Junior All-Stars: Mid-Season Review
This week we have been looking at the potential All-Star teams as well as Mr. Basketball. Today, we will dive into the new look Junior All-Stars. A bigger task this year with more spots than normal to fill but a potent 2019 class will provide lots of options. Here is our breakdown.
Overview
The Indiana All-Star director Charlie Hall and the board have made some big changes this time around. They are expanding to 24 players in total rather than the traditional 18. Not sure this is a move that needed to be made because you can dilute the product while still have the back and forth of who should and shouldn’t be on the team. Either way, you have a breakdown of 6 core players, 6 from the south, 6 from the north, and 6 from central Indiana. This will be less about taking guys at each spot like we did with the Senior All-Stars and more about pure talent.
Core 6 Contenders (7)
Incl. Trayce Jackson-Davis [Center Grove], Keion Brooks Jr. [FW North], Armaan Franklin [Cathedral], Isaiah Thompson [Zionsville], Mason Gillis [New Castle], Alex Hemenway [Castle], Brandon Newman [Valparaiso]
At this stage of the season, I think it is pretty much a lock that is will be some combination of these 7 to take the 6 spots. TJD, Brooks, Franklin, and Newman are the players that have probably had the best statistical seasons and popularity right now to make it through with ease. Not sure how you pick between the rest but I think regardless there is now way these 7 guys don’t make the team in some form. Pretty easy look right now with these guys.
In terms of their geographical location, I think it doesn’t much matter outside of who doesn’t make the core group. Hemenway would be South, Thompson and Gillis would be Central. Only Brooks and Newman would be considered North.
Northern 6 Contenders (13)
Incl. Ethan Brittain-Watts [Culver Academies], Lucas Kroft [FW North], Craig Young [FW Wayne], Frank Davidson [Blackhawk Christian], Hayden Smithey [Bishop Dwenger], Noah Applegate [Penn], Sawyer Stoltz [Huntington North], Elijah Hales [Westview], Maurion Martin [Portage], Colin Kenny [Marquette Catholic], Drew Lutz [Penn], Will Penny [Logansport], Ali Ali [East Noble]
When looking just at the Northern contenders, I think you have a good group to choose from. Just searching through the list, I don’t know if I see any others coming from outside to make the six. I feel really good about Brittain-Watts, Kroft, Young, Davidson, Applegate, and Hales if I had to pick today. Those are my 6 based on who I have seen and gotten reports on. With that being said, the more I think about it, I think the postseason will matter so much more for these Juniors than the Seniors. With more guys at play and games being more valuable, I think those that make it past Regionals have a much better shot. I wouldn’t rule anyone out not only in the Northern 6 but also Central and Southern. There is so many more factors to weight in before the season is over but I think this group of 13 here is a pretty good start.
Central 6 Contenders (20)
Incl. John-Michael Mulloy [Carmel], Aaron Etherington [Hamilton SE], Jared Hankins [Lawrence North], James Franklin [Cathedral], Dexter Shouse [Lawrence North], Jalen Windham [Ben Davis], Noah Smith [Hamilton SE], Jakobie Robinson [Warren Central], Manuel Brown [Scecina], Simon Banks [Brebeuf Jesuit], Jesse Bingham [Warren Central], Luke Bumbalough [New Castle], Isiah Moore [Park Tudor], Cameron Alford [Brownsburg], Nate Soltis [Cardinal Ritter], Andrew Owens [Carmel], Nate Childress [Zionsville], Mawich Kachjaani [International], Jalen Johnson [Manual], David Bell [Warren Central]
This is where it gets really, really, really difficult. On this list, I want to put anyone that has a legit shot, even if it is a little further down the list because as I talked about earlier, there are so many factors that have to play out still. With that being said, if I’m personally picking today I feel good about Mulloy, Etherington, Smith, Windham, Bell, and Bumbalough but I definitely don’t feel confident. Love what Hankins has become, Jalen Johnson is a legit contender, Childress is having a great year, and Bingham is one of my favorites in this class. I don’t envy picking among this group.
Southern 6 Contenders (10)
Incl. Cobie Barnes [Floyd Central], Sam DeVault [Evansville Memorial], Logan Carter [Evansville Mater Dei], Drew Comer [Greensburg], Matt Dove [Princeton], Matt Frost [Columbus East], Paxon Bartley [Wood Memorial], Zane Gross [Silver Creek], Zach Kuhn [Shelbyville], Gabe Gladish [Barr-Reeve]
The Southern group looks to be the least packed with talent but I think it is still difficult. Right now, having only 10 players is probably a little light but I think guys like Barnes, DeVault, Carter, Comer, and Kuhn have their spots locked up barring a complete collapse. This is the one group where I think you could see someone come from outside this list and make the team. It is a little more difficult with regards to keeping tabs on Southern Indiana players so that will have some impact on those outside shots. I like those five guys and if I had to pick my sixth at this moment, personally I’m leaning towards Bartley.
Final Thoughts
When scanning back through this story, I’m amazed with their decision to expand to more that 18 spots because it will make it so much more difficult to get it right. At least when you were taking 18 you have better players and it makes it more of an “elite” list of guys. The more you add in, the less talent you have and not that the guys you would be adding aren’t talented but I have always considered this All-Star team as a very high-end accomplishment only given out to the best of the best. You might have more bickering because there are just more players with a legit shot. I think I would have an easier time picking out the 18 with ease if I had to right now. The next spots you have to feel as though you are making concessions rather than just picking the best of the best.
With regards to the list as it stands, I think there are many great options and this class is as good as we have had in a while outside of 2017. I think many will have their profiles highlighted by making a deep run in the postseason. Those players that get in front of committee members will have a much better chance to make it. Tough to get it down to 24 but that is someone else’s job to take on.