Forum Tipoff Classic: X-Factors (Part 1)
In this article:
The annual Forum Tipoff Classic at Southport High School is coming our way this Saturday and the field is as loaded as it always is. With 12 of the best teams in the state, there will be tons of talented…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingThe annual Forum Tipoff Classic at Southport High School is coming our way this Saturday and the field is as loaded as it always is. With 12 of the best teams in the state, there will be tons of talented prospects in the Southport High School gym and Prep Hoops will have a presence there all day. Each of the 12 teams that will be participating in the Forum Tipoff Classic each all have highly talented players while each having an “X-Factor” player that will help get them a win. For this short preview series, we are gonna look at an “X-Factor” player from each team. For Part 1, we are going to look at the “X-Factor” from Southport, Greenfield-Central, Warren Central, Center Grove, Guerin Catholic, and Heritage Hills.
The Cardinals of Southport are in a bit of a transition period with a lot of moving parts and players getting get some extended varsity action. A player on there that we at Prep Hoops Indiana have been high on as far as breakout potential is junior shooting guard Nilyn Compton. At 6’2, Compton is a shifty offensive player that can make plays on the ball and attack the rim due to his athletic ability and speed. While juniors Jack Turner Jack Turner 6’4″ | SF Southport | 2025 State IN and Michael Johnson Michael Johnson 5’11” | PG Southport | 2025 State IN are ahead of Compton as far as offensive options, Compton can be a player that can sneakily give the defense trouble.
At 6’5 with just massive size on the block, Robertson is the primary post option for the Cougars. While the defense is always going to be locked on four-star shooting guard Braylon Mullins Braylon Mullins 6’6″ | SG Greenfield-Central | 2025 State #123 Nation IN , Robertson is a nice complement in the post that has shown he can be a factor in that area taking pressure off of Mullins. Little bit of versatility to his game as he scores well through contact but can also sneakily stretch the floor from time to time. While Southport will likely be overall quicker and more athletic as a team, The Cardinals could have some trouble matching up to Robertson in the post.
Kirby was a player that jumped out to us at Sneakers for Santa was often times the best player on the floor for Warren Central in their loss vs Brownsburg with his team high 12 points. He is a 5’10 lefty guard that shoots the ball extremely well, especially behind the arc, and has quick speed off the dribble knifing his way through the lane. While most of Warren Central’s top players come from the wing and post, Kirby can be a game-changer as the primary on-ball guard. He will put up points while also getting the rest of the team involved.
Meador has proven to be one of the strongest bench pieces in the state and really provides a spark off the bench for a stacked Center Grove team. At around 5’11, this guard is an extremely tough player on both ends of the floor that plays with good pace on the ball and knows how to get his way through the defense was also being a capable shooter 15ft-and-out. He is recently coming off an 11-point performance in Center Grove’s loss vs Attucks at Sneakers for Santa and that type of scoring production is what you can mostly expects from him every game. An important X-Factor for the Trojans.
Highlights
Cardinal, a 6’6 versatile forward, has had a strong start to his junior season and has really stepped up for Guerin Catholic this year thus far. He is a player that complements Dylan Murans Dylan Murans 6’7″ | SF Guerin Catholic | 2024 State IN very well in a inside-out type of game between the two. He finishes at a high level around the basket, has great footwork, and rebounds his area well. He almost always has the chance to give Guerin Catholic a double-double performance due to his skill and overall motor. Heritage Hills could have trouble containing both him and Murans.
Prior is slowly but slowly starting to become the second option for the Heritage Hills Patriots right behind Trent Sisley Trent Sisley 6’8″ | PF Heritage Hills | 2025 State #47 Nation IN . While Sisley is going to do his thing and bring almost all the defense to him, Prior has become a aggressive perimeter option that is not afraid to get a shot off. At a lanky 6’5, this sophomore wing has smoothness to his game and while not being the strongest player on the floor, he plays hard and has the IQ to make plays happen off of Sisley. If Guerin Catholic is ultra-locked in on Sisley, which they likely will be, Prior has the chance to make some big time plays happen and be the X-Factor in a potential win.