IndyStar has been recognizing the top girls basketball players in Indiana with our Players of the Week poll. With the season now complete, we’ve decided to run a Player of the Year poll. Obviously, it’s impossible to get every deserving player on here, but we did our best, compiling a list of 30 top-performers from around the state (individual statistics, 2025-26 team record, strength of schedule and postseason performance were all among the factors taken into account — the research was done, y’all).
Thanks to everyone who’s nominated players and participated in these weekly polls. Stay tuned for our A-Z season wrap, way-too-early rankings for 2026-27 and our postseason all-area awards.
Congratulations to Heritage Christian’s Riley Johnson on being voted Player of the Week for regionals. Johnson scored 24 points in a blowout win over Union County. She did her damage with four triples and a perfect 5-for-5 finish from inside the arc. Johnson also logged six rebounds, three steals and three assists with only two turnovers.
Voting for our Player of the Week poll is open until noon Thursday.
Here were the top players from the 2025-26 season.
Precious Anuka, Cathedral
Anuka led the Irish to 20 wins and a second consecutive sectional championship, averaging 14.1 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 3.6 steals across 27 games. She totaled 542 points, 109 assists and 134 steals in two varsity seasons (missed two seasons due to injury).
Lilli Barnes, Valparaiso
The senior Ball State commit logged 21.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.3 assists, 4.9 steals and a block in her final high school season, and posted a 49% FG. Barnes finished her career with 2,040 points, 755 rebounds, 520 assists, 518 steals and 107 blocks in four seasons.
Ahniyah Bennett, Connersville
Bennett, who recently reopened her commitment from St. John’s track to focus on basketball, averaged 11.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.8 steals for the regional champions. She boasted a 42% mark from the field and a 70% conversion rate at the line.
Ashley Bleke, Bellmont
The 5-9 sophomore guard averaged 14 points on 40% shooting for the 3A state champion Braves. Bleke also logged five rebounds and three assists across 26 games.
Joslyn Bricker, Warsaw
The Butler commit completed her career with an appropriately explosive senior campaign: 24.8 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game — all career-highs — plus 2.4 steals per game. Bricker also maintained a 55% FG, 53% 3PT and 84% FT. She finished her career with over 1,800 points.
Elise Coleman, Floyd Central
Coleman led the Highlanders to a regional championship, averaging a team-high 15.3 points on 39% shooting with a 34.8% mark from 3. She also logged 4.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.9 steals per game. Floyd Central won 46 games over the past two seasons.
Brianna Dailey, Oak Hill
The 6-1 sophomore center averaged 16 points and seven rebounds for the 2A state runner-up Golden Eagles, whose run to Gainbridge was highlighted by semistate upsets of No. 1 Whitko and No. 7 Bremen. Dailey did her damage offensively on 60% shooting.
Laniah Davis, Marquette Catholic
Davis accumulated 2,100 points, 758 rebounds and 345 steals in her varsity career. As a senior, she averaged 20.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 3.4 steals for the sectional champion Blazers.
Myah Epps, Homestead
The senior Louisville commit averaged 14 points, 4.1 assists, 4 rebounds and 2.3 steals for the Spartans. She boasted a 34% mark from 3 and a 52% mark from the field. Epps finished her career with 1,560 points and 445 assists.
Mollie Ernstes, Jennings County
The Kansas commit was excellent in her final high school campaign, averaging 24 points, 7.1 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 1.7 steals and 1.7 blocks for the semistate runner-up Panthers. She shot 43% from the field and finished her career with 1,792 points, 592 rebounds, 322 assists, 169 steals and 95 blocks.
Gracyn Gilliard, Center Grove
The Indiana Miss Basketball favorite led the Trojans on an undefeated Class 4A state championship run, averaging 25.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.7 steals and 1.9 assists. She did this while guarding the other team’s top player (and typically holding them well-below their season average).
Lillie Graves, McCutcheon
The 6-foot-1 forward led the Mavericks to a second consecutive regional championship, averaging 17.2 points (47% FG, 33% 3PT), 7.2 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 3.3 steals over 29 games. Graves has over 1,500 points for her career.
Bailey Hape, Evansville Reitz
Hape maintained a key presence for the sophomore-driven regional champs, averaging 11 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals. She shot 37% and cleared 1,000 career points. The sectional championship was Reitz’s first since 1981.
Emma Hart, Borden
The program’s all-time leading rebounder (848), Hart averaged just under a double-double this season at 10.6 points and 9.8 rebounds through 29 games. She also dished out 2.5 assists per game and boasted a 60% FG. Hart totaled 885 points in four varsity seasons.
KK Holman, Hamilton Southeastern
The Florida recruit closed out her career by averaging career-highs in points (17.6), rebounds (7.6), steals (2.5) and blocks (1.4). She also dished out 3.1 assists per game and shot 39%. Holman finished her career with 1,168 points, 477 assists and 544 rebounds.
Adah Hupfer, Pendleton Heights
The 6-3 center led Pendleton Heights to another regional championship, averaging 10.5 points and 13 rebounds. A 53% shooter, she enters her senior season with 1,148 points and 975 rebounds through 77 games.
Marley Jeffers, Pike
A double-double machine, Jeffers averaged just under 10 points per game this season plus 11.7 rebounds. She shot a career-best 47% from the field and totaled 645 points, 713 rebounds and 790 blocks in three seasons.
Lola Lampley, Lawrence Central
The LSU-bound Lampley averaged 17.2 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 2.0 steals through 24 games for the semistate runner-up Bears. She finished her career with over 1,300 career points.
Maya Layton, Lafayette Jefferson
The county’s all-time leading scorer with 2,044 points (plus 761 rebounds, 432 assists, 420 steals and 149 blocks), Layton closed out her career by averaging 20.5 points, 8.8 rebounds, 5.5 assists, 4 steals and 1.3 blocks over 24 games. She is a Northern Kentucky commit.
Elliot Leffler, Roncalli
Leffler led the Royals to Gainbridge Fieldhouse in her third varsity season, clocking 18.9 points and 5.2 rebounds over 31 games. She also averaged 1.7 assists and 2 steals, all while maintaining a 40% FG and 33% 3PT. Leffler has 1,337 career points.
Lexi Primus, North Knox
A Lipscomb recruit, Primus averaged 2.4 steals and 14.7 points on 43% shooting this season with a 32% mark from 3 for the regional champion Warriors. A career 37% 3-point shooter, the 5-8 guard finished her career with 1,218 points.
Riley Rarick, Borden
Rarick stepped into a more prominent scoring role this season, leading the two-time defending state champion Braves with 16.4 points per game on 45% shooting (32% 3PT, 74% FT). She also averaged 4.7 assists, a block and 4.3 rebounds, and finished her career with 1,255 points.
Katie Reed, Washington
The senior Murray State commit averaged 17 points, eight rebounds, three assists and a couple blocks over 25 games for the regional champion Hatchets. She shot 47% from the field, 35% from 3 and finished her career with 1,337 points and 686 rebounds.
Brooklynn Renn, Silver Creek
Renn capped her record-setting career by leading the Dragons to a sectional championship. The Kansas recruit averaged 21 points, 11.5 rebounds and 3.2 blocks. She finished her career third on the program’s all-time scoring list (1,536), and first in rebounds (1,002) and blocks (283).
Vanessa Rosswurm, Norwell
The program’s all-time leading scorer, Rosswurm led the Knights to a third consecutive state finals appearance, averaging 23.3 points on 40% shooting (36.8% 3PT). She also clocked 3.5 assists and 3.1 steals per game. Rosswurm is an Indiana Wesleyan signee.
Macie Saalfrank, Norwell
Saalfrank capped an excellent career by averaging 15.5 points, 3.7 steals and 2.4 deflections over 30 games played. The standout guard shot 37.6% from 3 and 41.2% from the floor.
Grace Scharlach, Fremont
The high-scoring junior guard led Class A runner-up Eagles to a 28-3 finish that culminated with the program’s first Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Scharlach clocked 21 points per game on a remarkable 59% shooting with a 50% mark from 3 (also converted 89% of her free throws). She closed her line with 3.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game.
Emma Schoen, Silver Creek
Schoen finished her career as the school’s all-time 3-point leader (222) and the fourth all-time leading scorer (1,243 points). The Vermont commit averaged 15.6 points, 5.4 assist and 4.5 rebounds this season, leading the Dragons to their first sectional championship since 2022.
Lily Scholl, Northridge
Scholl led the Raiders to a regional championship, averaging 18.3 points, 7 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 3 steals and a block. She shot 56% and enters her senior year with over 1,000 points for her career.
Maddy Shirley, Evansville Central
One of the state’s most prolific all-around talents, Shirley overcame a foot injury to average 23.5 points, 12.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.4 steals and 2.2 blocks per game. She shot 52% from the field, 84% at the line and converted 15-of-33 treys. The USI signee will graduate with 2,113 points and 1,069 rebounds for her career.
Berkeley Williams, Plainfield
A lockdown defender, Williams averaged 2 steals, 13.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.9 steals this season. She did her damage on 43% shooting (36% 3PT) and finished her career with 1,318 points.
Laniah Wills, Lapel
The state’s all-time rebounds leader, Wills finished her four-year varsity career with 1,402 boards to her name, plus 2,407 points. Isolated to this season, the Butler signee shot 58% and averaged 26.5 points, 12.6 rebounds and 2.4 steals for the regional champion Bulldogs.
Brooke Zartman, Warsaw
Zartman flirted with the state’s all-time 3-point record, finishing with 381 in four varsity seasons. She shot 43% from behind the arc this season, and averaged 19.3 points, leaving her with 1,674 points for her career. She also totaled 50 assists and 69 steals for the sectional runner-up Tigers.
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Shots, blocks & boards: Vote for IndyStar girls basketball player of the year
Reporting by Brian Haenchen, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
