Comeback Players of the Year (All Classes)

<!-- wp:paragraph {"fontSize":"small"} --> <p class="has-small-font-size"><em>The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='295768' first='Alyssa' last='Murphy'] (2025) of Corydon Central High School.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Now that the 2024-2025 season has come to a close, I wanted to take this time, as I have done in years past, to offer up several awards to those her performed well throughout the 2024-2025 IHSAA season. I am changing my format a little, and instead of offering every award for each classification in one article, I wanted to aim more focus toward the bigger awards and our recipients for those awards. Below is a look at the Comeback Players of the Year in each of the four classifications. This is something I don't take lightly as each of these ladies has overcome some sort of injury/adversity to continue their playing careers. While there were some tough calls in a couple of classifications, it's difficult to argue against how each of the four ladies below represent this award.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="#FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+1">Class 4A CPOY: </font></strong><font size="+1">[player_tooltip player_id='486555' first='Lillian' last='George'], 2026, 6-2 C, Carroll H.S. (Fort Wayne, IN)</font><br>- Lily had a strong Sophomore season in 2023-2024, averaging 14.9 points and 9.5 rebounds per game, while shooting a whopping 63% from the field for the Chargers. She was drawing interest and offers from several Crossroads League <em>(NAIA)</em> schools, but she fell victim to a knee injury last Spring and missed most of the grassroots season. Her timeline should have had her missing a good portion of the high school season in 2024-2025, but she battled back and only missed opening night. She spent the early portion of the year regaining her old form, but down the stretch, she looked like herself again. In 21 games, Lily averaged 10.2 points and 5.9 rebounds per game, while shooting 59% from the field. She could have a big Spring ahead.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+1">Class 3A CPOY: </font></strong><font size="+1">[player_tooltip player_id='295768' first='Alyssa' last='Murphy'], 2025, 5-5 CG, Corydon Central H.S.</font><br>- Entering high school, Alyssa was deemed one of the top college prospects in Indiana's 2025 class. She ended up attending the Mercy Academy in Louisville, Kentucky, and I can remember her still drawing a lot of collegiate interest during the Spring &amp; Summer between her Freshman and Sophomore years. Then, she struggled through minor injuries for the next year, transferred back to Corydon and missed her entire Junior season, and even as recently as August of 2024, I heard she might not be able to ever play again. She showed up at the beginning of this season, however, to help lead the Panthers to a Regional appearance. Alyssa averaged 14.9 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 2.5 steals per game, and she remains uncommitted.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+1">Class 2A CPOY: </font></strong><font size="+1">[player_tooltip player_id='295760' first='Hadley' last='Crosier'], 2025, 5-9 CG, Lanesville H.S.</font><br>- I don't know that anyone had as "public" of an injury as Hadley did last year. The Lady Eagles' leader went down with an ACL tear just 6:33 into the Class 1A State Championship game last February. She missed her entire Spring &amp; Summer, and her timeline would typically have put her return sometime around Christmas. But Hadley was back, ready to go at the beginning of the season in 2024-2025, and she managed to play in all 24 games for Lanesville, averaging 17.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 4.2 steals per game. She is a smooth and versatile guard who can play on or off the ball effectively. She should be able to step in almost immediately at Maryville University (MO) next season and offer them quality minutes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+1">Class 1A CPOY: </font></strong><font size="+1">[player_tooltip player_id='832676' first='Audrey' last='Barron'], 2026, 5-7 SG, Shawe Memorial H.S.</font><br>- Audrey is someone I'm not sure the state is terribly familiar with, because she has never really been a big grassroots participant. She put together an outstanding Freshman year at Shawe, averaging 15.8 points and 5.8 rebounds per game, plus she proved she was a dangerous outside shooter. Then, she missed her entire Sophomore season due to a bad knee injury, and it seems to have only motivated her to come back stronger this year. As a Junior, Audrey scored 24.3 points, she pulled down 7.8 rebounds, plus she averaged 3.9 assists and 3.9 steals per game. She is still one of the better shooters in Southern Indiana, and she helped Shawe to a school record of 18 wins this year. She is currently uncommitted, as far as I am aware.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->