Claire Larrison led Greensburg to state finals last season, now prepares for expanded role
The 2027 forward/wing led state runner-up Greensburg in points (16.5 per game), rebounds (7.7) and steals (2.1), and ranked second in assists (3.4). And with starters Mylie Wilkison and Leah West set to graduate, the Pirates' continued success would (will) hinge largely on the 5-10 Larrison's ability to maintain that production, despite increased attention from opposing defenses.
So she has spent the past few months preparing accordingly.
A 61% shooter from the field and 46% from 3, Larrison worked to hasten the release on her shot and focused on being more aggressive offensively (63-for-91, 69% at the line), while also adding strength so she's better equipped to handle abuse from opposing defenses and hold her own on the glass.
Larrison's offensive versatility commands attention, but she embraces the opportunity to defend and dialed in this summer on improving her ability to guard players of all sizes — a necessary next-step in her progression, especially within the framework of a Greensburg defense that averaged 11.6 steals and limited opponents to 37.9 points per game.
"Defense is the most important thing on the court, so I've been listening to how my coaches have been helping me adjust and working my hardest on that," Larrison said.
"Leah, Mylie and Emma (McQueen) were huge parts of our team, so I'm really going to have to step up (and) be more aggressive and more of a more vocal leader," she later added. "So I've been working a lot, getting in the gym whenever I can and training whenever I can. I'm hoping I'll be able to fill all that whenever the school season comes."
Larrison made a splash at the IBCA Showcase in June, going for 32 points and 14 rebounds against nationally ranked 2026 prospect Lola Lampley and 4A powerhouse Lawrence Central, and helped the Pirates overcome the absence of 2026 point guard Mary Harmon to compete with the likes of Hamilton Southeastern and Plainfield.
Larrison has gained traction on the recruiting trail, as well. She already held offers from Marian and Indiana Wesleyan, and has since added Division I offers from Ball State, Evansville, Bradley and Oakland.
"It's been stressful at times, but I'm just soaking it all in," said Larrison, who's taken visits to Ball State and Bradley and plans on taking more visits during the school year. "I'm enjoying my time and as the time gets closer, I'll hopefully be ready to make the right decisions. But it's been good so far."
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Indianapolis Star
a day ago
- Indianapolis Star
Purdue football preseason camp Day 1: Depth charts, big plays, other takeaways
WEST LAFAYETTE -- Purdue football coach Barry Odom said his team made palpable strides between the end of spring practice and Thursday's start of preseason camp. Now, the Boilermakers must find the sense of urgency to keep building upon that momentum. "We've got plenty of time, but zero time to wait," Odom said after Purdue completed the first of 20 preseason practices leading up to the Aug. 31 season opener against Ball State. "... The opponent through fall camp is the mental preparation and the mental toughness and the strain and the consistency. How good can we get between now and tomorrow morning, and can we have a much better practice Day 2 than we did Day 1." Steady rains forced the team inside the Mollenkopf Athletic Center. A rundown of what we saw and what it means as the heavily turned-over roster prepares for Odom's first season. No hand to be tipped, really, on which quarterback has an early lead in this process. Ryan Browne donned a familiar No. 15 gold jersey -- the same one he wore throughout practices last season. Odom said he enjoyed watching and hearing how last year's part-time starter handled a practice for the first time. He and Malachi Singleton generally took more reps with the No. 1 offense during 11 on 11 drills. Tahj Ra-El notched the first interception of the spring against Singleton. Newcomer Hershey McLaurin picked off Browne later. Perfect summer read: Our book on Purdue men's basktball's 2024 Final Four run Bennett Meredith, Evans Chuba and Garyt Odom also rotated through drills. Odom cited improved decision-making from Singleton and better ball security from Chuba as evidence of progress. "The leaderhip qualites -- coach (Darin) Hinshaw as well as coach (Josh) Henso will get those guys game-ready," Odom said. "Then we'll see how it plays out in the next couple of weeks." Wide receiver Nitro Tuggle made a couple of nice plays in his first practice as a Boilermaker. The former Georgia receiver is one of a handful of post-spring transfers meant to bolster the receiver room. Ahrmad Branch led the Day 1 highlight reel with a one-handed grab against cornerback Tony Grimes. After practice, more people around the program kept bringing up Branche's name unprompted as someone who has built momentum with his summer performance. Grimes had done the same last week at Big Ten media day. Malachi Thomas also finally had the chance to practice in full. An ankle injury sidelined the Virginia Tech transfer throughout the spring. This was a notable day for the secondary, including the interceptions mentioned above. This group, in addition to being potentially one of the more talented units, is also arguably the most veteran unit on the roster. There are more players in that room who are approaching the end of their careers. Could that urgency spill over onto the field? "I thought the communication, listening to them talk, was at an elite level," Odom said. "Now, it's fairly easy to do on Day 1. Can you do it on Day 30? Can you do it when the scoreboard is not in your favor?" Odom liked the totality of athleticism and experience in the secondary. He said some positional analysis continues -- who fits better at corner than safety. which safeties can play nickel, which corners are more comfortable to the field side or the boundary? In the era of extreme transfer turnover, those determinations more often linger into preseason. Speaking of Branch, his was the first name out of strength and conditioning coordinator Kiero Small's mouth when highlighting the biggest gains of the summer. Others name-dropped included Grimes, Jalen St. John, Jamarrion Harkless, Sterling Smith and Mani Powell. "There's a plenthora of guys," Small said. "You have guys up 20 pounds. You have guys down in fat mass. It's been very, very impressive what the young men have done." The first-team offensive line was the one Purdue used the most during the spring: LT Joey Tanona, LG Jalen St. John, C Ciordano Vaccaro, RG Ethan Trent and RT Bakyn Coly. Odom predicted that group would shuffle as early as Friday. Purdue did bring in a trio of former SEC linemen -- Marques Easley (Georgia), Marc Nave Jr. (Kentucky) and Bradyn Joiner (Auburn) who will compete for snaps. A pair of players from the post-spring transfer group jumped right into the first-team defense. Charles Correa lined up next to his former UNLV teammate Mani Powell. Odom said that prior connection enchances what has already been positive communication on defense. Former Arkansas and Colorado safety Myles Slusher lined up deep next to Tahj Ra-El. That position exemplifies that secondary experience, with seniors Crew Wakley and Richard Toney Jr. running with the 2s. Another Georgia transfer receiver, Michael Jackson III, made nice diving sideline catch at the expense of nickel Sterling Smith. The Indy native and Holy Cross transfer bounced back quickly to lay a solid hit to stop receiver EJ Horton Jr.'s slip screen at the line of scrimmage. Another practice on Friday, then Purdue holds its Fan Day practice inside Ross-Ade Stadium on Saturday. Admission to the 8:15 a.m. practice is free, and players and coaches will sign autographs afterwards. That event precedes the men's basketball alumni game inside Mackey Arena.
Miami Herald
a day ago
- Miami Herald
UM QB Emory Williams makes some surprising admissions, explains how he changed
If Canes fans' confidence in backup quarterback Emory Williams was shaken by his disappointing play in the bowl game loss to Iowa State, Williams has news for you: His confidence was shaken too. That surprising admission, which Williams revealed Wednesday, was accompanied by more blunt self-evaluation. 'That was a wake-up call,' Williams said of his poor second half, which included just five completions in 14 attempts and an interception, after replacing Cam Ward at halftime of the Pop Tarts Bowl. It was his first game appearance since Sept. 14 against Ball State, but he didn't use rust as an excuse. That 'was by by no means the result of what I was looking for,' he said of the bowl game. Was his confidence shaken? 'To be honest, yeah,' he said. But it also made Williams realize that his game wasn't good enough. 'That,' he said, 'is what lit the fire' and propelled 'me to change.' As a freshman, he showed moxie and poise, completing 62% of his 71 passes, with three touchdowns and an interception in five games, including impressive work in a dramatic overtime win against Clemson. 'That freshman year I had a little bit of that [moxie],' he said. 'I kind of lost it last year. Sometimes you need a wake-up call and I believe that was my wake-up call. I needed that. This year, I'm not going to let that happen again.' So Williams committed to change. He altered his throwing motion, with the assistance of Texas-based quarterback coach Jeff Christensen. He tinkered with his footwork and delivery. He committed to improving his scrambling ability (he has seven career rushes for minus-17 yards). The 'overhaul' even included changing his number, from 17 to 8. 'That [8] was the number I wore when I was young,' he said. 'Sort of a throwback to the past, a fresh change.' And I dedicated a whole lot more time this offseason to enhancing my football intelligence and just growing up. It was a complete overhaul.' After the bowl game, offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson encouraged him to get 'faster, get stronger,' Williams said. Message received. He added 13 pounds and is now 223. Nevertheless, 'this is the fastest I've ever been,' he said.. He also was determined to quicken other aspects of his game. 'Speeding up everything,' he said. 'My footwork has gotten faster, my straight sprinting has gotten faster, my motion has gotten faster. Everything is just quicker. I no longer want to be the guy that feels like I don't belong on the field because of my athletic abilities. I want to feel like I can make a difference with my legs, with my body.' This past offseason, he studied tape of NFL quarterbacks Josh Allen, Matthew Stafford and Baker Mayfield, 'guys that can rip it but can also make plays and extend plays.' Several FBS schools reportedly would have pursued Williams if he had entered the transfer portal in April. Asked about a report that he considered Alabama, he said: 'Nah,' and then changed the topic. Why did he decide to stay? 'I have a great relationship with the coaches here. It always felt like home. I love the university in general, love all the classes, love the people I've met here.' He played well in the spring — while starter Carson Beck was out recovering from elbow surgery — 'but I know I can play better.' He appreciated sharing a quarterback room with Cam Ward, the No. 1 overall draft pick, but said starter Beck's game is more similar to his. 'One thing I love about having Carson in the room — you know what an NFL quarterback looks like,' he said. 'Cam... his style is a little different than mine. Carson's is more similar to mine; his body fits mine. Seeing Carson, the anticipation he plays with, the knowledge of the game he has, learning from that has really been a help.' Williams said UM coaches haven't told him if he's No. 2 on the depth chart. But that seems likely. Freshman quarterback Luke Nickel also was impressive in the spring game, but Williams seems back on track after the hiccup in the bowl game. If UM doesn't go portal shopping for a quarterback next winter, the Williams-Nickel starting battle is shaping up to be a fascinating one for 2026. Judd Anderson and Class of 2026 quarterback Deron Coleman also will have a chance to make their case.
Indianapolis Star
2 days ago
- Indianapolis Star
Experts align on Purdue's starting quarterback: Who will it be, expectations, what's the future?
One quarterback chose Purdue football in the transfer portal only after leaving to study under six-time Super Bowl champion coach Bill Belichick at his new digs at North Carolina. Three other quarterbacks had transferred, one leaving the Boilermakers after spring practice, and those remaining will compete for the starting quarterback job in Barry Odom's first year as Purdue coach. An offense that was seventh-worst in yardage last season has plenty of room to improve. And quarterback play will be a key element. So, who emerges to take the first snaps? That battle begins Thursday and will run to Aug. 30 when Purdue hosts Ball State. IndyStar Purdue insider Nathan Baird and Courier-Journal reporter Sam King huddled with IndyStar assistant sports editor Aaron Ferguson to discuss Purdue's quarterback situation. Here is their conversation. Ferguson: Which quarterback will take the first snap of the Barry Odom era, and why do you think he will win? King: Ryan Browne. That nobody stood out enough to own the position throughout spring camp probably played a part in Browne's return to Purdue after a spring under the tutelage of Bill Belichick. He has dual threat ability and, though he doesn't have a ton of games under his belt, he's played meaningful reps at quarterback in the Big Ten over the past two seasons. However, this is a competition that still may not be settled when someone steps behind center against Ball State on Aug. 30. Baird: I agree Browne seems the likeliest candidate. I would not rule out Bennett Meredith, who held his own against the wave of transfers who came in before the spring. The best case scenario, though, would be Purdue having the opportunity to give two or more contenders a lot of reps in those first two games against Ball State and Southern Illinois. It needs multiple starting-caliber Big Ten quarterbacks and, frankly, it starts preseason camp uncertain whether it has one. If this competition must extend into the season, so be it. In the context of where this program wants to be long-term, the question of who takes the first snap is almost academic. The crucial question is does Purdue have the correct QB in place for a winnable span of games in mid-October? Boiler homecoming: Why this quarterback left Purdue football for Bill Belichick, and returns to 'home for me' Ferguson: Purdue's offense was seventh worst nationally in total offense, somehow ahead of two Big Ten teams, not even gaining 300 yards per game. Most of that had to come through the air due to large deficits the Boilers faced. Obviously quarterback plays a central role in the offense but what can we expect in terms of what this offense looks like? Baird: This team wants to establish the run. It has an offensive coordinator, Josh Henson, with a background on the offensive line. It has a reliable veteran running back in Devin Mockobee. All of its quarterbacks add some running ability. Maybe most importantly, its offensive line has some upside. Jalen St. John was a second team All-Mountain West tackle but may play guard. Giordano Vaccaro was a star in Canada and is in line to succeed Gus Hartwig at center. I don't know how explosive this offense will be, but if it can control the line of scrimmage it will give itself a chance. King: Barry Odom admitted at Big Ten media days that he wanted to know how many yards away Mockobee is from Mike Alstott's Purdue career rushing record. Like Nathan said, the transfer portal included major upgrades on the offensive line, which was a liability at some spots and a reason Purdue struggled offensively. Only six Purdue players have rushed for 1,000 yards in a single season. If Mockobee gets close, that will be a positive sign for the offense, which also appears to have significantly improved its receiving corps. Henson is getting his crack at play calling and I'd expect it to be pretty balanced in competitive games. Purdue didn't have many competitive games a year ago, which dictated what it had to attempt to do offensively. Insider mailbag: What will Purdue's offense look like? What's next for Boilers basketball? Ferguson: I know the nature of this conversation is about this fall, but it's hard not to look ahead as Barry Odom tries to build a program. Does the commitment of Corin Berry at QB show what he's looking for at that position, or is that reading too much into it? And the second prong of this thought would be, is there a quarterback on the 2025 roster who could take the reins into 2026 or will the position again need to be addressed? King: Any coach who isn't trying to recruit the best players is doing a disservice to the program regardless of who may or may not be returning. Odom has said previously he wants Purdue to recruit high school talent and develop from within. Given the situation he came into, a complete roster overhaul was necessary. Among the portal pulls were two young quarterbacks who began their careers elsewhere. I'm sure QB coach Darin Hinshaw would love to see Evans Chuba and Malachi Singleton elevate into starting caliber quarterbacks beyond 2025, much like he would returnee Browne and freshman Garyt Odom. Right now there are too many unknowns to pin down a potential long-term quarterback. Baird: All of the quarterbacks on the roster could conceivably be the long-term QB of the future. All also have some mobility, which Odom said is one of the attributes they seek when recruiting that position. We know Purdue has a plethora of young options. We have no idea if it has an answer. This season will be a 12-week proving ground to come up with that solution. Or, Berry and whoever transfers in restart the competition again next spring. Insider: How Barry Odom established Purdue football recruiting base, priorities after 1,800 mile move Ferguson: The way college football rosters have been constructed of late, I don't know that the 2026 QB is on the roster. However, we do know who is for this season. And, since both are in agreement on Browne, what are expectations for him this season? Baird: He is the most experienced option on the roster. He also created a tangible spark last season — at least for one game. He says his time at North Carolina was valuable and he learned a lot from being in meetings with Belichick. What we saw against Illinois was how much his legs could make a difference in the passing game. They had to respect him as a rushing threat, and even novice offensive play caller Ryan Browne could scheme up big vertical passing plays against those coverages. Browne should benefit from a more sophisticated approach, but he also needs some leeway. He was not yet ready to seize the starting job with a wide-open opportunity last season. He may be a better October and November talent than he looks to start the season. King: While Browne is the most experienced and, likely, the most suitable option to at least open camp as QB1, he is the least experienced with this coaching staff. Chuba, Singleton, Meredith and Odom all went through spring. Expectations are hard to place, but like Nathan said, we've seen Browne's ability to make plays. He did it two years ago at Northwestern and last season at Illinois. The Oregon game didn't fall fully on his shoulders, but last season the Ducks made Browne look pedestrian just six days after his performance against the Illini. It was always Hudson Card's job last season once he got healthy. If Browne earns the starting role, I think we'll see some dashes of brilliance but I'd temper expectations.
