One Under the Radar Prospect on Each State Finals Team
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As we lead up to Saturday’s IHSAA State Finals our staff at Prep Hoops Indiana has been previewing each individual matchup in the most in-depth manner possible. Now, we will dig a little deeper into each of the eight state…
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Continue ReadingAs we lead up to Saturday’s IHSAA State Finals our staff at Prep Hoops Indiana has been previewing each individual matchup in the most in-depth manner possible. Now, we will dig a little deeper into each of the eight state finalists and highlight one under-the-radar prospect or contributor. These players may not be the stars of their respective teams in some cases, but they have played a big role in getting to Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Let’s dive on in.
Shaun Arnold Shaun Arnold 6'5" | PF Ben Davis | 2023 State IN (Ben Davis H.S. 2023): Arnold, a St. Thomas Aquinas (DII) signee, is arguably the heart and sole of this 32-0 Ben Davis squad. HIs effort, intensity, and versatility are at the core of the Giants success. The 6’5″ forward can handle the ball out on the perimeter, rebounds at a high level, and is one of the best defenders in the state. His 7.6 points and 4.9 rebounds don’t begin to tell the story of his impact on the floor.
Kamea Chandler Kamea Chandler 5'10" | PG Guerin Catholic | 2023 State IN (Guerin Catholic H.S. 2023): One of the better unsigned senior guards that you will see on Saturday, Chandler averages 11.0 points and 3.3 assists per game for the Golden Eagles. He has been a consistent playmaker for Guerin Catholic as they navigated their way to the Class 3A state championship game.
Jimmy Davidson (Blackhawk Christian 2023): This 6’3″ senior continues in a long line of Davidson’s to find success at Blackhawk Christian. He averages 6.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game as a do-everything guard for the Braves. His ability to distribute and rebound his position makes him the perfect plug-play guy next to the stars on Blackhawk.
Patrick Hardimon Patrick Hardimon 6'4" | SF Kokomo | 2023 IN (Kokomo H.S. 2023): Hardimon is the Swiss-army knife for this Wildkats team. At 6’4″ he provides versatile size and athleticism on both ends of the floor. He averages 8.8 points and 3.3 rebounds per game and came up huge in the clutch in Kokomo’s 58-57 win over Penn to secure their trip to Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
Paul Oliver Paul Oliver 6'3" | PF Linton-Stockton | 2026 State IN (Linton-Stockton H.S. 2026): There are plenty of veteran contributors that have led Linton-Stockton to the state championship game. However, this 6’3″ freshman has been an x-factor for the Miners all season long. Oliver has size and strength well beyond his years and contributes 7.2 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. Looks for his physicality to matchup well against Blackhawk Christian.
Durray Smith (Indianapolis Lutheran 2023): A 53-124 shooter from beyond the arc (42.7%), Smith will be one of the better catch-and-shoot threats in the gym on Saturday. He is the Saints second leading scorer at 12.2 points per game and provides a valuable veteran presence in the backcourt.
Ethan Wolfe Ethan Wolfe 5'11" | PG NorthWood | 2024 IN (NorthWood H.S. 2024): Wolfe doesn’t grab as many headlines as some of his teammates, but he plays an important role in their success. He does a great job handling the ball in the backcourt and setting the table for the stars around him. The junior point guard shoots 38.4% from beyond the arc while averaging 7.0 points and 3.6 assists per game.
Cole Winer (Southwood H.S. 2023): A 6’3″ wing, Winer is second on this Knights tam averaging an impressive 14.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game. He is one of the bigger guys on Southwood’s team but has perimeter skill which makes him a very tough matchup for opponents. Look for him to have a big game on Saturday.