End of Summer: Top 2029 Stock-Risers

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='1278862' first='Hadley' last='Cooper'] (2029) from Floyd Central 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":["1278862"],"_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-6a6b554b23fc6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hadley was easily one of my favorites to watch in 2029 this Spring &amp; Summer, and not just because she was playing 17U ball. She is so crafty/heady, that you would think she's a Senior out there on the floor. She has touch outside, the toughness to take big shots and make them, but she's also a willing passer who will run the offense. She keeps the ball on a string, and she uses her handle to get defenders off-balance so she can attack. She transferred from Christian Academy to Floyd Central over the Summer, and she'll immediately boost the Highlanders' lineup.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1166593"],"_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-6a6b554b23ffc"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Jillian was a transplant from Tennessee this past year, and like <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1278862' first='Hadley' last='Cooper']</strong> (<em>above</em>), she has a mature game...but in a much different way. Jillian has great size and strength, and from that standpoint looks overpowering compared to her peers. She has great poise on the ball, doesn't really force the action, and she is content to run the offense and rack up assists or get downhill and score it if needed. She's also a capable perimeter shooter and an effortful perimeter defender who just doesn't get beaten easily off the bounce. I especially like her toughness and physicality at that end of the floor.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1263960"],"_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-6a6b554b2401e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Karsyn had a strong Freshman year for the Lady Patriots, but as soon as mid-March hit, she was dialed in. She has tremendous length, speed, quickness, and bounce. She's such a smooth, gliding athlete, that things oftentimes look effortless for her. At the same time, she has also put in the time and is highly skilled. She is a multilevel scorer who can get to the rim, pull up at 15-feet, or knock down an open rhythm jumper outside. Additionally, she has the ball skill to run offense and create for others. Finally, at the defensive end, she is so active/athletic and long, she causes major problems.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1280381"],"_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-6a6b554b2403c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">When you watch Tatum play, she stands out in a much different way than some of these other ladies. There is one word for it...toughness. She is an extremely tough kid, she is very physical for her position, and she plays with a tireless motor. Don't get me wrong, she has good ball skill and the ability to make shots, but you'll often see her inside battling for boards, finishing through contact, or defending someone much bigger than herself. There is just no quit or fear of anyone, and it makes her enjoyable to watch. It should only help her draw college attention moving forward.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1263977"],"_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-6a6b554b2405a"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Malia was someone I unfortunately didn't get to see during July, however, in April, May, and June she was outstanding. She has improved her skill so much, she looks leaner, stronger, and more explosive in all directions, and she works hard to switch ends of the floor, to defend, and to rebound. I think what impressed me most was her ability to consistently knock down 3-pointers this Spring. Combine that with her size, strength, and athleticism, and she can be a real matchup problem. On a loaded Homestead team, she might just carve out a big role for herself in 2026-2027.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>HONORABLE MENTION</strong><br>[player_tooltip player_id='1263932' first='Heavynne' last='Beard'], Lawrence North H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1263939' first='Lilly' last='Coleman'], Danville Community H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1827720' first='Azaria' last='Easley'], South Knox H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1305023' first='Journey' last='Frederick'], Franklin Community H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1690464' first='Keianah' last='Hart'], LaPorte H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1263945' first='Kristina' last='Hollowell'], Lawrence Central H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1230765' first='Emily' last='Huhnke'], Hebron H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1690467' first='Kylah' last='Kendall'], South Bend Adams H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1263949' first='Cora' last='Loveless'], West Lafayette H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1882591' first='Hayden' last='Meek'], Columbus East H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1731966' first='Olivia' last='Murphy'], Blackford H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1690475' first='Avery' last='Paridaen'], Gibson Southern H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1690495' first='Mariyah' last='Parker'], South Bend Adams H.S.<br>[player_tooltip player_id='1254137' first='Lydia' last='Swogger'], East Noble H.S.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->