LAFAYETTE - Being a complete player is what makes McCutcheon sophomore Lillie Graves a continual draw for high school basketball fans in Indiana and college coaches looking for their next star.
Graves was voted the Journal & Courier Big Schools Player of the Year for the second straight year with her combined skills on offense and defense. She was named first-team all-state by the Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports Association and was named IBCA Supreme 15 underclassman.
"It means a lot and I'm very grateful," Graves said. "I know I said that last year but I truly am and I don't take it for granted. It's such a big accomplishment for me. I try to achieve all that I can in my years. But I'm super happy that in my first two years of being here that I was able to get this award."
Her footwork and long reach make her one of the most versatile defenders in the state with the ability to guard every position. That, plus her decision-making and ability to score the ball make her a nightmare for opposing teams.
Graves averaged 18.9 points per game, 4.0 steals, 4.5 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game and shot 46% from the field.
Graves led a talented group and improved defensive prowess
Graves proved herself capable of leading a star-studded group that included the transfer of sophomore guard Keara Lipscomb-Allen who attended Benton Central last season and Seeger forward Rylea Wetz who played basketball for Seeger in 2023-24 before she transferred to McCutcheon last spring.
When McCutcheon needed a basket or defensive stop, it was through plays generated by Graves.
"I think defense was something I picked up over AAU this past summer since I was able to put much up on the board for scoring," Graves said. "My defense was where I took a big step this year. So getting those reps and I was guarding the top players during AAU and I think that kind of helped me translate to high school season.
The Mavs went a step further having won the sectional title in 2024. McCutcheon won the IHSAA class 4A Marion regional championship over Fort Wayne Snider - the program's first regional title since 2011.
"It definitely meant a lot to the team," Graves said of the team's regional title. "We only lost one senior, so a lot of us were back to experience what it was to get to that regional stage, and we knew this year we wanted the outcome to be different. We had our mind on that the whole season. That was what we did, and it meant a lot to our team and our community. We worked really hard on that."
