Rankings Review: 2020 Small Forwards
Last week we updated our Class of 2020 rankings, so I wanted to follow-up and offer a look at the top prospects by position. The wings in this class have always been its strength, and colleges have backed that up,…
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Continue ReadingLast week we updated our Class of 2020 rankings, so I wanted to follow-up and offer a look at the top prospects by position. The wings in this class have always been its strength, and colleges have backed that up, as eight of these ladies are already committed to Division-I schools, a couple more turned down Division-I offers to go the small college route, plus there are additional uncommitted prospects below with Division-I interest/offers. With that said, below is a look at the Top-25 small forward prospects in Indiana’s Class of 2020, with additional comments to follow.
Overall |
Prospect |
Ht. |
Pos. |
High School |
Commitment |
1 |
Madison Layden |
6-1 |
W |
Northwestern |
Purdue |
2 |
Sydney Parrish |
6-2 |
W |
Hamilton Southeastern | Oregon |
4 |
Keegan Sullivan |
5-11 |
W |
SB St. Joseph | Rockhurst |
7 |
Jasmine McWilliams |
5-10 |
W |
Indy North Central | Northwestern |
18 |
K’Ja Talley |
5-9 |
W |
Warren Central | |
21 |
Justis Gordon |
5-10 |
W |
Cathedral | |
22 |
Khera Goss |
5-10 |
F |
Ben Davis | Toledo |
24 |
Alana Vinson |
5-10 |
W |
Roncalli | Eastern Illinois |
30 |
Kiersten Poor |
5-11 |
W |
Jeffersonville |
Grace |
32 |
Jordan Reid |
5-10 |
F |
New Palestine |
Indiana Wesleyan |
33 |
Tamia Perryman |
5-8 |
W |
Fishers | Marian |
34 |
Rylie Stephens |
5-11 |
W |
Triton Central | |
40 |
Lauren Gunn |
5-9 |
F |
Lawrence North | Valparaiso |
42 |
Kenna Hisle |
5-10 |
W |
Evansville North | Southern Indiana |
46 |
Tasi Kukobat |
5-10 |
W |
West Lafayette Harrison |
|
47 |
Tia Tolbert |
5-9 |
W |
Vincennes Rivet | |
56 |
Mackenzie Stien |
5-10 |
W |
Brownsburg |
Indianapolis |
57 |
Claire Knies |
5-9 |
F |
Jasper | Bellarmine |
58 |
Hannah Farrell |
5-9 |
F |
Greenfield-Central | Bellarmine |
69 |
Addie Gardner |
5-10 |
W |
Frankton | |
78 |
Alexus Mobley |
5-7 |
W |
Franklin Central | |
82 |
Kaiti Huber |
5-8 |
W |
Zionsville Community | |
89 |
Jazmen Watts |
5-8 |
W |
South Bend Riley | |
94 |
Paige Gregory |
5-8 |
W |
Mooresville | |
97 |
Katy Larson |
5-9 |
W |
Park Tudor |
Indianapolis’ North Central High School has seen a wealth of talent roll through there over the years, with Jasmine McWilliams joining the team last season after a move from Carmel High School. It didn’t take her long to adapt, as Jasmine quickly became one of their most impactful players. This season she looks to be in more of a leadership role. She is a wiry strong, extremely athletic, slashing style of wing. She can knock down an open rhythm jumper, but the strength of her game is attacking the basket. She changes directions well, and she has learned how to finish through contact over the years. I also like her versatility and focus when she’s motivated at the defensive end of the floor. She is verbally committed to Northwestern University.
I firmly believe that one of the most under-recruited kids in this class is K’Ja Talley of Warren Central High School. She is an extremely long, quick/fast, and explosive wing. The combination of her length, quickness, and instincts allow her to be a 1-man press at times. She is a tremendous defender, and she gives the effort every possession to excel at that end of the floor. Offensively, her handle has really improved, and she’s incredibly difficult to contain off the bounce. She slices through defenses, finishes around the basket, and she’s adding a mid-range pull-up game. Her perimeter jumper will need more consistency, but she has great physical talent, and I’d look for her to lead the Warriors this year.
One player who probably hasn’t gotten the recognition she deserves due to location, is Kenna Hisle of Evansville’s North High School. Kenna is a long, wiry strong, and highly skilled wing. She isn’t going to break you down a lot, but she can handle the ball and play a point forward position at times, managing the offense very well. What she did at a high level this Summer, and one of the reasons the schools who saw her liked her, is she shot it well from distance. She is a balanced athlete with a nice-looking jumper. As she continues to gain strength in college, I think she can become a really nice defender, plus her mid-range game and finishing will improve. She has verbally committed to the University of Southern Indiana.
Another Southwestern Indiana prospect who had a good Summer is Tia Tolbert of Vincennes’ Rivet High School. Tia has seen the big stage of the State Finals the last couple of seasons, but this year she’ll be the leader of a team that was bumped up to Class 2A due to the IHSAA’s success factor. She is a strong, physical, tough-nosed wing who really likes to attack the basket. She plays with a motor, and if she turns the corner, she is determined getting to the rim. She has a really nice mid-range jumper, and her perimeter shot has become much more consistent. She also gives a great deal of effort at the defensive end of the floor. If I’m a D2 or NAIA school looking for a kid that can help me win, this is who I’m recruiting ASAP.
With Zionsville Community High School working through some key graduation losses in 2019, one player who we could see step up in a big way is Kaiti Huber. Kaiti is a strong, physical, assertive wing who plays almost a point forward position for them at times. She saw an opportunity last season when Maddie Nolan missed time due to an injury, and I think this year we should see her score it a little more and show the complete player she can be. She has some touch from the perimeter, but she’s also able to absorb contact and finish at the basket. I’ve enjoyed her toughness and her motor, plus she’s a versatile defender who is willing and capable of defending nearly every position on the floor.
Feature image of Madison Layden of Northwestern High School. Image courtesy of the Indiana Elite Twitter account.