Prep Hoops Indiana High School Preview – Class 4A (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 4A (North).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Best Sectional: Sectional 8</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Teams: </strong>Carmel, Fishers, Hamilton Southeastern, Noblesville, Zionsville, Westfield</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Reason: </strong>This is probably the most balanced Sectional we have in the state and it seems that way almost every year. Just a few months ago, Fishers looked like the clearcut winner here but with them losing [player_tooltip player_id='1297052' first='Jalen' last='Haralson'] due to his transfer to La Lumiere, things got a bit more interesting. Realistically there are about three teams here in Fishers, Noblesville, and Westfield that if they were to win, they could make a deep run. Starting with Fishers, they return an extremely balanced group led by a one-two punch of Huntington commit <strong><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1578471' first='Taden' last='Metzger']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/taden-metzger-2/"></a> <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/taden-metzger-2/"></a> </strong>in the back court and versatile forward <strong><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2079500' first='Keenan' last='Garner']</strong></strong>. Noblesville Brings back the talented backcourt/wing trio of [player_tooltip player_id='1158209' first='Aaron' last='Fine'], [player_tooltip player_id='1275012' first='Hunter' last='Walston'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1534261' first='Justin' last='Curry II']. Westfield has one of the best inside-out duos in [player_tooltip player_id='2079499' first='Nic' last='Book'] and <strong><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1275749' first='Trey' last='Buchanan']</strong></strong>. You can never sleep on Carmel especially when they have a duo of [player_tooltip player_id='1578342' first='Alex' last='Couto'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1560952' first='Evan' last='Harrell']. Zionsville could be sneaky with scoring guards [player_tooltip player_id='1525679' first='Drew' last='Snively'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1525678' first='Maguire' last='Mitchell']. Like always, this is going to be fun come March. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">State Contenders</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Carroll (Fort Wayne)</strong> - The Chargers are one of the more experienced teams in Class 4A North having improved from just a 2-12 record to a 12-11 record a season ago. The main guys for this team is the versatile guard combo of [player_tooltip player_id='1158216' first='Jaxon' last='Pardon'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1270990' first='Cannen' last='Houser']. Lead guards [player_tooltip player_id='1158218' first='Hansen' last='Haffner'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1525665' first='Jaiyre' last='Sampson'] will be a solid complements to both Pardon and Houser. The Chargers should be a real tricky team all season and have a chance to make it out of Sectional 5. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Chesterton</strong> - The Trojans fall into that top tier of teams that are favored to make it to Indianapolis come March. Chesterton will be led by senior duo [player_tooltip player_id='1275807' first='Tyler' last='Parrish'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1158231' first='Justin' last='Sims'] who make for one of the more dynamic combos we have in the state as already mentioned above and have the experience on what it takes to make it to the Class 4A State Final as they did 2 seasons ago. Also the potential of what trending sophomore wing [player_tooltip player_id='1989437' first='Logan' last='Pokorney'] brings is only going to help them moving forward. They are the current favorites to come out of Sectional 2. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Crown Point </strong>- Another team that has a chance to make it out of Sectional 2 is the Crown Point Bulldogs. Experience will be the issue for them but the talent level is not a question with rising prospect [player_tooltip player_id='1561617' first='Dikembe' last='Shaw'] and tough guard [player_tooltip player_id='1561445' first='Mason' last='Darrell'] who we saw play extremely well together this past fall in the MIB Fall League. You also know that the Bulldogs will be coached up extremely well and prepared every game. Coming off a 15-9 season where they lost to Chesterton in Sectionals. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fishers</strong> - Evan though [player_tooltip player_id='1297052' first='Jalen' last='Haralson'] transferred out of Fishers, the Tigers still have plenty of talent to be a contender in Class 4A. The still have a great 1-2 punch of Huntington commit <strong><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1578471' first='Taden' last='Metzger']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/taden-metzger-2/"></a> <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/taden-metzger-2/"></a> </strong>in the back court and versatile forward <strong><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2079500' first='Keenan' last='Garner']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/keenan-garner/"></a> <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/keenan-garner/"></a> </strong>in the front court. As far as surrounding pieces, you turn to rising junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1578426' first='Justin' last='Kirby'] and senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1578452' first='Parker' last='Perdue'] to step up and produce. As far as on-ball, look for freshman guards Cooper Zackery and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2194415' first='Jason' last='Gardner']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jason-gardner/"></a> Jr. to step up as well. Not having Haralson is a big blow, but don't sleep on Fishers this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fort Wayne Wayne</strong> - Now this is a team that lots are high on making it to state out of 4A North and rightfully so. While they unfortunately lost Byron Pickens as their coach, they still return tons of talent with their top two scorers, [player_tooltip player_id='1158193' first='Jevon' last='Lewis'] (16.6 points, 6.4 assists) and [player_tooltip player_id='1297001' first='Chase' last='Barnes'] (13.9 points). 6'5″ forward [player_tooltip player_id='1297032' first='Trey' last='Dillard'] returns 9.2 points and 9.0 rebounds per game as well. To go from from 4-18 to 22-5 with a trip to Semi-State in just one year's time is an absolute great accomplishment. They way the trend is setting up to be, we could see the generals in State this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kokomo</strong> - The Class 4A State runner-ups return this season just as loaded as they were last season and of course, it helps to have the best player in Indiana, [player_tooltip player_id='1363488' first='Flory' last='Bidunga'], back as well. An influx of talent including [player_tooltip player_id='1561074' first='Baris' last='Moore'], [player_tooltip player_id='1561440' first='Korbyn' last='Hammel'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1277565' first='Abdul' last='Mitchell'] will certainly help. Returning pieces such as [player_tooltip player_id='1381461' first='Zion' last='Bellamy'], [player_tooltip player_id='2282348' first='Reis' last='Beard'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2282357' first='Karson' last='Rogers'] help provide some stability as well. Until beaten up North, the Wildcats are the favorites to represent this region in Class 4A State this season. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Noblesville</strong> - On-paper, the Millers are probably the most complete team in Sectional 8. The senior duo of <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1158209' first='Aaron' last='Fine']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/aaron-fine/"></a> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1275012' first='Hunter' last='Walston']</strong> are one of the more underrated duo we have in the state and will be one of the toughest to stop due to their elite scoring ability. If that is not enough, sophomore wing [player_tooltip player_id='1534261' first='Justin' last='Curry II'] is looking to have a major breakout season and take a lot of pressure off both Fine and Walston on both ends of the floor. Look for <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1561054' first='Baron' last='Walker']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/baron-walker/"></a> to have a breakout year as well. Lot to really like about this Noblesville team this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Westfield</strong> - The Shamrocks are coming off of an outstanding 16-8 season and will likely be even better than that this upcoming season. They may have the best 1-2 punch combo in all of Sectional 8 in senior guard <strong><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1275749' first='Trey' last='Buchanan']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/trey-buchanan/"></a> </strong>, who brings back 14.3 points per game, and New Zealand transfer, 6'8″ senior forward <strong><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2079499' first='Nic' last='Book']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/nic-book/"></a> </strong>to create and deadly inside-outside. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1761729' first='Charles' last='Farrell']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/charles-farrell/"></a> , <strong><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1293394' first='Caleb' last='Wise']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/caleb-wise/"></a> </strong>, and [player_tooltip player_id='2277790' first='Durante' last='Morton'] round out Westfield and will really space the floor out. A darkhorse Class 4A contender. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Honorable Mention Teams To Watch </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carmel</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>East Chicago Central</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Portage</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Munster</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Valparaiso</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Zionsville </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Top Players</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1578342' first='Alex' last='Couto'] (Carmel)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1158209' first='Aaron' last='Fine'] (Noblesville)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1561074' first='Baris' last='Moore'] (Kokomo)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1270990' first='Cannen' last='Houser'] (Fort Wayne Carroll)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1297001' first='Chase' last='Barnes'] (Fort Wayne Wayne)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1525679' first='Drew' last='Snively'] (Zionsville)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1561617' first='Dikembe' last='Shaw'] (Crown Point)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1297020' first='Dominique' last='Murphy Jr'] (East Chicago Central)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560952' first='Evan' last='Harrell'] (Carmel)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1363488' first='Flory' last='Bidunga'] (Kokomo)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1275012' first='Hunter' last='Walston'] (Noblesville)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1297042' first='Jack' last='Smiley'] (Valparaiso)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1275800' first='Jaelyn' last='Johnson'] (Portage)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1158216' first='Jaxon' last='Pardon'] (Fort Wayne Carroll)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1158193' first='Jevon' last='Lewis'] (Fort Wayne Wayne)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1534261' first='Justin' last='Curry II'] (Noblesville)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1275808' first='David' last='Cundiff'] (Munster)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1547390' first='Will' last='Jamison'] (Homestead)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1297057' first='Jaymen' last='Townsend'] (Marion)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2079501' first='Nate' last='Orr V'] (Hamilton Southeastern)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1158179' first='Ajani' last='Washington'] (New Haven)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1297088' first='Marvin' last='Schindler'] (South Bend Riley)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1547394' first='Payton' last='Baird'] (South Bend Riley)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1158231' first='Justin' last='Sims'] (Chesterton)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2079500' first='Keenan' last='Garner'] (Fishers)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1561440' first='Korbyn' last='Hammel'] (Kokomo)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1561445' first='Mason' last='Darrell'] (Crown Point)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1578442' first='Michael' last='Wellman'] (Portage)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2079499' first='Nic' last='Book'] (Westfield)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560995' first='Reggie' last='Hinton'] (Gary West Side)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1578471' first='Taden' last='Metzger'] (Fishers)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1275749' first='Trey' last='Buchanan'] (Westfield)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1297032' first='Trey' last='Dillard'] (Fort Wayne Wayne)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1560969' first='Tyler' last='Crews'] (Gary West Side)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1275807' first='Tyler' last='Parrish'] (Chesterton)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Quick Hitters:</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Kokomo represented 4A North in Class 4A State last season. They fell to undefeated Ben Davis. </li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->