3 For 3: Week 11 Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>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 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!&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">3 Players</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1158205"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"If you want to talk about one of the more pure leads guess in the senior class this season, near the top of that list will be Tipton's [player_tooltip player_id='1158205' first='Nolan' last='Swan']. Swan is the leader of arguably the best 2A team in the state and has helped lead the Blue Devils to an outstanding 16-1 record this year thus far. What makes Swan one of my point guards in the state is his high IQ, passing ability, and how efficient he is behind the arc. As of this writing, he is averaging 20.8 ppg. You can watch him and the talented Blue Devils this week when they travel to Shenandoah (2/3).","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65b679438afe1"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1578342"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"One of the players that has been on the rise in the state for awhile now is 2025 Carmel guard [player_tooltip player_id='1578342' first='Alex' last='Couto'], who is having a very productive junior season. While the Greyhounds have not been the Greyhounds we are usually seeing dominate the Indianapolis area, Couto has seen his play make major improvements throughout the year and is without question the best overall player that Carmel has at the moment. Couto is an excellent outside shooter, has great ball handles, and has flashed the ability to play either on or off of the ball. He is coming off leading Carmel with 26 pts in the upset win over Fishers and this week, he can see the rising guard try knock off another unbeaten team when Carmel hosts Lawrence North (2/1) this week.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65b679438b039"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2140345"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Speaking of Fishers, the first and only freshman to make the 3 For 3 Player watch list in this series this season is the main ballhandler for the Tigers, 2027 guard [player_tooltip player_id='2140345' first='Cooper' last='Zachary']. I think it is safe to say that the 5'9 lead guard was not expecting to see this much playing time ahead of the season but when the Tigers lost their five-star lead guard, Zachary was forced to step up and the freshman prospect has exceeded expectations. For his age, there is so much maturity with his style of play with his incredible court vision and ways to read what the defense is giving him. He can also score at a good rate right now already with his ability to create on the ball. He is averaging a solid 7.4 points and 4.3 assists on the year. You can catch Zachary and Fishers this week when they host Westfield (2/1) and play Homewood-Flossmoor (Ill.) (2/3).","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65b679438b07a"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">3 Teams</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hamilton Southeastern (4A) - </strong>One of the more surprising teams in Class 4A this season has been the HSE Royals, who enter this week 12-6 on the year with wins over Zionsville, Anderson, Valparaiso, and other good teams. A big reason why the HSE Royals have been blowing out expectations this season is because of play of senior guard duo [player_tooltip player_id='1275826' first='Donovan' last='Hamilton'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2079501' first='Nate' last='Orr V'] who both are averaging a combined 25.7 points on the year. This is also a very experienced group with a loaded class of seniors. In past seasons, the Royals have been the team you can overlook in Sectional 8 but this season, they have a chance to stun some teams. Watch the Royals this week when they travel to Franklin Central (2/1). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Indian Creek (3A) - </strong>Class 3A has been a hard group to figure out all year with multiple teams having good season and making a case for a deep postseason run. The Braves of Indian Creek are one of those teams and even though they have lost three-straight, they 11-4 on the year. They are probably one of the more balanced teams in the state with having three player scoring in double-figures --- [player_tooltip player_id='1749321' first='Adam' last='Crouch'], Landon Martin, and [player_tooltip player_id='1747065' first='Landon' last='Sichting'] --- who are combined averaging 43.5 points for the Braves this season. They should be the favorite to come out of Sectional 26. Tough week ahead for the braves as they host Northview (1/30), travel to Whiteland (2/1), and host Hauser (2/3). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sullivan (2A) - </strong>You could make a strong case that the Sullivan Golden Arrows are the most overlooked team in Class 2A this season because this ball club is SOLID. For Sullivan, it all starts with 2026 forward [player_tooltip player_id='1561438' first='Cooper' last='Bock'] who leads the Golden Arrows in scoring averaging 14.2 points a game. It is not only Bock who can produce for Sullivan as seniors Marcus Roshel and Jayvn Woodard are big contributors as well. Keep an eye on Sullivan to come out of Sectional 47. They travel to Owen Valley (2/1) this week. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">3 Matchups</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Plainfield (4A) at Terre Haute North (4A) – Feb 1st , 7:30 pm</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is a battle of two Class 4A teams that are just really solid and have won a bunch of games this season. Terre Haute North has won and outstanding 11-straight games but will arguably play their hardest game of the season on Thursday with Plainfield, led by senior standout guard [player_tooltip player_id='1384422' first='Eli' last='Ellis'], who are 12-5 on the year. The key for this game will be how and if Terre Haute North is able to slow down Ellis but I do feel they have the frontcourt edge with senior duo [player_tooltip player_id='1158180' first='Braden' last='Walters'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1548652' first='Jack' last='Halls']. Plainfield themselves have a nice frontcourt piece in [player_tooltip player_id='1293396' first='Collin' last='Schmidt'], however. This will be a tight one and I predict Plainfield gets the big road win here. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Orleans (1A) at Loogootee (1A) – Feb 1st , 7:30 pm</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This will always be a game that is circled for the fans of southern Indiana basketball. Just like it always is, both of these teams are at the top when it comes to Class 1A with both just finding ways to wins lots of games. This will be a preview of the tough Sectional 63 where Loogootee does have the slight edge as they have defeated three of the teams that make up that group with Orleans having only faced and beat one of them. The Lions doe have the big home advantage here but at 10-6 on the year, they have proven to be beatable way too often. I like Orleans to come in and get a big road win behind a big performances by trio [player_tooltip player_id='1578462' first='Rylan' last='Crocker'], [player_tooltip player_id='1158190' first='Ian' last='Hall'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1386673' first='Xavier' last='Alston']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cathedral (4A) at Kokomo (4A) – Feb 1st , 7:30 pm</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Any time you have the potential Class 4A state championship game being played early, this will always be one of the game to watch in any given week. This game will feature two of the highest prospects in the state with senior center and like Mr. Basketball [player_tooltip player_id='1363488' first='Flory' last='Bidunga'] and 2025 breakout wing [player_tooltip player_id='1525663' first='Brady' last='Koehler'], who is proving to be a high-major player. There is not really much 'promoting' you have to do with this game because at this point in the season, everyone know how great both these teams are. Just like I did with two previous games to watch, I am going to go with the road team again. Cathedral wins this one. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->