Best Indiana Backcourts: #11-20
With a start of the high school season, we are looking at some of the best teams and the best players in the state. Today, we are going to start diving into some of the best backcourt in the state.…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingWith a start of the high school season, we are looking at some of the best teams and the best players in the state. Today, we are going to start diving into some of the best backcourt in the state. It will be broken up into two parts. The first part is up today as we dive into number #11-20.
***For this ranking we tried to go by using the top 2-3 guards for each program. We did take into account the depth of some of the other programs that may have more players but at the same time we realize you will only use 2-3 guards at time on the floor.***
- Fort Wayne North: Elijah Long (Sr.), Brandan Johnson (Sr.), Austin Boucher (Sr.) ——Depth: Diquan Merriweather (Jr.)
Fort Wayne North is one of the best teams in the state and while most of their talent comes from their frontcourt, their backcourt has players like Austin Boucher and Brandan Johnson who will be able to provide the veteran leadership. Elijah Long really stepped up at the end of last year and could be a big factor as well.
- Zionsville: Mark Stemme (Sr.), Tommy Fossett (Jr.), Isaiah Thompson (Jr.) ——Depth: Jake Ritter (Jr.)
Isaiah Thompson is clearly the best player on this team but at the same time, guys like Tommy Fossett, Mark Stemme, and Jake Ritter should also be key contributors. Thompson will provide the shooting along with Stemme he but Fossett and Ritter are going to make more plays with the ball in their hands than you would think.
- Indianapolis Pike: Tyree Pegues (Sr.), Hunter White (Sr.), A.J. White (Jr.) ——-Depth: Ditwan Gary (Sr.), Caleb Redmon (Jr.)
Indianapolis Pike would have been decent but not great this year without the transfer of Hunter White. Hunter provides veteran leadership with size and scoring ability. AJ White looks like a guy that can really break out and Tyree Pegues has been very solid in his career. And like most Pike teams, there is way more depth beyond these top three players.
- Morristown: Eli Streeval (Sr.), Hayden Langkabel (Sr.), Logan Laster (Jr.)
Hayden Langkabel will be the go-to player for Morristown this season. However, Eli Streeval and Logan Laster are plenty capable of providing enough offense for Morristown to be one of the better scoring teams in the state. This team should play more up tempo and have more than enough offense to compete with any team in 1A.
- Evansville Memorial: Dylan Penn (Sr.), Cade Graham (So.), Branson Combs (Jr.)
Dylan Penn’s emergence over the last year has become one of the better storylines to watch. While they don’t have many older players that can help him in the season, Cade Graham and Branson Combs should be able to provide plenty of support in their shooting ability. Penn, in his ability to get to the rim, should be a big difference maker for Memorial this season.
- Blackhawk Christian: Jalan Mull (Sr.), Luke Sassmanshausen (Sr.), Frankie Davidson (Jr.)
Jalan Mull is that guard that is able to distribute the ball better than anyone else. When you give him shooters like Luke and Frankie around him it really makes life difficult for opposing teams that want to defend closely on the perimeter. This group might not be the best but maybe the most balanced.
- Indianapolis Scecina: Kobe Clancy (Sr.), Makylin Brown (Sr.), Manuel Brown (Jr.) —-—Depth: Cobie Dillard (Sr.)
Scecina might end up being one of the biggest underdogs all year. They have so many options on the perimeter, more so than are listed here. Kobe Clancy and Makylin Brown have been really steady for them over the years and Manual Brown is an emerging standout in the state. They should compete with all 1A teams because of their ability to score from all three levels.
- Warren Central: Antwaan Cushingberry (Sr.), Dean Tate (Sr.), Malik Stanley (Fr.) ——-Depth: Sean Black (Fr.)
The transfer of Cushingberry to Warren Central gives them another veteran guard to pair with Dean Tate. Warren Central graduated a lot last season and they’re asking more players than ever to step up. This team should be able to play fast with Cushingberry and Tate. They also have a pair of freshmen guards that should be able to contribute as well.
- North Central: Tyriek Johnson (Sr.), Davon Bradley (Sr.), D.J. Johnson (Sr.) ——Depth: Caleb Pack (Sr.)
This will be a tough year for North Central as they replace essentially their entire starting lineup from last year. They do you have guys at the guard spots in DJ Johnson and Tyriek Johnson with experience. Davon Bradley is another that will provide an actual on-ball guard that can set the tone and the pace for the team. DJ, while being a standout football player, is actually a very good shooter and should at least provide some offense for this program from be on the arc.
- Gary 21st Century: DeAndre Gholston (Sr.), Johnell Davis (So.)
In the northern part of the state Gary 21st Century has to be one of the teams to watch out for. DeAndre Gholston and Johnell Davis make a really tough duo the backcourt with big size and the ability to score from deep and at the rim. No other team in the state will have a pair of guards this tall but both players are fairly dynamic in should create a lot of mismatch opportunities.