Grassroots Introductions: Indiana Flight
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The featured image is of Jackie Crews Jackie Crews 5'7" | PG Paoli | 2023 State IN of Paoli High School and Indiana Flight Future UA Rise 16U-Redar. Now that we are a couple of months into the 2021 grassroots…
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Continue ReadingThe featured image is of Jackie Crews Jackie Crews 5'7" | PG Paoli | 2023 State IN of Paoli High School and Indiana Flight Future UA Rise 16U-Redar.
Now that we are a couple of months into the 2021 grassroots season, I wanted to continue introducing 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 Indiana Flight program. They have been around for several years now and are centered out of Indianapolis. They draw girls from all parts of the state with an emphasis in Central and South Central Indiana, plus they have partnered with the PAC Flight North program and a team from Northwest Indiana.
17U:
The 17U age group is the biggest in the Flight program, with five teams spread across the state. Those teams include Indiana Flight UAA, Indiana Flight-Long, Indiana Flight South, PAC Flight North, and Indiana Flight Northwest. Indiana Flight UAA is the participant in the Under Armour Association, and they have a strong group of 2022s on their roster. Rayah Kincer Rayah Kincer 5'10" | CG Franklin Central | 2022 State IN (2022) of Franklin Central headlines the group, and she is a strong, skilled, playmaker who can play any of three perimeter positions. She has drawn a lot of Division-I interest/offers over the last couple of years. Makayla Hinshaw Makayla Hinshaw 5'8" | SG Hamilton Southeastern | 2022 State IN (2022) of Hamilton Southeastern is a really nice athlete, and a high-level on-ball defender. She is starting to score it much more consistently, and she earned her first Division-I offer in the Fall of 2020. Kenna Kirby Kenna Kirby 5'8" | SG Tri-West | 2022 State IN (2022) of Tri-West and Ella Wolfe Ella Wolfe 5'8" | SG Tipton | 2022 State IN (2022) of Tipton are two more returnees from last Summer, and they help make this a deep and versatile backcourt. Kirby is a tough-nosed, strong, but skillful shooter who can make shots with range. Wolfe is a really nice athlete who can get to the rim, make shots outside, plus she can really defend. The new addition to the backcourt is Ashlyn Traylor Ashlyn Traylor 5'8" | SG Franklin Community | 2022 State IN (2022) of Martinsville. She is a gritty and tough wing who can make plays on the ball, but she will also rebound and defend. Up front, Jozee Rhodes Jozee Rhodes 6'0" | PF Plainfield | 2022 State IN (2022) of Plainfield and Ally Madden Ally Madden 6'1" | C Blue River Valley | 2022 State IN (2022) of Blue River Valley have returned to the fold for this squad. Rhodes is a tough matchup offensively, because while she is strong and physical inside, she has such good touch outside. Madden is a highly productive post with good hands and footwork, plus she has a nice 15-footer when facing the basket. Davina Smith Davina Smith 6'0" | PF Merrillville | 2022 State IN (2022) of Merrillville is another new prospect on this roster, and she has really given them a lot of options. She is a wiry strong athlete, and at 6-0, she can battle some inside, she’s good in the mid-post, or she can play around the perimeter like a wing.
Indiana Flight-Long is coached by longtime Flight Head Coach J.R. Long. This group has seen a little roster turnover from tournament to tournament due to injuries and conflicts, so I’ll touch on the eight players listed on their online roster. I’ve been most impressed with wing Riley Flinn Riley Flinn 5'11" | SF West Lafayette Harrison | 2023 State IN (2023) of West Lafayette Harrison and guard Cadence Thomas Cadence Thomas 5'8" | CG Decatur Central | 2023 IN (2023) of Decatur Central. When I saw Flinn two Summers ago, she was a much smaller combo guard who had great instincts and good skill. She has grown so much, that as a long, tall, point forward type, she has a chance to be a really nice prospect long-term. This Spring is my first time really seeing Thomas at length, and she is a tough, strong, and athletic combo guard who does a little of everything well, plus she competes. Isabel Davis Isabel Davis 5'7" | CG Bishop Chatard | 2022 State IN (2022) of Bishop Chatard is a skilled ball-handler and playmaker who does a nice job of finding teammates or finishing around the basket. Bella Larrison (2022) of Waldron has grown and looks strong/more confident with the ball this Spring. She is a nice, fluid wing athlete. Madison Phares Madison Phares 5'10" | PF Shelbyville | 2022 State IN (2022) of Shelbyville is a strong, quietly tough, but skilled front-liner. She can play inside, she’s best in the mid-post, but she can knock down the occasional outside jumper as well. Miranda Deane (2022) of Southport and Dani Simon (2022) of Greenwood Christian are a pair of smaller guards who fly around the floor causing havoc. They are feisty, gritty, and battle each possession. The final member of this core group is Erica Bostwick Erica Bostwick 6'0" | PF Zionsville Community | 2022 State IN (2022) of Zionsville. She was injured back in the Fall and has not started playing 5-on-5 yet, to the best of my knowledge. She has really good length, skill, and versatility, though.
Indiana Flight South has been a staple of the Flight program for the last few years, and this 17U group has a widespread roster from Evansville to near Cincinnati. Taylor Lynch (2022) of Madison Consolidated has been quite the addition. She is a strong and athletic guard who does a little of everything well. I expect for her to draw a lot of college interest this Summer. Taylor Treat Taylor Treat 5'5" | PG New Albany | 2022 State IN (2022) of New Albany is a quick little water-bug point guard who can make plays for others or score the ball at all three levels herself. Megan Kain Megan Kain 5'8" | SG Castle | 2022 State IN (2022) of Castle and Kate Breeden (2022) of Evansville Mater Dei are new to the program. Kain is a really nice athlete and a worker, she can make shots outside, plus she can really defend the ball. Breeden is a versatile inside-out forward who can play from the mid-post to the perimeter comfortably, also knocking down perimeter jumpers. Indiana Flight Northwest is new to the organization, and their roster is unique, because it holds prospects from 2022 down to 2024. With the exception of two players, their entire roster is from Lake County. One player who continues to elevate her stock is Shamarah Allen Shamarah Allen 5'8" | SF South Bend Washington | 2022 State IN (2022) of South Bend Washington. She is such a nice athlete with length, and she plays with a good motor. She will affect the game in so many different ways that she’s hard to prepare for. Riley Milausnic Riley Milausnic 5'7" | CG Lake Central | 2024 State IN (2024) of Lake Central is one of the best 2024s people don’t know/talk about yet. She is very skilled with the ball, crafty, and she can shoot it with range. Chloe Churilla Chloe Churilla 5'11" | PF Highland | 2022 State IN (2022) had an outstanding high school season, as she is a versatile forward who can play at all three levels. I also enjoy the water-bug duo of Kenndall Bethel Kenndall Bethel 5'3" | PG Mishawaka Marian | 2022 State IN (2022) of Mishawaka Marian and Kennedie Burks (2024) of Merrillville. They are all over the place causing problems for opponents at both ends of the floor.
Last in 17U, but certainly not least, is the PAC Flight North UA Rise group. You would recognize them as Grand Park Premier from past seasons. This group has a number of really nice small college prospects. Taylor Bowen Taylor Bowen 6'0" | PF Culver Academy | 2022 State IN (2022) of Culver Academy stands out to me as one of their bigger matchup problems. She has nice size and strength, she’s physical inside, plus she’s skilled around the perimeter. Kennedy Tolen Kennedy Tolen 5'9" | SF Benton Central | 2022 State IN (2022) was great this Winter for Benton Central, as she really improved her statistical contributions across the board. She is a strong, physical wing with a tremendous motor, but she also has nice touch from around the arc. High school teammate Tressa Senesac Tressa Senesac 5'6" | PG Benton Central | 2022 State IN (2022) has always been enjoyable to watch. She is quick/fast and very feisty. She will really mix it up defensively and can disrupt opponents’ offenses. Rushville has a pair of guards on this team in Annika Marlow Annika Marlow 5'5" | PG Rushville | 2022 State IN (2022) and Olivia Yager (2022). Marlow is the gritty, steady, high IQ playmaker at the point, while Yager is a nice athlete who can make shots or get to the basket. Haley Thomas Haley Thomas 6'1" | C West Lafayette Harrison | 2022 State IN (2022) of West Lafayette Harrison gives this team some size inside to pair with Bowen, but Thomas is more of a traditional post. She does have some touch to near the perimeter, though. Chesney Tebbe Chesney Tebbe 5'7" | CG Westfield | 2022 State IN (2022) of Westfield was a breakout performer last Summer, and she has done nothing but continue her ascent. She is so long, fluidly athletic, and versatile skillfully. Kaiya Walker (2022) of Fishers is another versatile wing who does a little of everything well, plus she always plays with a nice motor. New to this group is Abigail Parker Abigail Parker 5'9" | SF Tipton | 2022 State IN (2022) of Tipton. She is a skillful wing who can knock down the occasional shot outside, but she really likes that mid-range game and to attack the basket to finish.
16U:
In 16U, there are just a pair of entries in the Flight program, with those being Indiana Flight UAA and Indiana Flight Future UA Rise. This Indiana Flight UAA team is actually a former 2024 group playing “up”, but they’ve added a pair of 2023 prospects to their roster. They are incredibly tough to match up with, because they shoot the ball extremely well from every position on the floor. The top returnees from last Summer are Lauren Klem Lauren Klem 5'1" | PG Franklin Community | 2024 State IN (2024) and Scarlett Kimbrell Scarlett Kimbrell 5'11" | SF Franklin Community | 2024 State IN (2024) from Franklin Community, and Camryn Runner Camryn Runner 5'9" | CG Hamilton Heights | 2024 State IN (2024) from Hamilton Heights. Klem is diminutive, but she is an athlete. She has good speed and quickness, a nice feistiness to her, plus she can really shoot it. Kimbrell is a long, fluid wing with range to probably 30-feet legitimately. She can attack the basket too, though, so she’s tough to defend. I’ve been extremely impressed with Runner this Spring. She has length, athleticism, and she’s a knockdown shooter as well with some range. The two 2023s who’ve joined this group are Layla Gold Layla Gold 6'0" | SF Cathedral | 2023 State IN (2023) from Park Tudor and Lauren Barker Lauren Barker 5'5" | CG Columbus North | 2023 State IN (2023) from Columbus North. Gold is a long, fluid athlete with good height. She has touch outside, plus she’s an athlete off the bounce and difficult to guard. Barker is a tough, strong-for-her-size combo guard. She is an accurate perimeter shooter as well, plus she can play point and she will defend with effort.
Indiana Flight Future UA Rise is mostly a group that his been together for a couple of years now. They are Southern Indiana prospects from Columbus down to the Ohio River. Jackie Crews Jackie Crews 5'7" | PG Paoli | 2023 State IN (2023) of Paoli and Madelyn Hackman Madelyn Hackman 5'8" | SG Brownstown Central | 2023 State IN (2023) of Brownstown Central give them a nice backcourt to start with. Crews is a cerebral kid with some length, fluid athleticism, and a nice motor. She can handle it and run offense, attack the basket, or knock down open rhythm jumpers. Hackman is a strong wing guard who plays with great versatility. She has good ball skill and can run offense, she can make shots around the perimeter, or she can even get into the mid-post and battle taller players with her strength and toughness. Up front, Leah Bachmann Leah Bachmann 6'0" | C Columbus East | 2023 State IN (2023) of Columbus East is a new addition to this team. She is a strong, physical, high-motor power forward who isn’t afraid to mix it up down around the block. She has a solid face-up game in the mid-post, but she prefers the physicality inside. Paoli’s Ryleigh Anderson (2023) is another front-liner who gives them strength and a physical nature. She is a low-block scorer, plus she will rebound and defend with effort.
15U:
As for the 15U division, there are four teams to keep your eye on in the Flight program. Those teams include Indiana Flight Future UAA, Indiana Flight South, PAC Flight North UA Rise, and PAC Flight North Black. Indiana Flight Future UAA is a group of skilled, talented, and extremely hard-working kids who play really well together. Elle Marble Elle Marble 5'9" | CG Jeffersonville | 2024 State IN (2024) of Jeffersonville has stood out to me each time I’ve seen them play. She has good height, great length, and she’s a fluid/smooth athlete with good skill. Colleges really like long, tall point guards, and she certainly fits that bill. Mia Robbennolt Mia Robbennolt 6'0" | PF Bloomington North | 2024 State IN (2024) of Bloomington North put together a really nice Freshman season, and she has continued that strong play into the Spring. She has length, wiry strength, and she too is a fluid/smooth athlete. She can play in the mid-post or around the perimeter. Kendall Sterling Kendall Sterling 5'10" | SF Seymour | 2024 State IN (2024) of Seymour is a Swiss Army Knife type of player. She has good size and strength, she’s quietly tough-nosed, and she doesn’t mind physicality. At the same time, she’s a solid athlete, she has ball skill, and she can make shots at all three levels. She is just a really nice ballplayer. Payton Benge Payton Benge 6'1" | PF Plainfield | 2024 State IN (2024) of Plainfield is new to this team this season, and she has given them a nice, skillful presence with size. She can play physically around the block, and she is skilled facing the basket in the mid-post. She also plays with a really nice motor. The trio of Claire Lindsey Claire Lindsey 5'7" | CG Roncalli | 2024 State IN (2024) of Roncalli, Taylor Turk (2024) of Roncalli, and Elise Preston Elise Preston 5'7" | CG Columbus North | 2024 IN (2024) of Columbus North solidify the backcourt for this team. Lindsey and Turk bring grit and toughness to the perimeter, they defend hard, and they have some versatility offensively as well. Preston has shown the ability this Spring to play either guard spot, and she’s another long, fluid guard with nice perimeter touch.
PAC Flight North UA Rise will give opponents fits with their ability to score the ball from any perimeter position. Alli Harness Alli Harness 5'8" | CG Carroll (Flora) | 2024 State IN (2024) and Madison Wagner Madison Wagner 5'9" | SF Carroll (Flora) | 2024 State IN (2024) of Carroll (Flora) helped the Cougars to an outstanding high school season, and they lead this balanced group. Harness is a dynamic point guard who can create off the bounce, but she is a talented shooter with deeeeep range. Wagner is a versatile wing who can handle the ball in transition and start the offense, she can make the occasional perimeter jumper, but she’s probably best getting downhill and attacking the basket. Isabel Scales Isabel Scales 5'8" | SF Caston | 2024 State IN (2024) of Caston is another “regular” from previous years, and she is a tough-nosed and versatile wing. She can play on the ball or act as another downhill attacker off the bounce. Emma Haan Emma Haan 5'8" | SG Zionsville | 2024 State IN (2024) of Zionsville and Kalyn Bunch Kalyn Bunch 5'11" | PF Mooresville | 2024 State IN (2024) of Mooresville are new to the team, and they both bring toughness and tremendous motors. Haan is a run-through-walls wing who is shooting it well outside this Spring. She always finds a way to contribute to the team. Bunch is a battler inside, and she can finish at odd angles around the basket or play in the mid-post.
I saw this Indiana Flight South 15U team for the first time a couple of weeks ago, and they have some intriguing prospects. In what I was able to see, I felt like Ellie Falkenstein (2024) of Jeffersonville and Elle Schneider (2024) of Lanesville really bring a lot to this group. They are both strong wings with good motors. Falkenstein has nice touch around the perimeter, but she can also attack the basket North/South, while Schneider looked to be an aggressive driver and a nice mid-post presence as well. Megan Czarnecki (2024) of Silver Creek has tremendous length and some bounce in her, and Tori Fee (2024) of Seymour looks to continue the sisterly line of solid frontline prospects with good size, skill, and ability. As for PAC Flight North Black, I have not had the opportunity to see them yet this Spring, but based on the roster I’ve received, Keaton Gatlin (2024) of Carmel and Hallie Wolfe Hallie Wolfe 5'7" | SG Tipton | 2024 IN (2024) of Tipton are a pair of guards to keep an eye on. Gatlin is a strong, athletic combo guard who can get downhill in a hurry. She’s a nice all-around athlete, a skillful kid, and she plays with a nice motor. Hallie Wolfe Hallie Wolfe 5'7" | SG Tipton | 2024 IN is the younger sister of Ella Wolfe Ella Wolfe 5'8" | SG Tipton | 2022 State IN (above). Hallie is a skilled shooter, with solid ball skill, and the ability to run offense or score from off the ball.