VOTE for the 2026 J&C preseason girls basketball POTY, sponsored by Ivy Tech

With the IHSAA girls basketball season getting started this week, now is the time to crown a new top returning preseason player for the upcoming year.Voting for the 2026 Journal & Courier preseason girls basketball Player of the Year poll is open until 11:59 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8. You may vote as many times as you'd like; please refresh the poll after every vote to ensure it counts.20 players are up for consideration. More information on each player is available below, listed in alphabetical order by school.More: Takeaways from Purdue WBB's season-opening win over IU IndyMore: First glimpse of Purdue basketball's new era gives reason for optimismMcKenna Yadon, Benton Central, junior, forwardDespite only standing at 5-foot-9, Yadon more than held her own down low last season. She averaged 14.6 points, 6.4 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 3.2 steals per game and was voted to the All-Hoosier Conference first team.Azlee Reynolds, Benton Central, senior, forwardAveraged 12 points and nine rebounds per game last season for a Bison team that finished 18-7.Brooke Thompson, Central Catholic, junior, guard/forwardWas an important piece for the Knights last year, averaging 11.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, 1.5 steals, and 1.9 blocks per game on 47% shooting from the field and 39% from the 3-point range.Elliza Rinehart, Carroll, senior, guard/forwardRecorded 9.5 points, eight rebounds and two steals per game with 47% shooting from the field for the 18-7 Cougars.Mady Isley, Carroll, junior, guardFinished her sophomore season with 9.2 points. 4.1 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game. Ava Mills, Delphi, sophomore, guardMills put up 13.5 points, 8.3 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 3.3 steals per game to lead the Oracles (17-7) last season.Johanna Haste, Faith Christian, senior, forwardHaste will return from a torn ACL on Feb. 2 that cut her junior year short. She recorded 16 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.9 steals per game on 41% shooting from the field as a high-volume scorer for Faith Christian. Gracyn Musick, Faith Christian, senior, guardPut up 11.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 3.6 steals per game for the Eagles last season.Kendyl Nolan, Fountain Central, junior, guardLed the Mustangs (21-3) with averages of 10.8 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game on 46% shooting from the field.Bella Bacon, Fountain Central, senior, forwardShe recorded 10.2 points, six rebounds, and two steals per game for the Mustangs in her junior season.Aleah Szymanski, Harrison, senior, forwardSzymanski was voted to the All-Sagamore Conference first team and IU Health Hoops Classic All-Tournament team in her junior campaign. Averaged 15.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, one assist and 1.6 steals per game on 43% shooting from the field and 33% from deep.Lillie Graves, McCutcheon, senior, guardThe Virginia Tech commit headlines the Lafayette area girls basketball scene after a stellar junior campaign with 17.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 3.3 steals per game on 47% shooting from the field and 33% from behind the arc, playing elite basketball on both ends.Graves was an Indiana Junior All-Star and will be in serious consideration for the Miss Basketball award as a senior. The Mavericks were one game away from an IHSAA state championship game appearance last season and are projected to contend again behind her.Keara Lipscomb-Allen, McCutcheon, senior, guard Lipscomb-Allen has been another integral piece for the Mavericks over the last couple of years. She took a jump last season, finishing with numbers of 14.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.8 steals per game as a do-it-all player for McCutcheon. Courtney Mathew, Rensselaer Central, senior, guardThe Bombers’ star averaged 15 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game to help her team win their second straight IHSAA Class 2A sectional title. The point guard will take control of the offense once again in her senior year. Mallory O'Brien, Rossville, sophomore, guardLed the way for the Hornets as a freshman, putting up 13.8 points, 3.5 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.7 steals per game on 45% shooting from the field.Lorelei Lanie, Seeger, junior, forwardA prolific scorer for the Patriots last season, Lanie put up 18.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game on 44% shooting from the field. She recently received an offer to play at IU Northwest and still has two seasons of development ahead of her.Ella Barry, Southmont, junior, guardAs a sophomore, Barry averaged a whopping 19.0 points per game on 49% shooting from the field, along with 4.2 rebounds and 3.7 steals per game to lead the 17-4 Mounties.Layla Gomez, Southmont, senior, centerGomez averaged 12.3 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.9 blocks per game as a dominant presence down low.Amaya St. Hilaire, West Lafayette, junior, forwardThe 6-foot-3 power forward dominated on the glass, putting up 10.9 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.5 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game as a sophomore and leading the Red Devils in points, rebounds, and steals. Cora Loveless, West Lafayette, sophomore, forwardAlongside her forward counterpart, Loveless finished last season with 10.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.2 steals and a block per game.