From Skylar Diggins to Eric Gordon: Ranking Indiana’s top high
Jul 19, 2025, 12:11 PM ET In the spirit of the” SportsCenter”mission– modeled after the initial 2005 “SportsCenter Across America” trip to strike all 50 states in 50 days– we’re highlighting a few of the top hoopers repping crucial stops along the way.Editor’s Picks
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To rank the top boys’ and ladies’ basketball talent considering that 2000, we’re placing a heavy focus on high school accolades– state titles, national honors, specific awards– together with on-court dominance, long-lasting tradition, recognition and overall influence on the game.In this edition, we’re headed to Indiana.From Greg Oden
to Skylar Diggins, these hoopers represent some of the finest to ever play high school basketball in the Hoosier State.
Kids 1. Greg Oden, Lawrence North High School Oden played together with his Lawrence North High School teammate Mike Conley Jr. at Ohio State throughout the 2006-07 season. Robert Beck/Sports Illustrated through Getty Images
His case: Oden had a dominant reign, leading the Lawrence North High School Wildcats to 3 consecutive state titles and taking home Indiana’s Mr. Basketball award as a senior in 2006. Oden was likewise called Gatorade National Player of the Year in 2005 and 2006.
He went on to star at Ohio State as a freshman, averaging 15.7 points, 9.6 rebounds and 3.3 blocks, making First-team All-Big Ten, NABC Defensive Player of the Year and All-American honors. Oden was chosen No. 1 by the Portland Path Blazers in the 2007 NBA draft but played in the league for just 3 seasons due to unpleasant injuries.2. DeShaun Thomas, Bishop Luers High School
Thomas became the very first athlete in Bishop Luers High School history to have his jersey number– No. 1– retired. J Mast/Icon SMI/Corbis/Icon Sportswire through Getty Images
His case: Thomas powered the Bishop Luers High School Knights to 2 state titles during his period and averaged 29 points during his senior season in 2010. Thomas, who completed ranked No. 12 in the ESPN 100, is Indiana’s No. 3 all-time scorer with 3,018 career points. He snagged first-team Parade All-American and Indiana’s Mr. Basketball honors before avoiding to Ohio State, where he was named to numerous All-Big 10 and All-American teams.Thomas was drafted
No. 58 by the San Antonio Spurs in 2013 and played 2 seasons in the NBA.3. Eric Gordon, North Central High
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https://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/45773107/”/ > Gordon started for the West and scored 13 points in the 2007 McDonald’s All American Boys Video Game, a 114-112 win for the West. Michael Hickey/WireImage His case: Gordon assisted the North Central High School Panthers to the state title game as a senior in 2007, balancing 29 points, 6.2 rebounds and 3.3 helps. Gordon, who completed ranked No. 2 in the ESPN 100, took home Indiana’s Mr. Basketball and Gatorade Gamer of the Year awards along with All-State honors.He went on to star for the home town Indiana Hoosiers, balancing 20.9 points, 3.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists as a freshman. That led to him claiming Huge Ten Freshman of the Year and First Team All-American honors. Gordon was selected No. 7 by the LA Clippers in the 2008 NBA draft. In 17 NBA seasons, Gordon has actually been Sixth Man of the Year, 3-point champ, called to the All-Rookie Group and balanced 15.3 points.4. Jared Jeffries, Bloomington North High
School Jeffries was a starter throughout Indiana’s Cinderella run to the 2002 NCAA championship game. Jed Jacobsohn/ Allsport His case: Jeffries balanced 23.4 points, 10.4 rebounds and 4.2
assists for the Cougars in 2000. He was named Indiana’s Mr. Basketball and Gatorade National Gamer of the Year. Jeffries, who finished No. 5 in the ESPN recruiting rankings, remained in-state and controlled at Indiana, eventually winning Big Ten Gamer of the Year in 2002, when he was chosen No. 11 by the Washington Wizards in the draft. Jeffries went on to play 11 years in the NBA.5. Sean May, Bloomington North High School May played three seasons at North Carolina, becoming the very first Tar Heel in over 30 years to balance a profession double-double, finishing with 1,213 points, 771 rebounds, 94 blocks and 100 takes in 77 games. Bob Leverone/Sporting News through Getty Images through Getty Images His case: Might also had a legendary run with the Cougars as a three-time All-State team selection and published averages of 21.8
points and 13.7 rebounds as a senior in 2002. Might, who ended up ranked No. 51 in the ESPN 100, took home Indiana’s Mr. Basketball and Gatorade Player of the Year hardware before heading to North Carolina, where he led the Tar Heels to the national title as a junior.He was named Many Exceptional Gamer of the 2005 NCAA men’s tournament and made the All-American team. May was picked No. 13 by the Charlotte Bobcats in the 2005
draft and played 4 seasons in the NBA.Girls 1. Jackie Young, Princeton High School Young played in the very first overtime game
in McDonald’s All American history– young boys
or girls– as the West pulled out a 97-88 win in among the highest-scoring contests ever on the ladies ‘side. David Banks/Getty Images Her case: Young is Indiana’s all-time leading scorer– boys and ladies– publishing 3,268 profession points. She drove the Princeton High School Tigers to 53 straight wins and a state title in 2015. A year later on, as a senior, Young averaged 34.9 points, 9.5 rebounds, 5 assists and 3.8 steals. She ended up ranked No. 11 in the ESPNW 100 and took home Indiana’s Ms. Basketball and Gatorade Gamer of the Year hardware along with Naismith Gamer of the Year honors.Young went on to star at Notre Dame, where she assisted the Battling Irish claim a nationwide title in 2018, made ACC All-Freshman,
All-ACC and won ACC tournament MVP in her 3 years. Young was the No. 1 choice by the Las Vegas Aces in the 2019 WNBA draft and has won 2 WNBA titles, made four All-Star Games and been named to the All-WNBA group twice. A year after being named Indiana’s Miss Basketball, Digginsled Notre Dame to the Sweet 16 as a freshman. Shane Keyser/Kansas City Star/Tribune News Service by means of Getty Images)Her case: Diggins led Washington High School to the state title game each of her 4 years and came away with one state title. The Panthers posted a 102-7 record throughout her reign and she led the state in scoring as a senior, publishing 29 points a game, while adding 6.3 rebounds, 6.2 assists, 5.4 steals and 2.2 blocks. That led to her taking home Indiana’s Ms. Basketball, Gatorade National Player of the Year and Naismith Gamer of the Year in 2009 when she ended up ranked No. 3 in the ESPNW 100. Diggins went on to star at Notre Dame. where she led the Combating Irish to 130 wins, three Final Fours, 2 national title games and
2 Big East titles. Diggins made multiple All-Big East groups and was named Big East Player of the Year and All-American twice. Diggins was picked No. 3 by the Tulsa Shock in the 2013 WNBA draft. In 10 years in the WNBA, Diggins has made 7 All-Star games and has actually been named All-WNBA 6 times.3. Shanna Zolman, Wawasee High School Zolman tape-recorded 21 points, 5 helps and 7 steals in the ladies’inaugural McDonald’s All American Video game. Al Bello/Getty Images Her case: Zolman led the state in scoring for 4 straight years at Wawasee High School and sits at No. 2 on Indiana’s all-time scoring list with 3,085 points. Zolman was named Indiana’sMs. Basketball and took home co-MVP honors in the 2002 McDonald’s All American Video game. She went on to star at Tennessee, where she was called to the All-SEC freshman team and All-SEC. Zolman was prepared No. 16 by the San Antonio Stars(now the Las Vegas Aces)and played 4 seasons.4. Amber Harris, North Central High School Before heading to Xavier, Harris averaged 16.5 points throughout her senior year on just 12 shot efforts per contest.
G Fiume/Getty Images Her case: Harris fueled the North Central High School Panthers to two state titles throughout her sophomore and junior seasons and averaged 16.5 points, 9 rebounds and 4 blocks as a senior in 2006 when she took home Indiana’s Ms. Basketball honors.She starred for the Xavier Musketeers where she won Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year, was a three-time First Team All-Atlantic 10 honoree and two-time Atlantic 10 Gamer of the Year. Harris’jersey was retired after finishing her profession with 2,205 points and 1,226 rebounds, ending up being simply the second Musketeer ever to exceed
the 2,000-point and 1,000-rebound marks.She was chosen No. 4 general by the Minnesota Lynx in the 2011 WNBA draft. In 5 years, Harris helped the Lynx capture 2 WNBA titles.5. Ta’Shia Phillips, Brebeuf Jesuit Preparation School Phillips began for the West in the 2007 McDonald’s All American Game, contributing 10 points and 7 rebounds in 17 minutes of action. Joe Murphy/NBAE by means of Getty Images Her case: Phillips moved the Brebeuf Jesuit Preparation School Braves to two state titles
and balanced 21.6 points, 15.3 rebounds and 3.2 blocks
throughout her senior year in 2007. That caused her claiming Indiana’s Ms. Basketball and Gatorade Gamer of the Year honors.She went on to star at Xavier, where her jerseyhangs in the rafters after she won Atlantic 10 Novice of the Year, got chosen first-team All-Atlantic 10 three times and took home Atlantic 10 Gamer of the Year. Phillips was selected No. 8 by the Washington Mystics in the 2011 WNBA draft.