Updating the Mr. Basketball Race

<p>As we prepare for Semi-State on Saturday that means we are less than two weeks away from Indiana Mr. Basketball votes being due. We have updated this race a couple of times throughout the season and it seemed like an appropriate time to take one last look before ballots are cast. Here are the current top five candidates for the 2022 Indiana Mr. Basketball award.</p> <h2>1. [player_tooltip player_id="1063961" first="Fletcher" last="Loyer"] (Homestead H.S.)</h2> <p>Loyer was our preseason Mr. Basketball favorite, held his lead around the mid-point of the season, and would still earn my vote today. The future Purdue Boilermaker went head-to-head with fellow Purdue signee and Mr. Basketball candidate [player_tooltip player_id="870222" first="Braden" last="Smith"] in the Regional semi-final on Saturday. Smith got the best of Loyer on the scoreboard, but I still don’t see him pulling ahead in the voting. Missing seven games due to injury makes it difficult and the statistical gap, especially in scoring, is hard to overcome as well. Loyer finished the year averaging 26.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 2.2 steals per game.</p> <h2>2. [player_tooltip player_id="870222" first="Braden" last="Smith"] (Westfield H.S.)</h2> <p>The run to the Regional final made the Mr. Basketball vote even harder. With just one more win, Smith might have gotten himself into the top spot but Westfield fell to Kokomo. The Purdue signee averaged an impressive 18.3 points, 6.0 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 1.9 blocks per game for the 22-7 Shamrocks. Unless people punish Loyer for only playing in the IHSAA for two season, or for the loss to Westfield on Saturday, I think these will be your number one and number two vote getters.</p> <h3>3. [player_tooltip player_id="870213" first="Chris" last="Gunn"] (Lawrence North H.S.)</h3> <p>This is the toughest decision on the ballot. Gunn is probably the best senior basketball player in the state of Indiana. He put together big numbers after returning from injury and had a huge 38-point performance in the Sectional against Warren Central. However, I think missing the first six games of the season, and then the first round of Sectionals will be the difference to putting him third. Also, he is the only candidate to not win a Sectional championship. Gunn will play his college basketball at Indiana.</p> <h2>4. [player_tooltip player_id="870212" first="Tayshawn" last="Comer"] (Cathedral H.S.)</h2> <p>Comer is the player who could still do the most for his resume over the next two weeks. If he were to bring home a Class 4A state championship it could go a long way in the voter’s eyes. The Eastern Kentucky signee has consistently been the best player for the Fighting Irish all year long and has them playing their best basketball of the season here in March. Comer averages 16.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 6.3 assists, and 1.4 steals per game.</p> <h2>5. [player_tooltip player_id="769682" first="Connor" last="Essegian"] (Central Noble H.S.)</h2> <p>Essegian, a future Wisconsin Badger, is also still playing in the Class 2A Semi-State and could add to his resume with a potential state championship. He is averaging an impressive 26.8 points per game and is one of the best pure shooters in the state of Indiana. Essegian put up 30 points to beat Blackhawk Christian in the Regional championship and keep the Cougars alive.</p>