PGH's The Encore: Indiana Forward/Post Observations

The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='1820381' first='Mia' last='Hurford'] (2027) from John Glenn High School.   Prep Girls Hoops ran a showcase event this past weekend in Mishawaka, Indiana, to offer programs in the Midwest a tune-up opportunity heading into the final "live" events this coming weekend. The event was littered with [program_tooltip program_id='1307580' first='Indy' last='One'] teams, along with 5Star, Indiana GAME, [program_tooltip program_id='715993' first='NWI' last='Select'], [program_tooltip program_id='1311881' first='Indiana' last='Starz'], and others in the high school divisions. While we had several qualified scouts from other states handling different age groups and offering all-tournament awards, I did find time Sunday to head up to the Mishawaka Fieldhouse. Since I have only seen the [program_tooltip program_id='1307580' first='Indy' last='One'] program once this grassroots season (in May), I wanted to put an emphasis on seeing each of their high school teams. Below is a look at a handful of 2027 and 2028 wings, forwards, and posts who stood out throughout Sunday's action.   .    I saw Addie early in the high school season, but it was good for me to see her Sunday in a grassroots setting as well. She is extremely long, wiry-strong, and fluidly athletic with some bounce. Right now, she is primarily a defender and a rebounder, but she does a nice job of affecting the game at the defensive end of the floor. She can rotate over and act as a rim protector, she can sit down and defend the perimeter a little, and she is solid using her length to discourage her own matchup inside. She will also box out and pursue rebounds. Offensively, she has some skill but just needs repetition.     Mia is the ideal small college forward because she is tough, strong, physical, and skilled at all three levels. She is best in the mid-post where she can shoot, attack to finish, or attack and use her physicality. She is an effortful rebounder and defender who plays taller than she is, but she's also comfortable around the perimeter at times. She can defend in ball screen situations, and offensively, she can handle it a little, knock down the occasional jumper, and she takes care of the basketball and values possessions. She is primed to have a really nice Senior season.     Kariya has really burst onto the scene this Winter and Spring, and she has continued her strong play in July. She has a solid/strong, athletic frame, she plays with a good motor, and she's more explosive than you might think at first glance. She is quick to seek contact at both ends of the floor, she does a nice job of winning position, and she has learned how to use her frame to absorb contact. She has gotten very consistent at finishing around the rim, and she is starting to look to score a bit more in the mid-post. Additionally, she works hard defensively and is solid in ball screen defense.     I hadn't seen Brooklyn in a while, so Sunday presented me with a good chance to catch up with her game. She has always shown strength and physicality for her age, but now she is almost overpowering at times for opponents as a wing. When she attacks the basket, she absorbs contact well, and when she rebounds/defends inside, she's able to move bigger forwards and posts at times. Add to that the fact she plays so hard, and I'm sure New Palestine opponents have to gameplan to keep her away from the paint. She has also worked to improve her ball skill and shooting.     I've actually probably seen Rylie more with her high school team than in grassroots ball over the last couple of years, and I felt like she was locked in Sunday in the game I saw. First, she shot the ball well from outside, and she made a couple of contested jumpers look easy. Second, she continues to be a solid point forward type who can initiate the offense, get downhill and find open teammates, and act as a versatile wing defender. She has always possessed great length, fluid athleticism, and versatility. But Sunday, she looked like she is becoming even more complete of a player.     Sunday was my first opportunity to see Jolie, and she is incredibly intriguing. She is extremely long, wiry, fluidly athletic, and bouncy. She is very active and always seems to be around the action as well. She looked to catch the ball and attack the basket more than anything, so I really didn't see her shoot a jump-shot, but she was aggressive to the basket. I also felt like with her length and athletic ability, she should be able to sit down and defend wings, but she could also battle forwards inside around the paint. I will be anxious to see her again soon to continue evaluating her skillset.     Eevey was a smaller guard when she got to Hamilton Southeastern, but she has grown and might even be pushing 5-9 at this point. She is so long, very fluid and smooth as an athlete, and she even plays with some bounce as well. I would call her a wing now, but she does still have some ball skill and can make plays for herself and others off the bounce. At the same time, she was good in transition or coming off screens Sunday and getting downhill to the rim, where she finished high and smooth with her length. She could have a breakout Winter for a younger HSE team.

The featured image is of Mia Hurford Mia Hurford 5'9" | PF/SF John Glenn | 2027 IN (2027) from John Glenn High School.