3 For 3: Week 11 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="874117" first="Malik" last="Stanley"] – 6’0 2021 PG – Warren Central: Stanley is a shifty lead guard that can flat out score at a high level. He has been playing really well lately and is a big reason why Warren Central is on a current 5 game winning streak. He is coming off a huge weekend where he dropped 15 points which helped him achieve the great 1,000 career points milestone. He is the type of guard that can get hot at any moment and knows what it takes to keep his team always in the game. He has a huge opportunity to help extend Warren Central’s winning streak to 7 if they can knock off Center Grove (2/4) and Bowman Academy (2/6) this week. [player_tooltip player_id="874210" first="Joesph" last="Phinisee"] – 6’0 2021 SG – McCutcheon: Phinisee has also been having a very good season as well. One of the more overlooked guards in the state, I feel like as of late that Joesph has been making the much deserved headlines. He is coming off a 19 point game over Harrison and has the Mavericks sitting at 11-2 so far. He has dealt with a few injuries the past few years so it is nice to see him on the court playing at a 100%. He is a combo guard that can really affect the game on the offensive end. Big week ahead as he and McCutcheon take on Lafayette Jeff on Thursday (more on that game in a bit) and at Richmond on Saturday. [player_tooltip player_id="958396" first="Jahni" last="Summers"] – 6’4 2022 SG – Evansville Harrison: Summers is a big shooting guard that is having himself kind of a breakout season so far. He is coming off a 20 point game in the win over Gibson Southern where he looked fantastic in. Pretty solid handles and plays his best when he has the space to run to the rim. He has always had just a little rawness to him but this season he looks more complete. He has a real opportunity to continue to climb the ranks of the 2022 class if his overall game keeps improving. He and the Warriors take on rival Evansville Central this Thursday, February 4th. 3 Teams Silver Creek (3A): I think it is safe to say that the Dragons have hit a small rough patch as of late as they have lost 2 out of their last 3 games (New Albany and Bloomington South). Now that may not be as bad as what you think but the thing is we are so used to this team being so dominate with those types of games. So the question is, should we be worried about Silver Creek? Well the answer is no, absolutely not. When you have a team as stacked as them with guys like [player_tooltip player_id="569321" first="Kooper" last="Jacobi"], [player_tooltip player_id="529572" first="Trey" last="Kaufman"], and [player_tooltip player_id="769684" first="Branden" last="Northern"], you know they will find a way to get things going once again. Big opportunity for them to get back on track as they travel to both Salem (2/4) and Floyd Central (2/6) this week. Winchester (2A): The Golden Falcons have been having a very good season so far. Sitting at a 12-4 record and currently is in the top 12 in 2A. After dropping their first 2 games of the season, they exploded to a 9 game winning streak before dropping 2 out of their 4 games. A big reason for their success if because of big man and Ball State commit [player_tooltip player_id="783175" first="Payton" last="Sparks"]. This week they host Centerville on Thursday, a game which they should win easily. Keep and eye on this team because they can be sneaky come tournament time. Indianapolis Tindley (1A): Coach Omar Dillard his team playing well this season. 11-5 record right now and the crazy thing is that they are having this success because of a trio of stud sophomores that includes [player_tooltip player_id="868226" first="Jayden" last="Pinkston"], [player_tooltip player_id="1049159" first="Jeffery" last="Pinkston"], and [player_tooltip player_id="1049167" first="Billy" last="Brown"]. They are in the top 8 right now in 1A and is a team that could be pretty dangerous come the post season. However, this week will truly test them as they travel to Brownsburg on Thursday and Blackhawk Christian on Saturday. No one is expecting them to win but if they can knock off one of those teams, it will be time to really think of them as a big time threat in 1A. 3 Matchups Carmel (4A) at Lawrence North (4A) – Feb. 4th, 7:30 pm: This is without question the top game of the week. 2 of the top 4 teams in the loaded 4A are going to be battling it out to get some momentum before the state tourney kicks off. I mean look at all this talent in the game: [player_tooltip player_id="830575" first="DJ" last="Hughes"], [player_tooltip player_id="783180" first="Shamar" last="Avance"], [player_tooltip player_id="870213" first="Chris" last="Gunn"], [player_tooltip player_id="769678" first="Charlie" last="Williams"], [player_tooltip player_id="769662" first="Peter" last="Suder"], [player_tooltip player_id="874131" first="Brian" last="Waddell"], and so much more. There is possibly up to 6 D1 players in this one. Right now, Homestead is currently sitting at the top but whoever wins this one is surely going to be right behind them. If you have the time this week, make sure you set time aside to watch this one. Last year’s clash was awesome and I expect this one to be just as good. Give me Carmel to win this and get revenge on the 2 point home loss from last season. Lafayette Jeff (4A) at McCutcheon (4A) – Feb. 4th, 7:30 pm: And we are back to this one as Northwestern commit [player_tooltip player_id="783143" first="Brooks" last="Barnhizer"] and Jeff travel to McCutcheon to face [player_tooltip player_id="874210" first="Joesph" last="Phinisee"] and squad. I think this game will come down to what supporting cast will step up here. Jeff has got a really good core of talent that includes [player_tooltip player_id="874137" first="Ashton" last="Beaver"], [player_tooltip player_id="1063969" first="E.J." last="Reese"], [player_tooltip player_id="870299" first="Owen" last="Linder"] while on the other side McCutcheon has [player_tooltip player_id="963218" first="Lleyton" last="McGovern"] and [player_tooltip player_id="935731" first="Eli" last="Swank"]. This is a huge opportunity McCutcheon to get that huge win to get them back in the 4A ranks. I see thus game going down to the wire with McCutcheon coming away with the upset win. Loogootee (1A) at Orleans (1A) – Feb. 4th, 7:30 pm: This has a chance to be the best southern high school game of the week. Orleans has shockingly been on a role this year having only lost 1 game with 12 wins. Now the issue is that their scheduled has not been exactly the hardest so far. However, that changes as the very tough Loogootee comes to town on Thursday. Loogootee has been extremely dominant this season as expected with stud forwards [player_tooltip player_id="868254" first="Peyton" last="Bledsoe"] and [player_tooltip player_id="874148" first="Silas" last="Bauer"] having great seasons. This game will arguably be the biggest test for Orleans just to see if they are legit or not. Not saying that Orleans won’t put up a fight, but I think Loogootee is just too loaded. Loogootee is my pick here.