Northwest Indiana Standouts

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='834925' first='Kylah' last='Patterson'] (2027) from Hammond's Oliver P. Morton 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-Northwest Indiana team of the Top 5 prospects from the area heading into the 2026-2027 season. Below that list is an Honorable Mention section including one prospect from each high school in Northwest Indiana. All of these prospects come from schools in Northwest Indiana, but more specifically, from the counties of Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Newton, Jasper, and Starke, all located in the Central Time Zone. I will include Pulaski as well, because they are closer to that area than any other region I am writing about.</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":["834925"],"_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-6a77047e02ac1"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Statistically, Kylah has put together one of the better careers in Indiana girls' basketball history. This season she should top 2000 points and 1000 rebounds before Christmas, plus she has racked up many assists and steals as well. But now it's advancing in the state tournament that could help solidify her legacy in the area. The Governors haven't won a Sectional game since 2017, so if she can help them escape a Sectional that includes Crown Point and Lake Central, it would be only good things for "K.P." She is a tremendous athlete with a strong frame and a great motor...what a combination.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["756244"],"_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-6a77047e02b07"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Courtney might be committed to the University of St. Francis (IN), but she was originally committed to Illinois State University, and she is a bona fide Division I prospect. She is also one of those most underappreciated prospects in the state. She is extremely long, athletic, quietly tough-nosed, and hard-working. She is an excellent on-ball defender, and she can fight through screens and handoffs. Offensively, she has always been able to score, but she has a pass-first mentality, which has been great on Rensselaer's teams the last couple of years. Now, she'll need to score to help them win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["932698"],"_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-6a77047e02b2d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Giniya is another underappreciated prospect in Indiana's 2027 class, and honestly, it could be simply because not many people statewide have seen her play. Noll rarely leaves Northwest Indiana for games, and she played for a grassroots team that played mostly outside of Indiana. But I assure you she is intriguing, and at least defensively, she could give some of the top "bigs" in Indiana trouble. She is strong, physical, but also athletic, long, and somewhat bouncy. She is still developing an offensive skill package, but she rebounds, defends at each level, and is a good rim protector.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["999408"],"_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-6a77047e02b50"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Hillary has done an outstanding job of developing her skillset over the years. She plays a lot on the wing during grassroots season, she is a capable shooter, and she can get downhill and attack the basket or post smaller defenders. At her high school, she will also bring the ball up the floor more times than not, she can initiate the offense, but she can also create offense for herself and teammates. She has worked hard on her strength as well, and she does a nice job of "bullying" smaller perimeter players at different spots on the floor. She should have another excellent season in 2026-2027.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["999415"],"_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-6a77047e02b72"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Ava's physical growth and improved strength have greatly helped her with her game. She is wiry-strong, fluidly athletic, and smooth with the basketball in her hands. She does a nice job of slicing through gaps, collapsing the defense, and finding open teammates. At the same time, she has turned into an effective perimeter shooter, she has a solid mid-range pull-up, and she has learned to finish with a variety of runners/floaters in the paint. Her well-roundedness and craftiness offensively are what stand out about her game as a true lead guard. She's also a savvy defender.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>HONORABLE MENTION:</strong><br><em>21st Century - Janiya Tyler (2027)<br>Andrean - Delaney Myers (2028)<br>Bishop Noll - [player_tooltip player_id='1327153' first='Paityn' last='Dilosa'] (2027)<br>Boone Grove - [player_tooltip player_id='882903' first='Elana' last='Hylek'] (2028)<br>Calumet - Eunice Guardarrama (2027)<br>Chesterton - [player_tooltip player_id='911979' first='Lindsi' last='McGuffey'] (2028)<br>Crown Point - [player_tooltip player_id='756234' first='Ivy' last='Henderson'] (2027)<br>DeMotte Christian - Tenley Neises (2028)<br>East Chicago Central - Carliyah Spikes (2029)<br>Gary Lighthouse - Samiah Williams (2028)<br>Gary West Side - [player_tooltip player_id='1848378' first='Priscilla' last='Burton'] (2027)<br>Griffith - [player_tooltip player_id='882835' first='Olivia' last='Esquivel'] (2027)<br>Hammond S&amp;T - Lundin Starkey (2029)<br>Hammond Central - [player_tooltip player_id='751033' first='Adrian' last='McGee'] (2027)<br>Hammond Morton - [player_tooltip player_id='1144661' first='De'Zyrra' last='Willingham'] (2028)<br>Hanover Central - Simone Parker (2027)<br>Hebron - [player_tooltip player_id='1810648' first='Laila' last='Yancey'] (2030)<br>Highland - [player_tooltip player_id='1754326' first='Savannah' last='Ballard'] (2027)<br>Hobart - Kurah Krucina (2027)<br>Illiana Christian - [player_tooltip player_id='992363' first='Lauren' last='Paliga'] (2028)<br>Kankakee Valley - [player_tooltip player_id='1678172' first='Camry' last='Krueger'] (2028)<br>Knox - Riley Taylor (2027)<br>Kouts - [player_tooltip player_id='1147726' first='Avery' last='Elijah'] (2029)<br>Lake Central - [player_tooltip player_id='992139' first='Jillian' last='Beaderstadt'] (2028)<br>Lake Station - [player_tooltip player_id='989223' first='Alana' last='Martinez'] (2028)<br>LaPorte - [player_tooltip player_id='992372' first='Siona' last='Ohime'] (2028)<br>Lowell - [player_tooltip player_id='1229374' first='Brooke' last='Dawson'] (2027)<br>Marquette Catholic - [player_tooltip player_id='751101' first='Marissa' last='Pleasant'] (2027)<br>Merrillville - Jordyn Fort (2028)<br>Michigan City - Iyanhi Grinston (2027)<br>Morgan Township - [player_tooltip player_id='1812232' first='Saffy' last='Thompson-Woods'] (2027)<br>Munster - Isabella Jarrett (2028)<br>New Prairie - Makenzie Griffiths (2029)<br>North Judson-San Pierre - [player_tooltip player_id='875136' first='Cailyn' last='Tunis'] (2027)<br>North Newton - Addison Culbreth (2028)<br>Oregon-Davis - Eryn MacMillan (2028)<br>Portage - [player_tooltip player_id='881680' first='Courtney' last='Clark'] (2027)<br>Rensselaer Central - Alivia Cain (2028)<br>River Forest - Serenity Schreck (2029)<br>South Central (Union Mills) - Ashlen Strauch (2027)<br>South Newton - Faye Springsteen (2027)<br>Tri-Township - Gillian Mertz (2029)<br>Valparaiso - [player_tooltip player_id='1657597' first='Delilah' last='Kincaid'] (2027)<br>Washington Township - Heidi Stump (2027)<br>West Central - [player_tooltip player_id='1259578' first='Madisyn' last='DeMoss'] (2027)<br>Westville - [player_tooltip player_id='1137316' first='Ava' last='Fenters'] (2027)<br>Wheeler - [player_tooltip player_id='1678174' first='Kylie' last='Simpson'] (2028)<br>Whiting - Aleshka Alonso (2027)<br>Winamac - [player_tooltip player_id='751117' first='Sadie' last='Popejoy'] (2027)</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->