Top Wing Guards In Central & West Central Indiana

In selecting the five regional areas for my regional articles, I used the Indiana Coaches of Girls’ Sports Association’s (ICGSA) five districts. Schools are evenly distributed by county and somewhat geographical, though not exact. Counties included in the "Central & West Central" articles include: Boone, Clay, Clinton, Fountain, Hamilton, Hendricks, Marion, Montgomery, Morgan, Owen, Parke, Putnam, Tipton, Vermillion, Vigo, and Warren. Across the entire Prep Hoops Network, we are exploring ways to bring you different types of content in each of the states we cover. One idea we’ve come up with is "city rankings", where we highlight some of the better players in each metropolitan area. I felt like in Indiana, however, there are talented kids spread all over the state, so it wouldn’t be fair to solely focus on Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, and Evansville, for example. Instead, I have divided the state into five regions based on a fairly even distribution of the 400+ high schools available to choose from. It isn’t exact, but it seemed like the best way to make sure all prospects from the Hoosier state were considered. (Please see the italicized fine print above for a more specific breakdown of the counties used in this article.) Without further ado, below is a look at some of the top returning wing guards in "Central & West Central" Indiana, arranged alphabetically within their graduating classes.   [player_tooltip player_id="62532" first="Madelyn" last="Bischoff"], 2021, 5-10 CG, Roncalli H.S. Maddie is a somewhat under-the-radar guard who could have seen her recruiting really take off in April because of her ability to make shots. She is long, fluid, and smooth, she can handle it a little and run offense, but she is such a capable perimeter shooter that you want to screen to get her open. She has gotten much better at absorbing contact and finishing at the basket, she has a nice pull-up game, and she just has a natural feel for the game whether she’s on or off the ball. I think she has the physical makeup and ability to become a nice defender at the next level as well. [player_tooltip player_id="35013" first="Katie" last="Burton"], 2021, 5-9 SG, Fishers H.S. I’ve talked a lot before about how Katie, to me at least, is one of the best guard finishers in the state, regardless of class. Her athleticism and physicality in getting inside and then finishing above, around, and through frontline defenders is impressive. However, this year she took major strides in becoming a much more effective perimeter shooter, as she knocked down 38% of her 3-point attempts, and she shot an outstanding 85% from the free throw line. Her growth as a multilevel scorer like that should absolutely scare opponents moving forward, and it should give her an instant role at the next level. [player_tooltip player_id="22702" first="Zayda" last="Hatfield"], 2021, 5-8 CG, Terre Haute South Vigo H.S. While the Terre Haute area might not be as stocked with talent as in years past, there are a handful of really nice prospects, and Zayda is certainly one of them. She has an athletic frame, some length, and she’s a fluid athlete in all directions. She plays with a scorer’s mentality but does have the ball skill and passing ability to occasionally slide over and run offense. However, considering her ability to attack the basket for scores, pull up in the mid-range game, or knock down the 3-pointer consistently, I would want her looking to score it on most possessions. I also think she can develop into a nice on-ball defender. [player_tooltip player_id="35022" first="Moira" last="McGinley"], 2021, 5-7 SG, Bishop Chatard H.S. As a 3-year Varsity starter, you don’t often see someone make such a huge jump from year-2 to year-3, but Moira did just that, going from 11.7 to 17.1 points per game, including big outputs against quality teams like Cathedral and Fishers while being chased by their better defenders. Moira is a nice athlete with good North/South speed, plus she plays with an outstanding motor. She shot it better from both the 3-point line and the free throw line this year, plus she has always been a nice defender, both on and off the ball. This Spring could have been big for her, as she’s starting to hear from more schools wanting to see her. [player_tooltip player_id="130312" first="Zakia" last="Rasheed"], 2021, 5-8 CG, Bishop Chatard H.S. Zakia forms the other half of a talented backcourt for the Lady Trojans with [player_tooltip player_id="35022" first="Moira" last="McGinley"] (above). Zakia is a strong, somewhat physical, but skilled and smooth guard who does most things well. She’s a solid all-around athlete, she is a good perimeter shooter, plus she is handling the ball a lot more and can find open teammates. I really like her motor as well, and when you have two players who play as hard as these two do, you’re going to be tough to beat. I also like Zakia’s grit and attention at the defensive end of the floor. She has already committed to play at the University of Akron. [player_tooltip player_id="62526" first="Jayla" last="Smith"], 2021, 5-11 SG, Lawrence North H.S. I have been on Jayla’s bandwagon since I first saw her during her Freshman year and she was this tiny 5’5 kid playing Junior Varsity for Lawrence North. Her growth and development as a complete ballplayer has culminated in her recently giving a verbal commitment to Purdue University, plus she’s a Miss Basketball candidate. Jayla is extremely long, quick/fast, and smooth in all directions. She still needs strength, but she’s a good shooter, a big-shot maker, and she does a nice job at the defensive end of the floor at turning people over. She also plays through adversity as well as anyone. [player_tooltip player_id="62535" first="Pa’Shence" last="Walker"], 2021, 5-8 SG, Martinsville H.S. Pa’Shence is one of three younger sisters to Purdue guard Kayana Traylor. Like her older sister, Pa’Shence is a really nice athlete, fluid, smooth, and wiry strong. She might even be a little better lateral athlete than her sister, and she has developed into a high-level on-ball defender. Offensively, she is more of a slashing athlete who gets to the rim at will than anything. However, she did shoot the ball as well as she ever has this year, from both the 3-point line and the free throw line. She is also a willing passer and can create opportunities for teammates (3.4 assists per game in 2019-2020). [player_tooltip player_id="34537" first="Rayah" last="Kincer"], 2022, 5-9 CG, Franklin Central H.S. Rayah had a nice start to her career, averaging 8.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game as a Freshman, but she was unfortunately limited to just 12 games as a Sophomore due to injury. She is a long, wiry, fluid, and somewhat smooth guard who does a little of everything well. She can handle the ball, run offense, or attack the basket and create for herself or teammates. She has a nice mid-range game off the dribble as well, but if her perimeter shot was a bit more consistent, it would make her that much more difficult to defend. She has shot it much better from the free throw line, and I like her all-around potential. [player_tooltip player_id="61059" first="Kenna" last="Kirby"], 2022, 5-8 SG, Tri-West H.S. Kenna continues to turn heads and improve at a fast rate. She is a strong, tough-nosed, versatile athlete who can score the ball at all levels. She can get through the lane, absorb contact, and finish through defenders at the basket. She has a really nice pull-up game in the mid-range, and she’s a solid perimeter shooter who you must contest and not allow to gain any rhythm. Her handle also continues to improve, and she will find open teammates. She plays with a good motor, but I would like to see her become a little better on-ball defender, although she does understand angles. [player_tooltip player_id="59775" first="Hailey" last="Smith"], 2023, 5-9 SG/SF, Fishers H.S. Hailey and twin sister [player_tooltip player_id="59776" first="Olivia" last="Smith"] (below) added talented depth to a tough Fishers backcourt this past Winter. Hailey is a wiry strong, very athletic, aggressive competitor. Defensively, she will absolutely hound the ball 84-feet, and she has the ability to defend guards, wings, and some forwards. Offensively, she can handle it and she’s tough attacking the basket and finishing through contact, but she showed improvement throughout the year at being able to make longer jump-shots. Her game will need a little polish, but she is just a ballplayer and a nice competitor. She is already drawing Division-I interest.   Other Noteworthy Wing Guards: [player_tooltip player_id="62591" first="Jessica" last="Castor"], 2021, Westfield H.S. [player_tooltip player_id="130414" first="McKenzie" last="Crowder"], 2021, North Vermillion H.S. [player_tooltip player_id="130410" first="Madison" last="Guyse"], 2021, Lawrence Central H.S. [player_tooltip player_id="130336" first="Sierra" last="Hinds"], 2021, University H.S. [player_tooltip player_id="130409" first="Emma" last="Litzelman"], 2021, Cardinal Ritter H.S. [player_tooltip player_id="130337" first="Bonnie" last="Lew Ludlow"], 2021, Covenant Christian School [player_tooltip player_id="130338" first="TreNaé" last="Mann"], 2021, George Washington Community H.S. Mallory Miller, 2021, Noblesville H.S. Mikayla Miller, 2021, Owen Valley H.S. [player_tooltip player_id="130326" first="Joslynn" last="Spears"], 2021, Pike H.S. Aniya Washington, 2021, Tindley Accelerated H.S. [player_tooltip player_id="130334" first="Maycee" last="Woods"], 2021, Plainfield H.S. Maddie Denny, 2022, Mooresville H.S. Le’Aije Ellington, 2022, Warren Central H.S. [player_tooltip player_id="97250" first="Makayla" last="Hinshaw"], 2022, Hamilton Southeastern H.S. Darryn Hood, 2022, Tindley Accelerated H.S. Tynlie Neal, 2022, Clinton Prairie H.S. [player_tooltip player_id="157172" first="Jordyn" last="Payton"], 2022, Pike H.S. Belle Saylor, 2022, Tri-West H.S. [player_tooltip player_id="97284" first="Tori" last="Smiley"], 2022, Lawrence Central H.S. [player_tooltip player_id="61070" first="Ella" last="Wolfe"], 2022, Tipton H.S. [player_tooltip player_id="59729" first="Savanna" last="Bischoff"], 2023, Roncalli H.S. [player_tooltip player_id="59735" first="Kirsten" last="Clark"], 2023, Ben Davis H.S. [player_tooltip player_id="59763" first="Preslee" last="Michael"], 2023, Terre Haute North Vigo H.S. [player_tooltip player_id="59776" first="Olivia" last="Smith"], 2023, Fishers H.S. [player_tooltip player_id="155438" first="Kaleah" last="Toomer"], 2023, Ben Davis H.S.