Baker, Knafel Earn Invites To Top 60
INDIANAPOLIS – A pair of local senior standouts on the hardwood, Lindsay Baker of Warsaw and KiLee Knafel of Wawasee, have been selected to take part in the Top 60 Workout sponsored by Hoosier Basketball Magazine.
Baker and Knafel were two of the 60 players statewide chosen by the publication to participate in the Workout set for March 10 at Marian University in Indianapolis.
Baker, a University of Toledo recruit, helped lead Warsaw to a 24-2 mark this season. The senior guard averaged 11.4 points-per-game and led coach Michelle Harter’s team in 3-pointers as the Tigers won the Northern Lakes Conference title and then won sectional and regional championships before losing to Fort Wayne South Side in the semi state.
Knafel was a huge bright spot for a very young Wawasee team this winter. The 5-7 guard poured in 24.4 ppg. for coach Kem Zolman’s squad. Knafel, who will play at IUSB, scored 1,653 career points to rank second in program history to Shanna Zolman.
A handful of other area seniors were tabbed for the Top 60 Workout. The Penn pair of Olivia Carlton and Taylor Lutz, Haley Richardson of West Noble, along with Katie Barnard of Mishawaka Marian were selected. Carlton and Lutz led the Kingsmen to a 19-5 record, which included NIC and sectional titles. Barnard averaged 16 ppg. her senior season and scored 1,082 points in her career for the Knights. Richardson, a post presence for West Noble, will continue her basketball career next season at Ball State University.
One glaring omission from the list of 60 seniors is Warsaw’s Jennifer Walker-Crawford. The 6-1 forward had an outstanding year for the Tigers, averaging a team-high 14 ppg. and ranking second on her team with six rebounds per contest.
The Top 60 Workout will be divided into two sessions. A group of 28 players from primarily northern and southern Indiana will take part from 1-3 p.m. The second group of 32 players from primarily central Indiana will participate from 3:30-5:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Admission to the Workout is $7. Heritage Christian coach Rick Risinger, owner of four Class 2-A state championships, will serve as director of the Workout.