3 For 3: Week 8 Preview
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The high school boys’ basketball season is underway and 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…
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Continue ReadingThe high school boys’ basketball season is underway and 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
Reggie Bass Reggie Bass 6'4" | SG Arsenal Tech | 2022 State #175 Nation IN – 6’5 2022 SG – Arsenal Tech: Bass is the best player overall in the 2022 class that has yet to commit anywhere ever since decommitting from Illinois last year. He has been the leader of Asenal Tech ever since transferring there is averaging over 19 ppg. He is a do-it-all type of guard that just knows how to be a playmarker. Have to wonder when he is going to make his commitment as the season comes closer to ending. He and Tech face Marian on 1/14.
J.J. Morris J.J. Morris 6'6" | SF Argos | 2023 State IN – 6’5 2023 SF – Argos: Morris is arguably one of the most overlooked 2023’s in Northern Indiana. He is without question the best player on this Argos team and is the main reason why they have won 8 straight ever since losing their first game. Has great length and strength for a wing and can score consistently inside and out. He has had many dominant games and I think he well on his way to start having small schools reach out and offer him. He and Argos will Travel to North Miami on 1/11 and host Oregon-Davis on 1/14.
Jordan Lomax Jordan Lomax 6'3" | SG Brownsburg | 2024 State IN – 6’2 2024 CG – Avon: Lomax has been one of the most talked about 2024s in the state for the past couple years. He is long and lanky and is arguably the best at attacking the basket in the 2024 class. Very athletic and is pretty much the definition of a combo guard as this guy can bring offense on or off the ball. Even though Avon has not had the best of season, Lomax has been a bright spot for them. He and Avon will host Mt. Vernon (Fortville) on 1/14.
3 Teams
Terre Haute North (4A): Lots of people knew that Terre Haute North was going to be good this year, but nobody thought they would be 12-1 and one good! Being led by 2023 PG Bryson Carpenter Bryson Carpenter 6'0" | PG Terre Haute North | 2023 IN , this mature Patriots squad has just been finding ways to win big games all season long. They just suffered their first loss in a shocking blowout from Columbus North but have a great chance to bounce back vs city rival Terre Haute South on 1/14. The Patriots are a team you need to keep an eye on come Sectional time.
Carroll (Flora) (2A): What great, dominant season the Cougars are having so far. Ranked in the top 5 in 2A, undefeated at 9-0, and have really only had one game that was decided in the single-digit range. This is perhaps their biggest week yet as they play another really good 2A team, Clinton Prairie, on 1/14. Would be a huge win for Chris Huerta Chris Huerta 5'10" | PG Carroll-Flora | 2024 IN and the Cougars if they can get the win here.
Edinburgh (1A): The Lancers, who are 11-0 currently, come into this week as arguably the best team in 1A. The main man for them this year has been 2023 SF Caleb Dewey Caleb Dewey 6'3" | SF Edinburgh | 2023 State IN who has been the guy that has provided buckets to this high scoring offense. This week presents a challenge to Edinburgh as they play their first 4A teams this year, Greenwood, on 1/11. If they win this week, they would have beaten teams in all four classes.
3 Matchups
Homestead (4A) at Fort Wayne Blackhawk (4A) – Jan 11th, 7:30pm: It just does not get any bigger than this in Northern Indiana this week as one of the top 2A teams host one of the top 4A teams in the state. Fort Wayne Blackhawk has been kind of a surprise this year with the loss of a bunch of players from last season but Josh Furst Josh Furst 6'6" | C Blackhawk Christian | 2023 State IN has helped this team stay unbeaten so far. With Homestead, everybody knew how great they were going to be but they have suffered a few more losses than expected this point into the season. However, a team that has a potential Mr. Basketball on it’s roster, you can never count them out. I expect Fletcher Loyer Fletcher Loyer 6'4" | SG Homestead | 2022 State #108 Nation IN and Homestead to go on the road and give Blackhawk their first loss of the season.
Connersville (3A) at Noblesville (4A) – Jan 15th, 7:30pm: This is a very interesting matchup on paper. Connor Essegian Connor Essegian 6'4" | SG Central Noble | 2022 State #170 Nation IN and Connersville have been one of the best teams in 3A this year and even though Noblesville has been kind of lackluster so far, they have the roster to give great teams fights. Even though Essegian will no doubt be the best player on the floor this game, Noblesville does bring in a little bit more talent overall with guys like E.J. Smith E.J. Smith 6'1" | PG Noblesville | 2022 State IN , Preston Roberts Preston Roberts 6'5" | SF Noblesville | 2023 State IN , Luke Almodovar Luke Almodovar 6'2" | SG Noblesville | 2023 State IN , Cooper Bean Cooper Bean 6'4" | SG Noblesville | 2023 State IN , and others. For that reason, I think Noblesville is going to get it done here and build some momentum heading forward.
Carmel (4A) at Cathedral (4A) – Jan 12th, 7:30pm: I think you can say that this is the biggest game not only in the Indy area this week, but in the entire state. Both teams are just loaded with D1 level talent and both can make a case as the best team in all of 4A. Both squads have lost 3 games this year and with the talent on each side, you can expect this game to be just a straight up battle. Even with Carmel bringing in Peter Suder Peter Suder 6'5" | SG Carmel | 2022 State #227 Nation IN , Charlie Williams Charlie Williams 6'10" | PF Carmel | 2022 State #220 Nation IN , and Sam Orme Sam Orme 6'9" | SF Carmel | 2023 State #196 Nation IN , I still don’t think its is going to be enough for them to come in and stop the high powered unit of Tayshawn Comer Tayshawn Comer 6'0" | PG Cathedral | 2022 State #226 Nation IN , Jaxon Edwards Jaxon Edwards 6'6" | SF Cathedral | 2022 State IN , Jake Davis Jake Davis 6'6" | SF Cathedral | 2023 State IN , Jaron Tibbs Jaron Tibbs 6'4" | SF Cathedral | 2023 State IN , Sincere Germany Sincere Germany 6'2" | SG Cathedral | 2023 State IN , and Xavier Booker Xavier Booker 6'11" | PF Cathedral | 2023 State #4 Nation IN . Cathedral wins this time, but I don’t think this will be the last time we see these two play this year.