How recent girls basketball success creates an expanded 'best of' list for Washington

SOUTH BEND — When it comes to South Bend Washington High School athletics since 2000, it's hard not to think of the girls basketball program first.

The Panthers have been one of the premier programs in the state of Indiana the last 25 years. They’ve reached the state championship game six times (2006-09, 2021-22), winning a Class 4A title in 2007 and Class 3A crown in 2022. In that span, they’ve also won 10 sectional, seven regional and six semistate titles.

Individually, the girls basketball program has produced nine Indiana All-Stars. That can be a problem when trying to narrow down a top-10 list of the best athletes in Washington history, as far as making the list balanced. So, in the spirit of honoring all the great girls basketball players — while also trying to recognize some other great Panthers athletes from other sports — we at the Tribune are expanding the list to a top 15 for Washington.

More: Who are the best South Bend-area HS athletes this century? Here's the school-by-school list

Below is our list — plus some honorable mentions — listed in alphabetical order.

Jacqueline Batteast, class of 2001

The first Indiana All-Star of the century for Washington, Batteast finished with 1,635 career points and an incredible 1,086 rebounds to go along with 265 assists, 259 blocked shots and 198 steals. Her senior season saw her average 26 points and 16.4 rebounds per game, earning Northern Indiana Conference MVP honors.

Katelyn Boocher, class of 2007

Boocher was a 12-time letter winner across volleyball, basketball and softball. In the Panthers’ 2007 girls basketball state championship season, Boocher was named the IHSAA Mental Attitude Award winner. Her best sport was softball, where after a decorated career at Washington, she went on to set 13 different program records at Bethel University.

Gehrig Dieter, class of 2012

One of the most prolific wide receivers in state history, Dieter is third all-time in career receiving yards with 4,326. His 2011 season saw him set the state’s single-game (437) and single-season (2,171) reception yards mark as the Panthers reached the Class 4A state championship game. After a couple collegiate stops, Dieter played four seasons in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs, winning Super Bowl 54 in the 2019-20 season.

Skylar Diggins, class of 2009

Arguably the greatest athlete in South Bend history regardless of era or sport, Diggins scored 2,790 points in her prep basketball career, sixth most in state history. She also had 605 rebounds, 597 assists and 473 steals. Washington reached the Class 4A state title game all four seasons Diggins played, winning the championship in 2007. She was named the Indiana Gatorade Player of the Year twice, was a McDonald’s All-American, won the 2009 Naismith Girls Basketball Player of the Year award and was voted Miss Basketball. Diggins went on to have a decorated college career at Notre Dame and currently plays for the WNBA’s Seattle Storm.

TroyVier Franklin, class of 2009

Franklin flashed in two sports for Washington. His senior year was the highlight, as he had 74 receptions for 829 yards and eight touchdowns on the football field in the fall, followed by a state runner-up performance in the 100-meter dash at the track and field state finals that spring. His performance in the regional the week prior had broken a 20-year meet record at the time.

Derrick Graham, class of 2002

Graham was the catalyst for the deepest tournament run this century for the boys basketball program, leading them to a Class 4A regional title game (final eight) in 2002. The Panthers also won the NIC title that season, for which he was named the MVP of the conference. He still holds the program record for points scored with 1,717.

RaShunda Jones, class of 2023

Jones finished runner-up in the Miss Basketball voting her senior year after the Panthers went 27-1 and won Class 4A sectional and regional titles. She was a key piece on the Class 3A state runner-up team in 2021 and the Class 3A state championship squad of 2022. Jones graduated with 1,791 points, 497 rebounds, 427 assists and 419 steals for her career.

Kyle Long, class of 2008

Long advanced to the state wrestling finals in each of his final two seasons at Washington. After going 39-5 as a junior, Long rattled off sectional, regional and semistate championships to enter the 2008 state tournament unbeaten. A quarterfinal loss was his only setback that year, as he rallied to finish in fifth place with a 42-1 record.

Isaiah McWilliams, class of 2018

If Long was close to winning a state wrestling title, McWilliams was even closer. He finished as state runner-up in the heavyweight division in both 2017 and 2018, going a combined 96-3 those two years.

Tiara Murphy, class of 2015

Despite her slender frame, Murphy diced up opposing defenses to the tune of 1,615 career points, earning herself an Indiana All-Star selection in the process. Unfortunately for Murphy and the Panthers, a stout Penn program prevented them from winning any postseason hardware in the mid-2010s.

Emily Phillips, class of 2008

A great facilitator to players like Diggins, Boocher and Ashley Varner (more on her later), Phillips earned Indiana All-Star status after she had nearly more assists (176) than points scored (200) her senior year. Phillips finished her career with 895 points and 536 assists.

Amiyah Reynolds, class of 2023

There will always be a “what if” associated with Amiyah Reynolds, as the star point guard’s injury late in the 2022-23 season hindered the Panthers’ chances of repeating as state champions. That doesn’t take away from everything else she accomplished, finishing with 1,122 points, 747 rebounds, 564 assists and 303 steals, earning an Indiana All-Star nod for her senior season.

Mila Reynolds, class of 2022

The oldest Reynolds daughter ranks 37th all-time in state history with 2,099 points scored, only trailing Diggins in the school’s history in that department. Reynolds also had 990 rebounds and 204 blocks, helping the Panthers go 49-9 in her final two seasons with a 3A runner-up showing in 2021 and state title in 2022.

Jerri Taylor, class of 2005

Taylor played her final two high school seasons at Washington, finishing with 1,024 points across her full career. She was named the NIC MVP and an Indiana All-Star in 2005.

Ashley Varner, class of 2007

The final Indiana All-Star on the list, Varner’s career stats are slightly skewed due to playing alongside Diggins. She still finished with 874 points, 536 rebounds and 168 steals for her career, capping it off with that 4A state championship win in 2007.

Honorable mentions

Camille Coleman (class of 2015), Nolan Dieter (class of 2010), Jarrett Fleming (class of 2009), Jonathan Jamerson (class of 2006), Alex Kohler (class of 2011), David Konter (class of 2017), Adam Kovacs (class of 2010), Monique Mitchell (active; class of 2025), Kira Reynolds (active; class of 2025); Tyler White (class of 2016), Demetrius Wilson (class of 2007), Ryiah Wilson (active; class of 2025).

Special thanks to Washington alum Jeff Buysse for his help with this list.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: How recent girls basketball success creates an expanded 'best of' list for Washington