Under the Radar from Terre Haute to Vincennes

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 focus on 6 prospects (3 in 2027, 2 in 2028, and 1 in 2029) who are either listed on the watch list, or not at all included in the rankings at the release of this article. All 6 of these prospects come from schools in Western Indiana, but more specifically, from the counties of Vermillion, Parke, Putnam, Vigo, Clay, Sullivan, Knox, Daviess, and the Western half of Greene.   .    Payton has been a solid performer for White River Valley throughout her career, and I think she could do the same at the small college level. She has some length, she's wiry-strong, and she's a solid all-around athlete who plays multiple sports. She prefers to attack the basket off the dribble, but she has a little touch from outside when set and in rhythm...enough to keep defenses honest. Payton can also slide over and initiate the offense, handle it in transition, and she makes hustle plays. Defensively, she can take on bigger guards and wings equally well.     Taylor is a fairly strong front-liner, with broad shoulders and some length. She doesn't mind physicality, and she actually plays a little taller than she is because of it. She is a nice multilevel power forward who can post smaller defenders inside, she is good in the mid-post and short corners, plus she has improved her perimeter shooting to stretch defenses. I think she could be a nice pick-and-roll or pick-and-pop option at the small college level, and I would expect her to approach a double-double average in 2026-2027. She was just a couple of rebounds per game away as a Junior.     At this point, "Alli" might be one of the most under-the-radar prospects in the entire state in 2027. She is a talented athlete with really nice length, enough strength to battle some inside and have averaged a double-double as a Junior, but she can also play in the mid-post or around the perimeter. She has some touch outside, she can put it on the floor and attack the basket, plus she is a versatile athlete who can defend out on the floor or battle taller players inside the paint. While she might choose another sport in college, I think she has the talent to be a scholarship basketball player as well.     I had the opportunity to see Maleah play a couple of times during the July stretch this Summer, and she is someone who I think small colleges will like moving forward. She has a solid/strong frame for the position, she keeps the ball fairly tight to her body, and she doesn't rush or force the action. She has some touch from the perimeter, plus she can absorb contact when attacking the basket, but she's also a more than willing distributor. She isn't going to play flashy or risky; she is just a nice, sound ballplayer who sees the floor, understands situations, and has a nice motor.     Since the consolidation of Rockville and Turkey Run High Schools, the resulting Parke Heritage has been rather competitive year to year in girls' basketball. As for Birkley, she is one of a few quality guards in their backcourt, and she brings a nice combination of basketball IQ, strength, athleticism, and skill. She is more of a plug-and-play kid who can fill whatever role is asked of her. She can shoot it from 3-point range, drive it North/South to the rim for scores, or she can initiate the offense, manage a game, and find open teammates. Additionally, she is tough and physical on defense, and she rebounds.     Azaria is another prospect I saw for the first time this July, and I was rather impressed. She transferred from Vincennes Lincoln to nearby South Knox over the Summer, and she will give an already strong backcourt a nice boost plus a stronger outlook for the future. Azaria is extremely long and wiry at her height, she may still grow an inch or two, and she has speed and water-bug quickness to her. She is great defensively, whether she's on the ball or disrupting passing lanes from "help", and offensively she can get by most defenders and create for others, plus she can knock down an open jumper.

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 focus on 6 prospects (3 in 2027, 2 in 2028, and 1 in 2029) who are either listed on the watch list, or not at all included in the rankings at the release of this article. All 6 of these prospects come from schools in Western Indiana, but more specifically, from the counties of Vermillion, Parke, Putnam, Vigo, Clay, Sullivan, Knox, Daviess, and the Western half of Greene.