High School girls basketball top 25 players we've seen in Greater Lafayette Area so far
The Greater Lafayette Area is once again proving to be a hotbed for talented and skilled girls basketball players in Indiana.
Three fast weeks have gone by and now the best players are starting to separate themselves with their accurate jump shots, clutch 3-pointers and playing intense defense.
With a strong group of players to choose from, it's time to rank the top 25 girls basketball players we've seen so far.
1. Lillie Graves
School: McCutcheon
Position: point guard
Class: freshman
Scouting report: The 6-foot-1 McCutcheon leader in points and assists is just scratching the surface as a basketball player. Graves executes in all facets from her passion and unselfishness as a passer to being able to hit 3-pointers, knock down pull up jump shots and generating offense while staying within the parameters of coach Jeff Knoy's system. Graves' natural abilities as an athlete plus her coachability is why she's regarded as one of the top ranked players in the 2027 class. Before ever playing a varsity high school game, Graves had been receiving offers from Purdue, Dayton, Ball State, Indiana State, Toledo and Purdue Fort Wayne.
More: Greater Lafayette Area Girls Basketball Power Rankings (Nov. 3 - Nov. 18)
2. Alli Harness
School: Carroll
Position: point guard
Class: senior
Scouting report: Harness has continued to flourish as the leader of Carroll girls basketball after winning the J&C Small Schools Player of the Year honor last season. Harness has an all-around scoring game that allows her to attack the basket adamantly while playing tenacious on ball defense. Her defense creates chaos for opposing offenses and creates layup opportunities for her teammates on the other end. Harness is signed to Western Michigan and is averaging 24 points, 6.5 assists and six rebounds per game for still undefeated Carroll (5-0).
3. Addie Bowsman
School: Twin Lakes
Position: point guard
Class: Junior
Scouting report: Bowsman is gritty, tough and finds ways to score both inside and out. Her leadership on and off the court is a reason Twin Lakes will be in contention to win an IHSAA Sectional title and could make a run through state. Bowsman brings intensity to each game and has developed a strong fan following in Monticello.
4. Adrianne Tolen
School: West Lafayette
Position: power forward
Class: Senior
Scouting report: Tolen grabs rebounds in the post, sets hard screens and gives West Lafayette the scoring and defense it needs in the paint. Tolen led West Lafayette to the IU Health Hoops Tournament Championship on Nov. 18 and is averaging 18.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. Tolen is signed to Missouri S&T, a school located in Rolla, Missouri, 106 miles southwest of St. Louis.
5. Olivia Nickerson
School: Twin Lakes
Position: shooting guard
Class: senior
Scouting report: Nickerson is working towards becoming one of the most prolific 3-point shooters in Indiana's history. Nickerson has sunk 338 career shots from beyond the arc and sits 25 3-pointers from tying the state record held by former 2015 Miss Indiana Basketball Runner-Up Darby Maggard from Canterbury High School. Nickerson has sunk 35 3-pointers, ranking her first in Indiana. Nickerson is 44% from 3-point range, making her the third most accurate shooter in Indiana. Additionally, Nickerson is a tenacious rebounder averaging 5.2 boards per game.
6. Carley Barrett
School: Central Catholic
Position: point guard
Class: junior
Scouting report: Central Catholic is a different team when it has its junior captain Barrett on the floor. Barrett is left handed but its hard to tell with how she can attack the basket with a variety of layups and reverses with both hands. Barrett buries 3-pointers when the Knights need a basket. She's been dealing with a thigh bruise but should be back fully healthy after Thanksgiving break.
More: Bombs away! Rensselaer Central rallies to win IU Health Hoops Classic Championship
7. Taylor Van Meter
School: Rensselaer Central
Position: shooting guard
Class: junior
Scouting report: Van Meter is a hard nosed defender who can pick up point guards full court. Van Meter finds much of her success attacking the base line and hitting shots from corners. Rensselaer Central is off to a historic start, much in part to Van Meter's defensive pressure and timely scoring.
8. Sarah Gick
School: Benton Central
Position: center
Class: senior
Scouting report: Gick runs the floor well as a post player and can score shots consistently from mid-range. Her speed in the paint allows Benton Central to execute fast breaks and score with efficiency.
9. Maya Layton
School: Faith Christian
Position: point guard
Class: sophomore
Scouting report: Layton leads Faith Christian and is expected to field Division I offers in the coming seasons. Layton changes speeds as a ball handler and knows when and where to fire jump shots. She continues to lead the Eagles' which have lost three of their first five games. The early woes are a combination of minor injuries and illnesses that have kept Faith Christian from playing its complete starting rotation. Thanksgiving break rest should help the Eagles get back on track when it plays at North Montgomery on Nov. 28.
10. Sarah Werth
School: West Lafayette
Position: shooting guard
Class: junior
Scouting report: Werth is as consistent as they come as a mid range shooter and defender. Werth is averaging 12.6 points and 1.6 steals per game. Her pressure on defense and shot making is allowing West Lafayette to play quality basketball this season. The Red Devils are 6-3 with quality wins over McCutcheon and Central Catholic.
11. Elsie Ahnert
School: Harrison
Position: shooting guard
Class: junior
Scouting report: Ahnert's ability to stretch the floor outside and passing gives Harrison a valued offensive weapon. Ahnert leads the Raiders averaging 15.3 points, 4.5 steals and 7.3 rebounds per game. Ahnert is shooting 44% from the field, 83% from the free throw line and 30% from 3-point range.
More: Meet the Attica wrestler who beat the scale to become a state contender
12. Rachel Tolen
School: Benton Central
Position: small forward
Class: senior
Scouting report: Tolen helps her team win games with pressure and energy. Tolen's pressure on defense is a reason the Bison are forcing teams to turn the ball over at a high rate.
13. Chloe Finney
School: McCutcheon
Position: small forward
Class: sophomore
Scouting report: Finney is having a stellar sophomore campaign after she averaged 7.7 points per game and shot 35% from the floor last season. Finney has crafty moves and utilizes a consistent jump shot to stay balanced and score baskets in the paint.
14. Sara Parkison
School: Clinton Central
Position: shooting guard
Class: senior
Scouting report: Parkison is the leader of a Clinton Central squad off to a rocking start. Parkison averages 17.6 points per game and shoots 54% from the floor including 46% from 3-point range. Parkison's confidence to score in the paint and from outside has led the Bulldogs to victories over Fountain Central, Frontier and Delphi by 30 points or more. Clinton Central is 6-1 with its lone defeat, a nail biting 57-52 loss to Carroll on Nov. 17.
15. Grace Bordenet
School: Central Catholic
Position: point guard
Class: junior
Scouting report: Bordenet has been asked to increase her scoring load since the injury to Barrett. Bordenet has proven to be a consistent threat attacking the paint and doesn't stray from the contact. Bordenet's assertiveness on offense should prove vital when Barrett returns to the lineup.
16. Riley Whitlock
School: Harrison
Position: power forward
Class: senior
Scouting report: Whitlock excels on the basketball court in addition to her skills as a volleyball player. Whitlock shines as one of the Greater Lafayette Area's top rebounders and inside scorers. Whitlock averages 12.3 points, nine rebounds per game and is shooting 46% from the floor.
17. Kamri Rowland
School: Rensselaer Central
Position: power forward
Class: sophomore
Scouting report: Rowland is a hard nosed defender who dives for loose balls and excels in transition. Rowland averages 13.1 points, nine rebounds and averages 3.3 steals per game.
18. Vivian Huston
School: West Lafayette
Position: shooting guard
Class: senior
Scouting report: Huston has improved scoring and has been a key third option in the Red Devils' offense. Huston shoots 29% from 3-point range and averages six points, 4.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.
More: Lafayette Jeff falls to McCutcheon in IU Health Hoops Classic
19. Maddy Bruce
School: Central Catholic
Position: shooting guard
Class: junior
Scouting report: Bruce has impressive body control when attacking the basket and avoids charges. Bruce's skills using her left and right hand around the basket and jump shooting has been helpful for the Knights staying consistent on offense.
20. Aubri Mullendore
School: McCutcheon
Position: point guard
Class: senior
Scouting report: Mullendore is the veteran vocal leader of McCutcheon's rising girls basketball program. Mullendore takes charges on defense and prefers to attack the basket rather than settling for jump shots.
21. Ava Burkle
School: Rossville
Position: point guard
Class: sophomore
Scouting report: Burkle is one of the top small school players in the Greater Lafayette Area. Burkle is averaging 17.6 points, 8.3 rebounds per game and is shooting 39% from the floor.
22. Lexi Miller
School: Delphi
Position: shooting guard
Class: junior
Scouting report: Miller has been the Oracles' most efficient player and averages 11.3 points, 7.1 rebounds per game and is shooting 32% from the floor. Delphi is 5-2 and owns victories over Rossville, Clinton Central and Frontier.
23. Hannah Prickett
School: Fountain Central
Position: point guard
Class: junior
Scouting report: Pricket supplies the Mustangs with mid range shots. Fountain Central is 5-2 with victories over Faith Christian and Lafayette Jeff.
24. Rylea Wetz
School: Seeger
Position: point guard
Class: senior
Scouting report: Wetz has been the Patriots' primary scorer averaging 12.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, four steals and three assists per game. She is shooting 48% from the floor. Seeger is 5-1 to start the season.
25. Da'Niyah Johnson
School: Lafayette Jeff
Position: small forward
Class: sophomore
Scouting report: Johnson is part of an emerging underclassmen group that's attempting to lead Lafayette Jeff to its first winning season since the 2018-2019 campaign. Johnson has been the Bronchos' most effective player as a rebounder and shot maker. She is shooting 41% from the floor and is averaging 8.7 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.
Ethan Hanson started working for the Journal & Courier in West Lafayette, Indiana after four years at the Record Searchlight in Redding, CA. He previously freelanced with the Los Angeles Daily News for four years. Follow him on Twitter at @EthanAHansonand ethan_a_hanson on Instagram.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: High school girls basketball top 25 players we've seen so far
