Kyler's Summer Takeaways: 2025 Class

<p>The summer of the grassroots season has officially wrapped up and just like it always is, it was a very exciting one. Our prospects across the state competed at multiple events representing and showing why the state of Indiana has the absolute best basketball throughout the entire country. We had players breakout, earn offers, and prove themselves on the biggest stages. While I didn't make it out to as many events as my guy Brandon Ramsey did, I still was able to get out and follow the action throughout the past few months. For 2025 class, here are some of my takeaways from the AAU season.</p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The state of Indiana and the IHSAA loses some major talent</h2>   <p>As it has been for the past few years, the state of Indiana and the IHSAA is losing some very talented players with some of the top upcoming seniors looking to go elsewhere to finish out their high school career. What has become typically the 'norm' nowadays, it still does not change the fact that losing this amount of talent year-in and year-out really hurts the high school basketball scene around there. Over the summer, top 2025 in-state prospects Trent Sisley, Cedric Horton, and [player_tooltip player_id='1297042' first='Jack' last='Smiley'] all opted to go to the prep-school route. Three top candidates to win Indiana Mr. Basketball have all left the IHSAA. There are multiple reasons as to why players such as these three look to leave the Indiana high school scene, but it often mostly comes down to the belief that playing at a prep-school will make them a better basketball player at the end of the day. Many people have different opinions to that matter but at the end of the day, the kids need to do what they feel is best for them when it comes to development. It stings to see them go nonetheless. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">2025 Class had loads of players breakout at the D1 level</h2>   <p>in the 2025 class, we had multiple prospects officially break into that D1 level. Below is a list of the players that officially smoltified there spot as a D1 prospect.</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1525678' first='Maguire' last='Mitchell'] - One of the key pieces on one of the best teams on the AAU circuit, the Indiana Elite 2025 and Zionsville Guard finally started to get those D1 looks. One of the best all around guards in the class. </p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1297020' first='Dominique' last='Murphy Jr'] - Murphy Jr is on of the most athletic prospects we have int he state. His incredibly bounce and athleticism was always going to catch D1 coach's eyes and now he is officially on the radar of multiple schools. </p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1297093' first='Michael' last='Cooper'] - The guard in the Jeffersonville 'Big 3' was able to hop on the radar of D1 schools due to his play on the ball and his elite scoring ability. One of the bigger stock risers in the class. </p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1534942' first='Melakih' last='Cunningham'] - Cunningham was one of the fastest rising players this past year in the 2025 class and the offers he got in bulk proved that. Now, he will decide between Toledo, Missouri State, Miami (Ohio), and Ball State.</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1297001' first='Chase' last='Barnes'] - The electric guard had one of the best starts out of any 2025 this AAU season and continued to roll since. A very dynamic, playmaking guard. </p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1297069' first='Justin' last='Kirby'] - Kirby was always destined to have a break out summer due to his role in helping Fishers win state last season. Also one of the top athletes in the class, Kirby showed much improvement in his overall game this summer. </p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2053658' first='Bryson' last='Cardinal'] - Cardinal is one of the best pure bigs in the 2025 class and his elite post-work got D1s involved this summer. He is expected to be one of the top producing bigs in the state this season. </p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1373104' first='P.J.' last='Douglas'] - Douglas joined both his Jeffersonville 'Big 3' teammates as a D1 prospect with schools such as Bellermaine and others extending offers. One of the better 'do-it-all' wings in the 2025 class. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">In my opinion, [player_tooltip player_id='1296984' first='Braylon' last='Mullins'] is the clear cut Indiana Mr. Basketball now</h2>   <p>To go along with his phenomenal AAU season as well as some of the top players in the state like Trent Sisley opting to leave the IHSAA, 2025 four-star Greenfield-Central guard [player_tooltip player_id='1296984' first='Braylon' last='Mullins'] has become the clear cut winner for the 2024 Indiana Mr. Basketball, in my opinion. Going into the AAU season, I was under the firm belief that the 2024 Indiana Mr. Basketball race was strictly between only Mullins and Sisley and with Sisley transferring to Montverde Academy, Mullins should be viewed as the odds on favorite. With that said, I do not want to discredit other candidates such as [player_tooltip player_id='1525663' first='Brady' last='Koehler'], [player_tooltip player_id='1296979' first='Azavier' last='Robinson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1388408' first='Tre' last='Singleton'], [player_tooltip player_id='1297019' first='Dezmon' last='Briscoe'], [player_tooltip player_id='1364589' first='Kellen' last='Pickett'], or anybody else for that matter, but when you look at the constant upward trend of Mullins not only in the state, but on a national level is just hard to ignore. In my opinion, Mullins comes in as the favorite for Mr. Basketball, and end his high school career with that award. </p>   <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Players on the verge of having a breakout senior season</h2>   <p>While we listed guys that officially broke into that D1 level this AAU season, however, there are still some players in the 2025 class that showed glimpses of it. Here is a list of players to watch out for in terms of having a breakout senior season.</p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1297029' first='Grady' last='Carpenter'] - Everyone knows by now how talented this wing is with his elite passing and scoring ability. With his outstanding NAIA offers, do not be shocked to see him have one of the best seasons out of any senior this year. </p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1907680' first='Cole' last='Henry'] - Henry's toolset for his position is what is always going to stand out to any coach that offers him. His combination of length, shooting, and play around the rim make him easily a breakout option this season. </p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1578453' first='Patric' last='Matson'] - Matson is a name at the small college level that you need to know because he may end up being one of the top southern Indiana players in this class before season's end. High-level athletic ability paired with high-volume scoring. </p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1297024' first='Ethan' last='Edwards'] - Arguably not a player that boosted their stock as much as Edwards did this past summer. While he did not quite make the list above, he is still on the radar of multiple D1 schools and will continue to be this high school season. </p>   <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1578451' first='Papi' last='Rivera'] - The microwave scorer is coming off a strong season with [program_tooltip program_id='2400041' first='Kyle' last='Guy Elite'] which should carry into his senior season. </p>

The summer of the grassroots season has officially wrapped up and just like it always is, it was a very exciting one. Our prospects across the state competed at multiple events representing and showing why the state of Indiana has the absolute best basketball throughout the entire country. We had players breakout, earn offers, and prove themselves on the biggest stages. While I didn't make it out to as many events as my guy Brandon Ramsey did, I still was able to get out and follow the action throughout the past few months. For 2025 class, here are some of my takeaways from the AAU season.