Mr. Basketball: Mid-Season Review
As the season winds down and we are starting to look ahead to the postseason, we are also thinking about all-star teams and Mr. Basketball awards. Today, we start our dive into the Mr. Basketball conversation and look at where things stand as we approach the key time for those players in consideration for the award.
Many Have Played Well But Time Is Wearing Down
Going into the season, you had to look at New Albany’s Romeo Langford as the top player in the state. He is nearly the top player in the country so that is very hard to downplay in any legitimate conversation. However, this is the key time to really look at the race. In year’s past, you could make the argument the state tournament had a big impact on the decision. While things aren’t as close this year, the last couple of weeks of the season and into the postseason will still play a big impact. More eyes are on the game and the games matter so much more.
Looking at the top players and the top teams in the state, Romeo Langford, Damezi Anderson of South Bend Riley, Aaron Henry of Ben Davis, Eric Hunter Jr. of Indianapolis Tindley, Mekhi Lairy of Evansville Bosse, and Robert Phinisee of McCutcheon seem to have all separated themselves as the guys in the conversation this year. However, in order to take home the crown, it will be nearly impossible to make an argument if you get bounced in the first round.
Robert Phinisee and McCutcheon look like the one team that could struggle. They aren’t as good as in previous years but they aren’t alone. Aaron Henry of Ben Davis could also be in some trouble. Ben Davis is a very good team but they are in a tough Sectional and their Regional will be very difficult. The only player that has an “easy” Sectional might be Damezi Anderson and South Bend Riley. However, they did get bounced early against South Bend Adams in Sectionals last year so watch out.
All of these teams and players have a really good chance to make a drive to the championship and it would shock if at least one of them didn’t go home with a title. But like we said earlier, getting bounced early could prove too difficult to overcome.
Chasing The Leader
New Albany’s Romeo Langford has been nothing short of amazing this year. They only have one loss on the season and Romeo is still in contention for the All-Time Career Scoring Record. While the scoring record is still a long shot, it is safe to assumer Romeo is the leader in the clubhouse for Mr. Basketball. That isn’t to say it is a lock but it would be unwise to argue he isn’t the best player in the state right now.
With that being said, we have seen many players come through here and have stellar ends of their senior seasons and raise their stock. Much like Jack Nunge of Castle did last year. He had a great postseason and looked like a different player the last month. Of those in serious consideration, look for Damezi Anderson to have a chance to make that same run. His team is undefeated and the path to Bankers Life Fieldhouse is much easier than anyone else’s on the list. He is plenty capable of putting on a show and scoring some big point totals and could have the Indiana flair to be able to give him a fun last few weeks of his high school career.
Top Three For Me
As I begin to write this, I understand this will be a futile process because the payoff will draw a lot of bickering and complaining but that is kind of what the job is now. With that in mind, I would like to remind those reading that this is just an opinion, not fact. Could easily make an argument for pretty much any order except not having Romeo at the top. So, with that, here are my top contenders in order for Mr. Basketball:
1. Romeo Langford – New Albany (IN)
The criteria for myself and only myself with regards to Mr. Basketball is that you have to take into account what a player has done for his entire career. This is a culmination award of all of the years they have spent in the state playing basketball. I also think you have to be a great person. This isn’t a big factor but I have always seen the award as the face of Indiana High School basketball. Lastly, I think winning matters. Winning in the regular season and definitely in the postseason. Romeo Langford is not only the best player, he is the best kid I’ve covered in a long time. Winning a state championship early in his career also really helped as well.
2. Eric Hunter Jr. – Indianapolis Tindley (IN)
For much of the same things I talked about with Romeo, you could say about Eric. He’s won a state championship, he’s a tremendous player having a great career at Tindley. He’s also a fantastic kid that would be a great representative for the state. To this point, Eric has played a more difficult schedule his senior season than New Albany has and I think that gives him a point or two in his favor when you factor in that Eric has had some really massive scoring totals. Really only Langford and Hunter can say they have been consistent in their ability to put up big numbers all year long.
3. Aaron Henry – Ben Davis (IN)
This was a difficult decision because you could easily take a Mekhi Lairy or Damezi Anderson here but I’ll be blatant about this, I give it to Henry because he plays in Indianapolis. The talented teams Ben Davis plays night in and night out makes this a slight edge for Henry. Not a knock on Bosse or Riley but in comparison, it isn’t really even close. Henry has done this for four years and is having a great year for Ben Davis. He’s also one of the best kids you will ever meet and for me, my flat out favorite person that I have covered in the last few years.