Prep Hoops Indiana High School Preview – Class 3A (North)
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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,…
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Continue ReadingThe 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 3A (North).
Best Sectional: Sectional 21
Teams: Angola, Concordia Lutheran, Fort Wayne Dwenger, Garrett, Heritage, Leo, Woodlan
Reason: Up in the 3A North, you could have went with a few different options, but in terms of ‘most wide open’ you are looking at Sectional 21. In this Sectional, you realistically have four teams that can get out of here and make a deep run in the state tournament. Those four teams that can win this one include Concordia Lutheran, Fort Wayne Dwenger, Leo, and Woodlan. Leo is probably the team with the most depth and experience here with seniors Trey Hiteshew and Jackson McGee Jackson McGee 6'3" | PG Leo | 2024 State IN leading the pack. Woodlan matches up well with them with upperclassman Braden Smith Braden Smith 6'2" | PG Woodlan | 2024 State IN and Trey Yoder Trey Yoder 6'6" | PF Woodlan | 2025 State IN but don’t necessarily have the depth. Dwenger probably has the best big man in this group in Caleb Lehrman Caleb Lehrman 6'7" | PF Bishop Dwenger | 2024 State IN and Concordia Lutheran may have the best overall player here in Grace College pledge Cole Hayworth Cole Hayworth 6'5" | SF Concordia Lutheran | 2024 State IN . We will have to see how the season plays out but on paper, Sectional 21 is a real tossup.
State Contenders
Bishop Noll – The Warriors are one of the more sneaky 3A teams up north. They have a really solid core coming back with a great 1-2 punch combo of guard Jaedin Reyna Jaedin Reyna 6'0" | PG Bishop Noll | 2024 State IN and forward Amauri Moore Amauri Moore 6'5" | PF Bishop Noll | 2024 State IN . Ma’Trell Harbin is another massive post presence that should impact the game on both ends as well. Reyna is one of the more dynamic lead guards in the state, Moore is a physical presence with a versatile offensive game, and Harbin is a 6’9 post with tons of potential. Have a tough Sectional 17 but should be viewed as the favorites there.
Concordia Lutheran – The Cadets are one of the teams that could realistically come out of the wide-open Sectional 21. Obviously the main guy for them is Grace College pledge Cole Hayworth Cole Hayworth 6'5" | SF Concordia Lutheran | 2024 State IN , who is one of the best overall players in all of 3A north. Also look for 6’1 2025 guard Avery Cook Avery Cook 6'1" | PG Concordia Lutheran | 2025 IN to provide some key production here too. One thing is for sure, they have the schedule to battle-test them before the postseason.
Delta – The Eagles are coming off of a arguably the best post-season run out of any team in the state last season getting all way to semi-state when people did not give them much of a chance before ultimately losing to NorthWood. They brings back one of the more experience core groups led by 2024 wising wing D’Amare Hood D’Amare Hood 6'4" | SF Delta | 2024 State IN . They also get back power forward Jackson Wors Jackson Wors 6'4" | PF Delta | 2024 State IN who missed the summer season but should be back healthy this winter. The Furney bothers, Jayden and Jordan, will also be back to help run that backcourt.
Fort Wayne Dwenger – Dwenger is another sneaky team here coming out of Sectional 21. While they are coming off of a lackluster 9-13 regular season, they somehow made it to semi-state before losing to NorthWood in the first round. The Saints are always one of the tougher teams in 3A north and bring back that toughness in 2024 big man Caleb Lehrman Caleb Lehrman 6'7" | PF Bishop Dwenger | 2024 State IN .
Leo – The Leo Lions may have the most depth out of any 3A north team listed as a contender. Seniors Trey Hiteshew and Jackson McGee Jackson McGee 6'3" | PG Leo | 2024 State IN lead the pack there and both have shown major upside over this past summer. Juniors Leonard Petty Leonard Petty 6'0" | PF Cathedral | 2025 IN , Solomon Richard Solomon Richard 5'11" | PG Leo | 2025 IN , and Brock Schott Brock Schott 6'5" | PF Leo | 2025 IN will also be a big help there. Only finished 9-14 last season but you really have to respect what they bring back this season and the improvements the top guys have made over the summer. Arguably the favorites in Sectional 21.
NorthWood – While NorthWood loses a ton of talent from last season, you still have to give respect to the defending 3A State Champs. The main guy for them is 2025 center Tyler Raasch Tyler Raasch 6'8" | C NorthWood | 2025 State IN who will have a ton of pressure on him to be the ‘go-to’ guy for the Panthers this season. However, he will have help with Ethan Wolfe Ethan Wolfe 5'11" | PG NorthWood | 2024 IN in the backcourt and someone that will take on more of an increased role this year. They may not be the favorites this season, but until beaten in the post-season, NorthWood are the defending champs.
South Bend St. Joseph – This could be the year that SBSJ finally put it all together and make a run because they certainly have the talent to do so. It wall starts with one of the best wings in the state in Chase Konieczny Chase Konieczny 6'4" | SG South Bend Saint Joseph | 2025 State #277 Nation IN but he now has the surrounding pieces to do some damage up in 3A north. They added 6’2 shooting guard Nick Shrewsberry Nick Shrewsberry 6'4" | SG South Bend St. Joseph | 2026 State IN and 2026 guard Braylen White Braylen White 6'2" | SF South Bend St. Joseph | 2026 IN should step up this season. Will need to get past South Bend Washington Sectional 19, but they are the team to beat in there at this point in time.
South Bend Washington – when you have arguably the best player in the state, you automatically become a contender in preseason previews. South Bend Washington is home to the top 2026 in-state prospect, Steven Reynolds III Steven Reynolds III 6'5" | SG South Bend Washington | 2026 State IN , and the talented guard is expected to take another step in his overall game. The Panthers were able to win Sectional 19 last season, but are a little bit younger this time around. If Reynolds take that next step, South Bend Washington is going to be a tough team to beat at any time this season.
Tippecanoe Valley – The Vikings bring a lot of talent back from their 18-6 season a year ago. The group of Riley Shepherd, Stephen Akase Stephen Akase 6'6" | C Tippecanoe Valley | 2026 State IN , Kyler Johnson Kyler Johnson 6'5" | PF Tippecanoe Valley | 2024 IN , and Deondre Hamilton Deondre Hamilton 6'1" | SG Tippecanoe Valley | 2025 IN is a big group that also has the talent and experience to compete. Although Sectional 18 is a tough one, I think the Vikings should be viewed as not only the favorites, but a team that can make a deep run in the postseason. Would not be shocked to see them representing 3A north this year in the state finals.
Woodlan – The Warriors of Woodlan are the last team that realistically come out of Sectional 21 this season. The combo of Braden Smith Braden Smith 6'2" | PG Woodlan | 2024 State IN and Trey Yoder Trey Yoder 6'6" | PF Woodlan | 2025 State IN are going to be dynamic one to stop at times and if those guys are clicking from game-to-game, Woodlan may have a legit chance here to make a run. They are coming off of a great 19-6 2022-23 season.
Top Players
Stephen Akase Stephen Akase 6'6" | C Tippecanoe Valley | 2026 State IN (Tippecanoe Valley)
Josiah Ball Josiah Ball 6'5" | SF Maconaquah | 2025 State IN (Maconaquah)
Tillman Etchison (Hamilton Heights)
Jayden Furney Jayden Furney 6'1" | SG Delta | 2024 IN (Delta)
Jordan Furney Jordan Furney 6'2" | PG Delta | 2025 IN (Delta)
Deondre Hamilton Deondre Hamilton 6'1" | SG Tippecanoe Valley | 2025 IN (Tippecanoe Valley)
Me’trell Harbin Me’trell Harbin 6'9" | C Bosco Institute | 2026 IN (Bishop Noll)
Cole Hayworth Cole Hayworth 6'5" | SF Concordia Lutheran | 2024 State IN (Concordia Lutheran)
Trey Hiteshew (Leo)
D’Amare Hood D’Amare Hood 6'4" | SF Delta | 2024 State IN (Delta)
Kyler Johnson Kyler Johnson 6'5" | PF Tippecanoe Valley | 2024 IN (Tippecanoe Valley)
Chase Konieczny Chase Konieczny 6'4" | SG South Bend Saint Joseph | 2025 State #277 Nation IN (South Bend Saint Joseph)
Caleb Lehrman Caleb Lehrman 6'7" | PF Bishop Dwenger | 2024 State IN (Fort Wayne Dwenger)
Donovan Loudermill Donovan Loudermill 5'11" | PG West Lafayette | 2024 IN (West Lafayette)
Jackson McGee Jackson McGee 6'3" | PG Leo | 2024 State IN (Leo)
Amauri Moore Amauri Moore 6'5" | PF Bishop Noll | 2024 State IN (Bishop Noll)
Tyler Raasch Tyler Raasch 6'8" | C NorthWood | 2025 State IN (NorthWood)
Jaedin Reyna Jaedin Reyna 6'0" | PG Bishop Noll | 2024 State IN (Bishop Noll)
Steven Reynolds III Steven Reynolds III 6'5" | SG South Bend Washington | 2026 State IN (South Bend Washington)
Matthew Roettger Matthew Roettger 6'2" | SG Peru | 2024 State IN (Peru)
Riley Shepherd (Tippecanoe Valley)
Nick Shrewsberry Nick Shrewsberry 6'4" | SG South Bend St. Joseph | 2026 State IN (South Bend St. Joseph)
Braden Smith Braden Smith 6'2" | PG Woodlan | 2024 State IN (Woodlan)
Kieran Tewari (Yorktown)
Dareon Thornton (Mishawaka Marian)
Ethan Wolfe Ethan Wolfe 5'11" | PG NorthWood | 2024 IN (NorthWood)
Jackson Wors Jackson Wors 6'4" | PF Delta | 2024 State IN (Delta)
Trey Yoder Trey Yoder 6'6" | PF Woodlan | 2025 State IN (Woodlan)
Quick Hitters:
- NorthWood represented 3A north last season in the 3A State Finals and were able to defeat Guerin Catholic 66-63 in OT to win it all.