3 For 3: Week 8 Preview

The high school boys’ basketball season is underway and even though we could face some challenges throughout the year, we at PrepHoops Indiana want to give you the absolute best coverage in the whole state. Indiana is full of great teams and talented players thus giving the fans incredible matchups every week. Join me, Kyler Staley, every Monday during the season as I preview the 3 Players, 3 Teams, and 3 Matchups to watch for that coming week. Are you ready? Let’s get started!  3 Players Blake WesleyBlakeWesley6'5" | SGSouth Bend Riley | 2021State#95NationIN – 6’5 2021 SG – South Bend Riley: Wesley has had one of the best seasons out of any senior so far. He is averaging more than 30 points a game and has made a legit case to be named Mr. Basketball. He is a quick and dynamic player that is going to be a huge factor for Notre Dame right away when he comes in. South Bend Riley is currently 7-3 this season but have dropped 3 out of their last 6 games. Two big games this week for them as they take on Northridge (1/12) and New Prairie (1/15) so it will be interesting to see if they can get back to their winning ways. Expect to see two elite level performances from Wesley this week.                                    Ben Cosner – 6’3 2021 W/F – Bedford North Lawrence: I have watched Cosner a lot this season and have really been impressed with him as of late. Started off the season a little shaky like the rest of his team but really started to pour it on. His outside shot has been on fire and he just looks extremely confident in his overall game. He is one of the key pieces for Bedford because if he is playing well, that probably means the entire team is also. He and the Stars have a loaded week of games including two conference games against Madison (1/12), Jennings County (1/16), and the big rivalry game against Mitchell (1/15). Expect Conser to continue his hot streak of great games this week.                                             Braden SmithBradenSmith5'11" | PGWestfield | 2022StateIN – 5’11 2022 PG – Westfield: In case you did not know, Braden SmithBradenSmith5'11" | PGWestfield | 2022StateIN is one of the best guard in the best guards in the entire state. Plays at an elite level consistently and is a player that can do anything you ask of him. His ball handling skills are arguably the best in his class and maybe in the state as well. He has led Westfield to a great 8-1 record and has his team competing at a high level in 4A. They have a couple of big games this week so this is the perfect time to catch Smith balling out. Watch for Smith to have a monster week and show why he is a D1 level player.                                                3 Teams Evansville Bosse (3A): The Bulldogs slowly entered the competition as one the best teams in 3A. Currently 5-0 and are in the top 5 of 3A teams. A big reason for their success is the 2022 duo of SGs Julian NorrisJulianNorris6'3" | SGEvansville Bosse | 2022StateIN and Matt WagnerMattWagner6'2" | SGEvansville Bosse | 2022StateIN, who both have been playing extremely well. This week will really test Bosse with 2 winnable games against South Knox (1/13) and Jasper (1/15) before they compete in the Warrior Showcase on Saturday. If Bosse can come out of this week undefeated, there will be no question that this team is a serious threat in 3A.                                                  Covenant Christian (2A): After years of having some lackluster seasons, the Warriors have became a dominator force in 2A this year. Besides an upset from University, Covenant Christian has won 9 games and have won most of the games by double digits. With senior PG Trey FlattTreyFlatt5'11" | PGCovenant Christian | 2021StateIN playing at such a high level, he has his team following his lead and buying into what Covenant Christian is trying to achieve this season. However, this weekend could be their biggest challenge yet this season as they take on Guerin Catholic on Friday and Tri-West on Saturday, both which are tough teams in their own right. Big opportunity for the Warriors to prove they belong at the top of the 2A teams.                                                     Jac-Cen-Del (1A): The Eagles have had a wild season so far. With a couple of postponements and a lot of in-season tournaments played, they have actually had a really good season with 10 wins so far. With really only one stud player on this team, that being 2022 PG Wyatt DayWyattDay5'11" | PGJac-Cen-Del | 2022StateIN, they have just played solid team basketball and are winning the games they are supposed to win. They have a winnable game this week with them hosting Waldron on Saturday. However, with a win here it will further put in the conversation as a top 5 team in 1A. Really no big concerns for Jac-Cen-Del this week.                                              3 Matchups  Bloomfield (1A) at Linton-Stockton (2A) – Jan. 15th, 7:30 pm: This game really intrigues me in a lot of ways. Over this past weekend, these two teams faced off against each other in the finals of the Greene County Invitational with Linton coming away with a 9 point win in a very close game throughout. And just like that, they play each yet again on Friday with this time Linton having the homecourt advantage. Both of these teams have lost a combined just three games and both are at the top of their respective classes. Throw in high level players like Lincoln HaleLincolnHale6'5" | SGLinton-Stockton | 2021StateIN, Baylin GrafBaylinGraf6'3" | SGBloomfield | 2022StateIN, Chris RoyalChrisRoyal6'2" | SGBloomfield | 2022StateIN, Joey HartJoeyHart6'3" | SGLinton-Stockton | 2023StateIN, and others, it just makes it a game that you want to watch there or at home. I expect Bloomfield to put up another incredible fight but I think Linton just has the horses to outrun them. Give me Linton in a 1 or 2 score game.                                                          Fort Wayne Blackhawk (2A) at Homestead (4A) – Jan. 12th, 7:30 pm: What a game this one is going to be! You have two of the top players in the state with Caleb FurstCalebFurst6'9" | PFBlackhawk Christian | 2021State#34NationIN going up against Luke GoodeLukeGoode6'6" | SFHomestead | 2021State#107NationIN, both of who will also be playing each other in the B1G for years to come, going at it with a cast of other elite players like Zane BurkeZaneBurke6'2" | SGBlackhawk Christian | 2021StateIN and Fletcher LoyerFletcherLoyer6'5" | SGHomestead | 2022StateIN. Oh, and both teams are undefeated so someone is gonna come out of this one with their first loss. This game is not about about 2A vs 4A. It is about 2 of the top teams in the state trying to show that they are above everybody else. I am going to go with Blackhawk to come in a steal this one. Tune into this game Tuesday night if you can.                                                       McCutcheon (4A) at Zionsville (4A) – Jan. 16th, 8:00 pm: This is a battle of two teams that are still trying to prove each other at the 4A level. Both have had great seasons so far and both have just been playing tough basketball at the moment. MuCutcheon, led by senior Lleyton McGovernLleytonMcGovern6'4" | SFMcCutcheon | 2021StateIN, has had a few postponements/cancellations this season but have won 6 of the 7 games they have played. Zionsville on the other hand, led by senior Dylan RitterDylanRitter6'1" | PGZionsville | 2021StateIN, have actually been one of the few teams that have be able to play a full slate of games and are currently 7-3. This is a game that Zionsville needs to win in order to climb the ranks of 4A and MuCutcheon needs this one to prove that they belong among the ranked teams. I think this is going to be closer and a hard-fought game throughout, but I expect Zionsville to get the win here.