3 For 3: Week 13 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!&nbsp;</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":["1273741"],"_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-63ea683fa9403"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Craig has been one of the best 'stock risers' when it comes to 2023 guards this season. Since Kamari Jones left Lawrence North, Craig has been the guy to really step up for the Bearcats and push them to a 13-7 record right now. He is a playmaker and has gotten so much better shooting it from three. Looks as through D1's are starting to take notice of him as he recently went on a visit to Evansville. He and Lawrence Central travel to Indianapolis Tindley on Saturday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["868270"],"_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-63ea683fa947c"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='868270' first='Kyron' last='Kaopuiki'] is another guard that has seen his stock see a major uptick this season. He is a very versatile guard that can play on or off the ball and do it a high level as he has proven this year. Incredibly smart player that can score at all three levels and use his IQ and athletic ability to make plays. Has offers from Wabash College, Heidelberg University, and multiple interests from other schools at that level. He and Homestead host East Noble (2/14) and travel to Fort Wayne Carroll (2/17) this week. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1198964"],"_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-63ea683fa94db"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Morris is one of the more versatile forwards in the 2023 class. He can score at all three levels and defensively, he guards the perimeter and post at a solid rate. For the last 4 years, he has always been one of Argos' better players and always seems to put up height numbers with continued improvement in his game. Has offers from Ohio Northern, Depauw University, Anderson University, and Manchester University. He and Argos have a busy week with three games going to South Central (Union Mills) (2/14), hosting North Judson (2/17), and at Peru (2/18). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3 Teams</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jennings County</strong> <strong>(4A):</strong>&nbsp;At the 4A level, the Jennings County Panthers may be the biggest surprise this season. They stand at 17-2 this year and are currently No. 6 in the 4A rankings. Led senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1272966' first='Keegan' last='Manowitz'], the Panthers have beaten teams such as Bedford, Brownstown, Columbus North, Connersville, and so many other good teams. The Panthers are a team to watch out for coming out of Sectional 15 this postseason. They have a date at Bloomington South on 2/18. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Norwell</strong> <strong>(3A):</strong>&nbsp;The Knights of Norwell sit as a top three 3A team in the northern part of the state. They are 18-2 on the year with their last loss coming on December 27th to Columbus North. Senior guard and Bethel commit [player_tooltip player_id='935745' first='Luke' last='McBride'] has been the guy for the Knights this season and they truly go as he goes. They will look to continue their winning streak when they face Jay County (2/17) and Fort Wayne Concordia (2/18) this weekend. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>University</strong> <strong>(2A):</strong>&nbsp;At the 2A level, the University Trailblazers are one of the hottest teams right now. The have a record of 17-1 and have won 10-straight at the time of this writing. When looking at the roster, it all starts with 2024 guard [player_tooltip player_id='1293439' first='Sabien' last='Cain'] who has been one of the best guards in the entire state this season. [player_tooltip player_id='1578353' first='Bryce' last='Gray'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1556354' first='Andre' last='Ozlowski'] have been big time contributing factors this season as well. The Trailblazers have a tough one this week traveling to both Westfield (2/14) and Decatur Central (2/18). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3 Matchups&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fishers</strong> <strong>(4A) at Lawrence North (4A) – Feb 14th, 7:30 pm:</strong>&nbsp;This is a big game for a lot of reasons. To start things off, you have the two best guards in the 2025 class going at it with Fishers' [player_tooltip player_id='1297052' first='Jalen' last='Haralson'] taking on Lawrence North's [player_tooltip player_id='1296979' first='Azavier' last='Robinson']. Lawrence North has really proved a lot of people wrong this year as many thought they would have a down year with the talent loss and coaching change. Fishers on the other hand, have seen a roller coaster of a year and sit at just 11-10 on the year. Fishers need a big win here to get some momentum going but I think it will be hard for them to contain both Robinson and [player_tooltip player_id='1158213' first='Kobi' last='Bowles']. My pick is Lawrence North but if [player_tooltip player_id='1578471' first='Taden' last='Metzger'] goes off for Fishers, the result could easily change. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tippecanoe Valley (3A) at NorthWood (3A</strong>)&nbsp;<strong>– Feb 14th, 7:30 pm:&nbsp;</strong>This is the biggest game on paper at the 3A level this week and it is not even close. The No. 10 Tippecanoe Valley Vikings travel to the No. 1 NorthWood Panthers. Both of these teams come into this one on multi-game winning streaks and have guys that can just score in bunches. For NorthWood it is [player_tooltip player_id='1226596' first='Cade' last='Brenner'] and for Tippecanoe Valley it is [player_tooltip player_id='1272950' first='Nolan' last='Cumberland']. It will be the surrounding pieces that make the difference here and NorthWood I think has the better options. Give me the Panthers here. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Bloomfield (1A) at Sullivan (2A) – Feb 14th, 7:30 pm:</strong> This a fun southern Indiana showdown on paper because you have the No. 1 team in 1A travel to one of the top teams in 2A. This is a big opportunity for the Sullivan Golden Arrows as they have dropped their last two and with a top team in the state coming in, you have to play with a enough energy in order to get a win out of here. Bloomfield, on the hand, is riding a six-game winning streak and big man [player_tooltip player_id='1557223' first='Peter' last='Combs'] is putting on a show this season. Sullivan may be desperate for a win, but I like what I am seeing from Bloomfield to go against them. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->