she fit here? Well, on a grassroots team with several Indiana All-Star candidates, I felt like Claire was consistently their best player. Not only that, but she stood out from the group at times. Her combination of size, athleticism, ball skill, and shooting touch will make her a tough matchup in the Mid-American Conference in the coming years. Not only that, but she understands the game, she is a tough-nosed kid, and she's willing to make hustle plays and do whatever it takes to win games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["751059"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a6aa10141fe0"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">While this is an alphabetical Top 5, Eva very well could be #1. Her growth as a player has been outstanding. A year ago, she was a hustler, and she did a lot of good things, but this year she is noticeably stronger, she's dishing out the contact and absorbing it much better, plus she's shooting it with great consistency from the perimeter. Based on her rapid improvement skillfully, you can tell she has been a tireless worker in the gym when people aren't watching. She has great length, fluid athleticism, speed, and bounce. She has picked up a tremendous amount of college interest.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1866054"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6a6aa1014202e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Kenleigh went from completely off the radar (<em>not even on our watch list earlier this year</em>), to one of the top frontline prospects in Indiana's 2027 class. She has a strong frame, length, and good athleticism. She almost looks like she competes in field events like high jump or long jump (<em>and she might</em>). She has good hands, solid finishing moves over either shoulder, plus she's tough and physical. Starting during the first "live" weekend in April, she was picking up attention because she outdueled a top post prospect from Kentucky. Now Kenleigh holds Division II &amp; NAIA offers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>HONORABLE MENTION</strong><br><em>[player_tooltip player_id='751034' first='Alanna' last='Anthony'], Fishers H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1259573' first='Ally' last='Brown'], Whitko H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='751031' first='Aaliyah' last='Carruthers'], Avon H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1006197' first='Rian' last='David'], East Noble H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1229374' first='Brooke' last='Dawson'], Lowell H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1137311' first='Aniya' last='Doughty'], Franklin Central H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='882835' first='Olivia' last='Esquivel'], Griffith H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='896317' first='Taylee' last='Fisher'], Carmel H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='751040' first='Arianna' last='Harrington'], Fishers H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='756236' first='Kendal' last='Hill'], South Knox H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='747044' first='Reagan' last='Huss'], Northridge H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='751296' first='Madison' last='Jones'], Fairfield H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='913637' first='Haleigh' last='Kass'], Avon H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='716615' first='Elliot' last='Leffler'], Roncalli H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='751125' first='Taylor' last='Mack'], Eastside H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='991171' first='Kihanna' last='Mellanson'], Heritage Christian H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='751060' first='Gianna' last='Morelli'], Indian Creek H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='751088' first='Korinne' last='Nickolson'], Pike H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='890884' first='McKenzi' last='Rutland'], North Central H.S. (Indianapolis)<br>[player_tooltip player_id='751063' first='Grace' last='Scharlach'], Fremont H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='834965' first='Carlee' last='Schrader'], Northview H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='751119' first='Satyra' last='Scott'], Kokomo H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1137345' first='Carly' last='Stevens'], Christian Academy of Indiana<br>[player_tooltip player_id='932696' first='Emma' last='Tinder'], Zionsville Community H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1818909' first='Bryleigh' last='Todd'], Plainfield H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='890889' first='Emily' last='Zack'], Zionsville Community H.S.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->