Grassroots Season Preview: Indy Heat 2021 EYBL

Indy Heat always puts together top talent across the Midwest to compete on the EYBL circuit. Although the EYBL cancelled all events for this spring and summer amidst the pandemic, this team has no lack of talent to compete at the top level across the country. With Indy Heat hosting a Summer Tune Up this weekend, here is a quick preview of their roster. <table class="tablepress" dir="ltr" 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: 24.2908%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Name"}">Name</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 20.6862%; text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"HT"}">Height</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 5.93534%; text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"POS"}">Position</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 19.0954%; text-align: center;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"Class"}">Class</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 46.2566%;" data-sheets-value="{"1":2,"2":"HS"}">High School</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 40px;"> <td style="height: 40px; width: 24.2908%;">[player_tooltip player_id="529561" first="Caleb" last="Furst"]</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 20.6862%; text-align: center;">6’9</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 5.93534%; text-align: center;">PF</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 19.0954%; text-align: center;">2021</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 46.2566%;">Blackhawk Christian</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 40px;"> <td style="height: 40px; width: 24.2908%;">Kalen Etzler</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 20.6862%; text-align: center;">6’8</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 5.93534%; text-align: center;">SF</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 19.0954%; text-align: center;">2021</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 46.2566%;">Crestview (OH)</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 40px;"> <td style="height: 40px; width: 24.2908%;">Jeremy Sochan</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 20.6862%; text-align: center;">6’7</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 5.93534%; text-align: center;">PF</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 19.0954%; text-align: center;">2021</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 46.2566%;">La Lumiere</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 40px;"> <td style="height: 40px; width: 24.2908%;">[player_tooltip player_id="529565" first="Khristian" last="Lander"]</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 20.6862%; text-align: center;">6’2</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 5.93534%; text-align: center;">PG</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 19.0954%; text-align: center;">2020</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 46.2566%;">Evansville Reitz</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 40px;"> <td style="height: 40px; width: 24.2908%;">[player_tooltip player_id="874112" first="Blake" last="Sisley"]</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 20.6862%; text-align: center;">6’8</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 5.93534%; text-align: center;">PF</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 19.0954%; text-align: center;">2021</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 46.2566%;">Heritage Hills</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 40px;"> <td style="height: 40px; width: 24.2908%;">[player_tooltip player_id="529568" first="Luke" last="Goode"]</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 20.6862%; text-align: center;">6’6</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 5.93534%; text-align: center;">SF</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 19.0954%; text-align: center;">2021</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 46.2566%;">Homestead</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 40px;"> <td style="height: 40px; width: 24.2908%;">[player_tooltip player_id="783164" first="Isaiah" last="Swope"]</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 20.6862%; text-align: center;">5’10</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 5.93534%; text-align: center;">PG</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 19.0954%; text-align: center;">2021</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 46.2566%;">Castle</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 40px;"> <td style="height: 40px; width: 24.2908%;">[player_tooltip player_id="569313" first="Blake" last="Wesley"]</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 20.6862%; text-align: center;">6’5</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 5.93534%; text-align: center;">SG</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 19.0954%; text-align: center;">2021</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 46.2566%;">South Bend Riley</td> </tr> <tr style="height: 40px;"> <td style="height: 40px; width: 24.2908%;">Julian Roper</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 20.6862%; text-align: center;">6’3</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 5.93534%; text-align: center;">SG</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 19.0954%; text-align: center;">2021</td> <td style="height: 40px; width: 46.2566%;">St. Mary’s (MI)</td> </tr> <tr> <td style="width: 24.2908%;"> </td> <td style="width: 20.6862%; text-align: center;"> </td> <td style="width: 5.93534%; text-align: center;"> </td> <td style="width: 19.0954%; text-align: center;"> </td> <td style="width: 46.2566%;"> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> One Player to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id="529565" first="Khristian" last="Lander"] [player_tooltip player_id="529565" first="Khristian" last="Lander"] recently reclassified to the Class of 2020 so he can enroll at Indiana University this fall to begin playing a year early. He is the only five-star recruit currently committed to a Big Ten school for the Class of 2020. Lander has the ability to take over a game with his scoring or his facilitation and distribution skills. He’s a next level athlete at the guard position and has great body control around the basket when he attacks. With the ability to finish above the rim and through contact with both hands, the lefty has improved his consistency with the long ball which makes him an all-around threat and instant impact player at the next level. Lander’s knack for understanding defensive rotations and schemes allows him to use his high basketball IQ to exploit defenders. Lander would have been one of the front runners for Mr. Basketball next season but instead, he’ll be looking to carry Indiana University to a March Madness berth. One Player We Need to See More: [player_tooltip player_id="783164" first="Isaiah" last="Swope"] [player_tooltip player_id="783164" first="Isaiah" last="Swope"] had a breakout campaign this season at Castle where he really started to turn some heads with his scoring prowess. As a smaller point guard, his quickness and ability to change directions kept defenders off balance and allowed him to get to his spots. What’s left of this summer will be a great opportunity for Swope to compete against the top talent in the state and across the Midwest. Coming off his junior season, this will force him into a few new situations that will show his true potential as a point guard. He has plenty of scoring around him with this roster and will need to showcase his distribution and game control skills. Isaiah has a great opportunity to continue growing and developing his skills at a top level with this team and it’ll be interesting to see how this summer unfolds with him in the backcourt. One Player That Should Surprise: [player_tooltip player_id="569313" first="Blake" last="Wesley"] [player_tooltip player_id="569313" first="Blake" last="Wesley"] is another player that has added some more length to his frame over the past year. Wesley has the potential to take this opportunity to blow up. Wesley is an athlete in the open court and has really improved his offensive package over the past year with South Bend Riley. His added length allows him to get shots off under pressure and finish around the basket over defenders. Wesley is a big in-state target but has the potential to really break into the national recruiting scene being surrounded by top talent at other positions. If this team clicks and Wesley can find his niche on the wing, he can really boost his stock during this shortened summer period. [player_tooltip player_id="650294" first="Jaden" last="Ivey"] and [player_tooltip player_id="567849" first="D’Andre" last="Davis"] did the same last season by impacting the game in other categories. Blake has the body to be a great rebounding guard to add to his ability to influence the game on the defensive end. Definitely a 2021 to keep an eye on with this opportunity ahead of him.