Mason’s State Predictions
Here is my breakdown of the Final Four, State Predictions, Surprise Teams, and some Players to Watch for each Class as I put together all of my thoughts and evaluations from the year of watching high school basketball. Here is…
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Continue ReadingHere is my breakdown of the Final Four, State Predictions, Surprise Teams, and some Players to Watch for each Class as I put together all of my thoughts and evaluations from the year of watching high school basketball. Here is how I see the month of March unfolding:
Final Four Predictions
4A: Fort Wayne North Side, South Bend Riley, North Central, Castle
3A: Culver Academies, Fort Wayne Bishop Luers, Tri-West, Evansville Bosse
2A: Churubusco, Lapel, Indianapolis Broad Ripple, Providence
1A: Tri-County, Lafayette Central Catholic, Indianapolis Tindley, Wood Memorial
Breakdown
There are tons of sectionals this year that are really tough and will take out one or two top ten teams, but then there are also some that really are terrible and will be a breeze to advance to regionals. Once we get to regionals the real competition starts. I have some obvious picks such as Fort Wayne North, LCC, and Tindley but it gets really bunched up quick once we get to the regional championships and anyone of these teams could be tossed by the final four. In 4A, I think some of the obvious ones are FW North, SB Riley, and North Central. They have so much firepower it will take a collapse for them not to make it to semi-state. Castle is my dark horse. Picking them was a product more of how low I am on New Albany. Castle is led by Jack Nunge and in regionals they will face New Albany. I think Castle holds the upper hand solely due to Nunge’s play although I could see it going either way. The supporting casts will win the Castle vs. New Albany game to get them into semi-state. In 3A, I think Tri-West is much better than people give them credit for, as is Bosse. Both teams have one of the best guards in 3A and I think we will see a semi-state rematch this year. On the North, Culver and Luers should cruise to semi-state. In 2A, I think Lapel has all of the weapons to get to semi-state. They are tall and can shoot with anyone in 2A. They give you tons of matchup problems. Churubusco has a guard that can do it all and may be the best point guard in 2A. He’ll lead Churubusco to a regional title as they are getting hot at the right time. Broad Ripple is the best team in 2A in my opinion and they’ll walk into semi-state. Providence is a dark horse, they have all the tools you need and if they click they may do some damage. In 1A I think that these four teams are head and shoulders above the rest in 1A and all should have relatively easy paths. The only one I sense could drop out is Tri-County. They have a bit tougher path and have shown some lapses this year.
State Predictions
4A: North Central
3A: Culver Academies
2A: Indianapolis Broad Ripple
1A: Indianapolis Tindley
Breakdown
I think once it is all said and done, North Central will win 4A. They have all the pieces you need and should dominate this tournament. They can’t play like they did at times this year to even get out of their sectional. I think the pure firepower they have will lead them to the title, but no game will be easy. Culver surprised me early but they keep on winning and winning easy. They should have no problems until they face Luers in semi-state. They will have to keep their scoring up though to win state. Broad Ripple has been my 2A pick since I saw them early this year. They can score and they have one of the best big men in 2A who can just flat out score. They play fast and will run teams up and down the floor. Tindley should face no competition until semi-state and Wood shouldn’t give them that much trouble. Eric Hunter Jr. is one of the best guards in the state and when he is on every shot falls. It will be a back and forth state title game with LCC but I think Tindley should pull it out.
Surprise Teams
4A: New Albany
3A: Northwood
2A: Cloverdale
1A: Oldenburg Academy
Breakdown
I think New Albany is very good but I don’t think they have the firepower to hang with teams once they get to regionals and beyond. Romeo Langford will have to play the best basketball that he’s played all year long to have a shot. They can get there though and win state again if they play together and hit shots. Northwood is another team I think could produce some upsets. They have a good backcourt between Vincent Miranda and Luke Zurcher and those two could really score some points. They play good defense too and that goes a long way. Cloverdale is another surprise team for me. They have the best scoring backcourt in the state and have really picked it up after struggling early this year. They are playing really good defense as well coupled with the best pure shooter in the state. Oldenburg is another team people overlook in 1A, they have played solid all year and have some really good wins. They have the pieces to get to the state finals but it has to continue to come together.
Players to Watch
4A: Romeo Langford – New Albany
3A: Tyler Watson – Tri-West
2A: Cooper Neese/Jalen Moore – Cloverdale
1A: Hunter White – Tindley
Breakdown
Romeo Langford is probably the best player in the state, easily the best junior and if he wants New Albany to repeat, he will have to play really well and become a little more selfish with the ball. He can score on anyone at anytime and he’ll have to do that to help New Albany get to state again. Tyler Watson started out the season poorly but since then he has been on fire. Setting the Tri-West single game record twice this year already, he may have to do it again in the tournament. He will need to lead his team once again and I think that he could do that pretty easily. Cooper Neese and Jalen Moore will have to play at a very high level but combined could go off for 80 points very easil. No one can keep up with them in 2A and I think that aspect will help lead them to a sectional championship and beyond. Hunter White is the other high level guard on Tindley and he can score the ball just as well as Eric Hunter Jr., Hunter Jr. will command a ton of attention and White will be open for a lot of shots. If he knocks them down, Tindley will walk to the title.