3 For 3: Week 1 Preview
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The 2023-24 high school boys’ basketball season is underway and we at Prep Hoops Indiana want to give you the absolute best coverage in the whole state. Indiana is full of great teams and talented players thus giving the fans…
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Continue ReadingThe 2023-24 high school boys’ basketball season is underway and we at Prep Hoops Indiana want to give you the absolute best coverage in the whole state. Indiana is full of great teams and talented players thus giving the fans incredible matchups every week. Join me, Kyler Staley, every Monday during the season as I preview the 3 Players, 3 Teams, and 3 Matchups to watch for that coming week. Are you ready? Let’s get started!
3 Players
There no bigger way to start the ‘3 For 3’ series than with perhaps the biggest name in the state, Flory Bidunga Flory Bidunga 6’9″ | C Kokomo | 2024 State #7 Nation IN . The Kansas signee comes into this season having led the Kokomo Wildcats to the Class 4A Championship game, only to fall short to the undefeated Ben Davis. This year, Bidunga will be looking to finish the job and go out on a high note. From now until March, you have to make it a point to get it and see this phenom before he heads out of the state. Bidunga will be lead Kokomo in two homes games this week vs Western (11/21) and Westfield (11/25).
Lindeman was one of the players on my watchlist this season because he steps into the role as ‘the guy’ for a sneaky talented Bloomington North team. Last season, he shot 50% from the field and 39.3% from the three which led him to averaging 11.7 ppg as a sophomore. This year, those numbers are expected to see a major increase for the son of former Indiana Hoosiers center Todd Lindeman. He is a highly skilled wing with excellent size on the perimeter, athletically fluid, great pace both on and off the ball and has a real knockdown jumper from 15ft and out. I will be in attendance as he leads Bloomington North vs Bedford on Tuesday.
Highlights
Another player that made one of my watchlists ahead of the high school season is 2026 big Evan Harrell Evan Harrell 6’8″ | PF Carmel | 2026 State IN . Harrell will have a lot of pressure on him this season as he jumps into one of the leading roles for a Carmel Greyhound team with ton of youth and inexperience. At 6’7″ he has excellent height and length to pair with his guard-like skill. He has shown that he can be a star on the defensive end using his length well to disrupt, and he has enough athleticism and size to guard 1 through 5. This week will be the first true test for Harrel as Carmel host’s Zionsville on Tuesday.
Highlights
3 Teams
Heritage Hills (3A) – The Patriots of Heritage Hills are looking to make a deep run come the postseason and having one of the best, if not the best, players in the state in Trent Sisley Trent Sisley 6'8" | PF Heritage Hills | 2025 State #47 Nation IN certainly helps. For the past few seasons, the storyline of the Patriots has always been about getting ‘help’ around Sisley and this year they may have it with guys like sophomore wing Jake Prior Jake Prior 6'5" | SG Heritage Hills | 2026 State IN looking to take some pressure off the elite prospect. The Patriots are one of my teams I feel will make a deep postseason run in 3A this season. They kick off their season with a road game at North Harrison on 11/25.
Manchester (2A) – The Squires of Manchester come into the 2023-24 high school season as one of the dark horses to make a deep run in 2A this season. They are led by one of the rising forwards in the state, 6’7 big man Gavin Betten Gavin Betten 6'7" | PF Manchester | 2025 State IN . The Squires come into this season finishing 18-6 last year but hit a roadblock vs Fort Wayne Blackhawk in Sectionals last season. With a much more experienced team, Manchester will be a tough out all season long. They kick off their season in a solid match vs Oak Hill on 11/25.
Greenwood Christian (1A) – The Cougars of Greenwood Christian will be looking to make a run in Class 1A this season. The Cougars will be led by senior shooting guard Max Booher Max Booher 6'3" | SG Greenwood Christian | 2024 State IN as they have the last few years a brings back 15.4 ppg from his junior season. Booher also has a nice complimentary piece in 2025 guard Evan McIntire Evan McIntire 6'1" | SG Greenwood Christian | 2025 IN , who is coming off a big summer. It will be extremely difficult to get out of Sectional 59, but combo of Booher and McIntire could get them over the hump. Greenwood Christian plays at Lebanon (11/21) and at Oldenburg Academy (11/25) this week.
3 Matchups
Jeffersonville (4A) at Cathedral (4A) – Nov. 25th, 7:30 pm:
This is a game that is going to be a first good test for both Jeffersonville and Cathedral as they both look to prove themselves. The Red Devils of Jeffersonville make the trip up to Indianapolis to face a Cathedral team that is not as loaded and experienced as we have seen in recent years. Jeffersonville brings in arguably the top trio in the state in sophomores Tre Singleton Tre Singleton 6'7" | PF Jeffersonville | 2025 State #225 Nation IN , Michael Cooper Michael Cooper 6'2" | PG Jeffersonville | 2025 State IN , and P.J. Douglas P.J. Douglas 6'4" | SF Jeffersonville | 2025 State IN with Cathedral leaning on breakout candidates Brady Koehler Brady Koehler 6'9" | SF Cathedral | 2025 State #199 Nation IN , LeBron Gough, and Keaton Aldridge Jr Keaton Aldridge Jr 6'4" | SF Cathedral | 2026 State IN . to step up. This could be an extremely fun game, but I like Jeffersonville to come in an get the win due to their experience right now.
Fishers (4A) at Ben Davis (4A) – Nov. 22nd, 7:30 pm:
This game looked a whole lot different this past June, but still has a big fight feel to it with both Fishers and Ben Davis looking to make a deep postseason run. Fishers comes into this season about as balanced as you can get with senior 1-2 combo Keenan Garner Keenan Garner 6'6" | PF Fishers | 2024 State IN and Taden Metzger leading the way. Ben Davis on the other-hand have arguably the best backcourt in K.J. Windham K.J. Windham 6'3" | PG Ben Davis | 2024 State #137 Nation IN and Mark Zackery Mark Zackery 6'0" | PG Ben Davis | 2025 State #398 Nation IN . With football season wrapping up for Ben Davis, it is unclear just how much of factor Zackery will be this game. Either way, the youth of Fishers’ backcourt in Cooper Zachary Cooper Zachary 5'9" | PG Fishers | 2027 State IN and Jason Gardner Jr. Jason Gardner Jr. 5'11" | PG Fishers | 2027 State IN will leaky have some struggles vs Windham and company. This one is extremely close to call, but I like Ben Davis to barely squeak this one out.
Gobbler Games 2023
It is always great to start the high school season with a holiday shootout and Southern Indiana has the best one this week in the Gobbler Games, which takes place at Terre Haute South High School. Below is the schedule plus the top players featured in this great event.
Schedule:
10 AM: North Vermillion vs West Vigo
11:30 AM: Owen Valley vs South Vermillion
1 PM: Bloomfield vs Mitchell
2:30 PM: Mt. Vernon Posey vs North Central (Famersburg)
4 PM: Northview vs South Knox
5:30 PM: Evansville Harrison vs Parke Heritage
7 PM: Sullivan vs Terre Haute South
8:30 PM: Evansville Christian vs Terre Haute North
Top Players: Josiah Dunham Josiah Dunham 6'0" | PG Evansville Christian | 2024 State IN , Braden Walters Braden Walters 6'6" | PF Terre Haute North | 2024 State IN , Zeke Tanoos Zeke Tanoos 6'4" | SG West Vigo | 2024 State IN , Zayvion, Baker, Jack Halls Jack Halls 6'8" | PF Terre Haute North | 2024 State IN , Malachi McNair Malachi McNair 6'6" | C Evansville Harrison | 2024 State IN , Eli Speer Eli Speer 6'2" | SG Evansville Harrison | 2024 IN , Shane Sims, Jay Summitt Jay Summitt 6'3" | SF Evansville Harrison | 2025 State IN , Bryce Renn Bryce Renn 6'10" | PF Terre Haute North | 2025 State IN , Treigh Schelsky Treigh Schelsky 6'0" | PG Parke Heritage | 2026 State IN