Lafayette to Kokomo Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='814715' first='Jhordyn' last='Brown'] (2028) from Kokomo High School.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>About once a year I like to go through various areas of the state and highlight players for different reasons. In this specific article, I wanted to create an All-North Central Indiana team of the Top 5 prospects from "Lafayette to Kokomo" heading into the 2026-2027 season. Below that list is an Honorable Mention section including one prospect from each high school in the area. All of these prospects come from schools in North Central Indiana, but more specifically, from the counties of Benton, Fountain, Warren, White, Carroll, Tippecanoe, Montgomery, Clinton, Howard, Tipton, Cass, Miami, and Wabash.</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":["751095"],"_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-6a9300b5c5a38"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">It seems like Lillie has been playing high school basketball for 10 years now, but when you enter high school as the #1 prospect in the state in your graduating class and maintain that ranking throughout your career, you are well-known. During her first three years, Lillie has really improved her strength while continuing to be one of the smoothest, bounciest athletes. Her handle, vision, and creativity have greatly improved, and her perimeter shooting has made her someone you must respect from downtown. At 6-1 with great length, she has typically always been an effective defender as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["890800"],"_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-6a9300b5c5aa4"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Keara is one of those prospects who has gotten better each year. A lot has to do with physical growth/strength, but she has maintained her tremendous length, smooth/fluid athleticism, and feel for the game. The first thing that comes to mind when you discuss her is "playmaker". She is really good off the bounce, she can slice to the basket, and she can find open teammates in positions to score. Her perimeter shot makes defenders stay attached, and she can be a very good on-ball defender, especially when she is locked in and playing with urgency. She recently committed to IU-Kokomo.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["932694"],"_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-6a9300b5c5af6"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Aleah is primed for a big season at Harrison. She has seen Varsity action since she was younger, but as she has gotten stronger each year, she has finished much more consistently around the basket, her mid-post game has grown and she has been able to attack to score better, plus she can knock down the occasional 3-pointer when set and in rhythm. Aleah has really nice length, good bounce and all-around athleticism, plus she plays with a motor and some physicality. To a degree, you could say she's flying under the radar a bit, but I've also heard she's very specific about her academic pursuits.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1144653"],"_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-6a9300b5c5b42"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Amaya is possibly the most talented, uncommitted prospect in this area right now. She has grown steadily throughout high school, she possesses outstanding length, plus she moves well in most directions. What makes her even scarier is that she has a skillset. She can handle it some in transition and initiate the offense, she can attack off the dribble from most areas of the floor, and she is developing a consistent jumper that can keeps defenses from collapsing off of her. She is one half of an impressive frontcourt at West Lafayette that includes <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1263949' first='Cora' last='Loveless']</strong>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1264854"],"_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-6a9300b5c5b8e"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Brooke is in a line of sisters who played for the Lady Knights, and she has a chance to graduate with one of the most productive careers in the family. She has some height, nice length, and a wiry-strong frame. She operates almost exclusively around the perimeter and has been known as a very good shooter and versatile all-around scorer. Brooke has also improved her handle and decision-making, and I think she could also be a problem by posting up smaller defenders inside. All in all, she is a nice, complete basketball player, who can create a multilevel scoring fear in opponents.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>HONORABLE MENTION:</strong><br><em>Attica - [player_tooltip player_id='1052803' first='Kendyl' last='Nolan'] (2028)<br>Benton Central - [player_tooltip player_id='1092447' first='McKenna' last='Yadon'] (2027)<br>Carroll (Flora) - Eliza Rinehart (2027)<br>Clinton Central - Addi Mounts (2027)<br>Clinton Prairie - Emerysn Kaser (2029)<br>Covington - Lauren Hardy (2029)<br>Crawfordsville - Olivia Jett (2027)<br>Delphi Community - [player_tooltip player_id='1827747' first='Ava' last='Mills'] (2029)<br>Eastern (Greentown) - Gianna Beechy (2028)<br>Faith Christian - Johanna Haste (2027)<br>Fountain Central - Bella Bacon (2027)<br>Frankfort - Sophia Michael (2029)<br>Frontier - Addison Govert (2028)<br>Kokomo - [player_tooltip player_id='814715' first='Jhordyn' last='Brown'] (2028)<br>Lafayette Central Catholic - Lauren Potts (202)<br>Lafayette Jefferson - Cambria Marcus (2027)<br>Lewis Cass - Presley Johnson (2028)<br>Logansport - Lily Clem (2028)<br>Maconaquah - [player_tooltip player_id='1351132' first='Ireland' last='Kile'] (2027)<br>Manchester - [player_tooltip player_id='1865923' first='Emma' last='Walker'] (2027)<br>McCutcheon - [player_tooltip player_id='751038' first='Ameria' last='Gibson'] (2027)<br>North Miami - [player_tooltip player_id='1223004' first='Kayden' last='Donaldson'] (2027)<br>North Montgomery - Caelyn Carpenter (2027)<br>North White - Ella Hunt (2028)<br>Northfield - [player_tooltip player_id='1885767' first='Teagan' last='Baer'] (2028)<br>Northwestern - [player_tooltip player_id='1886571' first='Jillian' last='Bishir'] (2030)<br>Peru - Jacey Boswell (2027)<br>Pioneer - Elizabeth Kennell (2028)<br>Rossville, [player_tooltip player_id='1690474' first='Mallory' last='O'Brien'] (2029)<br>Seeger - [player_tooltip player_id='1869476' first='Lorelei' last='Lanie'] (2028)<br>Southmont - [player_tooltip player_id='1137319' first='Layla' last='Gomez'] (2027)<br>Southwood - [player_tooltip player_id='1827716' first='Sophia' last='Cline'] (2029)<br>Taylor - Akayla Flynn (2029)<br>Tipton - [player_tooltip player_id='875512' first='Mackenzie' last='Farinella'] (2027)<br>Tri-Central - Claire Conrad (2028)<br>Tri-County - Gracie Scheitlin (2027)<br>Twin Lakes - [player_tooltip player_id='954835' first='Kaitlyn' last='Morgan'] (2028)<br>Wabash - Rya Morgan (2028)<br>West Lafayette - [player_tooltip player_id='1263949' first='Cora' last='Loveless'] (2029)<br>West Lafayette Harrison - Sadey Ringer (2027)<br>Western - Ella Rawlings (2028)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->