The MIC Network recently announced its Top 5 girls basketball players and the Player of the Year. The Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference (MIC) is known to showcase some of the best basketball players in the state, as well as the Midwest. These five young ladies have shown why they are considered among the best of the best. And here is your MIC Network Top 5 girls basketball players:
Asiah Baxter – Warren Central
As only a sophomore at Warren Central, Baxter is the youngest player on the list. She averaged an impressive double-double for the Lady Warriors with 14.1 PPG and 10.2 RPG. When asked what it was like being the youngest player on the list at the award presentation, she responded, “It didn’t really hit me until now. When I first had realized that I was nominated it was like, oh this is just a thing, but now that I’m actually here I’m a little nervous but I’m happy to be here.” Be on the lookout for Asiah Baxter to make a return to the MIC girls top 5 players in years to come.
Kate Clarke – Carmel
The Carmel Lady Greyhound junior and University of Michigan commit made the Top 5 putting up just over 18 PPG. When asked about her decision to attend the University of Michigan and how the recruiting process was impacted by COVID, she responded with, “I’m kind of an earlier commit and COVID had a lot to do with that, I think. It just made me realize that I was ready.” Congratulations to Kate Clarke on her commitment to play at the next level and on an outstanding 2020-21 season. Expect her to make a strong case to return to the Top 5 next year as well.
Tanyuel Welch – North Central
The North Central Lady Panther junior guard is a three year varsity player and is headed for another bright year next year after averaging 12.5 PPG and shooting 43 percent from the field overall. She also gave a little insight into what next season is shaping up to be for the Lady Panthers: “[The goal is] pretty much the same thing as the past few years; you know we want to win state and we have the same goals and we can’t do anything but improve and that’s what we’ve been doing so far and it’s only up from here.” And up from here she will go. With one more year of high school basketball left, Welch will indeed be one of the scariest players on the court.
Meg Newman– North Central
Another North Central Lady Panther in the top 5. The Arizona State commit averaged an easy 10.4 PPG, shooting just over 60 percent from the field! When you think of MIC Girls Basketball, Newman is one of the first names to pop into your head. When asked about what she was going to take away from her high school career she responded with, “Definitely, you know just a huge sense of pride. Getting to put on that uniform and play for North Central, I mean it’s really an outstanding institution so every time I put that uniform on I’m just filled with joy and I’m going to miss that feeling for sure.” What an outstanding career for one of the best in North Central girls basketball history.
Jayla Smith– Lawrence North
The MIC Network Girls Basketball Player of the Year goes to none other than Lawrence North guard, Purdue University commit, and the 2021 Indiana Miss Basketball awardee, Jayla Smith. Smith had the highest PPG average in the conference, averaging a smooth 19.6 PPG. She also added 4.6 steals per game as well. Smith is by far one of the best MIC basketball players in recent years with a championship season under her belt in the 2019-2020 season. Because of her outstanding performance as a player she was put on the cover of the 2021 IHSAA Girls Basketball State Championship program. When she was asked what the entire experience of being the face of the state championship was like she said, “I mean just walking into the arena, it felt great. I think I’m very blessed to have that opportunity. I know a lot of girls would probably want that, but I’m just very blessed.” Congratulations Jayla on being named the 2021 MIC Network Girls Basketball Player of the Year!
