The Classic: Day-1 Forward/Post Notes

The featured image is of [player_tooltip player_id='462366' first='Alivia' last='Bolinger'] (2026) of Fort Wayne's Concordia Lutheran High School and [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100'] Grind 17U.   I don't know how this happened this quickly, but we're already to mid-May and the second "live" period of the Spring. That means more big events, more college coaches, and more intense play. I headed to "The Classic", an annual Ohio Basketball tournament in Louisville, Kentucky. Despite the severe weather in the area all evening, there were no stoppages inside, as a number of Indiana programs were in action on the 40 courts being utilized. Below is a look at a half dozen forward and post prospects who stood out in the action I was able to see.   .   [player_tooltip player_id='462366' first='Alivia' last='Bolinger'], 2026, 6-1 F, Concordia Lutheran H.S., [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100'] Grind 17U - Alivia has put together a really nice Spring thus far, and Friday evening was one of her best offensive outings. In the first half alone, she probably scored around 20 points, knocking down four 3-pointers and finishing around the rim in a variety of ways. She has such nice length, wiry strength, and she's a fairly fluid athlete. She can handle it some in transition, even initiate the offense, but it's her quick release and accuracy from the perimeter that has really stood out this year.   [player_tooltip player_id='486493' first='Audra' last='Parker'], 2026, 6-1 F, Westfield H.S., [program_tooltip program_id='999574' first='Indiana' last='Basketball Club']-Crowe 17U - Audra is another frontline prospect who is having a nice Spring and greatly helping her recruitment. She has a strong but athletic frame, nice length, and she runs the floor well North/South. She plays hard, is willing to be physical, and she will rebound in the paint. But she's another really nice inside-out forward who can knock down the open 3-pointer consistently or put it on the floor and get to the rim in just a couple of dribbles. Look for her to possibly rise in our June rankings update.   [player_tooltip player_id='624884' first='Shaniyah' last='Stout'], 2026, 5-8 F, Elkhart H.S., [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100'] Hustle 17U - Shaniyah has always been a powerful, broad-shouldered forward who has never shied away from contact or moving people in the paint. She is a deceptively quick & bouncy athlete in her frame, and she has flashed a nice face-up game in the past, but her perimeter shooting Friday really stood out. She showed a much softer touch, burying multiple 3-pointers, and even the ones she missed were halfway down before popping out. This versatility should really help her recruitment moving forward.   [player_tooltip player_id='885178' first='Emery' last='Stroud'], 2026, 6-1 F, Crawford County H.S., DistinXion Champions Gold 17U - Emery is an extremely long & wiry frontline prospect who has really utilized this Spring to put herself "on the map". She has never been a big grassroots kid until now, but she looks like she fits right in. She runs the floor, she has a nice shiftiness to her fluidity as well considering her height, and she's able to finish at a variety of angles around the paint, knock down the mid-range jumper, and even put it on the floor and create a little. If she can show a little more physicality, it could only help.   [player_tooltip player_id='773844' first='Trinity' last='Taylor'], 2026, 5-11 F, Heritage Christian H.S., West Virginia Thunder-Barnes 17U - Trinity is that hard-working, tough-nosed, defender/rebounder type who isn't afraid to get inside and play with physicality. She has nice bounce, length, strength, and some attitude. She is a great pursuing rebounder who can grab caroms outside of her area, but she's also willing to seek contact and box out. Her offensive game is mostly 15-feet and in, but she has improved her touch and her handle. Defensively, she is a lane protector, despite being 5-11, and she is a walking double-double.   [player_tooltip player_id='908500' first='Cayleigh' last='Goheen'], 2027, 6-1 C, Warsaw Community H.S., [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100'] Skills 16U - Cayleigh is a really nice Northern Indiana post who not many people are terribly familiar with, because she's on a loaded Warsaw roster just waiting for her turn. Since I first saw her in the Fall, she has grown an inch, gotten stronger, but she also looks a little more explosive yet controlled. She plays with an outstanding motor, she loves physicality, and she has a nice mid-range game but is still willing to post up inside. Defensively, she likes to seek contact, protect the paint, and rebound.

The featured image is of Alivia Bolinger Alivia Bolinger 6'1" | PF/SF Concordia Lutheran | 2026 State IN (2026) of Fort Wayne's Concordia Lutheran High School and Always 100 Grind 17U.