(3-13-26) Center Groves’ Gracyn Gilliard has been voted the 2026 IndyStar Miss Basketball, presented by the Indiana Fever. She is the first Trojan to win the Miss Indiana award.
The Miss Basketball result means Gilliard will wear the No. 1 jersey for the Indiana All-Stars in their annual series with Kentucky. The Miss Basketball award goes to the top girls’ basketball senior in the state. The Miss Basketball and Mr. Basketball awards are part of the IndyStar Indiana All-Star program that dates to 1939. The Miss Basketball award, along with the girls All-Stars, was added to the All-Star program in 1976.
The complete 2026 Girls’ All-Star team will be announced later. The 2026 Mr. Basketball and the 2026 Boys’ All-Star team also will be announced later. The 2026 girls’ Junior All-Stars were announced on March 9. The boys’ Junior All-Stars will be announced later.
She becomes the second CG player to wear a No. 1 jersey, joining 2019 Mr. Basketball winner Trayce Jackson-Davis. In addition, Gilliard is her program’s ninth girls’ and CG’s 11th overall Indiana All-Star. The girls’ list includes Lisha Robertson (1979), Nikki Anderson (1987), Jenny Martin (1997), Liz Stansberry (1997), Emily Butler (1999), Cassidy Hardin (2018), Audrey Annee (2024) and Rachel Wirts (2024). The boys’ list includes Jackson-Davis and Andrew Smeathers (2011).
A Davidson College recruit, Gilliard averaged 25.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 2.7 steals as a senior in leading Center Grove to a 29-0 season that included Johnson County Tournament, CG/Carol Tumey Invitational, Center Grove Sectional, Greenfield-Central Regional and Jasper Semi-State en route to becoming the state’s 18th girls’ basketball unbeaten champion.
That came after a junior season in which she tallied 18.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 3.2 steals in an 18-4 campaign. She earlier played two seasons at Munster, helping the Mustangs to a two-season record of 35-13. She averaged 20.9 pints, 4.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 4.5 steals for a 17-8 squad as a freshman, then totaled 25.6 points, 8.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 5.9 steals for an 18-5 unit as a sophomore. She had career totals of 1,898 points, 438 rebounds, 179 assists and 336 steals. She also set Center Grove school records with 692 points in a season (as a senior), 38 points in a game (against Hamilton Southeastern as a senior) and 12-of-12 free throws in a game (against Danville as a junior).
Gilliard recently was named 2026 MaxPreps Indiana Player of the Year, 2026 IBCA Senior Supreme 15, 2026 IBCA first-team Academic All-State and 2026 Johnson County Player of the Year. Earlier, she was recognized as a 2026 McDonald’s All-American nominee, a two-time IBCA Underclass Supreme 15 selection, a two-time AP high honorable mention pick, 2024 ICGSA second-team All-State and 2023 ICGSA third-team All-State. She also was named a 2025 Indiana Junior All-Star, 2025 Johnson County Player of the Year and to the 2024 All-Star Futures Game.
At Davidson, Gillard plans to major in political science and minor in psychology with an objective of eventually becoming a lawyer.
The Indiana portion of the All-Star Games is organized and produced by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association. The Indianapolis Star, with its IndyStar brand, is a title sponsor. Hoosier Shooting Academy is a presenting partner of All-Star Week, and Energy Systems Group is a presenting partner of the June 6 All-Star doubleheader at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Related: Four Finalist Named For Indiana Miss Basketball
Gilliard received 51 votes from the state’s coaches and media, finishing ahead of Lawrence Central’s Lola Lampley (34 votes), Norwell’s Vanessa Rosswurm (24) and Valparaiso’s Lilli Barnes (10).
A total of 26 players received votes.
Past Indiana Miss Basketball Winners
- 1976: Judi Warren, Warsaw
- 1977: Teri Rosinski, Norwell
- 1978: Chanda Kline, Warsaw
- 1979: LaTaunya Pollard, East Chicago Roosevelt
- 1980: Maria Stack, Columbus East
- 1981: Cheryl Cook, Indianapolis Washington
- 1982: Trena Keys, Marion
- 1983: Jody Beerman, Heritage
- 1984: Sharon Versyp, Mishawaka
- 1985: Jodie Whitaker, Austin
- 1986: Kim Barrier, Jimtown
- 1987: Lori Meinerding, Fort Wayne Northrop
- 1988: Vicki Hall, Brebeuf Jesuit
- 1989: Renee Westmoreland, Scottsburg
- 1990: Patricia Babcock, Culver Academy
- 1991: Jennifer Jacoby, Rossville
- 1992: Marla Inman, Bedford North Lawrence
- 1993: Abby Conklin, Charlestown
- 1994: Tiffany Gooden, Fort Wayne Snider
- 1995: Stephanie White, Seeger
- 1996: Lisa Winter, Huntington North
- 1997: Lisa Shepherd, Richmond
- 1998: Kelly Komara, Lake Central
- 1999: April McDivitt, Connersville
- 2000: Sara Nord, Jeffersonville
- 2001: Shyra Ely, Ben Davis
- 2002: Shanna Zolman, Wawasee
- 2003: Katie Gearlds, Beech Grove
- 2004: Jaclyn Leininger, Warsaw
- 2005: Jodi Howell, Alexandria
- 2006: Amber Harris, North Central
- 2007: Ta’Shia Phillips, Brebeuf Jesuit
- 2008: Brittany Rayburn, Attica
- 2009: Skylar Diggins, South Bend Washington
- 2010: Courtney Moses, Oak Hill
- 2011: Bria Goss, Ben Davis
- 2012: Jessica Rupright, Norwell
- 2013: Stephanie Mavunga, Brownsburg
- 2014: Whitney Jennings, Logansport
- 2015: Ali Patberg, Columbus North
- 2016: Jackie Young, Princeton
- 2017: Karissa McLaughlin, Homestead
- 2018: Amy Dilk, Carmel
- 2019: Jorie Allen, Bedford North Lawrence
- 2020: Sydney Parrish, Hamilton Southeastern
- 2021: Jayla Smith, Lawrence North
- 2022: Ayanna Patterson, Homestead
- 2023: Laila Hull, Zionsville
- 2024: Chloe Spreen, Bedford North Lawrence
- 2025: Maya Makalusky, Hamilton Southeastern
- 2026: Gracyn Gilliard, Center Grove
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