3 For 3: Week 7 Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2022-23 high school boys' basketball season is underway and we at Prep Hoops 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!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3 Players</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["868252"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63b1fd2f04714"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>He may be a Purdue football commit, but this talented guard can flat out hoop. Averaging around 22 points per game, Tibbs has arguably been Cathedral's best player so far this season. He is a player that can get a bucket any way and he uses his elite athletic ability to his advantage. Are we sure this guy can't also play basketball for Purdue? He and Cathedral play at Indianapolis Roncalli on 12/3</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1158245"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63b1fd2f04786"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Speaking of Purdue, let's switch our focus to 2024 Boilermaker commit [player_tooltip player_id='1158245' first='Jack' last='Benter'], who has been having a phenomenal junior year down south. If you want to talk about elite scoring, Benter should be at the front that convo. He has elite range from deep and he uses his bigger frame to make plays around the rim. He could be well on his way to leading Brownstown to a 2A State Championship. Watch Benter and the Braves take on a sneaky good Jennings County team on Friday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1364589"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63b1fd2f047d6"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If you haven't heard of [player_tooltip player_id='1364589' first='Kellen' last='Pickett'] by now, it is time you did because this guy is a stock-riser. At the PF spot, he is a very versatile player that score both in the post and on the outside. He has incredible length already which has forced him to be problem for any team that Blackhawk faces. He could end up being a walking double-double these next two years. He and Blackhawk play South Bend St. Joseph on 12/3.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3 Teams</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lawrence Central&nbsp;(4A):</strong>&nbsp;How about them Bears? After 2023 guard [player_tooltip player_id='1379216' first='Kamari' last='Jones'] opted to transfer out of state, a lot of people wrote Lawrence Central off. However, Lawrence Central in on a three game winning streaking and winning the Noblesville Tournament and beating Chesterton, Columbus North, and Noblesville in doing so. Players like [player_tooltip player_id='1273741' first='DaJohn' last='Craig'] and others have been stepping up as of late. The Bears will be tested yet again this week as they host Park Tudor (12/4) and travel to Hamilton Southeastern (12/6) this week. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Evansville Memorial</strong>&nbsp;<strong>(3A):</strong> Moving down south, the Evansville Memorial Tigers have been a sneaky good team at the 3A and currently 7-1 on the season. With their only loss coming from Corydon, the Tigers have beaten teams like Heritage Hills, Jasper, and Providence. Senior SF [player_tooltip player_id='1557196' first='Blake' last='Anderson'] has done a good job of leading this team and 2024 standout PF [player_tooltip player_id='1578479' first='Tucker' last='Tornatta'] has been a bright spot in this team. The Tigers will have a tough road game at Castle this Friday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tipton&nbsp;(2A):</strong> At 9-2, this Tipton Blue Devil team is one of the better 2A teams in the northern Indiana area. The guard play of junior [player_tooltip player_id='1158205' first='Nolan' last='Swan'] and senior [player_tooltip player_id='868266' first='Connor' last='Hussong'] has what has really carried this team. Before their loss to Western, they were on a 4-game winning streak and will have a chance to bounce back with a road matchup at Bethesda Christian on Saturday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3 Matchups&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Center Grove (4A) at Jennings County (4A) – Jan. 7th, 7:30 pm:</strong>&nbsp;In southern Indiana, I think this could be the best game at the 4A level this week. The talented Center Grove team lead by senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1272949' first='Marcus' last='Ankney'] will travel down to face off against a undefeated Jennings County squad lead by underrated senior lead guard [player_tooltip player_id='1272966' first='Keegan' last='Manowitz']. On paper, Center Grove has the more talent guys such as [player_tooltip player_id='1273050' first='Ethan' last='McComb'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1158238' first='Joey' last='Schmitz'] but the way the Jennings County has been playing, it is hard for me to go against them, especially with homecourt. I like Jennings County to get the win here. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Evansville Christian (1A) at Bloomfield (1A) – Jan. 6th, 7:30:&nbsp;</strong>Sticking with southern Indiana, there is not a bigger 1A matchup this week than Evansville Christian and Bloomfield on Friday. The best player on the floor will certainly be 2024 guard [player_tooltip player_id='1158176' first='Josiah' last='Dunham'] but the Eagles could struggle against the size of Bloomfield's senior center [player_tooltip player_id='1557223' first='Peter' last='Combs']. This is going to be a great game, but it is hard to trust that Evansville Christian will be able to go on the road to beat this great Cardinal team. Bloomfield wins here. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bishop Chatard<strong> </strong>(3A) at Guerin Catholic (3A) – Jan 6th, 7:30:</strong> I think at the 3A level, this game has a chance to be really fun on paper. Both teams have some under-the-radar guys like [player_tooltip player_id='1547883' first='Dylan' last='Murans'], [player_tooltip player_id='1402477' first='Robert' last='Davidson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1556368' first='Drew' last='Knapp'], [player_tooltip player_id='1275817' first='Robert' last='Sorensen'], [player_tooltip player_id='1386181' first='Jack' last='Cherry'], [player_tooltip player_id='1560973' first='Ethan' last='Roseman'], and many others. Both teams seem pretty even right now so it is hard to pick one way or the other. I think I trust Guerin Catholic a little more so I will slightly go with them.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->