Spring Rankings Look-In: 2026 Front-Liners

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Yesterday we released the Spring rankings update for the Class of 2026. There were 25 new additions in total, plus a few players who raised their "stock", so to speak, so subsequently there was some movement throughout the list. We also expanded the Top-20 overall prospects list to a Top-35 list, plus we expanded our watchlist by ten spots. I wanted to take this time to circle back and address all of the listed prospects, position by position. Below is a look at 19 power forward and center prospects who make up 19.0% of the rankings this time around, with analysis on a handful to "keep an eye on" detailed at the bottom.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="#FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong><font size="+1">Rk.</font></strong></td><td><strong><font size="+1">Name</font></strong></td><td><strong><font size="+1">Pos.</font></strong></td><td><strong><font size="+1">Ht.</font></strong></td><td><strong><font size="+1">H.S.</font></strong></td></tr><tr><td>1.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='486543' first='Brooklynn' last='Renn']</td><td>CF</td><td>6-2</td><td>Silver Creek</td></tr><tr><td>2.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='486521' first='Laniah' last='Wills']</td><td>PF</td><td>6-0</td><td>Lapel</td></tr><tr><td>3.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='486537' first='Naja' last='Winston']</td><td>CF</td><td>5-10</td><td>Decatur Central</td></tr><tr><td>4.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='492324' first='Madalynn' last='Shirley']</td><td>PF</td><td>6-0</td><td>Evansville Central</td></tr><tr><td>5.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='486478' first='Caroline' last='Quigley']</td><td>C</td><td>6-1</td><td>Noblesville</td></tr><tr><td>6.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='624858' first='Tenley' last='Davis']</td><td>PF</td><td>6-1</td><td>Chesterton</td></tr><tr><td>7.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='492325' first='Ellie' last='Tillett']</td><td>PF</td><td>6-0</td><td>Bedford North Lawrence</td></tr><tr><td>8.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='567135' first='D'Aaliyah' last='Kemp']</td><td>PF</td><td>6-1</td><td>North Central (Indianapolis)</td></tr><tr><td>9.</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='486503' first='Melaney' last='Williams']</td><td>PF</td><td>5-11</td><td>Merrillville</td></tr><tr><td>WL</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='624875' first='Laila' last='Brown']</td><td>C</td><td>6-1</td><td>Ben Davis</td></tr><tr><td>WL</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='486555' first='Lillian' last='George']</td><td>C</td><td>6-1</td><td>Carroll (Fort Wayne)</td></tr><tr><td>WL</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='404387' first='Violet' last='Hall']</td><td>PF</td><td>6-0</td><td>Bloomington South</td></tr><tr><td>WL</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='486530' first='Alyx' last='Kendall']</td><td>CF</td><td>6-0</td><td>Bishop Chatard</td></tr><tr><td>WL</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='486474' first='Nylah' last='Peoples']</td><td>PF</td><td>5-11</td><td>Lawrence North</td></tr><tr><td>WL</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='486519' first='Katherine' last='Reed']</td><td>C</td><td>6-1</td><td>Washington</td></tr><tr><td>WL</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='624881' first='Leah' last='Shappell']</td><td>CF</td><td>6-1</td><td>Leo</td></tr><tr><td>WL</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='486477' first='Hannah' last='Stepp']</td><td>PF</td><td>5-9</td><td>West Vigo</td></tr><tr><td>WL</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='486553' first='Natalie' last='Thomas']</td><td>C</td><td>6-2</td><td>Fishers</td></tr><tr><td>WL</td><td>[player_tooltip player_id='624885' first='Miley' last='Wareing']</td><td>C</td><td>6-1</td><td>Bishop Luers</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="#FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">NEW ADDITIONS:</font></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='624875' first='Laila' last='Brown'], Ben Davis - An extremely long, wiry-strong, broad-shouldered athlete. As she develops her finishing moves, watch out.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='624858' first='Tenley' last='Davis'], Chesterton - Nice height, wiry strength, and a lot of bounce. Is already finishing at the basket and shooting it outside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='486555' first='Lillian' last='George'], Carroll - Strong and physical post with solid skill. Started and averaged 8.5 ppg and 5.8 rpg as a Freshman this year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='624881' first='Leah' last='Shappell'], Leo - Long, tall, wiry-strong forward. Has great touch and can knock down the 3-pointer or post some inside.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='624885' first='Miley' last='Wareing'], Bishop Luers - Strong, physical post, has solid all-around athleticism at 6-1. Saw quality Varsity minutes as a rookie.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='486503' first='Melaney' last='Williams'], Merrillville - Long, wiry-strong, fast, and bouncy athlete. Plays with a great motor. Defender/rebounder type.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><font color="#FFFFFF">.</font></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><font size="+2">KEEP AN EYE ON:</font></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["486478"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"u0022C.C.u0022 saw a little bit of Varsity action this season on a very good Noblesville team, and she flashed nice upside for the future. She has nice length, wiry strength, and she moves well in most directions, plus she plays with a motor and doesn't mind a little physicality. I think she'll develop into a versatile frontline prospect who can post up smaller defenders and play consistently in the mid-post, with the potential to step outside and knock down the occasional '3'. She should have a bigger impact next year.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["486519"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"I first saw Katherine last Spring, and she showed the ability to play very physical around the basket, while also displaying some touch in the mid-post. She has since grown a couple of inches, is even more physical now, and had a really nice first year of Varsity ball for the Lady Hatchets. She plays with a nice motor and seems to improve each time I see her, so I'd anticipate her becoming a really nice post who can play inside or out, depending on what the defense chooses to take away from her.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["492324"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"Tim Duncan earned the nickname u0022The Big Fundamentalu0022, and fundamentals and an advanced skillset is what first comes to mind when I think about Madalynn's game. She has tremendous length, wiry strength, but it's her ability to think the game and make the correct play (or counter) each time she catches the ball. She has touch to the perimeter, she's great in the mid-post, and she can out-execute opponents on the block, offensively. She's also a nice help-side defender and a good shot-blocker.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":3,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6422d09fd515f"} /-->