Meet the best players in the Class of 2027
Brian Haenchen
Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY NETWORK
We’re kicking off our preview coverage ahead of the 2026-27 Indiana high school girls basketball season by ranking the state’s top players in each class.
Meet the top Indiana high school girls basketball players in the Class of 2027 .
1. Lillie Graves, McCutcheon
Graves took massive strides as a 3-point shooter last season, firing a career-best 33% (44-for-133) from behind the arc to add some shine to her 47% FG. Rated a four-star recruit and ranked 60th nationally by ESPN, the Virginia Tech commit averaged 17.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 3.3 steals for the semistate runner-up Mavericks. Graves is an early favorite in the IndyStar Miss Basketball chase.
2. Adah Hupfer, Pendleton Heights
Make no mistake, the 6-foot-3 Hupfer is at her best when she’s utilizing her size to fight for points and rebounds in the paint. She shot 56% from 2 and averaged 13 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game. But her career-best 20.5 ppg scoring average was also driven by her emergence from behind the arc, where she converted 27-of-67 shots last season. Hupfer is a Northwestern commit.
3. Kylah Patterson, Hammond Morton
Nicknamed “KP,” buzz surrounding Patterson began building as she averaged 27.2 points, 15.5 rebounds, 5.8 assist, 5 steals and 1.5 blocks last season (nearly took out Crown Point in the sectional), and culminated with the 6-foot standout garnering a core Junior Indiana All-Star spot. Patterson is listed as a guard/forward/center and can actually play all five positions. The Governors’ schedule includes notable games vs. Crown Point and Penn, the Interra Classic at Northridge and a Dec. 4 trip to Ben Davis.
4. Claire Larrison, Greensburg
Opposing defenses were able to really hone in on Larrison at times last season, but the future Ball State Cardinal was wholly unfazed, committing just two turnovers per game, while shooting 54% from the field, 79% at the line and 30% on a career-high 110 attempts from 3. The Pirates needed her to be a scorer — and she did so at a very high clip (career-high 21.3 ppg) — but she was also impactful as a passer (3.6 apg), on the glass (8.1 rpg) and defensively (2.5 spg).
5. Hannah Menser, Plainfield
Menser played through a hip injury last season, one serious enough that it required offseason surgery. While it impacted her efficiency — 37% FG, 33% 3FG — it did not stifle her production. The 5-8 shooting guard still averaged 17 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.1 steals and 1.5 blocks per game, and continued utilizing her length to be a menace defensively. Menser, a Ball State commit, is at full health entering her senior campaign. Keep an eye on her in the Miss Basketball conversation, especially if the Quakers manage to escape their over-stuffed sectional.
6. Paige Schnaus, Gibson Southern
The 6-3 center is coming off her best season in terms of individual performance, averaging 20.9 points (501 total) on 50% shooting with a 42% mark from 3 and a 77% mark at the line. The Toledo-bound standout also pulled in nine rebounds per game and was good for 1.6 bpg. Schnaus, a Junior Indiana All-Star, enters her senior year with 1,191 points and 632 rebounds.
7. Payton DuVall, Franklin Central
The 6-3 Loyola Chicago commit has established herself as a high-end post talent. She averaged a double-double for a second consecutive season, clocking 12.1 points and 11.1 rebounds, and to those stats she added 3.1 blocks, 2 steals and 2.1 blocks per game. DuVall’s an efficient shooter (51% FG) and has steadily improved as a free-throw shooter, converting a career-best 66% of her 94 attempts last season.
8. Kenzie Koch, Eastern Hancock
Koch has made a name for herself as an electrifying scorer, pouring in over 1,800 career points. She averaged 25.5 points on 47% shooting as a junior, while maintaining steady contributions in all other major statistical categories: 8.1 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 4.4 steals and 1.1 blocks per game. The 5-9 Ball State commit is an early Indiana All-Star candidate.
9. Elliot Leffler, Roncalli
Leffler’s role in leading Roncalli to a Class 3A state runner-up finish vaulted her to prominence on the statewide stage. The 5-9 guard shot 40% from the field for a third consecutive season, brought her free-throw percentage back to 80% and averaged a career-high 18.9 points over 31 games. The Cleveland State commit rounded out her line with 5.2 points, 1.7 assists and 2 steals per game.
10. Kendal Hill, South Knox
The program’s all-time assists leader (488) and a thousand-point scorer, Hill successfully recovered from an ACL tear to lead the Spartans with a career-best campaign last winter. The 5-8 guard notched 17.7 points, 9.1 rebounds and 3.1 blocks per game and shot a career-best 35% from 3. Hill, who shot 45% from the floor, overcame an offseason health scare in time for the start of the summer season. She holds offers from UIndy and Purdue Fort Wayne, among others.
11. Alaina Diamond, Loogootee
A 6-3 multi-sport athlete, Diamond constructed a career-best campaign, averaging 17.7 points, 9.1 rebounds and 3.1 blocks in 23 games played. She’s a career 46% shooter and has taken strides as a free-throw shooter (64% last season). Diamond got a late start to her AAU season, but has received offers from UIndy, Sacramento State and Parkland College.
12. Chesney Jackson, Charlestown
The 6-foot Jackson averaged a double-double as a sophomore, but she took her game to another level entirely as a junior, averaging 21.3 points, 10.5 rebounds, 2.1 steals and 2.0 blocks in 24 games. A 1,000-point scorer, she shot 56% from the floor, 31% from 3 (her 15 makes were the first of her preps career) and a career-best 73% from the line. Jackson committed to the U.S. Naval Academy over offers from Evansville and Southern Indiana, among others.
13. Riley Canaan, South Spencer
Originally an early Butler commit, Canaan flipped her commitment to Seton Hall. She transferred mid-season from Evansville Memorial to South Spencer, where she totaled 64 points, 38 rebounds, four assists and five steals in five games (96 minutes played). Canaan is ranked 92nd nationally by ESPN.
14. Lily Scholl, Northridge
The Spring Arbor-bound Scholl led the Raiders to a 4A regional championship, averaging 18.3 points, 7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 3 steals and a block over 28 games. She shot 56% from the floor and her scoring production pushed her past 1,000 career points. Scholl, who was sidelined by injury for the Indiana All-Star festivities, is on course to clear 500 career rebounds.
15. Hallie Schwieterman, Jay County
A Saint Francis-bound guard, the sharp-shooting Schwieterman fired 38% from the field, 32% from 3 and 73% at the line for the Patriots. That translated to 19.5 points per game for the 5-8 multi-sport standout, who also averaged 4.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 3.1 steals in 24 games. She has over 1,200 career points.
16. Courtney Mathew, Rensselaer Central
Another St. Francis commit, Mathew helped the Bombers to a sectional championship, resetting her career-highs in points (15 per game), assists (3.7) and steals (3.9). She also pulled in four rebounds per game and shot 41% from the field. The 5-11 guard has the length and athleticism to be a nuisance on the defensive end.
17. Emily Zack, Zionsville
The 6-1 center saw her recruiting stock skyrocket this offseason before she committed to Loyola Chicago, choosing the Ramblers over Holy Cross, Murray State, Navy, New Mexico and Northern Illinois, among others. This came after Zack averaged 10.3 points (40% FG), 5.1 rebounds and a steal for the Eagles.
18. Saniya Smith, Pike
The lightning quick, high-motor point guard put together a breakout junior season for the sectional champion Red Devils, clocking 12.6 points, 2.3 assists and 2 steals per game. She continued taking good care of the ball (less than two turnovers per game) and was a dependable shooter in all areas (41/36/70). Smith, who is uncommitted, missed most of her summer due to injury, but was cleared in time for fall workouts.
19. Kenzie Chapman, Zionsville
Chapman enjoyed one of her most well-rounded seasons to date, averaging 10.1 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 2.5 steals in 24 games. She shot 36% from the field and maintained a 71% mark at the free-throw line. The 5-8 guard, who was sidelined this summer with an ACL injury, committed to Oakland earlier this year. She also held offers from Evansville, IU Indy, Southern Indiana and Cleveland State.
20. Carlee Schrader, Northview
The 5-10 senior commanded the state’s attention with her role in Northview’s semistate run. She averaged 17.3 points on 41% shooting, 6.4 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.8 steals. Schrader, who clocked five double-doubles, took a visit to Indiana Wesleyan in September. She was a Junior Indiana All-Star.
21. Ashlee Baker, Franklin Central
Baker shifted to point guard following a season-ending injury to Riley Huotari and she performed admirably, averaging 11 points, 3.9 assists and 2.2 steals in 23 games. The 5-9 guard is a true sharpshooter, firing 40% from the field, 38% from 3 (career-high 58 makes) and 71% at the line. Baker committed to Kent State in June, picking the Flashes over Evansville, Loyola Chicago, Northern Illinois and Oakland, among others.
22. Te’Asia Briscoe, Purdue Poly
The Purdue Poly wing garnered Junior Indiana All-Star honors on the heels of a career campaign. She averaged 17.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, 2 assists, 2.4 steals and 1.3 blocks in 21 games for the Techies, and posted career-best shooting percentages from the field (57%), 3 (42%) and at the line (63%). Briscoe committed to SIUE in September.
23. Riley Huotari, Franklin Central
The standout point guard tore her ACL in the season-opener vs. Center Grove, derailing what was a promising junior campaign (she already had eight points, six assists and two rebounds when she went down). Huotari has 281 points and 270 assists for her career, and has taken unofficial visits to Purdue Fort Wayne, Air Force, Bryant and Illinois State, among others.
24. Emma Tinder, Zionsville
Tinder — a 5-10 St. Francis commit — followed a breakout sophomore campaign with a similarly strong junior season, averaging 11.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.1 assists and a steal, while lowering her turnovers and personal fouls per game to less than two each. She improved her shooting percentage to 41% and converted 38-of-50 free-throw attempts.
25. Jailen Bowling, Brebeuf Jesuit
The 5-11 shooting guard led the Braves to a sectional championship, averaging 12.5 points, 6.6 rebounds and a block in 25 games played. She maintained a 33% mark from the field and was nearly perfect at the free-throw line, converting 53-of-59 attempts. Bowling is committed to Bryant University.
26. Tatum DeVries, Bloomington South
The standout guard led the defense-first Panthers with 67 deflections, and was a key contributor offensively netting a team-high 44 triples (37.3% 3FG). She averaged 7.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.2 steals, and committed just 25 turnovers. DeVries received an offer from UAB, her first Division I offer, at the end of August.
27. London Gilley, Washington
The 5-10 senior guard came into her own as a junior, averaging 11.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2 steals across 25 games for the regional champions. She did her damage on 52% shooting and fired an impressive 39% on 46 attempts from 3. Gilley’s list of offers includes Evansville and Marian.
28. Gianna Morelli, Indian Creek
The Lindenwood-bound Morelli began last season at Bishop Chatard, where she transferred to as a sophomore (sat out due to injury). She averaged 7.4 points (43% FG), 6.1 rebounds and 1.4 blocks through her first seven games, then left for Noblesville, where she did not appear in a game due to IHSAA eligibility rules.
29. Keara Lipscomb-Allen, McCutcheon
Lipscomb-Allen turned heads with a really strong junior campaign wherein she contributed 14.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.8 steals per game across 29 games. She canned 34 triples, converted 75% of her 84 free throws and boasted a 42% mark from the field. Lipscomb-Allen, who also shined defensively, is committed to IU Kokomo.
30. Etta Young, Jennings County
A 5-10 guard/forward, Young maintained her upward trajectory with the Panthers, setting career-highs in points (13.9 per game) and rebounds (8). She also clocked 2.5 assists and 1.4 steals per game, while shooting 58% from the field (12-for-26 from 3). Young posted a 72% mark at the line.
Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian-Haenchen.
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McCutcheon’s Lillie Graves brings the ball up the court during an IHSAA semi-state championship game against Norwell at LaPorte High School on Feb. 21 in LaPorte.
MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBU