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. 1: Janaya Cooper, Snider
Janaya Cooper has established herself as the centerpiece of Snider’s lineup and one of Indiana’s most productive young players. As a sophomore in 2025–26, she averaged 19.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 3.2 steals and 1.4 blocks across 18 games. Her scoring rose from 14.7 points per game as a freshman, but the defensive numbers are just as striking: Cooper can pressure the ball, disrupt passing lanes and protect the rim. That combination gives the Panthers a player who can change a game at either end of the floor.
Cooper’s sophomore season earned her First Team All-SAC recognition and a place on the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association’s Supreme 15 Underclass All-State team. She also made Outside the Huddle’s All-Area team. Entering her junior year, she remains Snider’s leading scoring threat, with an experienced supporting cast that includes Izzie Eke and a rising frontcourt partner in McKenzie White. How far the Panthers go may hinge on the pressure Cooper continues to put on opponents as a scorer and defender; she had 3 or more steals in 11 of the 18 games she played in, led by 6 on two occasions while also posting four double doubles.
She scored a season best 33 points against Norwell, in a game where she also had 10 rebounds, 5 blocks, 5 steals on 70 percent shooting with zero turnovers.
COACH’S QUOTE ON COOOPER
“Janaya Cooper is easily one of the most talented players in the state as well as the country. Along with that she is a great teammate and is very coachable. She also continues to add new elements to her game which makes her highly sought after at the College level. She is a proven three level scorer, and continues to grow as a leader and a Captain. Janaya has set the standard for our players and our program.” – Snider coach Reggie Tharp
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