Prep Hoops Indiana Daily (1/30) – Indiana All-Star Candidates

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As the calendar nears its turn to February it means that the Indiana High School Basketball season is less than a month away from tournament time. We will likely revisit this exercise at least once more before the team is ultimately selected, but we wanted to go ahead and take an early stab at what the team might look like. We have broken it down into some tiers and tried to include as many potential candidates as possible. As always, you can provide your own thoughts, opinions, and feedback to me directly on Twitter <a href="https://twitter.com/BRamseyKSR">@BRamseyKSR</a>.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Indiana All-Star Locks</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1158245' first='Jack' last='Benter'] (Brownstown Central H.S. - Purdue) - Benter is climbing the all-time Indiana scoring list and will ultimately approach the Top 15 by season's end. The Purdue signee is an elite shooter, great passer, and averages over 25 points per game for Class 2A #1 ranked Brownstown Central.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1363488' first='Flory' last='Bidunga'] (Kokomo H.S. - Kansas) - Likely the front-runner to win Indiana Mr. Basketball, the 6'9" five-star center is one of the best prospects our state has seen in a long time. Bidunga currently averages 17.6 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting 81.3% from the field.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1275780' first='Micah' last='Davis'] (Franklin H.S. - Eastern Kentucky) - The Grizzly Cubs are quietly having a fantastic season and their dynamic, left-handed point guard is a big reason why they are 13-3. Davis is averaging 25.8 points and 4.6 assists per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2079500' first='Keenan' last='Garner'] (Fishers H.S. - Undecided) - Best player on one of the best teams in the state certainly gets a nod. The versatile 6'6" forward is averaging 17.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game for the 17-1 Fishers Tigers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1278639' first='Evan' last='Haywood'] (Brebeuf Jesuit - Butler) - Leading the #1 ranked team in Class 3A this season, this future Butler Bulldog is averaging 21.4 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1158204' first='K.J.' last='Windham'] (Ben Davis H.S. - Northwestern) - Windham averages 15.5 points per game for the defending state champion Giants who are once again a borderline Top 10 team. His ability to play on the ball as a playmaker or off of the ball as a knockdown shooter make him a valuable addition to the All-Star team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Likely Selections</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1158176' first='Josiah' last='Dunham'] (Evansville Christian - Undecided) - Winning matters, and this point guard puts up some massive numbers while leading the clear cut #1 ranked team in Class 1A. Dunham is averaging 22.0 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 5.0 assists per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1158209' first='Aaron' last='Fine'] (Noblesville H.S. - Undecided) - It is hard to imagine a 1,000 point scorer from a 15-2 Noblesville team not making the Indiana All-Star roster. Fine is having an excellent senior season averaging 17.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game for the Millers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1158193' first='Jevon' last='Lewis'] (Fort Wayne Wayne H.S. - Undecided) - Lewis will look to lead the Generals on another deep state tournament run this season. The dynamic point guard is putting up big numbers averaging 20.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, 7.8 assists, and 2.4 steals per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1275807' first='Tyler' last='Parrish'] (Chesterton H.S. - Undecided) - He was on the "core" Junior All-Star team, has a ton of career success, and is once again putting up big numbers. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1275771' first='Ron' last='Rutland III'] (Crispus Attucks H.S. - UIndy) - Averages 13.6 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game for a well-balanced Class 4A Top 10 Crispus Attucks team. Shooting 38% from 3-point range on two makes per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Strong Candidates</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1158181' first='Isaac' last='Andrews'] (Wapahani H.S. 2024 - Undecided)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2079499' first='Nic' last='Book'] (Westfield H.S. 2024 - Undecided)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1158213' first='Kobi' last='Bowles'] (Lawrence North H.S. 2024 - Undecided)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1275749' first='Trey' last='Buchanan'] (Westfield H.S. 2024 - Undecided)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1275772' first='Josiah' last='Gustin'] (Pendleton Heights H.S. - Marian)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1158192' first='Taray' last='Howell'] (Evansville Bosse H.S. 2024 - Undecided)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1761697' first='Malachi' last='McNair'] (Evansville Harrison H.S. 2024 - Undecided)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1158216' first='Jaxon' last='Pardon'] (Fort Wayne Carroll H.S. 2024 - Bowling Green)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1158231' first='Justin' last='Sims'] (Chesterton H.S. 2024 - Marian)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1547565' first='Jake' last='Smith'] (Lake Central H.S. 2024 - Undecided)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1578479' first='Tucker' last='Tornatta'] (Evansville Memorial 2024 - Undecided)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Obviously there are at least 10-12 more names that could be listed, but we are only fighting for two remaining spots so it seems unlikely they will be filled outside of those 11 names. In my opinion, the best team in the state should have a representative and [player_tooltip player_id='1158213' first='Kobi' last='Bowles'] would be that selection. He is having a strong season for 17-0 Lawrence North. Then, the other spot is definitely going to go to someone with size. [player_tooltip player_id='1578479' first='Tucker' last='Tornatta'] edges out Gustin, McNair, Sims, and Smith for that spot (Book isn't likely to receive full consideration with this being his first season in state). That is how we would fill out the 13-man roster.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->