Season Preview – Class 1A State Title Favorites

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Indiana High School Basketball practice is officially underway. After a long fall where teams are only allowed two days a week of two hour open workouts, tryouts started on Monday the 7th with normal practices ready to start this week. You can almost start to feel the buzz in the air as football is into the Regional round and basketball games are just around the corner. Tip-off will come the Monday prior to Thanksgiving with full slates of games that Tuesday and Wednesday night.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>About two months ago did a series of “way too early” season previews. Those gave us a baseline for the best players and teams around the state. Now, after spending the last two months visiting multiple open gym workouts every week we can put out an even more in-depth and accurate preview. It is no longer “way too early.” Here is a list of the top teams to watch in Class 1A this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2>Class 1A</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It feels like Class 1A is absolutely wide open heading into the 2022-2023 season. Defending state champion North Daviess has moved up and elected to compete in Class 3A this season. State runner-up Lafayette Central Catholic was also bumped up to 2A. Another one of the state's most talented teams, Gary 21st Century, will compete in Class 2A as well leaving the door wide open for small schools across the state. Here are the current favorites in Class 1A as we close in on the start of the high school season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Edinburgh</strong>:&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='935747' first='Caleb' last='Dewey']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/caleb-dewey/"><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></a><a></a>&nbsp;is back as one of the more well-rounded players in Class 1A. The 6'3″ guard averaged 21.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game as a junior for the Lancers who went 22-4 and lost by one point to eventual state champion North Daviess in the regional. Look for Edinburgh to be a real contender out of the south once again this coming season.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Evansville Christian</strong>: This might seem like an off the wall pick as it will be Evansville Christian's first season as an eligible IHSAA member. However, the talent is there and last season they proved their ability to play with the best of the best. At point guard, they will feature Division I prospect&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1158176' first='Josiah' last='Dunham']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/josiah-dunham/"><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></a><a></a>&nbsp;who is fresh off of averaging 26.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game as a sophomore. He is a Top 10 prospect in the Class of 2024. In total, three of the Eagles four top scorers return from a team that took both Loogootee and North Daviess to overtime on the road last season.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Liberty Christian</strong>: No stranger to being among the favorites in Class 1A, the 2016 state champion Lions will be a contender once again. Despite the loss of leading scorers Adonis House and Zack Jeffers, there is still plenty of firepower to go around. 6'7″ forward&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1554067' first='Kobe' last='Watson']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/kobe-watson/"><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></a><a></a>&nbsp;will look to make a leap for his senior season as a dominant interior presence. In the backcourt,&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='935729' first='Eric' last='Troutman']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/eric-troutman/"><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></a><a></a>&nbsp;,&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1556505' first='Cedric' last='Anderson']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/cedric-anderson/"><strong></strong><strong></strong></a><a></a>&nbsp;, and Ethan Troutman return as a three-headed senior guard presence. This will be a veteran group with a winning tradition that should win their sectional and be the favorite in regional action as well.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Loogootee</strong>: The Lions lost in the first round of sectional last season in overtime to Orleans. They will be searching for a lot more this time around. Orleans will be very good once again, but with North Daviess out of the way it will be Loogootee who is the favorite in Sectional 63.&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='868254' first='Peyton' last='Bledsoe']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/peyton-bledsoe/"><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></a><a></a>&nbsp;averaged 20.2 points per game on impressive 55/44/92 shooting splits. He will give the Lions a chance to win every time out on the floor. Second leading scorer Parker Arvin is back as well after averaging double figures a year ago.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --> <!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Marquette Catholic</strong>: After a 13-11 season came to an end with a sectional loss to Gary 21st Century, the Blazers return two of their top three scorers from a year ago. You can actually expand that to include five of their top six scorers. 6'6″ wing&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1167896' first='Lukas' last='Balling']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/lukas-balling/"><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></a><a></a>&nbsp;returns his 16.6 points and 7.7 rebounds as one of the best players in the area. Guard&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1162739' first='Jason' last='Kobe']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jason-kobe/"><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></a><a></a>&nbsp;averaged 11.5 points a year ago and is poised for a big senior season. They will have to get by&nbsp;<strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1198964' first='J.J.' last='Morris']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/j-j-morris/"><strong></strong><strong></strong><strong></strong></a><a></a>&nbsp;and his Argos squad, along with an always solid Triton team, but Marquette Catholic should be the Sectional 50 favorite and the most likely to reach semi-state from their regional grouping.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Other Potential Contenders</strong>: Greenwood Christian, Indianapolis Lutheran, Orleans, Rock Creek Academy</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->