Some Top Candidates for Indiana Player of the Year

<p>As we move into the last two months of the high school season, we start to look at who is being considered for Indiana Player of the Year. In my opinion, personal stats definitely matter, but also the team’s record should be taken into consideration. The last five winners include Kyle Guy, Kris Wilkes, Romeo Langford, Trayce Jackson-Davis, and [player_tooltip player_id="875651" first="Anthony" last="Leal"]. In this article, I will name a handful of players - in no particular order - who I think can win this year’s award. (PPG, RPG, APG, SPG, BPG)</p> <p><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/brooks-barnhizer/">[player_tooltip player_id="783143" first="Brooks" last="Barnhizer"]</a> - Lafayette Jeff - 35-11-7-3-2.5<br /> Personally, I think Brooks is the dark-horse winner for Indiana POY. He is putting up insane numbers this year and leading Lafayette Jeff to be a top team in the state. Thirty-five points a game? Jeff hasn’t seen this type of player since Jesse Berry back in 2009. One barrier I can see getting in the way of Brooks winning the award is the fact that he didn’t play basketball in Indiana all four years - his family moved here halfway through his high school career. Although, I think his numbers and team’s record speak otherwise. </p> <p><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/trey-kaufman/">[player_tooltip player_id="529572" first="Trey" last="Kaufman"]</a> - Silver Creek - 25-13-4-1-1<br /> According to ESPN’s ranks, Trey is the best player in the state - and he very well maybe. The Purdue commit is leading his team to a great year. He fits the mold of a modern big man who can stretch the floor as a four or run the five in a small-ball lineup. Also, his motor is what stands out to me. He is a constant force on the glass, can push the ball in transition after securing the rebound, and has excellent vision for a big. His all-around style of play and versatility may put him in a position to be the POY. </p> <p><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/caleb-furst/">[player_tooltip player_id="529561" first="Caleb" last="Furst"]</a> - Blackhawk Christian - 22-13-3-1-1<a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2019/06/Caleb-Furst.jpg"><img class="alignright wp-image-779211 size-thumbnail" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2019/06/Caleb-Furst-150x150.jpg" alt="" width="150" height="150" /></a><br /> Trey and Caleb have many similarities: Purdue commits and big men. However, their games are different in the fact that Caleb is more of a true big. He has a post-game, he is a good defender in the low post, and can stretch the floor a little with that lefty stroke. It will be very interesting to see how the pair does next year in the Big Ten. Furst is the most dominant big man in the state of Indiana and has a great shot of winning the award. </p> <p><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/blake-wesley/">[player_tooltip player_id="569313" first="Blake" last="Wesley"]</a> - South Bend Riley - 29-6-2-3-0.5<br /> Blake might be the best natural scorer in the entire state. The star shooting guard is known for his elite slashing ability paired with the knack for the ball on the defensive end. His 6’5 frame and long arms help him get steals, blocks, and deflect passes. His downhill speed is very dangerous in the open floor and usually ends with him dunking on a defender or heading to the free-throw line. More of a catch and shoot player, his shot still needs some development, however, I believe Wesley will be an impact player at the next level. </p>