3 For 3: Week 5 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
Walston continues to prove why he is arguably the most under-recruited player in the state with how well he has been playing this season for Noblesville. The 6’6 hybrid forward is averaging 12.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 3.4 assists in the five games Noblesville has played this season while also getting it done on the defensive end averaging nearly 2 steals a game. Walston is one of the more versatile players we have in the in-state 2024 class due to his ability to play multiple spots on the floor while also scoring at all three levels at a good rate. I am still baffled why colleges at all levels have not put more focus on recruiting this talented senior. He and Noblesville have a trip to Marion (12/19) and Anderson (12/22) this week.
Highlights
Up in northern Indiana, we have arguably the best in-state 2025 center in NorthWood’s Tyler Raasch Tyler Raasch 6’8″ | C NorthWood | 2025 State IN . Raasch is a 6’8 center is a consistent force due to his motor and skills that continue to develop. He is also a very good shot blocker, runs the floor well, and has burgeoning offensive ability. He is the No. 1 option for the Panthers this season like we expected him to be and has helped lead NorthWood to a 3-1 record thus far. He and the Panthers travel to Fort Wayne Concordia on 12/21 this week.
E.J. Hazelett E.J. Hazelett 6’7″ | SF Franklin Central | 2026 State IN is a name to get know if you have not already because this talented 2026 is about to take off sooner than later. As far as a long-term upside in the in-state 2026 class, the 6’7 wing sits at the top there with his ability to shoot the ball very well from the perimeter. He has very fluid athleticism in the open floor, and has a frame that is highly projectable. Schools like Indiana, Purdue, Ohio State, and many others are already involved in his recruitment. He and Franklin Central will look to improve their 2-5 record when they travel to Pike tonight.
Highlights
3 Teams
Fishers (4A) – At this point in time, it is safe to say that the Fishers Tigers are the best Class 4A state in the state right now. Sitting at 7-0, the Tigers are one of the few remaining unbeaten teams in the state having beat great teams such as Ben Davis, Noblesville, Kokomo, and many others. Senior forward Keenan Garner Keenan Garner 6'6" | PF Fishers | 2024 State IN is having a breakout year with his current average of 17.6 points and 7.3 rebounds per game guard Joanthony Hall (11.0) and Cooper Zachary Cooper Zachary 5'9" | PG Fishers | 2027 State IN (10.1) have also stepped up as well. That is not even including guys such as Taden Metzger, Jason Gardner Jr. Jason Gardner Jr. 5'11" | PG Fishers | 2027 State IN , Justin Kirby, and Parker Perdue Parker Perdue 6'3" | SF Fishers | 2024 State IN who have also been big contributors as well. They will look to continue their unbeaten streak when they travel to a very tough Center Grove on 12/22.
Delta (3A) – The Eagles of Delta are proving to be one of the top Class 3A teams in the state like we thought they would. At 6-1, the Eagles hold monster wins over teams like Connersville, Centerville, Yorktown, Muncie Central with their only loss coming to a tough Tipton team in overtime. In Class 3A, they are one of the more experienced teams in the state led by senior trio D’Amare Hood D’Amare Hood 6'4" | SF Delta | 2024 State IN , Jackson Wors Jackson Wors 6'4" | PF Delta | 2024 State IN , and Jayden Furney Jayden Furney 6'1" | SG Delta | 2024 IN . With the makeup of their team plus the way they have been playing, this is for sure a team that could make a state championship push. They have Blackford tonight at 7:30.
Providence (2A) – Down in southern Indiana, the Providence Pioneers remain as one of the flat out toughest teams in the entire state. Sitting at 5-1 on the year, they have racked off 5 straight wins after they lost to Brownstown Central the first game and have a great win over Scottsburg as well. The main guy here for Providence is 6’3 senior guard Noah Lovan Noah Lovan 6'3" | PG Providence | 2024 State IN but also have great players around him in Quentin Hesse and Elijah Fuller-Tucker Elijah Fuller-Tucker 6'6" | PF Providence | 2026 State IN . If you like tough, defensive teams, Providence is your team. They host Louisville Holy Cross (Ky.) tonight.
3 Matchups
Crispus Attucks (4A) vs Lawrence North (4A) – Dec. 19th, 7:30 pm:
Talk about a true, heavyweight in Class 4A tonight. In this game alone, you have some of the absolute best players in the state and both teams are looking to make a strong postseason run at the Class 4A level. The backcourt matchup of Azavier Robinson Azavier Robinson 6'1" | PG Lawrence North | 2025 State #88 Nation IN / Kobi Bowles Kobi Bowles 6'2" | PG Lawrence North | 2024 State IN vs Mason Lewis Mason Lewis 5'9" | PG Crispus Attucks | 2024 State IN / Ron Rutland III Ron Rutland III 6'1" | SG Crispus Attucks | 2024 State IN is about as exciting as you could get plus you have Dezmon Briscoe Dezmon Briscoe 6'9" | PF Crispus Attucks | 2025 State #107 Nation IN having to go up against the sophomore frontcourt duo of Kai McGrew and Brennan Miller Brennan Miller 6'7" | PF Lawrence North | 2026 State IN . Lawrence North has been viewed as many people’s favorites to win Class 4A so this is a game where Attucks could really prove themselves. However, the guard play is a good matchup, but I feel Briscoe will have trouble trying to maintain both McGrew and Miller. I have Lawrence North winning in a close one.
Kokomo Tournament Dec. 22nd-23rd:
The holiday tournaments are upon us this week and we have one of the best in-season tournaments in the state this week with the Kokomo Tournament. Below is the full schedule, the teams I project to win each round (BOLD), plus the top prospects in attendance.
First Round 12/22:
11am: New Haven vs Kokomo
12:45pm: South Bend Riley vs. Mishawaka
2:30pm: Mount Vernon (Fortville) vs. Plainfield
4:15pm: Warren Central vs. Jeffersonville
Second Round 12/23:
11am: Kokomo vs South Bend Riley
12:45pm: Plainfield vs Jeffersonville
Championship 12/23:
7:45: Kokomo vs Plainfield
Top prospects: Flory Bidunga Flory Bidunga 6'9" | C Kokomo | 2024 State #7 Nation IN , Rasauun Johnson Rasauun Johnson 6'2" | SG Mishawaka | 2024 State IN , Eli Ellis Eli Ellis 5'11" | SG Plainfield | 2024 State IN , Collin Schmidt Collin Schmidt 6'7" | PF Plainfield | 2024 State IN , Robert Walker Robert Walker 6'3" | SF Warren Central | 2024 State IN , Payton Baird Payton Baird 6'5" | SF South Bend Riley | 2024 State IN , Jevon Guess Jevon Guess 6'6" | PF Warren Central | 2025 State IN , Tre Singleton Tre Singleton 6'7" | PF Jeffersonville | 2025 State #225 Nation IN , P.J. Douglas P.J. Douglas 6'4" | SF Jeffersonville | 2025 State IN , Michael Cooper Michael Cooper 6'2" | PG Jeffersonville | 2025 State IN , Tanner Teschendorf Tanner Teschendorf 6'2" | PG Mount Vernon (Fortville) | 2025 State IN , Julien Smith Julien Smith 5'10" | PG Mount Vernon (Fortville) | 2026 State IN , R’mani Wells R’mani Wells 6'5" | SF Mount Vernon (Fortville) | 2026 State IN
Bobcat of Daviess County Classic – Dec. 21st-23rd
Another one of the best holiday tournaments in the state takes place down in southern Indiana with the Bobcat of Daviess County Classic at North Daviess high school. Below is the full schedule, the teams I project to win each round (BOLD), plus the top prospects in attendance.
First Round 12/21:
3:30pm: Paoli vs. Evansville Christian
5pm: Scottsburg vs. Loogootee
6:30pm: Forest Park at North Daviess
8pm: Brownstown Central vs. South Knox
Second Round 12/22:
6:30pm: Evansville Christian vs Scottsburg
8pm: Brownstown Central at North Daviess
Championship 12/23:
8pm: Brownstown Central vs Evansville Christian
Top Prospects: Jack Benter Jack Benter 6'4" | SG Brownstown Central | 2024 State #121 Nation IN , Josiah Dunham Josiah Dunham 6'0" | PG Evansville Christian | 2024 State IN , Wyatt Zellers, Jack Miller Jack Miller 6'5" | SG Scottsburg | 2024 State IN , Kody Clancy Kody Clancy 6'4" | PG Scottsburg | 2024 State IN , Sam Singleton Sam Singleton 6'6" | SF South Knox | 2025 State IN , Fletcher Cole Fletcher Cole 6'0" | PG Paoli | 2025 State IN , Colby Hall Colby Hall 6'6" | PF Brownstown Central | 2025 State IN , Chace Coomer Chace Coomer 6'5" | SG Brownstown Central | 2025 State IN