The ‘First Five’ was started at Outside the Huddle in the 2018 preseason.
Following in the 35-plus year tradition of naming the top five area basketball players of each gender, started by a now defunct prep sports department in Fort Wayne at The News-Sentinel. It is our honor to pick up and carry on that tradition with the ‘First Five.’
In 2019, the First Five became the culmination of our now annual Top 50 player countdown.
The First Five is the top preseason honor given out by Outside the Huddle.
2022 BOYS
No. 1 – Austin Cripe, West Noble
No. 2 – Brauntae Johnson, North Side
No. 3 – Gage Sefton, Blackhawk Christian
No. 4 – Ajani Washington, Concordia Lutheran
2022 GIRLS
No. 2 – Bailey Kelham, Garrett
No. 3 – Renna Schwieterman, Jay County
No. 4 – Destini Craig, Northrop
No. 5 – Addison Baxter, Columbia City
2021 BOYS
No. 1 – Fletcher Loyer, Homestead
No. 2 – Connor Essegian, Central Noble
No. 3 – Jalen Jackson, Northrop
No. 5 – Karson Jenkins, Snider
2021 GIRLS
No. 1 – Ayanna Patterson, Homestead
No. 2 – Olivia Smith, South Side
No. 3 – Bailey Kelham, Garrett
No. 4 – Renna Schwieterman, Jay County
No. 5 – Saniya Jackson, Northrop
2020 BOYS
No. 1 – Caleb Furst, Blackhawk Christian
No. 3 – Connor Essegian, Central Noble
No. 4 – Fletcher Loyer, Homestead
No. 5 – Zane Burke, Blackhawk Christian
2020 GIRLS
No. 1 – Ayanna Patterson, Homestead
No. 3 – Olivia Smith, South Side
No. 4 – Bailey Kelham, Garrett
No. 5 – Maiah Shelton, Norwell
Caleb Furst, Blackhawk Christian
Luke Goode, Homestead
Dillon Duff, Snider
Charlie Yoder, Westview
Will Geiger, Norwell
Ayanna Patterson, Homestead
Sydney Graber, Homestead
Jaci Jones, South Side
Olivia Smith, South Side
Hanna Knoll, Angola
Craig Young, Wayne
Caleb Furst, Blackhawk Christian
Ali Ali, East Noble
Dillon Duff, Snider
Will Geiger, Norwell
Sydney Freeman, Central Noble
Meleah Leatherman, Central Noble
Sydney Graber, Homestead
Sylare Starks, Homestead
Carissa Garcia, Concordia Lutheran
PRIOR TO OUTSIDE THE HUDDLE
1983 – Allen County Preseason Starting Five
Todd Gerbers – Woodlan
Dylan Howard – Harding
Lee Moore – Elmhurst
Alan Smith – Northrop
Jay Yaney – Bishop Dwenger
1984
Rob Geistwhite – Woodlan
Dylan Howard – Harding
Brian Lonergan – Carroll
Todd Starks – South Side
Jay Yaney – Bishop Dwenger
1985
Parnell Creech – Wayne
Ricky Jordan – Concordia
Rob Geistwhite – Woodlan
Tony Jones – Northrop
Dan O’Brien – Bishop Dwenger
1986
Don VanDaele – Bishop Luers
Chris Lovelace – Northrop
Scott Wilder – Woodlan
Mark Murdock – North Side
Syl Golden – Harding
1987
Craig Riley – Harding
Chris Lovelace – Northrop
JJ Foster – Homestead
Tommy Smith – North Side
John Carretta – Bishop Dwenger
1988
Nate Tubbs – Wayne
Chris Kinney – Bishop Dwenger
Lloy Ball – Woodlan
Jason Edwards – Harding
Chris Hoeppner – Concordia
1989
Lloy Ball – Woodlan
Greg Parrish – North Side
Jim Mosher – Woodlan
Ryan Dellinger – Concordia
Jason Kline – Snider
1990
Chris Dittoe – Bishop Dwenger
DeWayne Powell – North Side
Corey Williams – South Side
Greg Parrish – North Side
Matt Dellinger – Concordia
1991
DeWayne Powell – North Side
Chris Dittoe – Bishop Dwenger
Matt Dellinger – Concordia
Marcus LoVett – Northrop
Phil Hayes – Homestead
1992
Jon Neauhouser – Leo
Brian Caretta – Bishop Dwenger
Ryan Bond – South Side
Juan Calderon – Canterbury
Fred Jones – Homestead
1993 – Allen County Five Preseason Team (Inaugural Girls)
Craedel Key – Northrop
Marcus Langhorne – Northrop
Mark Pixley – Concordia
Shawn Williams – Wayne
Jon Neuhouser – Leo
Tiffany Gooden – Snider
Angie Harris – Bishop Luers
Katie Bruening – North Side
Tracy Casey – Leo
Holly Schneider – Northrop
1994
Robert Kizer – South Side
Alan Eldridge – Wayne
Steve Jordan – Harding
Joe Miller – South Side
Mark Richardson – Bishop Dwenger
Meegan Edmiston – Concordia
Mackenzie Horn – Bishop Luers
Brenda Schlegel – Heritage
Holly Schneider – Northrop
Julie Yoder – Bishop Dwenger
1995 – Fantastic Five
Lisa Winter – Huntington North
Jaymee Wappes – East Noble
Vnemina Reese – South Side
Candi Crawford – Homestead
Jodi Culbertson – Leo
Kevin Ault – Warsaw
Luke Recker – DeKalb
Shawn Dreyer – Concordia
Cam Stephens – South Side
B.J. Caretta – Bishop Dwenger
1996
Charlie Willis – Angola
Cam Stephens – South Side
Luke Recker – DeKalb
Mike Fosnaugh – Southern Wells
Ben Meyer – New Haven
Candi Crawford – Homestead
Vnemina Reese – South Side
Abbi Wilson – Huntington North
Carrie Lightfoot – Leo
Amy Parrett – Bishop Luers
1997
Adam Ballinger – Bluffton
Raymond Walker – Wayne
Ben Corley – Wayne
Lewis Curry – Concordia
Marcus Louden – Woodlan
Amy Waugh – Homestead
Abby Salscheider – Bluffton
Vnemina Reese – South Side
Erica Schory – Columbia City
Maria Recker – DeKalb
1998
Megan Eckert – Manchester
Amy Waugh – Homestead
Maria Recker – DeKalb
Lashonda Conwell – Harding
Connie Myers – Columbia City
Vernard Hollins – North Side
Terry Collins – Snider
Sean Kline – Huntington North
Mike Rutledge – Wayne
John Watkins – DeKalb
1999
Seth Colclasure – Bellmont
Jovan Witherspoon – Bishop Luers
Sean Kline – Huntington North
Demetrick Gamble – Snider
Andre Patterson – Concordia
Stacey Byers – West Noble
Jessica Hicks – Manchester
Maria Marchesano – Elmhurst
Connie Myers – Columbia City
Rachel King – Bishop Luers
2000
Rachel King – Bishop Luers
Melissa Elmer – Northrop
Maria Marchesano – Elmhurst
Kelly Spring – Leo
Jessica Hicks – Manchester
Sean Kline – Huntington North
Tony Bollier – Leo
Seth Colclasure – Bellmont
Trai Essex – Harding
Mike Rhinehart – Homestead
2001
Jessica Ramey – West Noble
Abby Noll – Carroll
Kelsey Corbin – Northrop
Megan Dossen – Bishop Luers
Lindy Carey – Leo
Courtney Reese – Harding
Adam Liddell – DeKalb
Seth Colclasure – Bellmont
Travis Bunch – DeKalb
Tony Bollier – Leo
2002
Alena Noel – South Side
Leah Enterline – Heritage
Mallory Faylor – Columbia City
Kelsey Corbin – Northrop
Abby Noll – Carroll
Adam Liddell – DeKalb
Sylvester Mayes – Wayne
Seth Locmueller – Carroll
Pete Roberts – Snider
James Hardy – Elmhurst
2003
Jessica Hathaway – Bishop Luers
Natalie Young – Adams Central
Elizabeth Witte – Homestead
Stefanie Gerardot – Bishop Luers
Tara Dice – Churubusco
Doug Sheckler – Columbia City
Marcus Moore – Columbia City
James Hardy – Elmhurst
Marques Johnson – Snider
Landon Adler – Adams Central
2004
Mackenzie Warwick – Norwell
Jade Januseski – Garrett
Stefanie Gerardot – Bishop Luers
Megan King – Canterbury
Tricia Lee – Northrop
Ryan Sims – Snider
Marques Johnson – Snider
Eshaunte Jones – North Side
Selwyn Lymon – Harding
Mike Brune – Concordi
2005
Danielle Ben Tsvulun – Harding
Chanell Ridley – Concordia
Angie Roy – Columbia City
Sha’la Jackson – South Side
Megan King – Canterbury
Ryan Sims – Snider
Marques Johnson – Snider
Grant Leiendecker – Homestead
Cody Jones – Churubusco
Eshaunte Jones – North Side
2006
Juston Hairston – South Side
Fred Ford – South Side
Eshaunte Jones – North Side
Kyle Pressley – Concordia
DeAundre Muhammed – Harding
Megan King – Canterbury
Sha’la Jackson – South Side
Markee Martin – Bishop Luers
Lindsay Enterline – Heritage
Rashida Ray – Harding
2007 – Sensational Six
Derek Evans – South Side
Brandon Knox – Concordia
Dayton Merrell – Blackhawk Christian
Deshaun Thomas – Bishop Luers
Pryce Underwood – Harding
Jemarkis Willis – Bishop Dwenger
MyQueisha Bratton – Harding
Lindsay Enterline – Heritage
Alissa Goeglein – Concordia
Marah Kyle – Bluffton
MarKee Martin – Bishop Luers
Lecretia Smith – Elmhurst
2008 – Fab Five
Deshaun Thomas – Bishop Luers
Justin Jordan – North Side
Brad Sneary – Snider
Russell Byrd – Blackhawk Christian
JR Sims – Snider
Kelsey Wyss – Bishop Luers
Sydney Weinert – South Side
Liza Clemons – Elmhurst
Tabitha Gerardot – Canterbury
Lecretia Smith – Elmhurst
2009
Russell Byrd – Blackhawk Christian
Raphael Davis – South Side
Deshaun Thomas – Bishop Luers
Rod Smith – Harding
Evan Blackmon – Bishop Luers
Lacia Gorman – Elmhurst
Tabitha Gerardot – Canterbury
Andrew Newbauer – Concordia
Kaylee Walters – Snider
Liza Clemons – Elmhurst
2010
Lacia Gorman – Wayne
Liza Clemons – Snider
Jessica Rupright – Norwell
Brierra Young – Bishop Luers
Taylor Carver – Woodlan
Antonio Wilson – North Side
Bryson Scott – Northrop
Rapheal Davis – South Side
V.J. Beachem – Harding
James Blackmon Jr. – Bishop Luers
2011
James Blackmon Jr. – Bishop Luers
V.J. Beachem – New Haven
Brenton Scott – Northrop
Bryson Scott – Northrop
Andy Bachman – North Side
Akilah Sims – Snider
Jessica Rupright – Norwell
Miracle Woods – Bishop Luers
Bailey Farley – Canterbury
Brooke Ridley – Bishop Luers
2012
James Blackmon Jr. – Bishop Luers
V.J. Beachem – New Haven
Chandler White – Carroll
Brenton Scott – Northrop
Bryson Scott – Northrop
Bailey Farley – Canterbury
Ariana Simmons – South Side
Meredith Shipman – Snider
Keanna Gary – Leo
NO FIFTH PLAYER
2013
Justin Mitchell – Wayne
Chandler White – Carroll
Caleb Swanigan – Homestead
Steve McIlvene – New Haven
DJ McCall – Concordia
Courtney Smith – Concordia
Sydney Buck – Homestead
Kindell Fincher – Canterbury
Darby Maggard – Canterbury
Brittni Clopton – South Side
2014
Caleb Swanigan – Homestead
Chandler White – Carroll
Devlyn Williams – Snider
Jordan Geist – Homestead
Reggie Tharp – Concordia
Dejour Young – Concordia
Darby Maggard – Canterbury
Karissa McLaughlin – Homestead
Jenna Beer – Leo
Deja Wimby – Snider
2015 – Fabulous Five
Jagger Surface – Northrop
Brachen Hazen – Columbia City
Malik Williams – Snider
Jaylen Butz – North Side
Kyle Mallers – Carroll
Kyla Covington – Snider
Karissa McLaughlin – Homestead
Emma Wolfe – Bishop Luers
Tashayla Sutorius – Wayne
Mason Van Houten – Canterbury
2016
Malik Williams – Snider
Jaylen Butz – North Side
Keion Brooks Jr. – North Side
Parker Hazen – Columbia City
Jacob Redding – Carroll
Mason VanHouten – Canterbury
Karissa McLaughlin – Homestead
Madisen Parker – Homestead
Jazmyne Geist – Homestead
Shania Kelly – Concordia
2017
Keion Brooks Jr. – North Side
Lucas Kroft – North Side
Austin Boucher – North Side
Jalan Mull – Blackhawk Christian
Craig Young – Wayne
Sydney Freeman – Central Noble
Grace Hunter – Bellmont
Leigha Brown – DeKalb
Sydney Graber – Homestead
Shamari Tyson – South Side