Prep Hoops Indiana High School Preview – Class 2A (North)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Indiana High School Basketball season is just around the corner and we at Prep Hoops Indiana will be pumping out a ton of previews right up until the opening tip. We have individually spotlighted 100+ schools across the state, gave out watch lists for each class, and will have several other previews in the coming days. This week, while Brandon Ramsey will be will be handling the big picture previews, I will be breaking down each class in both the north and south regions by highlighting the best Sectional, top players in the area, state title contenders, and other quick hitters you need to know within the class. For this one, we will breaking down the Class 2A (North).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Best Sectional: Sectional 37</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Teams:</strong> Adams Central, Bluffton, Fort Wayne Blackhawk, Fort Wayne Luers, Manchester, South Adams, Whitko</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Reason:</strong> There are pretty simple few reasons as to why Sectional 37 is the best in 2A North. There are a crazy amount of talented players in this one, the defending Class 2A state champions, and multiple contenders to advance far in the tournament. Realistically, you are possibly looking at the Class 2A State champion in Sectional 37 and the defending champs Blackhawk Christian are viewed as the current favorites in many people's eye due to the fact that they have arguably the best player the 2A North, [player_tooltip player_id='1364589' first='Kellen' last='Pickett']. However, there are other highly talented players that come out of 2A North in this Sectional including [player_tooltip player_id='1297028' first='Gavin' last='Betten'], [player_tooltip player_id='1749046' first='Dreyln' last='Truesdale'], [player_tooltip player_id='1749047' first='Dereon' last='Truesdale'], [player_tooltip player_id='1578432' first='Kyler' last='Krull'], [player_tooltip player_id='1158228' first='Sam' last='Essegian'], [player_tooltip player_id='1763448' first='Isaac' last='Schultz'], and others. Last season, Adams Central came so close to knocking off Fort Wayne Blackhawk in the Sectional 37 Championship and with Blackhawk losing a bunch of talent this season and Adams Central returning a solid core, it could very well happen this season. Fort Wayne Luers is also one of the favorites coming into this season as they bring in the talented Truesdale twins, who transferred in from Carroll (Fort Wayne). This Sectional has a couple of sleepers in Manchester and Whitko as well. No matter what, this is going to be the most 'grind-it-out' Sectional in 2A North. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Class 2A (North) State Title Contenders</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fort Wayne Blackhawk</strong> - 2025 elite forward [player_tooltip player_id='1364589' first='Kellen' last='Pickett'], who brings back 13.9 points and 8.0 rebounds per game and returns to lead the Class 2A defending champs this season. He will also have a nice compliment in the back court with senior shooting guard [player_tooltip player_id='1277730' first='Isaac' last='Smith'] who brings back 9.1 points per game while shooting 79-199 from three-point range last season. Until knocked out, the Braves deserve to be the favorite. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Tipton</strong> - The Blue Devils may have the best 1-2 punch combo in the north region of 2A in [player_tooltip player_id='1158205' first='Nolan' last='Swan'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1297029' first='Grady' last='Carpenter']. Swan comes back with his 19.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game as a junior to lead the Blue Devils while Carpenter brings back 15.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game. Also throw senior guard Jackson Money and Tipton has an excellent returning core. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Wapahani</strong> - The Raiders return as the favorite to come out of Sectional 40 and are led by one of the guards in all of 2A, [player_tooltip player_id='1158181' first='Isaac' last='Andrews']. He brings back 17.8 ppg, 6.3 rpg, and 5.0 apg and will likely see those numbers increase as he leads Wapahani to multiple wins this season. Also [player_tooltip player_id='1381463' first='Nate' last='Luce'], [player_tooltip player_id='2046168' first='Eli' last='Andrews'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1561131' first='Camden' last='Bell']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fort Wayne Luers</strong> - Luers is a team that automatically become on the contenders once they added the Truesdale twins in the offseason. Both top 50 prospects come in and immediately bring aggressive two-way ability on the ball and can put up points. Add in 6'6 junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1578376' first='Danny' last='Kelly'], Luers has an extremely tough trio that will be tough to beat come March. Will give Blackhawk a run for their money. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Adams Central</strong> - The Flying Jets will be looking to make a huge statement up north after they came so close to beating Fort Wayne Blackhawk last year in Sectionals. They bring back a solid core led by senior big man [player_tooltip player_id='1763448' first='Isaac' last='Schultz']. Guards [player_tooltip player_id='1539666' first='Trace' last='Maller'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1561020' first='Braylend' last='Reber'] would also see an increased role this season as well. If they can get past Luers or Blackhawk in Sectional 37, the Flying Jets can make a run. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Top Players:</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1277730' first='Isaac' last='Smith']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1158205' first='Nolan' last='Swan']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1158181' first='Isaac' last='Andrews']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1364589' first='Kellen' last='Pickett']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1297029' first='Grady' last='Carpenter']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1749046' first='Dreyln' last='Truesdale']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1749047' first='Dereon' last='Truesdale']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1158201' first='Izaak' last='Wright']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1578477' first='Trevor' last='Daughtry']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1547398' first='Wyatt' last='Zepp']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1578481' first='Wiley' last='Minix']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1578376' first='Danny' last='Kelly']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1578368' first='Collin' last='Czarnecki']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1561080' first='Terrence' last='Hayes']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1539551' first='LeMetrius' last='Williams']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1763448' first='Isaac' last='Schultz']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1578432' first='Kyler' last='Krull']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1158228' first='Sam' last='Essegian']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1297028' first='Gavin' last='Betten']</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Quick Hitters:</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>The defending 2A state champ, Fort Wayne Blackhawk, comes from the north region. The Braves won their third state championship in five years. Head coach Matt Roth led the Braves to the state championship in his first season as head coach. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->