For the eighth season in a row, Bounce and Outside the Huddle are counting down who they feel are the top 50 individual players in northeast Indiana heading into the 2026-2027 season.
Want to know how we come up with our rankings? Click here.
At the end of this countdown, we reach the annual First Five and the top preseason honor given out for basketball by Outside the Huddle.
No. 2: Grace Scharlach, Fremont
Grace Scharlach was the major motor behind Fremont’s historic run to the Class 1A state championship game. The point guard scored 619 points and averaged 19.9 per game, pairing that volume with remarkable efficiency: 63.1 percent on two-point attempts, 68-for-136 (50 percent) from three – where she is arguably the area’s best – and 89.6 percent at the free-throw line. Those numbers made her a threat whether she attacked the basket, pulled up from deep or drew a foul. She also averaged 3.7 rebounds and 2.4 assists, giving the Eagles a steady hand to run their offense.
Scharlach’s impact extended to defense, where she averaged 3.1 steals per game. She earned first-team All-NECC honors and delivered 29 points in Fremont’s semi-state semifinal victory, helping the program reach its first state championship game. Entering her senior season, she gives the Eagles a proven scorer and playmaker whose best performances have come against tournament pressure.
COACH’S QUOTE ON SCHARLACH
“Grace truly emerged as a leader for us last year, both on and off the court. Her basketball IQ is exceptional, and we will look to her once again to help lead our team this season. She does a great job of understanding when to attack and score and when to get her teammates involved. Her ability to make those reads and put her teammates in positions to succeed is a huge strength for us.” – Fremont coach Shae Thomas
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