Forcasting The 2020 Indiana All-Star Team
Everyone in the Hoosier state is passionate about their basketball, and even more so about their favorite players. In this article, I’ve attempted to indicate who I think are the top candidates to be considered for the 2020 Indiana All-Star…
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Continue ReadingEveryone in the Hoosier state is passionate about their basketball, and even more so about their favorite players. In this article, I’ve attempted to indicate who I think are the top candidates to be considered for the 2020 Indiana All-Star Team based on the history of the selection process, the way the 2019 team was selected under a new All-Star Director, plus I have brought into account a multitude of items such as talent, skill, individual production, and team success. Those aren’t the only items being considered, but they are what I’d consider to be the “hot button” items that will go the farthest in determining this year’s Indiana All-Stars. Additionally, this article isn’t as much about who I would personally choose for the honor team, as much as it’s about who I think has the best chance at being selected based on past selections.
This 2020 class has a variety of options to select from, and it’s going to be tough to go wrong with several selections. I have grouped roughly 50 players into a number of categories based on why they might be chosen. I know that’s a lot of players, but there are legitimate arguments for each, and I didn’t want to leave anyone out. Typically the Indiana All-Star Team consists of 13 players, and after about the first ten are selected, those last few spots can go to any number of types of players. Sometimes it comes down to a positional need, sometimes the best available players, and sometimes a spot might go to a hard-working player who will appreciate their spot on the team and fulfill a specific role.
THE FAVORITES
In my opinion, there are six ladies who stand out above the rest as being “locks” for this team. Madison Layden & Kendall Bostic of Northwestern High School, and Sydney Parrish of Hamilton Southeastern High School, are likely your three top contenders for the coveted Miss Basketball award. Layden & Bostic have led Northwestern to consecutive Class 3A crowns, and they are #1 in the state right now in Class 4A. Parrish led Hamilton Southeastern to the Class 4A title last season, and they are again a top contender in 2020. Plus, all three would be worthy candidates for the award based on their outstanding individual accomplishments. Layden & Parrish would bring size on the wing, and either can handle the ball and run offense if need be. This class is thin on top-end guards, so that is a nice luxury to have. Bostic is a nice post presence with a tremendous motor and nose for the ball.
RaShaya Kyle of Marion High School is a mismatch nightmare at 6-6. She moves around the floor well, can do a lot of different things offensively, and she’s a tremendous presence in the paint defensively. She helped Marion to the 3A North Semi-State last year, and she has set many individual records for Marion this season. Sydney Graber has also had an outstanding Senior season (and career) for Homestead High School. She has the strength to play inside and the skill to play around the perimeter. Homestead is always a top 4A program, but this year it has been her team to lead. The sixth member of this group is Nan Garcia of Jeffersonville High School. She is certainly worthy based on individual accomplishments, her team has always been solid, but unfortunately she was injured over Christmas Break and will miss the rest of the season. In the past, there have been additional spots added for injury exemptions, and I can absolutely see Nan being a 14th player on this year’s team.
WHO’S NEXT?
From there, I feel like there are two more ladies who have a slight edge over the rest of the competition. Ella Collier of Danville Community High School is a smooth shooter who has put up really nice numbers throughout her career. Her team has been successful, and she has drawn a lot of attention from the Indianapolis media. Jasmine McWilliams of North Central High School is another Central Indiana kid who has gotten a lot of buzz throughout her career. She began at Carmel High School, then transferred into North Central last season. She doesn’t have gaudy numbers, but she’s been a 4-year Varsity starter who has had great team success, plus she’s committed to a Big Ten school in Northwestern.
INDIVIDUAL SUCCESS
This might be the biggest category to group players into, because at the end of the day, the all-star team is about choosing individuals. Each of these players have had outstanding seasons and/or careers, and some have had team success, but it’s their individual accomplishments that make them stand out the most.
Rachel Loobie, Franklin Central H.S. – This 6-0 forward has put up huge numbers throughout her career, but last year Franklin Central won just two games. This year they’re off to an 11-7 start, and that should certainly help her chances, along with her commitment to Division-I Central Michigan University.
Lindsey Syrek, University H.S. – Lindsey is another nice front-liner who has had a stellar career. Not only has she been great individually, but her team is 81-15 over the course of her career, including a Class 1A Semi-State appearance last year and a 19-0 record so far this year. At 6-2, she shows a lot of versatility, plus she is committed to Division-I New Jersey Institute of Technology.
Keegan Sullivan, South Bend St. Joseph H.S. – Keegan is #6 in our rankings of prospects, but as far as this team is concerned, I’m worried she doesn’t have the statewide buzz drawing attention to herself. She has put up very good numbers in her career, and she did help St. Joe to a Class 3A state title as a Freshman. But St. Joe got bumped to Class 4A for two years and have been good but not great.
Dash Shaw, Crown Point H.S. – Dash is a bit of a wildcard. She put up huge numbers at Gary West Side Leadership Academy for three years, but she transferred to Crown Point this Fall. Her numbers are down a little, but she’s now part of a 20-0 Class 4A team. I’m not sure how she’ll be viewed by voters or the selection committee.
Sydney Jacobsen, West Lafayette Harrison H.S. – Sydney is one of the better pure basketball players in Indiana. She can handle, pass, and shoot with the best of them, plus she’s committed to Division-II power Ashland University. With all of the taller wings, it will likely come down to whether or not she finishes the season strong and plays well at the Senior Top-60 showcase, because she has posted great numbers.
Other individuals like Hannah Farrell of Greenfield-Central High School, Alaina Omonodé of West Lafayette High School, Juliana Kemper of Lawrenceburg High School, Justis Gordon of Cathedral High School, Alana Vinson of Roncalli High School, Ilani Williams-Harris of Covenant Christian School, Bayleigh Runner of Hamilton Heights High School, Allison Bosse of Brownsburg High School, Maddi Fulks of Bethesda Christian School, Erin Coffel of Bremen High School, Kyrstin Bond of South Dearborn High School, Braxtin Mickens of Arsenal Technical High School, and Ainsley Urbanski of Bloomington High School North have all had tremendous careers and will go down as one of the best, if not THE best, player in their high school’s history. Most have had team success as well, and all are certainly noteworthy here.
TALENT OVER STATS
Sometimes a player’s physical ability is eye-popping and hard to ignore. Khera Goss of Ben Davis High School is the younger sister of 2011 Indiana Miss Basketball Bria Goss. Khera is a long, very athletic wing forward committed to the University of Toledo. Sydney Watkins of Heritage Christian School is another nice, athletic, wing guard who can score it, but she uses her tools well as a lock-down defender. She is committed to Miami University in Ohio. Tamia Perryman of Fishers High School and K’Ja Talley of Warren Central High School are two more run-and-jump athletes with great length, motors, and the ability to change games with their athleticism. They have also experienced team success. And Jordan Reid of New Palestine High School is one more athlete who is just now getting a chance to lead the Dragons after playing with a deep and talented 2019 class the last couple of seasons.
IF THIS, THEN THAT
Sometimes spots on the all-star team are determined situationally. If one thing happens, it causes a trickle-down effect for something else to happen. Below are examples of why different players may or may not make the team because of one circumstance over another.
With Lawrence North’s appearance in the 2019 Class 4A State Championship game, it’s going to be hard to not take at least one of their many Seniors. The two I see having the best chance of making the team are Katie Davidson and Kristian Young. Neither have stats that jump off the page, but both are Division-I players, talented, and very unique. Davidson probably has the better numbers over the last couple of seasons, she is strong, tough-nosed, and gritty, plus she is committed to Miami University in Ohio. Young, on the other hand, is a little, jet-quick point guard who stands out as a legitimate distributor in a class thin at that position. Young might have the upper-hand due to a roster necessity, but that will depend on what is done with a couple of other girls. She is committed to the University of Illinois-Chicago.
Another situation where two teammates might be battling for one spot comes from 18-0 Triton Central High School. Maya Chandler and Rylie Stephens have both been key pieces on this year’s team. Personally, I think Chandler has the advantage, because she’s a point guard and there are just a few in this class. A selection of Chandler could also affect Kristian Young (above). Chandler has better seasonal and career stats than Stephens, but Stephens should not be discounted. She is a really nice athlete who could put on a show down the stretch, and it would benefit her if she plays well against good competition late in the tournament or at the Senior Top-60 Showcase.
Abby Stoddard is another player whose fate could be determined by a teammate. I’m honestly not sure what kind of chance Dash Shaw (above) has, but Stoddard is a sizeable forward who can play on the wing or in the mid-post, she has put up solid numbers for a deep and balanced 20-0 Crown Point team, plus she is committed to a Division-I state school, Butler University, from the Big East. If Crown Point makes another deep run, it’s going to be hard to not pay attention to either of their quality Seniors.
SUCCESS FACTOR
Next I wanted to turn to a number of players who have had great team success, in addition to individual statistics. What do you do with these kids, because they are worthy candidates as well? Taylor Westgate of Oak Hill High School has helped her team to a State Finals appearance as a Freshman, a Regional Final as a Sophomore, and a Class 2A State Title as a Junior. Now, minus four graduated starters and six total graduates from last year’s team, the 6-1 front-liner has the Golden Eagles at 12-6 once again, but they will play in Class 3A this year.
Madeline Lawrence of Winchester Community High School is nearly as decorated as they come. She has been on the big stage, with consecutive Class 2A State Final appearances the last two years, not to mention the fact she is rewriting the Golden Falcons’ record book at Winchester. She has them at 18-3 this season, but like Oak Hill, Winchester is now playing in the Class 3A state tournament. Benton Central High School’s Audrey Strawsma can be added to this list. She has had a nice career statistically, but she was a monster in last year’s Class 3A state tournament. She took over the Semi-State game when they defeated Salem, and she was solid against Kendall Bostic (above) in the State Championship game. She has picked up this year where she left off last year, and Benton Central sits at 19-1 and a favorite in Class 3A.
SOUTHERN INDIANA
We’re now to the Southern Indiana portion of the article. It seems like each year, if there isn’t an obvious selection like a Jackie Young (Princeton-2016), one or two of a handful of Southern Indiana, and more specifically Southwestern Indiana, players is chosen for the team. Below are six such players who I think stand out and should be heavily considered this season.
Darrian Carmean, Vincennes Lincoln H.S. – I feel like I’m harping on this again, but in a class short on point guard talent, Carmean could very well be that kid who surprises. She is a pass-first lead guard, she has physical ability, but this year she is shooting/scoring it really well also.
Natalie Boesing, Our Lady of Providence Catholic School – At a younger age, Natalie was considered one of the best tennis prospects in the state. But over the last two seasons, she has turned herself into a stat-stuffing, double-double machine. She doesn’t get a lot of publicity, but she should get strong consideration.
Meredith Raley, Gibson Southern H.S. – Meredith is the leader of the 15-2 Titans, and she has had a nice career in Fort Branch. She is 6-0, strong, physical, but also very skilled around the perimeter. Her versatility could be attractive to this team. She is committed to the University of Southern Indiana.
Tia Tolbert, Vincennes Rivet H.S. – Tia has made consecutive Class 1A State Championship game appearances with the Patriots, and they are 91-13 throughout her career. Following the 2019 graduation of Grace Waggoner, Tia will have her opportunity to lead Rivet into the tournament this season. A deep run will certainly help her, but they have also moved up to Class 2A.
Aliyah Evans, Greensburg H.S. – Greensburg has been a well-oiled machine the last few years, and Aliyah has been a 4-year starter for the Pirates. An 80-15 mark during her career, plus a State Finals appearance in her Sophomore season, and Aliyah is certainly worth consideration. She’ll have to help them make a deep run this year and show well at the Senior Top-60 Showcase, in my opinion.
Kenna Hisle, Evansville North H.S. – Kenna is the best 2020 player actually in Evansville. She’s a long and fluid wing who can score it at all levels. North sits at 14-4 this year, but they’ll need to make a deep run in the tournament for her to have a great chance at this honor. She is committed to the University of Southern Indiana.
WHAT DO YOU DO WITH…?
My final list revolves around four individuals who I think have legitimate shots at making the Indiana All-Star Team. They could probably all fit in a different group above, but I wanted to highlight them here. I think all are skilled and talented, and they should certainly receive consideration.
Jackie Maulucci, Hamilton Southeastern H.S. – Jackie is a really nice basketball player, and she plays for a highly successful Hamilton Southeastern squad. She was a starter on last year’s Class 4A State Championship team, and she is the Royals’ second leading scorer behind Sydney Parrish (above) this season. There is typically a kid who doesn’t have great career numbers who makes it because of team success or they perform well on a big stage, and I think if Hamilton Southeastern makes another deep run and Jackie plays well throughout, she could be a point guard option.
Jaci Jones, Fort Wayne South Side H.S. – Jaci is a dynamic little point guard prospect, she’s tough as nails, and she has posted a really nice career at South Side. They wouldn’t have been nearly as successful without her leading the charge for them. She is committed to the University of Detroit Mercy, and she’ll likely be a part of the discussion as to which point guard and how many point guards are taken.
Rylie Parker, Homestead H.S. – Two years ago I likely wouldn’t have considered Rylie to make this list, but she has gotten stronger, made herself into a better athlete, and she is shooting the ball at a high level this season. She has always been a nice outside shooter, but this year she’s getting open easier and looks automatic with any space. Her sister was a 2017 All-Star, and Rylie is committed to Purdue University Fort Wayne, plus the Spartans could make a deep tournament run, which would certainly help her chances.
Lexie Green, Southport H.S. – This is my “you never know” kid. Lexie has had a nice high school career, she grew late and is just starting to show strength, plus she had an outstanding Summer. Her high school team is just 35-51 during her career, but that isn’t all on her. I just know she has talent, the point guard position is up for grabs, and if she plays well in front of the right people against other good teams, plus she has a nice Senior Top-60 Showcase, she could sneak her way onto the team. She is committed to the University of Southern Indiana.
The feature image is of 2019 Miss Basketball Jorie Allen of Bedford North Lawrence H.S. The feature image is courtesy of Grace Hollars of the Indy Star.