Grassroots Season Preview: Indiana Elite 2021

With hope and anticipation of the start of the AAU season, we begin our look at some of the top AAU teams in the state. Over the next few weeks, we will spotlight teams and some of the top players to watch. Today, we are looking at Indiana Elite 2021. <table class="tablepress" dir="ltr" style="width: 100.101%; height: 415px;" border="1" cellspacing="10" cellpadding="10"> <colgroup> <col width="100" /> <col width="100" /> <col width="100" /> <col width="100" /> <col width="100" /></colgroup> <tbody> <tr style="height: 40px;"> <td style="height: 40px; width: 27.8226%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Name"}">Name</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 17.9435%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"HT"}">HT</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 17.9435%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"POS"}">POS</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 14.0498%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Class"}">Class</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 22.2405%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"HS"}">HS</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 40px;"> <td style="height: 40px; width: 27.8226%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"[player_tooltip player_id="> [player_tooltip player_id="647209" first="Connor" last="Hickman"] </td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 17.9435%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"6’0"}">6’2</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 17.9435%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"PG"}">PG</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 14.0498%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":2021}">2021</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 22.2405%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Hamilton Heights"}">Bloomington South</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 64px;"> <td style="height: 39px; width: 27.8226%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"[player_tooltip player_id=">Jaylin Gibson</td> <td style="height: 39px; width: 17.9435%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"6’0"}">6’3</td> <td style="height: 39px; width: 17.9435%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"PG"}">SG</td> <td style="height: 39px; width: 14.0498%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":2021}">2021</td> <td style="height: 39px; width: 22.2405%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Park Tudor"}">Evanston Township (IL)</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 64px;"> <td style="height: 35px; width: 27.8226%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"[player_tooltip player_id=">[player_tooltip player_id="529593" first="Jayden" last="Brewer"]</td> <td style="height: 35px; width: 17.9435%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"6’0"}">6’5</td> <td style="height: 35px; width: 17.9435%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"PG"}">SF</td> <td style="height: 35px; width: 14.0498%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":2021}">2021</td> <td style="height: 35px; width: 22.2405%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Warren Central"}">Avon</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 64px;"> <td style="height: 32px; width: 27.8226%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"[player_tooltip player_id=">[player_tooltip player_id="569304" first="Jayden" last="Taylor"]</td> <td style="height: 32px; width: 17.9435%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"6’2"}">6’4</td> <td style="height: 32px; width: 17.9435%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"PG"}">SG</td> <td style="height: 32px; width: 14.0498%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":2021}">2021</td> <td style="height: 32px; width: 22.2405%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Columbus North"}">Perry Meridian</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 64px;"> <td style="height: 33px; width: 27.8226%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"[player_tooltip player_id=">Will McCracken</td> <td style="height: 33px; width: 17.9435%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"6’4"}">6’5</td> <td style="height: 33px; width: 17.9435%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"SF"}">SF</td> <td style="height: 33px; width: 14.0498%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":2021}">2021</td> <td style="height: 33px; width: 22.2405%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Mississinewa"}">Archbishop Moeller (OH)</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 64px;"> <td style="height: 36px; width: 27.8226%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"D.J. Hughes"}"> [player_tooltip player_id="647193" first="Douglas" last="Konieczny"] </td> <td style="height: 36px; width: 17.9435%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"6’7"}">6’7</td> <td style="height: 36px; width: 17.9435%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"PF"}">SF</td> <td style="height: 36px; width: 14.0498%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":2021}">2021</td> <td style="height: 36px; width: 22.2405%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Lawrence North"}">South Bend St. Joseph</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 40px;"> <td style="height: 40px; width: 27.8226%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"K.J. Debrick"}">[player_tooltip player_id="529572" first="Trey" last="Kaufman"]</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 17.9435%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"6’8"}">6’8</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 17.9435%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"PF"}">PF</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 14.0498%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":2021}">2021</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 22.2405%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Lanphier (IL)"}">Silver Creek</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 40px;"> <td style="height: 40px; width: 27.8226%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"K.J. Debrick"}">[player_tooltip player_id="963905" first="Mason" last="Nicholson"]</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 17.9435%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"6’8"}">6’9</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 17.9435%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"PF"}">C</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 14.0498%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":2021}">2021</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 22.2405%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Avon"}">Gary West</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 40px;"> <td style="height: 40px; width: 27.8226%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"K.J. Debrick"}">Logan Duncomb</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 17.9435%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"6’8"}">6’10</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 17.9435%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"PF"}">C</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 14.0498%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":2021}">2021</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 22.2405%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Lanphier (IL)"}">Archbishop Moeller (OH)</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 40px;"> <td style="height: 40px; width: 27.8226%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"K.J. Debrick"}"> </td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 17.9435%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"6’8"}"> </td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 17.9435%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"PF"}"> </td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 14.0498%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":3,"3":2021}"> </td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 22.2405%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Avon"}"> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> One Player To Watch: [player_tooltip player_id="529572" first="Trey" last="Kaufman"] <span data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Trey is a stellar power forward that has a ton of skill and finesse to his game. He went up against another top power forward in the country and after a slower first half, he really stepped up later. His game is more built around that ball handling ability and creating space to make a play. However, early on it was all about his post game which is a little more productive right now. He is adding on strength and really taking advantage of his length. It was a tough matchup for both but they excelled in different areas. For Kaufman, it showed that he is a little more advanced in the low post right now than we might have thought heading into the game."}" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":33569707,"3":{"1":0},"4":[null,2,16777215],"6":{"1":[{"1":2,"2":0,"5":[null,2,14277081]},{"1":0,"2":0,"3":1},{"1":1,"2":0,"4":1}]},"8":{"1":[{"1":2,"2":0,"5":[null,2,12040119]},{"1":0,"2":0,"3":1},{"1":1,"2":0,"4":1}]},"10":1,"11":3,"12":0,"14":[null,2,0],"15":"Montserrat","16":6,"28":1}">Trey is a stellar power forward that has a ton of skill and finesse to his game. His game is more built around that ball-handling ability and creating space to make plays. He is adding on strength and really taking advantage of his length. He has shown that he has the ability to play anywhere from the 3 to the 5 at the next level, and he should keep improving over the summer and into his senior campaign. There is no question that he will be one of the best players on the court in any game he plays in. One Player We Need To See More: [player_tooltip player_id="963905" first="Mason" last="Nicholson"]<span data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Graddy is a big forward with tons of strength and a developing game. He’s a solid rebounder at times, needs to be a little more assertive on the low block but has some room there to grow. Moves well and could establish an ability to play faced up with time. The body is great and ready to go already for college. A lot of little bits of skill here but he has yet to define his game completely. Will be one to track.n"}" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":33569707,"3":{"1":0},"4":[null,2,16777215],"6":{"1":[{"1":2,"2":0,"5":[null,2,14277081]},{"1":0,"2":0,"3":1},{"1":1,"2":0,"4":1}]},"8":{"1":[{"1":2,"2":0,"5":[null,2,12040119]},{"1":0,"2":0,"3":1},{"1":1,"2":0,"4":1}]},"10":1,"11":3,"12":0,"14":[null,2,0],"15":"Montserrat","16":6,"28":1}"> <span data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Mason is a big, bruising post player who has great size and enough strength to play with anyone. He’s not the most mobile guy but does get up and down the floor really well. He only had a couple plays but did well when he got his chances. Thought he had pretty solid touch around the rim and wasn’t a guy that forced shots with his strength but had a little finesse in it. Wanted to see a little bit more with his rebounding as he had that elite size."}" data-sheets-userformat="{"2":33569707,"3":{"1":0},"4":[null,2,16777215],"6":{"1":[{"1":2,"2":0,"5":[null,2,14277081]},{"1":0,"2":0,"3":1},{"1":1,"2":0,"4":1}]},"8":{"1":[{"1":2,"2":0,"5":[null,2,12040119]},{"1":0,"2":0,"3":1},{"1":1,"2":0,"4":1}]},"10":1,"11":3,"12":0,"14":[null,2,0],"15":"Montserrat","16":6,"28":1}">Mason is a big, bruising post player who has great size and enough strength to play with anyone. He’s not the most mobile guy, but he can get up and down the floor pretty well. He has solid touch around the rim, and he isn’t one that forces things inside. However, I would like to see him be a little more aggressive with his post moves. I also would like to see him improve his rebounding ability. He has the size to do it, and I think it is just a matter of time until we see him put it all together. One Player That Should Surprise: [player_tooltip player_id="647209" first="Connor" last="Hickman"] Hickman stepped up his game in a big way over the winter season, and he was a big reason why Bloomington South finished the season undefeated. He averaged 15 points a game and was a great second option behind [player_tooltip player_id="875651" first="Anthony" last="Leal"]. He has improved his mid-range game a lot over the past year with a great pull-up jumper and a floater to catch defenders off guard. He should surprise everyone this season with how much he has improved, and I definitely believe that he will have a couple breakout games throughout the summer.