3 For 3: Week 3 Preview
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The high school boys’ basketball season is officially underway and 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…
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Continue ReadingThe high school boys’ basketball season is officially underway and 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
Caedmon Bontrager Caedmon Bontrager 6'8" | PF Leo | 2022 State IN – 6’8 2022 PF – Leo: Bontrager is powerful post that has been having a huge breakout season so far. Last week he had the best game of his high school career with 38 points and 8 rebounds on 16-18 shooting and last game he ended with a 25 point, 11 rebound double-double which helped lead Leo to a victory over Heritage. With several NAIA offers, he still remains one of our best players in the 2022 class that has yet to commit. If he continues to play this dominant, several more offers could be thrown on the table. He and the Lions travel to Fort Wayne Luers on 12/7.
Joey Hart Joey Hart 6'5" | SG Linton-Stockton | 2023 State #214 Nation IN – 6’5 2023 SG – Linton-Stockton: There are not very many players in the state that are playing better than Hart this early into the season. He has helped lead the Miners to a 4-0 record so far and just came off a huge performance (22 points) vs 4A Crispus Attucks at the Sneakers for Santa event that took place this past weekend. He is one of the more sought after players we have in the 2023 class because he just knows how to get buckets any which way. He and the Miners will look to continue to stay unbeaten as they host a very tough Mitchell Bluejackets team (12/10), who has also not lost a game this year.
Azavier Robinson Azavier Robinson 6'1" | PG Lawrence North | 2025 State #88 Nation IN – 6’1 2025 PG – Lawrence North: Robinson might be our most exciting and electric freshman we have in the state. With Chris Gunn Chris Gunn 6'5" | SG Lawrence North | 2022 State #114 Nation IN being out, Robinson has taken full advantage of his increased minuets and just had a game high 22 points in a win over Heritage Christian over the weekend. Already has an offer from IUPUI with more easily to come sooner than later. He and the Wildcats will travel to rival Lawrence Central (12/8) and travel to Fort Wayne Luers (12/11) this week.
3 Teams
Carmel (4A): The defending 4A champs have surprisingly started off this year at just a 2-2 record having lost to Zionsville and Homestead. The Greyhounds returned nearly everybody from last year’s championship team which includes Charlie Williams Charlie Williams 6'10" | PF Carmel | 2022 State #220 Nation IN , Peter Suder Peter Suder 6'5" | SG Carmel | 2022 State #227 Nation IN , Sam Orme Sam Orme 6'9" | SF Carmel | 2023 State #196 Nation IN , Spencer White Spencer White 6'5" | SF Carmel | 2023 State IN , and whole lot more so do not expect the slow start to be a trend all season long. However, things do not get any easier this week as they play Noblesville (12/10) and Fishers (12/1) this weekend who both have the talent to give Carmel some struggles. A big week right here will get them right back on track.
Andrean (2A): After 2 full weeks that have already passed in the high school season, we will finally get a chance to take a look at the Fighting 59ers this year. They come into this season ranked #8 in Class 2A after going 12-6 last year and bring in first year head coach Aaron Austin. The future is bright for Andrean as they have two highly skilled lead guards, twins Aiden Austin Aiden Austin 5'7" | PG Andrean | 2024 IN and Alex Austin Alex Austin 5'7" | PG Andrean | 2024 IN , who both are only sophomores. Andrean will be challenged right away this season as they travel to 4A Lake Central (12/10) and host 4A Merrillville (12/11) this weekend.
Bloomfield (1A): The Cardinals have started this season hot with 3 straight dominant wins vs Owen Valley, Cloverdale, and Shakamak. They are being led by one of the best duos in Southern Indiana with seniors Baylin Graf Baylin Graf 6'4" | SF Bloomfield | 2022 State IN and Christopher Royal Christopher Royal 6'4" | SG Bloomfield | 2022 IN , both who are having big seasons so far. They have a chance to move to 5-0 this weekend when they travel to Clay City (12/10) and host Edgewood (12/11). Bloomfield is a sleeper team at the 1A level.
3 Matchups
North Harrison (3A) at Silver Creek (3A) – Dec. 10th, 3:00 pm: Without question, this is most high-stake 3A game we have this week as the Cougars will travel to face the Dragons, both who are ranked in the top 6 in 3A. North Harrison, who are 3-0, is being led by SG
Logan McIntire
Logan
McIntire
6'4" | SG
North Harrison | 2022
State
IN
(Evansville Commit) with forwards
Ethan Oakley
Ethan
Oakley
6'7" | PF
North Harrison | 2022
State
IN
and
Kaleb Kellems
Kaleb
Kellems
6'4" | SF
North Harrison | 2023
State
IN
playing major roles for the Cougars. With Silver Creek, who are 2-1, the obvious leader for them is 2022 PG
Branden Northern
Branden
Northern
5'11" | PG
Silver Creek | 2022
State
IN
who himself is having a great senior year. Even though they have 2 solid wins over Columbus East and Charlestown, they are coming off a slaughter of a loss vs Columbus North. With that being said, the safe pick here is for North Harrison to steal a win on the road as on paper, they just bring in more firepower. If Silver Creek can protect home court, this win could give them that boost they need.
Park Tudor (2A) at Parke Heritage (2A) – Dec. 10th, 7:30 pm: Moving on to 2A, we again have a battle of two top 6 teams with undefeated Panthers going on the road to clash with the 2-1 Wolves. The talented Park Tudor team, led by junior stud Jermaine Coleman Jermaine Coleman 6'7" | SF Park Tudor | 2023 State IN , has started off the season red hot having 3 straight double-digit wins. If Park Tudor is going to want to snag a big road win, they are going to have to contain 2023 SG Christian Johnson Christian Johnson 6'1" | SG Parke Heritage | 2023 IN , which is no easy task. However, I do think the Panthers have more than enough to go on the road and stay unbeaten, especially if either Bryce Petty Bryce Petty 6'1" | PG Park Tudor | 2023 State IN or Jordan Bowles Jordan Bowles 6'1" | PG Park Tudor | 2022 State IN have a game. Park Tudor is the pick here.
Barr-Reeve (1A) at Bloomington South (4A) – Dec. 7th, 7:30 pm: This game was a battle last year and I expect this one to be no different as Hagen Knepp Hagen Knepp 6'4" | SF Barr-Reeve | 2022 State IN and the Vikings travel to Bloomington to face Patrick Joyce Patrick Joyce 6'1" | PG Bloomington South | 2022 State IN and Panthers. Both teams have won 3 games with Barr-Reeve only having one loss, which was to Terre Haute South. Even though there is not a much overwhelming talent on this Bloomington South team as there has been in the past, they are finding ways to win the solid duo of Joyce and Aiden Schmitz Aiden Schmitz 5'11" | SG Bloomington South | 2023 State IN . However, there won’t be a better player on the floor than Barr-Reeve’s Knepp. As far as a winner, I think Bloomington South finds a way to win this one.