HurricaneDij's Indiana GBB Dream Team of Eight

*Idea for this type of blog post is courtesy of Justin Hartsough of One Nation Sports.

Starting Lineup:

G - Maddie Nipper (Senior, Charlestown): A natural point guard that I've long claimed to be the best shooter that follows me, Maddie received free reign of the Charlestown program after an injury to Kennedy Coleman, and as a result made nine threes in a single game during a win over Madison in early January.

G - Alli Harness (Senior, Carroll (Flora)): This one is a no-brainer. My first ever Q&A participant when she was a freshman molded herself into a 2000 point scorer. On the cusp of 250 career threes, enough said. Alli is the GOAT of my blogging age, and on this team she would be relieved of the burden of running the team and can focus more exclusively on scoring.

G - Lilly Bischoff (Junior, Center Grove): She wins and she's been tested, as Center Grove is currently ranked #3 in the entire state on MaxPreps as a result of their difficult Indy schedule. Her D1 senior teammates Rachel Wirts and Audrey Annee is literally the only factor in Bischoff not seeing more recognition. She is among the state's leaders in assists, and her scoring and rebounding is not anything to sneeze at, either. D1 interest ought to come for Lilly herself here in 2024.

F - Ali Ward (Junior, Boonville) (shown above): Her leadership qualities had become so evident that she was named to the IHSAA Student Advisory Committee in 2023, and frankly I cannot think of anyone in this state better equipped to play the glue role. Though Boonville has her playing a lead playmaking role, Ali is thick enough that I personally believe she could do the most damage in the paint, and that is the role I have her playing here.

F - Brooklynn Renn (Sophomore, Silver Creek): Having already received prominent DI offers as a sophomore from the likes of Purdue and Louisville. I had briefly met Renn at the AAU finale in Hamilton, Ohio, and she is better than what I previously believed. Brooklynn is deceptively strong, and at 6'3" does not run like she's 6'3". She runs the floor like a guard. I personally believe that Brooklynn is holding out for an offer from UConn, but only Renn herself knows the truth.

Bench:

- Kenedi Bradley (Sophomore, Chesterton): My hometown selection, as a combo-guard Kenedi's speed will kill off the bench. A first-team all-region candidate, Bradley scored a career-high 33 points in a win over Washington Township in December.

- Myla Browning (Junior, Evansville Memorial): While immensely talented (Browning once scored four goals in a single soccer game), this 5'9" wing is here for being a consummate team player and winner. Myla averaged 9.7 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game as a sophomore last season as Central went 25-2.

- Bailey Hape (Sophomore, Evansville Reitz): The second-tallest player behind Brooklynn Renn on this small-ball feel of a team, Hape is an exceptional three-point shooter at her size with 39 makes this season heading into Thursday night's action in Jasper, and at a clip of 36 percent (39/108). One should not underestimate her in the passing lanes, either (2.1 steals per game).

Coaching Staff:

Head Coach - Brock Stone (Evansville Reitz): Well-traveled and having coached multiple sports in his young career, 2023-24 is Stone's first season coaching in the Hoosier state and he already has Reitz at heights not seen for the program in decades. A self-proclaimed basketball junkie, Coach Stone had his analysis on Hape and others ready and immediately upon being hired in Panther nation.

Assistant - Michael Duke (Triton Central): A veteran assistant and head AAU coach in the Indiana Pride organization, Coach Mike Duke knows the ins and outs of this state. He is another individual I had the privilege of speaking with during the finale in Hamilton last July and is seemingly everywhere in the Indiana basketball Twitter scene.