3 For 3: Week 4 Preview

The high school boys’ basketball season is underway and even though we could face some challenges throughout the year, we at PrepHoops 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 [player_tooltip player_id="870234" first="Joe" last="Reidy"] – 6’7 2022 SF – Woodlan: Seems like we have covered Reidy a ton as of late but man this guy has played excellent these past couple of weeks. His first two games of the season, he put up 69 points and has looked liked one of the more improved prospects in the 2022 class. However, even though he has continued to play well, his team (Woodlan) has lost the past two games by 10+ points each so as a competitor I know Reidy is not taking that very well. This is a player that colleges, and spectators, need to keep an eye on because he is an elite scorer that does so much for his team. Reidy and the Warriors take on East Noble (12/14) and Adams Central (12/18) this week. [player_tooltip player_id="874110" first="Jalen" last="Blackmon"] – 6’2 2021 PG – Marion: Guess who is back? One of the best lead guards in the 2021 class. Blackmon returned to action last Friday after coming off a bad ACL injury that ended his junior season way too early. From watching that game, you honesty could not even tell that he had that injury cause he picked up right where he left off dropping 38 points in a win. Blackmon is one of my players to watch this week simply because this elite, experienced guard is back in action now and deserves to get some looks. Marion is a solid team without him but with him, they are arguably a top team in 4A. He and the Giants take on Kokomo (12/18) and Fort Wayne Dwenger (12/19) this weekend. [player_tooltip player_id="874148" first="Silas" last="Bauer"] – 6’5 2021 PF – Loogootee: Bauer has been one of the most dominate power forwards in the whole state so far this season. Though 5 games he already has multiple double-doubles and is a big reason why his team is sitting at 4-1 and looking like state contender right now. Bauer often gets a little overlooked at times being in Southern Indiana and also the fact that his class is loaded with elite power forwards. Bauer is so powerful down low that he could come right in and be a factor at the next level. He and the Lions are scheduled to face Springs Valley on Saturday. 3 Teams Jeffersonville (4A): After weeks of cancellations and games being postponed, we finally get to see the Red Devils for the first time this season as they take on the best 3A team right now in Silver Creek. They return a very good core of talent after some of their best players graduated last season. The retuning group of players includes prospects like [player_tooltip player_id="874120" first="Devean" last="Franklin"], [player_tooltip player_id="769655" first="Will" last="Lovings-Watts"], [player_tooltip player_id="870261" first="Kobe" last="Stoudemire"], and a few other keys role guys. Their season last year ended in a beat down from Floyd Central in the first round of Sectionals and they will look a little bit newer with new coach Andrew Grantz taking over. Excited to see what this Jeffersonville team is about this Friday. Leo (3A): The Lions have quietly been having an awesome season so far. They are currently 4-0 and been on a tear as late against teams in Fort Wayne (South, Wayne, Snider, and Luers). Really should not be any surprise, however, with a stacked team of players like [player_tooltip player_id="874150" first="Blake" last="Davison"], [player_tooltip player_id="963913" first="Zack" last="Troyer"], [player_tooltip player_id="963919" first="Eric" last="Steger"], [player_tooltip player_id="870240" first="D.J." last="Allen"], and [player_tooltip player_id="870252" first="Ayden" last="Ruble"] on there. Currently outside of the top 10 right now in 3A but there should be no reason that they will not be inside the top 10 if they can take care of Huntington North (12/18) and Shenandoah (12/19) this week. University (2A): The Trailblazers season has been a legit rollercoaster through 5 games. Currently 1 game above .500 being 3-2 so far and are sitting in the top 10 in 2A as of right now. Last year’s team was pretty dominant at the start of the season but this squad seems to be having trouble trying to find some consistency. This team right now is being led by stud forwards [player_tooltip player_id="874153" first="Camden" last="Brown"] and [player_tooltip player_id="643481" first="Larry" last="Pierce"] so it will not come as a surprise when they start gaining some momentum here soon. They take on Pendleton Heights (12/18) and Traders Point Christian (12/19) this week. 3 Matchups Southport (4A) at Bloomington North (4A) – Dec. 18th, 7:30 pm: This is a battle between one team that has been red hot and one that has not had the start that they had hoped for. Bloomington North, led by senior [player_tooltip player_id="783176" first="Isaac" last="Vencel"], has been very dominate (4-0) beating every team they have played by double digits. Southport, however, has not won a game yet which is shocking with the amount of talent they have. This is a matchup to watch for me for a couple of reasons. 1. I want to see if Southport can put it together and get a huge win on Friday and 2. the matchup between two elite 2023 forwards in [player_tooltip player_id="868224" first="JaQualon" last="Roberts"] (BN) and [player_tooltip player_id="868242" first="Anthony" last="Ball"] (SP) is awesome to think of on paper. However, it is hard to see Bloomington North slowing down here. Bloomington North is my pick to win this one. Carmel (4A) at New Albany (4A) – Dec.19th, 7:30 pm: This game right here has the makings of being the best game of the week. Two of the top 11 teams in 4A will go head to head as [player_tooltip player_id="769662" first="Peter" last="Suder"] and the Greyhounds (4-0) travel to take on [player_tooltip player_id="870227" first="Kaden" last="Stanton"] and the Bulldogs (4-1). Kind of a clash in playing styles here but both teams have played really well for the most part, besides New Albany’s stinker against Zionsville last Saturday. Throw in other prospects like [player_tooltip player_id="769678" first="Charlie" last="Williams"] (Carmel) and [player_tooltip player_id="783157" first="Jordan" last="Thomas"] (NA), on paper you could have a classic right here. Give me Carmel in a very close one. Lafayette Central Catholic (1A) at Parke Heritage (2A) – Dec. 18th, 7:30 pm: The #7 team in 1A (LCC) will travel to take on the #11 team in 2A (PH) this Friday in what is a very intriguing game. Lafayette Central Catholic has started the season off 2-2 with their 2 wins coming from their last two games. Park Heritage on the other hand have only lost 1 game (4-1) but have won three straight in a huge way. Got a ton of good prospects like [player_tooltip player_id="963920" first="Connor" last="Davis"] (PH), [player_tooltip player_id="935724" first="Christian" last="Johnson"] (PH), [player_tooltip player_id="935743" first="Ben" last="Mazur"] (LCC), [player_tooltip player_id="870267" first="Clark" last="Barrett"] (LCC), and a few others in this showdown. Should be a good one with two hot teams but I think it just comes down to size and experience here. Parke Heritage wins this one I feel.