High School Spotlight: Mount Vernon (Fortville) Marauders

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The high school season is still a few months away but with team workouts starting to take place, it is the perfect time to start previewing the season. In this series, we will be a look at some quick hitters, the top player, potential breakout player, other roster roster members and notable games of the upcoming season. For today's spotlight, we take a look at the Mount Vernon (Fortville) Marauders. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Quick Hitters</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Finished 16-9 last season</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Lost to New Palestine in Sectionals</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Joe Bradburn is brand new head coach for Marauders </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Top Player(s): [player_tooltip player_id='1728587' first='Luke' last='Ertel'] / [player_tooltip player_id='1561435' first='Julien' last='Smith']</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This was probably the closest race as the top player on a team in this series as both Ertel an Smith are just equally both highly talented. Ertel had an excellent freshman season averaged 13.0 points per game while also grabbing a team-leading 6.3 rebounds and dishing out 4.3 assists. He is a do-it-all point guard with a high skill level, excellent athleticism, and a real feel for the game that is well beyond his years. Smith on the other hand, is a smaller point guard but is incredibly athletic with some real explosiveness off of the bounce. Smith has a tight handle, can get end-to-end in a hurry, and is an excellent finisher for his size at the rim.&nbsp;Both are going end up being two of the most highly sought after players in the in-state 2026 class. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Potential Breakout Player: [player_tooltip player_id='1561030' first='R'mani' last='Wells']</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If you are not high on this 6'4, 2026 power forward right now then you should be becuase the upside is through the roof with Wells. Ertel and Smith may get all the attention, Wells plays his role so well and is an important part of that big three. Wells only averaged 4.8 points as a freshman so those numbers are expected to go up tremendously. He is long, athletic, and has shown some smoothness around the rim. Solid handles for his size as well and can make plays on the drive at a high levels. His athletic ability and motor is what attracts you instantly to Wells as there aren't many plays that I have seen that he takes off and he is smart enough to know his athletic ability is to his advantage.&nbsp; </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Other Important Roster Members:</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1539552' first='Tanner' last='Teschendorf']</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1539556' first='Tyler' last='Davis']</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1295362' first='Brady' last='Fitzgerald']</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Notable Games (Confirmed)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>at Fishers (12/2)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Kokomo Tournament (12/22)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>at Greenfield-Central (1/5)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>vs Noblesville (2/1)</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->