By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – Bedford North Lawrence’s honor roll of all-time greats now includes another worthy member. There was never a doubt about the latest addition to the pantheon of elite players who have worn the Stars jersey with extraordinary distinction.
Karsyn Norman, the vocal catalyst and court general during BNL’s exhilarating drive to the Class 4A state championship, was named to the Indiana All-Stars on Tuesday. She’s the 11th player in program history to wear the coveted Indiana uniform for the annual June series with Kentucky.
One of five finalists for the Miss Basketball award, a Supreme 15 All-State selection, and a member of last year’s Junior All-Stars, Norman’s inclusion on the squad was a forgone conclusion. Her senior season cemented that status as she averaged 15.5 points, 4.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists while leading BNL to a 27-3 record and the program’s fifth state title.
She also recorded a rare trifecta as a state champion, a Mental Attitude Award winner (the sixth for the program) and an All-Star. Carrie Mount was the first (in 1991) to turn that triple play. That’s a short list for a legendary achievement.
After competing as a Junior All-Star, Norman set this honor as her next personal goal. Her focus during the season was the state championship. Now she’s intent on helping the Hoosiers conquer Kentucky when the rivals renew the home-and-home series in Owensboro (June 9) and Indianapolis (June 10).
“I definitely wanted to be a part of it,” Norman said. “Junior All-Stars is cool, but it’s not the same thing. This is an even bigger honor.
“They haven’t had the best track record against Kentucky the last few years, so that’s the big thing. We want to win. We have a good group, and if we’re going to get it done, this is a group to do it. They’re coming for us, and we’re coming for them.”
Norman, on her way to play for Butler, finished her outstanding BNL career in sixth place on the all-time scoring list with 1,329 points and first on the career assists list with 352. She was thrust into the BNL lineup as a freshman and never backed down from that challenge.
“I have been fortunate to coach several All-Stars, none more deserving than Karsyn,” said BNL coach Jeff Allen, who coached Indiana in 2021. “Thrown into the fire as a freshman, she has flourished to become one of the best guards in the state. Her combination of skill, leadership, and metal attitude are the epitome of what it means to be an All-Star.”
The Indiana roster, which will be coached by Penn’s Kristi Ulrich, will include some familiar names, topped by Miss Basketball Laila Hull of Zionsville, a North Carolina recruit. The rest of the team includes Pioneer’s Ashlynn Brooke (Ball State recruit), Hamilton Southeastern’s Olivia Brown (Akron) and Riley Makalusky (Butler), Ben Davis’ Cristen Carter (Miami-Ohio), Hobert’s Asia Donald (Indiana State), Cathedral’s Layla Gold (Valparaiso), South Bend Washington’s Rashunda Jones (Purdue) and Amiyah Reynolds (Maryland), Northwestern’s McKenna Layden, Columbus East’s Saige Stahl (Indiana State), and Forest Park’s Amber Tretter (Miami-Ohio).
“We’ll be guard heavy, so I know I’ll have to work especially hard if I want to play,” Norman said. “I’m just glad I get to represent us again.”
Norman and the Juniors won last summer’s sneak peak clash with Kentucky, posting a 92-89 victory in BNL Fieldhouse. Norman had 12 points during that encounter.
The Seniors will scrimmage the Junior All-Stars (which will include BNL’s Chloe Spreen) on June 7.
2023 Indiana Girls All-Stars
Name, School, Height, Pos., PPG, College Choice
Ashlynn Brooke, Pioneer, 5-7, G, 23.8, Ball State
Olivia Brown, Hamilton Southeastern, 5-7, G, 6.9, Akron
Cristen Carter, Ben Davis, 6-3, C, 18.6, Miami (Ohio)
Asia Donald, Hobart, 5-9, G, 26.7, Indiana State
Layla Gold, Cathedral, 6-0, G, 21.9, Valparaiso
Laila Hull, Zionsville, 6-1, F, 23.2, North Carolina
RaShunda Jones, South Bend Washington, 5-8, G, 19.8, Purdue
McKenna Layden, Northwestern, 6-2, F, 21.6, Purdue
Riley Makalusky, Hamilton Southeastern, 6-2, F, 19.9, Butler
Karsyn Norman, Bedford North Lawrence, 5-6, G, 15.5, Butler
^ Amiyah Reynolds, South Bend Washington, 6-0, G, 15.2, Maryland
Saige Stahl, Columbus East, 6-1, F, 26.0, Indiana State
Amber Tretter, Forest Park, 6-1, F, 15.8, Miami (Ohio)
Head coach: Kristi Ulrich, Penn
Assistant coaches: Bryan Graham, Triton Central; Bob Lapadot, Garrett
^ injured; unable to play in All-Star games
BNL’S INDIANA ALL-STARS
1978 – Rhonda Hillenburg
1983 – Kelly Fitzgerald
1991 – Amy Walker, Carrie Mount
1992 – Marla Inman (Miss Basketball)
2015 – Dominique McBryde, Jenna Allen, Alexa Bailey
2019 – Jorie Allen (Miss Basketball)
2021 – Chloe McKnight
2023 – Karsyn Norman
