FORUM Tipoff Classic Lineup Announced

We are still a couple months away from the start of the 2023-2024 Indiana High School Basketball season. However, there is a reason why we say that in 49 states it is just basketball...but this is INDIANA. Fans want 365 day a year coverage and that is what we provide here at Prep Hoops Indiana. On September 6th, the six-game lineup for the annual FORUM Tipoff Classic was announced. The annual event, which is always one of the best showcases in the state, will be held at historic Southport Fieldhouse on December 9th. Let's take a look at this year's participants.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">12:30 p.m. Southport vs. Greenfield-Central</h2>   Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='1296984' first='Braylon' last='Mullins'] (Greenfield-Central H.S. 2025)   Last Season: Southport (14-10), Greenfield-Central (21-2)   Preview: The host Southport Cardinals will look a lot different than they did a year ago. Last year's group was loaded with seniors and first year head coach Bill Zach will be replacing the top six scorers from that squad. Look for their strong 2025 class to make a leap this season though led by guard [player_tooltip player_id='1306153' first='Michael' last='Johnson'] and forward [player_tooltip player_id='1297043' first='Jack' last='Turner']. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1547494' first='Jye' last='Rudolph'] will be a name to know as well. As for the Cougars of Greenfield-Central, it will be all about Top 100 national prospect [player_tooltip player_id='1296984' first='Braylon' last='Mullins']. The 6'5" guard averaged 16.9 points per game a year ago along with a team-leading 5.2 rebounds. His ability to score from any spot on the floor will make him one of the most dangerous offensive players in the state this coming season.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2:00 p.m. Warren Central vs. Center Grove</h2>   Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='1297060' first='Jevon' last='Guess'] (Warren Central H.S. 2025), [player_tooltip player_id='1158238' first='Joey' last='Schmitz'] (Center Grove H.S. 2024), [player_tooltip player_id='1547488' first='Will' last='Spellman'] (Center Grove H.S. 2024)   Last Season: Warren Central (14-10), Center Grove (22-3)   Preview: After leading the Warriors to a 32-0 state championship in 2018, head coach Criss Beyers returns to the Warren Central sideline with an under-the-radar group. 6'3" wing [player_tooltip player_id='2089932' first='Robert' last='Walker'] had an excellent summer and should really emerge as a two-way threat on the perimeter. 6'5" forward [player_tooltip player_id='1297060' first='Jevon' last='Guess'] is a physically gifted big man who will dominant the paint and the glass inside. Center Grove is fresh off an excellent season and has several pieces to help them maintain success. Senior point guards [player_tooltip player_id='1158238' first='Joey' last='Schmitz'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1547490' first='Jalen' last='Bundy'] bring back a lot of playmaking ability while Schmitz is also a high-level shooter. 6'6" senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1547488' first='Will' last='Spellman'] is one of the best big men in the area that people may not know a ton about yet as well. His skill level at his size makes him a versatile piece for coach Zach Hahn to play with on the offensive end of the floor.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">3:40 p.m. Guerin Catholic vs. Heritage Hills</h2>   Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='1547883' first='Dylan' last='Murans'] (Guerin Catholic 2024), [player_tooltip player_id='1297118' first='Trent' last='Sisley'] (Heritage Hills H.S. 2025), [player_tooltip player_id='1275817' first='Robert' last='Sorensen'] (Guerin Catholic 2024)   Last Season: Guerin Catholic (20-9, Class 3A State Runner-Up), Heritage Hills (16-9)   Preview: This matchup will feature one of the top teams in Class 3A against the best individual player in Class 3A. Last season, Guerin Catholic went on an impressive postseason run to reach the state finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. They return a lot from that team including leading scorer [player_tooltip player_id='1275817' first='Robert' last='Sorensen'] who posted 14.4 points per game along with senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1547883' first='Dylan' last='Murans'] who recently received a Division I offer from Army and up-and-coming junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2053658' first='Bryson' last='Cardinal'] should have a breakout season. On the Heritage Hills sideline, it is all about 6'8" junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1297118' first='Trent' last='Sisley']. The highly sought after Big 10 recruit is a four-star, Top 75 prospect nationally and is coming off a monster sophomore season that saw him average 26.3 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">5:20 p.m. Crispus Attucks vs. Noblesville</h2>   Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='1297019' first='Dezmon' last='Briscoe'] (Crispus Attucks H.S. 2025), [player_tooltip player_id='1534261' first='Justin' last='Curry II'] (Noblesville H.S. 2026), [player_tooltip player_id='1158209' first='Aaron' last='Fine'] (Noblesville H.S. 2024), [player_tooltip player_id='1275771' first='Ron' last='Rutland III'] (Crispus Attucks H.S. 2024 - University of Indianapolis), [player_tooltip player_id='1275012' first='Hunter' last='Walston'] (Noblesville H.S. 2024)   Last Season: Crispus Attucks (18-8), Noblesville (19-7, Sectional 8 Champions)   Preview: Two very successful teams from a year ago will face-off in the evening of the Forum Tipoff Classic featuring what could be Top 10 rosters in the Class 4A preseason rankings. Crispus Attucks won last season's Indianapolis City championship and return nearly all of their production from that team. UIndy commit [player_tooltip player_id='1275771' first='Ron' last='Rutland III'] was the Tigers leading scorer averaging 18.0 points per game while making nearly 80 three-point attempts. Inside, Top 150 national prospect in the Class of 2025, [player_tooltip player_id='1297019' first='Dezmon' last='Briscoe'] brings back 15.6 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 4.0 blocks per game. Noblesville will counter with senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1158209' first='Aaron' last='Fine'] who averaged 13.8 points and 3.5 assists per game last year and stock-rising senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1275012' first='Hunter' last='Walston'] who contributed 8.3 points and 5.0 rebounds. Look for sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='1534261' first='Justin' last='Curry II'] to step into a much expanded role this year as well.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">7:00 p.m. Lawrence North vs. Fort Wayne Wayne</h2>   Players to Watch: [player_tooltip player_id='1297001' first='Chase' last='Barnes'] (Fort Wayne Wayne H.S. 2025), [player_tooltip player_id='1158213' first='Kobi' last='Bowles'] (Lawerence North H.S. 2024), [player_tooltip player_id='1578417' first='Jevon' last='Lewis'] (Fort Wayne Wayne H.S. 2024), [player_tooltip player_id='1296979' first='Azavier' last='Robinson'] (Lawrence North H.S. 2025)   Last Season: Lawrence North (18-8), Fort Wayne Wayne (21-5, Regional Champion)   Preview: Lawrence North has a good chance of being the preseason #1 team in Class 4A while Fort Wayne Wayne will likely be in the Top 5 or 10. The Wildcats feature four-star guard [player_tooltip player_id='1296979' first='Azavier' last='Robinson'] who has blossomed into a legitimate high-major prospect with offers from the likes of Arizona State, Butler, Illinois, Notre Dame, Oklahoma State, St. John's, and TCU. He averaged 20.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game. Alongside fellow guard [player_tooltip player_id='1158213' first='Kobi' last='Bowles'], Lawrence North will have one of the most dynamic, explosive backcourts in the state. For Fort Wayne Wayne, the Generals return a lot from their team that made a run to Semi-State last season. Senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='1578417' first='Jevon' last='Lewis'] averaged 16.6 points and 6.4 assists per game while junior [player_tooltip player_id='1297001' first='Chase' last='Barnes'] brings back 13.9 points per game. Those two will matchup well against LN's guards.   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">8:30 p.m. Fishers vs. Kokomo</h2>   Players: [player_tooltip player_id='1363488' first='Flory' last='Bidunga'] (Kokomo H.S. 2024 - Kansas), [player_tooltip player_id='2079500' first='Keenan' last='Garner'] (Fishers H.S. 2024), [player_tooltip player_id='1578471' first='Taden' last='Metzger'] (Fishers H.S. 2024 - Huntington University)   Last Season: Fishers (14-12), Kokomo (24-5, Class 4A State Runner-Up)   Preview: Admittedly, this game lost a little bit of its luster when [player_tooltip player_id='1297052' first='Jalen' last='Haralson'] announced that he was leaving Fishers for La Lumiere. However, the Tigers, who would have been the preseason #1 team, are still likely to be a Top 10 roster going against the reigning Class 4A state runner-up Kokomo Wildkats. Obviously, the major draw here is Kansas commit [player_tooltip player_id='1363488' first='Flory' last='Bidunga']. The 6'9" five-star center averaged 20.2 points, 13.8 rebounds, and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting over 80% from the field last season. Kokomo will be retooling a bit, but there is still some talent surrounding their generational big man. This should be a fun night cap to a great event.

We are still a couple months away from the start of the 2023-2024 Indiana High School Basketball season. However, there is a reason why we say that in 49 states it is just basketball...but this is INDIANA. Fans want 365 day a year coverage and that is what we provide here at Prep Hoops Indiana. On September 6th, the six-game lineup for the annual FORUM Tipoff Classic was announced. The annual event, which is always one of the best showcases in the state, will be held at historic Southport Fieldhouse on December 9th. Let's take a look at this year's participants.