Preseason Top-50: #1 North Central

We are now down to the final team on our Top-50 list, regardless of class. This article focuses on our Preseason #1 team in the state, North Central. With regards to our Top-50 teams in general, we took in to account several different factors, most notably, but not limited to, last season’s record, Sagarin rating, and strength of schedule, graduation losses, newcomers, improvement of existing roster members, and coaching changes. Stay tuned for the final preview articles later this week…   #1 North Central H.S. (Indianapolis, IN)   Last Season: Last season the North Central Panthers ripped off 14 straight wins before losing to a tough Hamilton Heights Christian from Tennessee in a tourney immediately before Christmas. Throughout that stretch, North Central beat the likes of Lake Central, Mooresville, Bedford North Lawrence, Noblesville, Ben Davis, Lawrence North, and Carmel, just to name a few. However, dealing with numerous injuries and rotation changes, the Panthers were just 6-7 after starting 14-0, to finish the season 20-7, losing to eventual Class 4A State Champ Warren Central 66-54 in the Sectional Championship game. During that end stretch, they did manage to knock off Hamilton Southeastern, but they also fell to Marion County rivals Ben Davis, Pike, Lawrence North, and Warren Central (regular season), as well as MIC rival Center Grove. Once again, North Central struggled through injuries all season, but when healthy they typically started a pair of Seniors, a pair of Juniors, and a Freshman. They return a great deal of production as well, as the Juniors were their top two scorers last season.   [caption id="attachment_15790" align="alignright" width="222"] Senior Guard Rikki Harris[/caption] Guards: The Panthers have arguably the best guard in the state in the 2019 class with regards to 5-10 combo guard Rikki Harris (17.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 2.3 apg, 2.2 spg, 20 made 3s). She is long, very athletic, and smooth. She can create for her teammates, but she’s also a capable and assertive scorer at all levels, with the ability to go off for 40 points on any given night. Really the only downside to Rikki throughout her high school career has been her availability, as she has struggled through injuries. She only played in about half of their games a season ago. Rikki was a core Junior All-Star back in June, and she gave a verbal commitment to Ohio State University a while back. 5-3 2019 point guard Savaya Brockington (15.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 4.4 apg, 3.7 spg, 25 made 3s) was also an Indiana Junior All-Star back in June, and she stepped up big-time last season, especially during the stretch that Harris was sitting out. Savaya is shorter, but she’s strong for her size, tough-nosed, and extremely quick / fast. She can create her own shot off the dribble, and she has deep range to about 25-feet. She is extremely feisty, and she can be a lock-down defender. She has already verbally committed to Division-II Purdue Northwest, but Savaya was seriously injured in the Spring, so her availability and level of effectiveness will be tested early and often this season. When healthy, though, she is really good, just shorter. The Panthers don’t have a great deal of experience when it comes to depth in the backcourt, so you will likely see Jasmine McWilliams (below) slide over and play more of a true guard position a lot this year. At the same time, there is plenty of opportunity for 5’6 2022 point guard Tanyuel Welch to earn regular rotation minutes. She is a long, fast, and athletic gliding point guard prospect. She just knifes through defenses and can score around the basket or get the ball to open teammates. She can also sit down and defend the ball fairly well. Really the only downside to her game right now, is that she’s just young and a little on the thin side. 5-4 2020 combo guard Aliza Clark (0.0 ppg, 0.7 rpg) made it on the floor for a couple of games last season as well, and she’s probably the next option for North Central. She is an athletic little guard who plays with a good motor and can defend.   [caption id="attachment_16515" align="alignleft" width="226"] Junior Wing Jasmine McWilliams[/caption] Forwards & Posts: North Central is blessed with a nice youthful combination of size, athleticism, skill, and strength throughout their frontcourt, and they are going to be tough to match up with in the Indy area. Actually, the one “veteran” they have is newcomer Jasmine McWilliams (9.0 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 1.0 apg, 1.7 spg, 1 made 3), a 5-10 2020 wing who transferred in from Carmel. She is a talented, wiry strong athlete who is great attacking the basket off the bounce. She’s also capable of occasionally bringing the ball up the floor and initiating the offense, plus she’s a nice, athletic defender who can guard multiple positions. She has multiple high-major Division-I offers. 5-11 2021 power forward Nakaih Hunter (5.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.1 spg) and 6-1 2021 forward Meg Newman (3.3 ppg, 3.7 rpg) both played a lot last season as Freshmen, and neither disappointed. Hunter is a strong, physical, high-motor kid who just carves out space around the block and scores against bigger opponents. Newman has a nice frame as well, but she’s a little more wiry and skilled around the perimeter than Hunter. She can handle the ball some, hit shots in the mid-range game, and attack the basket for scores. I anticipate a big year out of her. 6-0 2020 forward Toree Jackson (3.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 11 made 3s) is a very intriguing kid who has played some minutes, but she’s just starting to come into her own. She is very long, fluidly athletic, and she is another mid-post kid who can play inside-out a little and knock down the occasional 3-pointer. 5-8 2021 forward Alivia Terry (2.4 ppg, 7 made 3s) is a strong, tough-nosed wing who plays much bigger than she is because of her motor. The combination of 6-2 2019 post Anna Routt (1.5 ppg, 2.3 rpg) and 6-3 2021 post Dynasty Witherspoon (0.4 ppg, 0.4 rpg) provides the Panthers with more options around the block, as they both have stronger frames and the size to cause fits for opponents. Routt is a powerful post, and while Witherspoon has broad shoulders, she has tremendously long arms and long legs with a little bounce to her. I also wouldn’t rule out 6-0 2022 track star Ramiah Elliott or 5-9 2022 power forward Ariel Helm getting an opportunity either.   [caption id="attachment_16516" align="alignright" width="163"] Graduate Ajah Stallings[/caption] Graduation Losses: North Central must deal with the loss of five Seniors, a couple of which had really nice careers. 5-8 wing Ajah Stallings (14.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.6 apg, 2.5 spg, 20 made 3s) was by far the most productive Senior last season, and her toughness & grit will be missed. She is now playing at Purdue University. 5-7 guard Taylor Ramey would likely have been a double-figure scorer last season, but she sat out with an injury all year. She too brought toughness, skill, and a good basketball IQ to the program. She is now playing at IUPUI. 6-1 post Jazmine Davis (3.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg) is a long, tall, defensive-minded girl who provided a nice presence in the paint. 5-5 wing Dajanae Brockington (3.0 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.3 apg, 6 made 3s), is a strong, tough-nosed, and physical wing who did a little of everything with energy. And 5-2 guard Tiara Watkins (0.9 ppg, 0.1 rpg) saw action in a handful of games. While Stallings was the most impactful last season, she and Ramey were staples in the lineup from the outset of their high school careers.   [caption id="attachment_10339" align="alignleft" width="225"] Senior Guard Savaya Brockington[/caption] Final Thoughts: When you talk about North Central girls’ basketball, at least in recent years, you can talk about talent, size, and the ability to match up with anyone. But they have been at a disadvantage at times because they have played through injuries, around injuries, over injuries, under injuries…anyway, the potential outcome of their season will rely upon their health. If they can maintain a healthy roster, they have as much talent throughout their team, and as much frontcourt depth, as anyone in the state. At some point Savaya Brockington will be back to 100%, and the combination of her, Rikki Harris, and Jasmine McWilliams on the perimeter, with Nakaih Hunter and Meg Newman up front, has to scare opposing coaches in a big way. I think North Central has the potential to knock off any team on any given night, and that’s why they are our #1 team to start the season.   Header photo of the North Central High School athletics logo; photo courtesy of msdwt.k12.in.us. Photo of Rikki Harris courtesy of indystar.com. Photo of Jasmine McWilliams courtesy of hcsportsdaily.com. Photo of Ajah Stallings courtesy of nchslive.com. Photo of Savaya Brockington courtesy of indystar.com.