Butler commit Rylee Canaan leaves Memorial girls basketball program

EVANSVILLE — One of the top high school basketball players in the city is transferring.

Rylee Canaan is no longer with the Memorial High School girls basketball program, her father confirmed to the Courier & Press. The 6-foot junior forward is committed to Butler and scored over 20 points in losses to Jasper and Bloomington North to start the season.

Canaan's father said the decision was made following the Tigers' game against Planfield on Saturday. He didn't have a timeframe for her next step, which could be prep school or a different area school, but said the family will take the weekend "to decide what's the best route for Rylee."

More: 70 boys basketball players to watch in SW Indiana for 2025-26 season

"There have a been a few prep schools that have pursued her the last few years and maintained a relationship," Matt Canaan said. "We have a few video calls today and tomorrow with these schools to understand their culture and what's the best fit. We have a big family, and this decision, whether local high school or prep route, will affect them all."

Canaan averaged 11.7 points on 43% shooting and 7.0 rebounds as a sophomore and earned Second Team All-SIAC. An athletic forward with guard skills, the junior was also one of the top shooters on the team: she hit 27 3-pointers as a freshman before shooting 32% behind the arc last winter. Canaan committed to Butler prior to the start of her sophomore year.

Memorial is 0-4 following a 73-28 loss to Planfield on Saturday.

Unless there is a bona fide change of residence (and even that includes certain stipulations and exceptions that could complicate her case), Canaan will be required to sit out at least 30 days and up to a year if she transferred to another IHSAA school.

"Memorial is a great school with a tremendous amount of community support," her father said. "We don't want to make it seem like Memorial is a terrible place because it's not. Rylee, however, has never been able to fit into that community regardless of how hard we all tried. Mentally, she was wore out, and we noticed as parents she simply was not flourishing as she ought to be from a mental perspective. Simply put, for whatever reason, Rylee was not able to be developed or put into a position to have success with this coaching staff, and it was draining her mentally.

"We are thankful for Rylee's time at Memorial, and we wish them the best in the future."

Kyle Sokeland is a sports reporter for the Courier & Press. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @kylesokeland or email at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Butler commit Rylee Canaan leaves Evansville Memorial girls basketball