Grassroots Introductions: Always 100

Now that we are a month into the 2021 grassroots season, I wanted to take the time and introduce several of the state's programs over the next couple of weeks. For a few of the bigger programs in 17U-15U, they will get their own articles, while some of the smaller programs and individual teams will be found later in articles summarizing the remaining teams in each of those age groups, 17U-15U. Below is a look at the [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100'] program. They have been around for quite a few years now and are centered out of Fort Wayne. They draw girls mostly from the Northeast corner of the state, however they have started to expand a lot more towards Indianapolis, South Bend/Elkhart, plus Northwest Ohio and Southern Michigan.   17U: There are currently four teams in 17U for [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100'], including [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100'] Elite, [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100'] Black, [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100'] White, and [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100']-Todd. [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100'] Elite is the flagship team in 17U for [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100'], but this year the team is comprised of just one 2022, while the remaining players are in the 2023 class. [player_tooltip player_id="65535" first="Olivia" last="Smith"] (2022) of Fort Wayne South Side is the lone Senior-to-be, and she is a 2021 Indiana Junior All-Star. She has already given a commitment to Eastern Michigan University. [player_tooltip player_id="59732" first="Ashlynn" last="Brooke"] (2023) of Pioneer and [player_tooltip player_id="96091" first="Renna" last="Schwieterman"] (2023) of Jay County are the two highest recruited prospects remaining on the team, as each has picked up multiple Division-I offers already. But the remainder of the roster is talented as well. Fort Wayne Carroll twins [player_tooltip player_id="59758" first="Saniya" last="Jackson"] (2023) and [player_tooltip player_id="59759" first="Nevaeh" last="Jackson"] (2023) look taller, stronger, and much more confident around the perimeter this year. High school teammate [player_tooltip player_id="96079" first="Taylor" last="Fordyce"] (2023) has been outstanding as well this Spring. Homestead classmates [player_tooltip player_id="59778" first="Alison" last="Stephens"] (2023) and [player_tooltip player_id="127237" first="Molly" last="Stock"] (2023) have logged two years of quality Varsity experience already and have some colleges buzzing. [player_tooltip player_id="203666" first="Madison" last="Vice"] (2023) of Central Noble also looks much more assertive this year. I have yet to see Mona Shores (MI) post Brooklyn McLemore (2023) yet this Spring, but Michigan is just now wrapping up their high school season. Despite being young, watch for this team to give several 17U teams fits this season. Each year Larry Wright manages to put together solid, competitive teams who battle nearly everyone they face. This year he is responsible for both [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100'] Black and [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100'] White, as well as [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100'] United 16U (below). [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100'] Black is a really nice collection of ladies drawing a great deal of small college interest right now. [player_tooltip player_id="128130" first="Julia" last="Mantyla"] (2022) of Northridge, [player_tooltip player_id="61062" first="Rebekah" last="Marshall"] (2022) of Columbia City, and [player_tooltip player_id="128134" first="Maggie" last="Keinsley"] (2022) of Homestead really stand out as versatile wings/forwards who do a little of everything for this team. They also all play with tremendous motors. Post [player_tooltip player_id="97256" first="Abby" last="Sanner"] (2022) of Warsaw continues to improve and show glimpses of dominance around the block. Forward [player_tooltip player_id="96089" first="Annaka" last="Nelson"] (2023) of Fort Wayne Concordia is the lone youngster on this team, and she is a Division-I talent who can play inside-out. In the backcourt, [player_tooltip player_id="128151" first="Gracie" last="Bobo"] (2022) of Penn is their sniper, and she returns from last Summer along with versatile combo guard [player_tooltip player_id="128183" first="Colleen" last="Miller"] (2022) of Northridge. Newcomer [player_tooltip player_id="128132" first="Bailie" last="Stephens"] (2022) of Warsaw is a ball of energy at the point who should provide them with a nice boost in transition. Niles (MI) wing Amara Palmer (2022) is another Michigan kid who should be joining them soon. [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100'] White is another nice squad made up of small college prospects. [player_tooltip player_id="97276" first="Lauren" last="Leach"] (2022) of Angola has drawn a great deal of buzz amongst coaching circles for the last year now. The Penn duo of [player_tooltip player_id="128163" first="Gabrielle" last="Hoover"] (2022) and [player_tooltip player_id="157178" first="Sydney" last="Little"] (2022) will help boost the interior play, though Little can play at all three levels. I also think Woodlan guard [player_tooltip player_id="243591" first="Dakotah" last="Krohn"] (2022) has improved nicely since this time a year ago. And then there is the [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100']-Todd team who has some similarities to the White group. [player_tooltip player_id="157180" first="Jessie" last="Yelaska"] (2022) of John Glenn and [player_tooltip player_id="128180" first="Jazmyn" last="Smith"] (2022) of West Noble are a pair of inside-out forwards who can post or play facing the basket at times. Guards [player_tooltip player_id="128169" first="Emily" last="Todd"] (2022) of Norwell and Kenzie Fuelling (2022) of Bellmont are two versatile, skillful ladies from neighboring Wells and Adams Counties. And Fort Wayne Carroll guard Brooke Pocock (2022) is a nice perimeter shooter who doesn't need much space to be dangerous.   16U: Despite many of their best 2023s playing "up", there are still five [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100'] teams in the 16U division. They are [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100'] United, [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100'] Prime, [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100'] Lockdown, [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100'] Fire, and [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100'] Suns. [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100'] United is probably the most talented of this group, and that starts with Fairfield forward [player_tooltip player_id="59749" first="Brea" last="Garber"] (2023), who has already drawn a couple of Division-I offers because of her ability to shoot the ball at her size. But this group is deeper than that. [player_tooltip player_id="203654" first="Eva" last="Fisher"] (2023) of Northridge is a dynamic, athletic playmaker who can get to the rim or find teammates. [player_tooltip player_id="127226" first="Bailey" last="Kelham"] (2023) of Garrett is new to this team, but she adds another talented athlete who can also shoot/score the ball from all three levels. Sydney Fream (2023) of Homestead is a hard-working forward who will battle for loose balls. High school teammate Hilary Adams (2023), plus guard [player_tooltip player_id="96094" first="Addison" last="Ward"] (2023) of Twin Lakes bring solid play to the backcourt. Adams is a quick little point guard, while Ward is a cerebral kid who can play on or off the ball and make shots outside. [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100'] Prime is a hard-working group built around their perimeter play. [player_tooltip player_id="203668" first="Kaydence" last="Mellott"] (2023) of Tippecanoe Valley and [player_tooltip player_id="264990" first="Meghan" last="Kiebel"] (2023) of Central Noble are tough-nosed scorers who do it differently. Mellott is a nice shooter who can drive, while Kiebel is more of an aggressive driver who can knock down open shots. Abigail Rouse (2023) of Delta is a dynamic little guard who is quick and creative with the ball. Ella Haupert (2023) of Southwood has really grown her game in the last year, and she can score it from all over. Wing [player_tooltip player_id="96083" first="Kennedy" last="Hayden"] (2023) of John Glenn is intriguing because she's still growing, and her best days are still ahead of her. For [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100'] Lockdown, there are a smaller team with several guards, but they do have a couple of girls who provide some size. One of those, forward Aubrie Swain (2023) of Fort Wayne Carroll, has shown versatility and nice upside so far this Spring. Lillie Cone (2023) is a really nice, steady point guard from DeKalb. I am still waiting on rosters for [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100'] Fire and [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100'] Suns.   15U: 15U is the biggest group of high school teams for [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100'], as there are six teams in the program this year. They include [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100'] Elite, [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100']-Paul, [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100'] Takeover, [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100']-Gamble, [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100'] Knights, and [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100'] Phoenix. This [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100'] Elite group will also have eyes on them at all times, as Fort Wayne Snider point guard [player_tooltip player_id="177351" first="Jordyn" last="Poole"] (2024) has already wracked up multiple Division-I offers, including two from Big Ten schools. High school teammates [player_tooltip player_id="177321" first="Joh'nea" last="Donahue"] (2024) and [player_tooltip player_id="177317" first="Destini" last="Craig"] (2024) have also shown Division-I ability as well. Donahue is a nice, athletic, combo guard who can score it or create offense. Craig is a strong, bullish wing who can finish around the basket. But it's six new additions who will help that trio take off this season. Zionsville twin forwards [player_tooltip player_id="177350" first="Sophia" last="Poehlein"] and [player_tooltip player_id="177349" first="Isabelle" last="Poehlein"] are extremely long, skilled, fluid, and versatile. Northeastern's [player_tooltip player_id="177342" first="Addisen" last="Mastriano"] is a skilled and powerful post who also plays with versatility. Lauren Gerken (2024) of Liberty-Benton (OH) is another player who can dominate the mid-post or play around the perimeter some. Then there are guards [player_tooltip player_id="177355" first="Joirdyn" last="Smith"] (2024) and [player_tooltip player_id="177318" first="Morgan" last="Cross"] (2024) who add talent, skill, and toughness. [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100']-Paul is another talented, skillful group who are well-coached. Fort Wayne Carroll wing [player_tooltip player_id="177314" first="Alexis" last="Castator"] (2024) is a really nice athlete who can do just about anything skillfully. She should see a lot of Division-I interest once she gets to play in front of coaches this Summer. [player_tooltip player_id="177354" first="Kyndra" last="Sheets"] (2024) of Columbia City, Jersey Paul (2025) of Churubusco, and Emma Reust (2024) of Homestead are a trio of really nice guards who bring versatility to the backcourt. Sheets is the tough-nosed playmaker, Paul can shoot it with range or run offense, and Reust uses her length and fluidity well. Woodlan forward [player_tooltip player_id="264114" first="Taylor" last="Kneubuhler"] (2024) is a long, fluidly athletic forward who can play inside-out. [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100'] Takeover is led by the backcourt duo of Kylie Caswell (2024) and [player_tooltip player_id="239353" first="Riley" last="Pepple"] (2024). Both are from Angola. Caswell is a quick little playmaking water-bug, while Pepple can shoot/score it or play a little point as well. A trio of bigs also stand out for this team. [player_tooltip player_id="177343" first="Lauryn" last="Merritt"] (2024) of Maconaquah is a developing, wiry strong athlete with low-block to mid-post skill. Brooke Karesh (2024) of Zionsville is more of a traditional back-to-the-basket post, while Tia Phinezy (2024) of Fort Wayne Snider is a long and athletic kid who can also play around the block or in the mid-post. I also think the [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100']-Gamble group has several intriguing prospects as well. Forward [player_tooltip player_id="201879" first="Macy" last="Oberlin"] (2024) of Angola gives them a long, bouncy athlete with inside-out versatility and nice upside. Combo guard [player_tooltip player_id="239351" first="Sophia" last="Morrison"] (2024) had a strong Freshman season for Eastbrook, and she has a terrific jump-shot and a quick handle as well. Norwell guard [player_tooltip player_id="264113" first="Kennedy" last="Fuelling"] (2024) is a really nice athlete with a wiry strong frame, while Goshen post [player_tooltip player_id="177328" first="Kyra" last="Hill"] (2024) is a strong and athletic frontline presence, plus she's the younger sister of University of Dayton signee [player_tooltip player_id="130314" first="Brynn" last="Shoup-Hill"] (2021). Columbia City guards Megan Baxter (2024) and Tessa Tonkel (2024) give this team a couple of strong, tough-nosed kids who can also make shots outside or handle the ball some too. I have not yet had the opportunity to see the [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100'] Knights yet, and I am still waiting on the roster for [program_tooltip program_id='716173' first='Always' last='100'] Phoenix.