Open Gym Report: Ben Davis High School

Here at Prep Hoops Indiana the fall means it is time to get out to high school open gyms. Indiana High School Basketball teams are now allowed two on court days a week and we take that opportunity to start previewing the upcoming season. Through the first two weeks of my journey across the state I visited Fishers, North Central, Avon, Connersville, Kokomo, Cathedral, Franklin, and Crispus Attucks. To begin the third week of travels I took in a workout at Ben Davis High School on Monday afternoon. Let's dive on in to what the Giants have coming back for the 2022-2023 season.   <h2>Roster Breakdown</h2>   Through four seasons of coaching at his alma mater, Don Carlisle has experienced a lot of success. In year one he took the Giants to the championship game. Since then, they have cut the Sectional 11 nets down in back-to-back seasons including reaching the regional final a year ago. However, Ben Davis likely has their best team yet under Carlisle entering this season. Their incredibly talented 2023 class have now reached their senior year and have Gainbridge Fieldhouse set in their sights. Returning their top six scorers from a year ago certainly seems like a great place to start.   Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1158204' first='K.J.' last='Windham'] averaged 12.7 points per game last season to lead the balanced Ben Davis attack. The skilled left-handed guard has played his way into some solid MAC offers with a strong summer and looks poised for a big junior campaign. His pure shot-making ability will benefit from the depth of playmaking surrounding him. At the top of that playmaking list is senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1273713' first='Sheridan' last='Sharp'] who scored 9.9 points per game along with a team-best 4.9 assists last season. Sharp now holds Division I offers and is playing his best basketball heading into his senior season. He looks improved as a jump shooter, has the same explosiveness he has always possessed off the bounce, and will be one of the more pesky on-ball defenders in the state. Senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1160716' first='Clay' last='Butler'] will also have the ball in his hands a lot this season. The recent Lincoln University commit is an elite finisher with a lot of quickness in the open floor. His playmaking ability will help take some pressure and attention off of Sharp and Windham opening up the floor for everyone. Don't forget about sophomore point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1373105' first='Mark' last='Zackery'] either. As a freshman he stepped into the varsity level right away gaining valuable experience and playing in the rotation. He is one of the best two-way guards in the 2025 class and will be an absolute menace on the defensive end of the floor. That stable of four guards is as good or better than what anyone in the state has and is a big reason why the Giants will be one of the preseason favorites to win the Class 4A state championship.   We can't proceed any further without spending some time talking about 6'9" center [player_tooltip player_id='1042497' first='Zane' last='Doughty']. The Valparaiso commit was named to the "Core" Indiana Junior All-Star team last season after averaging 11.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 2.9 blocks per game. Doughty is a high-motor big man that will protect the rim and rebound at a high level for the Giants. He does all of the dirty work around the basket and is the perfect interior compliment for a team loaded with talent on the perimeter. His ability to impact the game without needing the ball a ton is why he became so attractive to a many college programs over the summer.   Two more high-motor forwards will make key contributions this season for Ben Davis as well. 6'5" senior [player_tooltip player_id='1273740' first='Shaun' last='Arnold'] was a starter last year averaging 7.0 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. There literally might not be any player in the state that plays harder more consistently than Arnold. He is an elite defender who can truly cover all five positions, has the ability to drive it in a straight line offensively, and even showcased an improved mid-range jumper at Monday's workout. Similarly, 6'7" senior [player_tooltip player_id='1049168' first='Jesse' last='Faires'] is another versatile piece that is coming off a strong summer. Faires can stretch the floor out to the three-point range while still possessing the size to finish around the basket. Both of these guys will be X-factors this season for the Giants.   Rounding out the rotation will be returning contributors [player_tooltip player_id='1295351' first='Mark' last='White'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1556385' first='Jamir' last='Carnell']. White is an athletic 6'3" junior wing who will defend on the perimeter and be another weapon in transition for the Giants. Carnell is a 6'4" senior forward who provides some additional size and strength inside. He's very strong and can rebound well on both ends of the floor.   <h2>Outlook</h2>   Winning a state championship is at the top of the mind of anyone associated with Ben Davis basketball this season. The Giants went 22-7 last season before ultimately bowing out to eventual state champion Cathedral in the regional final. With so much coming back, the sky is the limit for this group. Many media members will select them as the preseason favorite and they may even hold a #1 ranking entering the year. With a pair of Indiana All-Star candidates in [player_tooltip player_id='1273713' first='Sheridan' last='Sharp'] and Zane Doughy, plus Indiana Junior All-Star candidate [player_tooltip player_id='1158204' first='K.J.' last='Windham'], the talent level of this group is obvious. Add in all of the returning rotation depth and you have a team where everyone who plays in the games will likely end up being a college basketball player.

Here at Prep Hoops Indiana the fall means it is time to get out to high school open gyms. Indiana High School Basketball teams are now allowed two on court days a week and we take that opportunity to start previewing the upcoming season. Through the first two weeks of my journey across the state I visited Fishers, North Central, Avon, Connersville, Kokomo, Cathedral, Franklin, and Crispus Attucks. To begin the third week of travels I took in a workout at Ben Davis High School on Monday afternoon. Let's dive on in to what the Giants have coming back for the 2022-2023 season.