Prep Hoops Indiana Super Poll – Unofficial Preseason Poll (11-20)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At the end of August we released our "Way Too Early" version of the Prep Hoops Indiana Super Poll highlighting the Top 20 teams in the state regardless of class. That obviously took into account everything we learned from the summer after the dust had settled on the grassroots season. Now, less than a week away from the start of official practice, it felt like the right time to dust off this exercise once again. Putting "unofficial" in the title is admittedly a way to allow us to still change our mind a bit before the final and "official" preseason Super Poll gets released on Monday, November 20th. However, at this point, there isn't likely to be any drastic changes. Let's dive on in and take a look at our "unofficial" Top 20 rankings regardless of class heading into the 2023-2024 Indiana High School Basketball season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#11 Brownsburg Bulldogs</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It is hard to lose a borderline five-star prospect and hold on to Top 10 status. However, both Browsnburg and Fishers have enough talent to survive this off-season and still be very competitive. The Bulldogs did a little more to offset the loss, but might have a little less depth than the Tigers. Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1172872' first='Jordan' last='Lomax']<a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jordan-lomax-2/"></a> </strong>brings over 17.3 points per game from Avon High School. Additionally, versatile 6'5″ wing <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1578416' first='Jesiah' last='Sloss']<a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jesiah-sloss-2/"></a> </strong>transferred in from Evansville Harrison where he averaged 7.4 points per game as a sophomore. Adding those talented players with returning double-figure scorer <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1293376' first='Grant' last='Porath']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/1295337/"></a> gives Coach Lynch plenty to work with once again. [player_tooltip player_id='1534940' first='Kayden' last='English'] could be an X-Factor as he continues to develop along with senior big man [player_tooltip player_id='1547397' first='Brendan' last='Lattimer'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#12 Plainfield Quakers</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>They might not catch as many of the headlines, but the returning senior duo of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1384422' first='Eli' last='Ellis']<a href="https://prephoops.com/player/eli-ellis-2/"></a> </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1293396' first='Collin' last='Schmidt']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/collin-schmidt-2/"></a> is as good as any in the Indianapolis area. After leading the 15-8 Quakers in scoring last season, the 5'10” Ellis had a huge summer and is poised to be one of the top shooters and scorers in the area. He averaged 14.1 points per game last season while Schmidt, a 6'6″ forward who is committed to IU-South Bend, added 11.0 points per game. Both had excellent falls as well. Plainfield has some of the best young talent in the area including <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1561513' first='Noah' last='Smith']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1560946' first='Landon' last='Gilliatt']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1561612' first='Trey' last='Barton']</strong>, and incoming freshman [player_tooltip player_id='2267048' first='Harper' last='Baker-Lands'].</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#13 Guerin Catholic Golden Eagles</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The defending Class 3A state runner-up had a great summer including wins at the Charlie Hughes Showcase over the likes of Scottsburg, Carroll (Fort Wayne), and Mount Vernon (Fortville). Leading scorer <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1275817' first='Robert' last='Sorensen']<a href="https://prephoops.com/player/robert-sorensen/"></a> </strong>is back for his senior season after averaging 14.4 points per game a year ago. Additionally, 6'7″ forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1547883' first='Dylan' last='Murans']<a href="https://prephoops.com/player/dylan-murans/"></a> </strong>has really come into his own and is ready for a big senior season. Keep an eye on 6'5″ junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2053658' first='Bryson' last='Cardinal']<a href="https://prephoops.com/player/bryson-cardinal/"></a> </strong>to make a large impact as well. Veteran point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1386181' first='Jack' last='Cherry']<a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jack-cherry/"></a> </strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jack-cherry/"></a> will run the show once again too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#14 Jeffersonville Red Devils</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Jeffersonville emerged last season as one of the better teams in southern Indiana led by a sophomore trio of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1388408' first='Tre' last='Singleton']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1297093' first='Michael' last='Cooper']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1373104' first='P.J.' last='Douglas']</strong>. They averaged 13.5, 13.1, and 12.8 points per game respectively. That core also played AAU together through the summer with Indiana Elite Team Tradition and had a lot of success. Fellow junior classmate <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2079227' first='Shawn' last='Boyd']<a href="https://prephoops.com/player/shawn-boyd/"></a> </strong>will provide some additional playmaking out of the backcourt. Look for the Red Devils to be a real contender down south this year as their core all gets a year older.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#15 Mount Vernon (Fortville) Marauders</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The core is young, but very talented. As freshmen, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1561435' first='Julien' last='Smith']<a href="https://prephoops.com/player/julien-smith-3/"></a> </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1728587' first='Luke' last='Ertel']<a href="https://prephoops.com/player/luke-ertel/"></a> </strong>averaged 13.1 and 13.0 points per game respectively to lead the Marauders in scoring. Ertel will miss some time with a broken foot suffered during football season, but there is plenty of help to go around. 6'4″ wing R'Mani Wells added 4.8 points per game in his freshman season. Look for junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1539552' first='Tanner' last='Teschendorf']<a href="https://prephoops.com/player/tanner-teschendorf/"></a> </strong>and senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1295362' first='Brady' last='Fitzgerald']<a href="https://prephoops.com/player/brady-fitzgerald/"></a> </strong>to settle into expanded roles this year as well. Coming out of the fall, 6'6" junior [player_tooltip player_id='1539556' first='Tyler' last='Davis'] is a name to remember as well. Mount Vernon might be a year away, but they still are going to win a lot of games.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#16 Cathedral Fighting Irish</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is certainly plenty to replace for Coach Delany and the Fighting Irish this season. However, the cupboard isn't bare and that was proven with some of their success this summer. 6'8″ junior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1525663' first='Brady' last='Koehler']<a href="https://prephoops.com/player/brady-koehler/"></a> </strong>is ready to have a breakout season as is junior point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1297083' first='Lebron' last='Gough']</strong>. Other pieces such as <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1297015' first='Deric' last='Cannady']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1761728' first='Zach' last='Meeks']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1293368' first='Anthony' last='Fields']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/1295329/"></a> return varsity experience as well. Look for sophomore <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1561135' first='Keaton' last='Aldridge Jr']</strong>. to make an impact as well after a monster summer.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#17 Scottsburg Warriors</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>You'd be hard-pressed to find a better “big three” than Scottsburg's returning senior core of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1401893' first='Kody' last='Clancy']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1276470' first='Jack' last='Miller']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1578484' first='Wyatt' last='Zellers']</strong>. Clancy put up a team-leading 16.8 points and 4.3 assists per game. Miller, a 6'5″ wing, who had an outstanding summer, added 15.1 points and 4.3 rebounds per game on impressive 56.5%/46.6%/84.1% shooting splits. Meanwhile, Zellers, a 6'9″ forward, averaged 12.5 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game. Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1295314' first='Caden' last='Richardson']<a href="https://prephoops.com/player/1295314/"></a> </strong>helps glue it all together with his toughness, but is there enough elsewhere to move the Warriors higher?</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#18 Carmel Greyhounds</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Never count out Carmel. That should be a mantra as old as time at this point. They Greyhounds are going to be young, but that doesn't mean they won't be talent. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1578342' first='Alex' last='Couto']<a href="https://prephoops.com/player/alex-couto-2/"></a> </strong>will be the most proven commodity coming back for his junior season, but look for a very talented sophomore class to make the leap into major varsity roles. [player_tooltip player_id='1560952' first='Evan' last='Harrell'] is the most talented of the bunch who should have a big season this winter. Senior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1761730' first='Ryan' last='Clevenger']<a href="https://prephoops.com/player/ryan-clevenger/"></a> </strong>has varsity experience as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#19 Warren Central Warriors</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Buy stock now. This team is going to surprise some people. There is some firepower in the backcourt with [player_tooltip player_id='2053677' first='Ezekiel' last='Kirby'], [player_tooltip player_id='1401933' first='Damien' last='Keys'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2089932' first='Robert' last='Walker']. Then, in the front court, the tandem of [player_tooltip player_id='1277566' first='Nick' last='Glover'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1297060' first='Jevon' last='Guess'] is probably one of the more underrated in the area. Look for these guys to surprise some people early in the year and solidify themselves as a contender around the Indianapolis area.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#20 Chesterton Trojans</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A one-two combo of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1275807' first='Tyler' last='Parrish']<a href="https://prephoops.com/player/tyler-parrish/"></a> </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1158231' first='Justin' last='Sims']<a href="https://prephoops.com/player/justin-sims/"></a> </strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/justin-sims/"></a> is enough by itself to make Chesterton one of the best in The Region and all of far northern Indiana. The Trojans will be tough to beat as their pair of Indiana Junior All-Stars return for their senior seasons.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->