Indiana High School Preview: Class 3A North
In 49 states it is just basketball, but this is Indiana. There is no better time of year than high school basketball season in the Hoosier state. Here at Prep Hoops Indiana, our staff will set out to bring the…
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Continue ReadingIn 49 states it is just basketball, but this is Indiana. There is no better time of year than high school basketball season in the Hoosier state. Here at Prep Hoops Indiana, our staff will set out to bring the very best coverage from throughout the state. Evansville, Gary, South Bend, Terre Haute, we will leave no corner of Indiana unturned.
Now that official practices are quickly approaching and we are just weeks away from tipping off the first game, it is time to dive head first into previewing the upcoming season. Over the coming weeks you can expect breakdowns of each class along with teams and players to watch, a look at the top Mr. Basketball and Indiana All-Star candidates, preseason team rankings, and much, much more. For even more coverage, make sure to follow our staff on Twitter: @BRamseyKSR, @kylerstaley, @HSIndianaBball, and @KrisMills37.
We began our preseason coverage in Class 1A with a look at a few of the best teams coming out of the north and south brackets. Then, we did the same with the Class 2A North and South. Be sure to check out those previews if you haven’t already. Now, let’s turn our attention to Class 3A. We will highlight the preseason favorite, a traditional power to keep an eye on, a sleeper team, and then name an honorable mention that we will look forward to watching this year.
Favorite: Mishawaka Marian High School
The Knights are quietly one of the most consistent Class 3A programs in the state. They haven’t finished below .500 since 2010. In that span, Coach Robb Berger and company have eclipsed 20 wins six times. However, there are “just” three sectional championships and one regional title in that span. This season, Mishawaka Marian will have their sights set on Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Returning your two leading scorers is a great place to start when building a successful season. Senior guard Richard Brooks Richard Brooks 6'3" | SF Mishawaka Marian | 2022 State IN brings back 15.3 points per game and should be one of the best players in the area. A highly sought after small college recruit, Brooks is ranked as the #46 prospect in the Class of 2022 by Prep Hoops Indiana. His running mate in the backcourt is back as well. 6’2″ junior point guard Deaglan Sullivan Deaglan Sullivan 6'2" | PG Mishawaka Marian | 2023 State IN returns 14.7 points and a team-leading 3.5 assists. Sullivan is ranked as the #65 prospect in the Class of 2023 by Prep Hoops Indiana. Brooks and Sullivan will give the Knights one of the most dynamic backcourts in northern Indiana regardless of class.
Fresh off of an outstanding summer, 6’6″ senior forward Kaleo Kakalia Kaleo Kakalia 6'6" | PF Mishawaka Marian | 2022 State IN is poised for a much larger role this season. Ranked as the #81 prospect in the Class of 2022 by Prep Hoops Indiana, Kakalia averaged 6.0 points and a team-high 6.3 rebounds per game as a junior. He will compete for a double-double every night out this season. Rounding out the primary returning pieces will be 6’4″ junior forward Dareon Thornton Dareon Thornton 6'4" | SF Mishawaka Marian | 2023 State IN . He averaged 4.0 points and 3.0 rebounds a year ago.
This should be another 20-win team that will try to play their best basketball in March. Brooks, Sullivan, Kakalia, and Thornton all complement each other well and provide as much returning talent and production as anyone in the area. Expect Mishawaka Marian to be the favorite to come out of the Class 3A North.
Don’t Count Out: Leo High School
You can’t get any closer than the Leo Lions did last season. A one point loss in the state championship game to Silver Creek ended their 24-5 season just one basket short of cutting down the nets. Several key returning pieces along with impact transfers will allow the Lions to compete at the top of Class 3A once again.
Twin towers D.J. Allen D.J. Allen 6'7" | PF Leo | 2022 State IN , a Rutgers football commit, and Landen Livingston, a West Virginia football commit, give Leo two extremely physical forwards inside. However, even if one or both don’t play basketball as a senior due to college football preparations, the Lions will still be fine inside. 6’7″ forward Caedmon Bontrager Caedmon Bontrager 6'8" | PF Leo | 2022 State IN transferred in from Elevation Prep. Bontrager is ranked as the #29 prospect in the Class of 2022 by Prep Hoops Indiana and will add another physical and athletic presence to an already stacked front court. Expect Bontrager to be the new leading scorer for the Lions and a potential Indiana All-Star.
6’6″ wing Luke LaGrange Luke LaGrange 6'5" | SF Leo | 2022 State IN returns to Leo as well after a year at Blackhawk Christian High School. He will provide an outside shooting presence as well as additional length on the perimeter. Senior guard Brody Hiteshew Brody Hiteshew 6'3" | SG Leo | 2022 State IN has plenty of varsity experience and will hold down the backcourt along 6’2″ guard Ayden Ruble Ayden Ruble 6'2" | SG Leo | 2022 State IN .
Backcourt experience and depth, shooting on the wings, and size inside. The Leo Lions have it all after a trip to the state championship game last season. They will once again be a favorite in Class 3A.
Sleeper: Kankakee Valley High School
After back-to-back nine win seasons this may seem like a deep sleeper, but there is plenty of returning talent that could see Kankakee Valley get over the Hanover Central hump in sectional action. Senior wing/forward Nick Mikash Nick Mikash 6'4" | SF Kankakee Valley | 2022 State IN brings back his team-leading 14.1 points and 8.0 rebounds per game. He will be one of the better players in the area as a senior. He is ranked as the #98 prospect in the Class of 2022 by Prep Hoops Indiana.
6’6″ junior big man Hayden Dase Hayden Dase 6'6" | C Kankakee Valley | 2023 IN continues to improve and should have a nice season inside for the Kougars. Dase averaged 4.4 points and 4.4 rebounds a sophomore. Perhaps the difference maker this season though will be the continued development of 6’3″ sophomore wing Cam Webster Cam Webster 6'3" | SG Kankakee Valley | 2024 State IN . Webster averaged 8.4 points per game as a freshman and should be poised for a breakout season. If he takes a leap as a sophomore he and Mikash will be as talented as anyone on their schedule.
There are a few other returning seniors who were important rotation pieces last season that will provide depth for a veteran Kougars squad. However, the key to success may rest in the hands of the younger guys like Dase and Webster. Regardless, this will be a much improved Kankakee Valley team that could surprise some people in March.
Honorable Mention: NorthWood High School
NorthWood went 16-9 last season before a one point loss to Leo bounced them from the state tournament in the regional final. It was even closer than that though as a controversial call at the end erased two points from the Panthers score that would have advanced them to the final four of Class 3A.
The Panthers graduate only one senior and will be looking to take revenge in March. Junior guard Cade Brenner Cade Brenner 6'3" | SG NorthWood | 2023 State IN is back after averaging just under 18 points per game as a sophomore. He should have a breakout junior season and could even emerge as a darkhorse Junior All-Star candidate. Along with Brenner, senior wing Jamarr Jackson is back providing a physical, athletic presence. Junior forward Ian Raasch, senior Cooper Wiens, junior Brock Bontrager, and senior Chaz Yoder will all round out the returning rotation pieces.
Returning such a strong core, along with a potential star in Cade Brenner Cade Brenner 6'3" | SG NorthWood | 2023 State IN , from a 16-9 team that made the regional final will make NorthWood one of the preseason favorites in Class 3A.