3 For 3: Week 9 Preview

The high school boys’ basketball season is underway and we at Prep Hoops 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 Hunter Johnson Hunter Johnson 6'2" | SG South Decatur | 2022 State IN – 6’2 2022 SG – South Decatur: Was there a player that had a better weekend than Johnson? Friday night vs North Decatur he dropped 34 pts then on Saturday he decided he wanted to break the all-time single game scoring record in school history with 53 pts vs Southwestern (Shelbyville). The 2022 SG is a flat-out tough scorer is currently one of the leaders in scoring in the entire state. Small schools should be all over this guy if they want elite scoring right away. He and South Decatur will travel to Greensburg on on 1/22.  Joey Brown Joey Brown 6'5" | SG North Central | 2023 State #284 Nation IN – 6’5 2023 SG – North Central (Indianapolis): Brown is also coming off a pretty big weekend as he was one of the top players that helped lead North Central to an OT victory over Ben Davis to win the Marion County Tournament. Over the past few years, Brown has made a bunch of improvement to his overall game and has now become one of the hottest prospects in the 2023 class. As far as offers right now, he has the likes of LSU, Illinois, and others all with major interest in the athletic wing. He and North Central have big weekend as they play Lawrence North on Friday and travel to Muncie Central on Saturday.   Jake Chapman Jake Chapman 6'3" | SF Tri-Central | 2022 State IN – 6’3 2022 SF – Tri-Central: Chapman is easily one of the most overlooked wings not only in Northern Indiana but in the entire state. Around Christmas, we had noted he was one of the leading scorers and rebounders in the entire state averaging a double-double. Overall just has some solid size to him with explosiveness and shooting ability. Has quite a few offers from smaller schools and should make an immediate impact wherever he lands. He and Tri-Central with host a tough Carroll (Flora) team on Friday.   3 Teams Pike (4A): Even though they are coming off a loss to Ben Davis in the Marion County Tournament, the Red Devils have been one of the sneaky good teams in 4A. Before the loss to Ben Davis, Pike had won 8 straight and had beaten teams like Center Grove, Floyd Central, Noblesville, and Fishers. As far as roster goes, they are well-built from top to bottom with Ryan Conwell Ryan Conwell 6'3" | SG Indianapolis Pike | 2022 State #155 Nation IN , Charles Chanin Charles Chanin 6'4" | SF Pike | 2022 State IN , Devon Woods Devon Woods 5'10" | PG Pike-Indianapolis | 2023 State IN , and whole lot more. This could be perhaps their toughest week yet as they play Avon (1/19), Carmel (1/21), and Anderson (1/22).  John Glenn (3A): For a team that does not really have any superstar prospects, the Falcons could make a case as the best 3A team currently in the state. They are 12-0 and are currently ranked in the top 5 with 8 of those 12 wins have been by double-digits. The main guy for John Glenn this year has been 2023 F Brycen Hannah who is averaging around 18 ppg. This week, John Glenn will compete in the Bi-County Tournament at Culver on 1/18.  Orleans (1A): The past 2 years now, the Orleans Bulldogs have been a very dominant squad. This year, they are just outside of the top 10 in the 1A rankings but do have 11-2 record with quality wins over Springs Valley, Mitchell, and others. Just like John Glenn, they are a team that is not super stacked with high level talent but filled with athletic guys that can shoot the ball. Guys like Ian Hall Ian Hall 6'2" | SG Orleans | 2024 IN , Xavier Alston, and Carter Allen have been bright spots for the Bulldogs. They play arguably their toughest game yet this Friday at Perry Central.  3 Matchups  Chesterton (4A) at Crown Point (4A) – Jan 21st, 7:00pm: This one should be a real fun battle in Northern Indiana. Chesterton will come into Crown Point with a 12-0 record compared to Crown Point’s 10-3 overall record. This could honestly be Travis Grayson Travis Grayson 5'10" | PG Chesterton | 2022 State IN and Chesterton’s biggest challenge yet this season because they are going to have to figure out how to stop the tough trio of A.J. Lux A.J. Lux 6'4" | SG Crown Point | 2023 State IN , Drew Adzia Drew Adzia 5'9" | PG Crown Point | 2022 State IN , and Keaton Buuck Keaton Buuck 6'6" | PF Crown Point | 2023 State IN . For that reason, I strongly believe that Crown Point gets the upset win here and gives Chesterton their first loss.     North Daviess (1A) at Linton (2A) – Jan 21st, 7:30pm: This matchup is easily the biggest game in all of Southern Indiana this week. You have two teams that are ranked in the top 3 in both 2A and 1A with talent all over the place. The inner matchup that makes this game so fun is going to be the battle between Jaylen Mullen Jaylen Mullen 6'0" | PG North Daviess | 2023 State IN and Joey Hart Joey Hart 6'5" | SG Linton-Stockton | 2023 State #218 Nation IN . As far as a winner prediction, Linton has my vote here because I believe the supporting pieces like Braden Walters Braden Walters 6'5" | PF Linton-Stockton | 2024 State IN will be the difference makers.     Lawrence North (4A) at Homestead (4A) – Jan 22nd, 5:30pm: This game is as high profile as you could get this week as you have have a guy from each side that could be Mr. Basketball when the season ends, Chris Gunn Chris Gunn 6'5" | SG Lawrence North | 2022 State #114 Nation IN and Fletcher Loyer Fletcher Loyer 6'4" | SG Homestead | 2022 State #108 Nation IN . As talented as these teams are, both of them have had their struggles at times for different reasons this year. Lawrence North just got Gunn back from injury and Homestead seems to have lost a few games that they should have won at times. Look out for guys like Ty Cunningham Ty Cunningham 6'2" | PG Lawrence North | 2023 State IN , Andrew Leeper Andrew Leeper 6'6" | PF Homestead | 2022 State IN , Ifeanyi Ezeakudo Ifeanyi Ezeakudo 5'10" | PG Homestead | 2022 IN , Grant Leeper Grant Leeper 6'6" | PF Homestead | 2023 State IN , Kyron Kaopuiki Kyron Kaopuiki 6'3" | SG Homestead | 2023 State IN , Kobi Bowles Kobi Bowles 6'1" | PG Lawrence North | 2024 State IN , and Azavier Robinson Azavier Robinson 6'1" | PG Lawrence North | 2025 State IN in this one as well. Going to go with Homestead to win this big matchup here.