Laila and her teammates will have the entire town of Hebron following them throughout their careers. The Hawks didn’t even field a team in 2023-2024 due to low numbers, and they’ve been just 7-38 over the past two seasons combined. In comes Laila, and she alone is a draw, as a handful of other girls have transferred in to play with her. She is extremely quick, fast, and shifty. She is an absolute playmaker with the ball in her hands, and she’s one of the most entertaining watches you will see. I have no doubt Hebron will win its share of games, but there are some other good Class 1A teams in Northwest Indiana.

I’ve seen Laila play since about 5th Grade, plus she has been at this event for the last 3 years, so it feels like she is a seasoned veteran, even though she will only be a Freshman in 2026-2027. Laila has tremendous ball skill for her age. She is quick, shifty, and she plays with the savvy of an upperclassman. She doesn’t back down from a challenge, and she is only limited by her size. But she can get into the paint and collapse defenses, plus she has some touch outside. Look for her to make an instant splash as a Rookie at Hebron.