Tuesday’s Daily Dive: Key’s Output, Hupman’s Intriguing Start, Harrison’s Competitiveness
With a little over a week into the season, we have some interesting storylines to watch. Some individuals area already putting up massive numbers and a team is looking to compete for the best in their area for the first time in a while. Now, we look at Kayden Key’s offensive output, Noah Hupman’s intriuiging start and upside, and Harrison’s competition for best team in the Lafayette area.
Kayden Key’s Output
Frankton has been one of the best teams in the state for their class for a while now and while Kayden Key is just another player in a long line of talent to come out of the program, this is his time and he’s taking full advantage of it.
Last night, Frankton rebounded from a tough loss to Lapel with a convincing 73-55 win over Muncie Burris. Key put up another strong outing with 20 points and 11 rebounds. He’s averaging 26 points per game right now. He had 34 in the game against Lapel. While he wasn’t the biggest scorer this summer for his AAU program, I think he is showing now why if you put him in the right situation in college, he could blossom. 78 points in your first three games of your senior season will go a long way.
Hupman’s Intriguing Start
There are a number of factors to think about with Evansville Day’s Noah Hupman. Some good, some bad. For starters, playing for a very, very small 1A school in southern Indiana isn’t going to help a ton. The fact that he’s as thin as he is for another. But, he’s approaching 7’1 and long and putting up strong numbers despite those things.
In last night’s 63-58 win over Mount Carmel (IL), Noah put up 10 points with 10 blocks and 7 rebounds. He also had 22 points, 14 blocks, and 12 rebounds against Mount Vernon. He’s going to have some crazy stat lines like this this year. Triple-doubles and all. The hardest part will be what to make of it. Does this translate against better teams? Can he parlay this into the summer. Regardless, even at a small 1A program, he’s making waves already, just three games in. We’ll just wait and see how this all plays out.
Harrison’s Competitiveness
So, just two games into this season and Harrison will be looking to make a statement with their next three games. On Friday, they will play their second game of the Franciscan Health Classic against Central Catholic. They just got done beating West Lafayette. And, if they do win on Friday, they will likely play Lafayette Jeff. Then come back a week later and play Lafayette Jeff again.
Why is this important? Well, this might be the best chance that Harrison has had in the last decade to take the reigns as the best team in the Lafayette area. They have a key junior in Jordan Walters who put up 22 points and 9 rebounds last night and has grown to 6’7 to give them some legit size. They have a sophomore guard in Max Jacobsen who is about as tough as they come and had 17 points last night. They have other key pieces as well and they already knocked off, albeit a team still missing pieces from a football state title, West Lafayette team that should be pretty good this year. Central Catholic is good but beatable and really only Lafayette Jeff stands in their way and they could have two chances at them in the next week and a half.
Quick Hitters:
- Alexandria is now sitting at 3-0 with another win last night over Yorktown. They have put up 72.3 ppg so far including a 90-point outburst in their first game of the season. The real test comes up next as they take on Shenandoah and Blackford.
- Fishers got their first win of the season last night with a 84-61 win over Muncie Central. They are now 1-2 with losses to Lawrence Central and Ben Davis. The should be pretty solid this season but they have land mines all over their schedule. The question is can they grow up enough to steal one or two of them. Almost knocked off Ben Davis.
- Floyd Central moves to 3-0 and the next two games are key. To be seriously in consideration for a top team in 4A, they have to beat Castle and a down New Albany team. If they can own the south against two of the better teams, that should be enough to put them at the very top. Can’t have a letdown after a big win over Lawrence North this past weekend.
- Fort Wayne Canterbury got a big win last night on a buzzer-beater by Noah Wolfe. Noah Drapala had 22 points and Will Shank had 21 points and 10 rebounds in the win. Second big game for Shank who could have a massive season for Canterbury.
- Snider fans have already been clamoring for respect and last night’s 63-60 win over a solid East Noble team will help their case. Big win for them but Snider has an interesting stretch to start the season with FW Wayne, FW North, and Merrillville. Take down those three and they should be able to prove their case fully. Very young team, just need to see where they are at with this stage.
- What I believe is the first 4-0 team in the state is Heritage Christian. They now hold a pair of good wins over NorthWood and Columbus North. Impressive start so far but the meat of the schedule really begins with games against Greenwood Christian and Cardinal Ritter to end this week.
- Scottsburg drops the biggest point total we have seen, possibly ever, as they put up 109 on Eastern-Pekin. Just a massive amount of points and led by Treyton Owens with 25 points. Freshman standout Hayden Cutter also put up 20 points in the win. He now has 44 points in his first two games of his career.
- Silver Creek did it again on Tuesday night with a 91-51 win over Charlestown. About what you would expect but early in the year you want to make sure things go the way you think. Even still, getting 27 points from Trey Kaufman and 24 from Kooper Jacobi, their sophomore duo is putting on a clinic.
- Norwell got their second win of the year to move to 2-0 as they knocked off a down Mississinewa team. Junior Will Geiger is a name you need to know. He had 16 points and 9 rebounds in the win. Pretty much a guy that can go for a double-double every night.