As we close the book on the 2023-24 girls basketball season, it's time to look ahead and start figuring out Indiana's top teams entering next season. With so many talented teams across the state, I'm splitting these way-too-early rankings into two stories: A Central Indiana Fab 15 and statewide top-5s for all four classes.

Here's an early look at the statewide picture entering next season.

State finals central: Scores, highlights, photos, recaps, stats

Way-too-early Fab 15: Ranking Central Indiana's best girls basketball teams for 2024-25

CLASS 4A

The unquestioned preseason No. 1 will be coming out of the South next season, but the North is as wide-open as ever.

1. Lawrence Central (30-1, 4A state champion)

Spoiler: They're No. 1 in the Fab 15, too.

2. South Bend Washington (19-5, sectional champion)

The Panthers, who were taken out by eventual state runner-up Lake Central in regionals, remain a formidable foe with a senior core consisting of Purdue commit Kira Reynolds, Riyah Wilson and Monique Mitchell, plus 2025 Makyla McNeal and 2026 Kyra Lowe. They stack up reasonably well against LC on paper — let's get them matched up next season; Sneakers For Santa, perhaps? — but navigating that 4A North bracket is going to be tough next year.

3. Hamilton Southeastern (21-4)

Regardless of realignment, the Royals will most likely be the favorite to come out of their sectional next year.

4. Homestead (23-5, regional champion)

Emma Reust will be a tough loss for the Spartans, but they return one of the state's best in 2026 Myah Epps, plus a couple other up-and-comers in Gabby Helsom and Whitney Ankenbruck. Carley Moellering is another notable returner for Homestead, which exceeded expectations with this year's semistate run (upset Columbia City in the sectional final).

t-5. Gibson Southern (26-4, 3A state champions)

The 3A state champion Titans have a heck of a battery leading them into the state's largest classification (success factor) with leading scorer Gabby Spink and 6-1 freshman Paige Schnaus both returning. Add in 5-9 forward Nola Ravellette, who had an excellent state tournament run, and you've got a newcomer that should make some noise in 4A next season.

t-5. Warsaw (14-8)

The Tigers shot 46% from the field and 37% from 3. They return nearly 100% of their scoring, led by record-setting perimeter shooter Brooke Zartman, Brooke Winchester (she averaged around a double-double) and Joslyn Bricker, all of whom poured in around 16 points per game, plus Alexis Neely, who matched Bricker for the team lead in assists.

CLASS 3A

This is where reclassification makes things hairy, with teams like Columbia City and Jennings County near the projected cut-off line.

1. Silver Creek (18-5)

They're baaaaack. The Dragons have served their mandatory two seasons in 4A and return with two of the best from the Class of 2026: point guard Emma Schoen and 6-3 forward Brooklynn Renn. They won state in 2021, finished runner-up in 2022 and could be on the cusp of another two-year run.

2. Bishop Chatard (19-9, regional champion)

Chatard has plenty of pieces returning and coach Dan Wagner will build a schedule that has his team prepared for the revamped, overstuffed 3A state tournament.

3. Danville (24-4, semistate runner-up)

Ample talent and experience returning for the Warriors, who lost to eventual state champ Gibson Southern in the 3A semifinals.

4. Jennings County (23-4)

We can grapple with how the Panthers replace Juliann Woodard and Alivia Elmore later. Let's talk about 2026 point guard Mollie Ernstes, who will likely be stepping in as the face of this program for the next two seasons. The 5-11 standout logged 14 points, three assists and a couple steals in 2023-24, with a 46% mark from the field (39% from 3).

Broken foot, ACL tear, freak setback: Alivia Elmore has overcome it all. 'She's a fighter'

t-5. Columbia City (22-3)

The Eagles graduate a lot from this year's sectional runner-up, but 2025 Butler commit Addison Baxter is an excellent cornerstone and will undoubtedly have a massive chip on her shoulder after Columbia City finished runner-up to Homestead in sectional.

On Addison Baxter: 'She's been told she's not good enough at basketball her entire life.' Now, she's a budding star.

t-5. Roncalli (13-9)

Not unlike Baxter at Columbia City, 2027 Elliot Leffler is a really nice foundational piece for the Royals entering next season.

'Dang this girl’s insanely good.' Roncalli's Elliot Leffler 'doesn't play like a freshman.'

CLASS 2A

The caliber of talent returning (and joining) this class is crazy. #Analysis

1. North Knox (25-2)

The Warriors return their top four with Lexi Primus, Alex McKinley and Brynna Collins serving as the primary scorers and Brooklyn Sturgeon leading the way with over three assists per game. That will be a junior and three seniors leading North Knox into what I'm assuming will still be a beehive of a sectional.

2. South Knox (23-2)

The Spartans' only losses last season were against North Knox and they return the majority of their roster, too, led by Ella Bobe, who became the third player in program history to clear 1,000 career points. The sectional semifinals rematch vs. the Warriors later this year at South Knox will be a must-see.

3. Bishop Luers (20-6, 2A state champion)

The Knights will be led by 2026 forward Miley Wareing, a 6-2 post with some serious versatility. She showed out in the state championship game and will shoulder the brunt of the workload next season following the graduations of Addie Shank and Annika Davis. Reese Rhodehamel and Maggie Parent are another two to watch.

4. Rensselaer Central (22-2)

The Bombers are projected to move down from 3A and have a potent 1-2 scoring punch with Taylor Van Meter and Kamri Rowland. They'll also have Carly Drone, who brings additional experience (and another scorer) for Rensselaer Central, which graduates two from its rotation (Sarah Kaufman and Cadence Manns).

t-5. Austin (19-7)

Begin familiarizing yourself with 5-7 sophomore Brynn Owens. The Eagles' leading scorer, she led the team with nearly 21 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals per game. Austin, which lost to Brownstown Central in sectional, returns its entire top-5: Owens, Kelsey Hawkins, Lizzy Baker, Ally Davidson and Jayleigh Schepman.

t-5. Brownstown Central (21-9, 2A runner-up)

The Braves made waves with their run to state (notable wins: Austin, Linton-Stockton and Eastern Hancock), then went blow-for-blow with Luers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. They're set to return just about everyone. Theirs is a very balanced lineup led by Harley Toppe, Sophie Wischmeier, Jenna Klosterman, Kinzee Dean and Mallory Klosterman.

WL: Lanesville (29-1, A state champs)

Buy your stock now. Hadley Crosier's status will be the big question entering next year, but the Eagles are still built to compete in 2A with 6-1 center Shelby Allen and 5-7 guard Hylton Brumley, both of whom were exceptional in the state championship game. Coach Angie Hinton's unique defense elevates this team, as well.

On Hadley Crosier: 'She'll be back better and stronger.'

CLASS A

1. Marquette Catholic (24-5, A runner-up)

The Blazers made their return to Gainbridge a year earlier than expected. With everyone coming back — most notably sophomore Laniah Davis (she's already over 1,000 career points) and freshman Marissa Pleasant — plus a coach in Katie Collignon who's reached the finals three times in eight seasons, they'll be a force to be reckoned with for the foreseeable future.

2. Borden (20-5)

The youthful Braves were among the best teams in Class A, but ran into the Lanesville train in sectional. They might be the best out of the South entering next season with leading scorers Ava Wheeler, Riley Rarick, AJ Mallad and Emma Hart all entering their junior year.

3. North Central (Farmersburg) (19-11, semistate runner-up)

The Thunderbirds will be young after graduating three of their top six, but the three returners will be seniors, and both Jalyn Davidson and Shelby Seay put up video game numbers in 2023-24.

4. Orleans (20-4)

The Bulldogs, who were upset in sectional by Barr-Reeve, averaged nearly 49 points and shot 38% as a team. They have a strong nucleus of scorers returning with Callie Alston, Chelsea Ralph, Mylie Knight and Cambree Cline.

5. Morgan Township (17-8, sectional champion)

The Cherokees have to replace their leading scorer (Peyton Honchar), but have a couple 2025s ready to take the reigns with Madi and Josie Lemmons. Morgan Township's lone Class A losses came against Tri-Township and Marquette Catholic (regional).

Follow Brian Haenchen on Twitter at @Brian_Haenchen.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana girls basketball class-by-class look at 2024-25 title contenders