Prep Hoops Circuit Grit Region Finals – 2025/2026 Stock-Risers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Another year on the Prep Hoops Circuit has come to a close with our Grit Region Finals taking place this past weekend between Westfield, Fishers, and Noblesville. Nearly 250 teams across three age groups from all over the Midwest and beyond descended on the north side of Indianapolis to compete for a championship. Ultimately, we crowded&nbsp;<a href="https://prephoops.com/program/indiana-game/"><strong>[program_tooltip program_id='2075551' first='Indiana' last='Game']</strong></a>&nbsp;Elite, Ohio United-McClure, and Kyle Guy Elite Black as our Prep Hoops Circuit Grit Region champions in the 15u, 16u, and 17u brackets respectively. We will release our All-Tournament teams on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, along with plenty more coverage to come, but for now let's take a look at six underclassmen prospects who stood out over the weekend. These guys may or may not make the All-Tournament team, but they definitely caught our eye with their play at the Grit Region Finals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"Markeith Drane","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"Ben Davis","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"[program_tooltip program_id='2076924' first='[program_tooltip program_id='2076924' first='EG10' last='']' last=''] 2026","_player_evaluations_0_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_0_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_0_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Drane was a big time scorer for [program_tooltip program_id='2076924' first='EG10' last=''] 2026 this weekend at the Prep Hoops Circuit Grit Region Finals. After leading the team to a pair of wins on Friday to reach the Sweet 16, the 6'1u0022 talented guard finished the weekend off with 22 points in a comeback win on Sunday against Midwest Basketball Club Southwest Crawley. Starting to really make a name for himself as a playmaker in the Class of 2026.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["1738856"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"One part of the u0022twin towersu0022 inside for OPS Kindschy alongside [player_tooltip player_id='1981703' first='Stephen' last='Akase'], this 6'5u0022 forward from Carroll (Fort Wayne) High School is a consistent finisher around the basket. He displays a soft touch at the rim and good footwork when he catches the ball on the block. His size and strength allow him to play through some contact and helps him when rebounding as well. Definitely a name to keep an eye on as he continues to develop. Plays his role well for a very successful team that reached the Prep Hoops Circuit Grit Region Finals 15u Final Four over the weekend.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1880970"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"An athletic, bigger guard at 6'3u0022, Knox put on a show throughout the weekend while leading Mac Boys Basketball to the 16u Prep Hoops Circuit Grit Region Finals Final Four. He is able to use his skill out on the perimeter to penetrate the defense and then use his size to finish inside. Knox plays hard on both ends of the floor, is shifty with the ball, and can really be disruptive on the defensive end.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["1297113"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Sims' weekend came to an unfortunate end against Ohio United McClure in the Prep Hoops Circuit Grit Region Finals 16u Final Four. However, up to that point, the 6'3u0022 guard once again proved himself as a talented scorer with all of the physical tools you could ask for in the backcourt. His strength and athleticism allows him to get to his spots and elevate for pull-up jumpers whenever he wants. Sims gets all the way to the rim very well also. It was an impressive run to the Final Four for him and [program_tooltip program_id='2076935' first='Team' last='Teague'] Felder.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1539669"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"This 6'7u0022 big man was a force inside for Indiana Ambition on their way to reaching the 16u championship game of the Prep Hoops Circuit Grit Region Finals. He finishes well over his left shoulder when you throw it to him in the post, rebounds his area well, and can defend his position well on the block. Thomas is a physical player inside with some intriguing upside coming out of Evansville Harrison High School.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["1552408"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Williams is an athletic guard that put up consistent double-figure scoring numbers for [program_tooltip program_id='2075622' first='M14' last='Hoops'] Adidas Gold as they advanced to the 15u Elite Eight before bowing out to the [program_tooltip program_id='2075383' first='Chicago' last='Demons'] who would go on to reach the championship game. M14 lost that game by just two points, 65-63. He showed the ability to slice is way through the defense off of the dribble and then did a good job of finishing throughout the weekend.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":6,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-64b5a9c829ff1"} /-->