Prep Hoops Indiana 2024-25 High School Preview – Class 1A (North)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It is almost time to tip-off the Indiana High School Basketball season. The games begin on Monday, November 25th which means we are in full season preview mode here at Prep Hoops Indiana headquarters. Last week we gave our preseason Top 10 class-by-class rankings, highlighted the Top 20 players in each class, previewed the candidates for the Indiana All-Star teams, and much more. Now, this week, we will dive a bit deeper into previewing each class before it is time to see it all play out next Monday. We will begin here with an overview look at the Class 1A (North).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Field</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional 49 @ Kouts</strong>: Bowman Academy, Hammond Academy of Science and Technology, Kouts, Marquette Catholic, Morgan Township, Tri-Township, Washington Township, Westville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional 50 @ Tri-County</strong>: Caston, DeMotte Christian, North Newton, North White, Pioneer, South Newton, Tri-County, West Central</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional 51 @ North Judson:</strong> Argos, Culver Community, Elkhart Christian Academy, North Judson, Oregon Davis, South Central (Union Mills), Trinity School at Greenlawn, Triton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional 52 @ Fremont</strong>: Bethany Christian, Fort Wayne Canterbury, Fremont, Hamilton, Lakeland Christian Academy, Lakewood Park Christian, Smith Academy for Excellence</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional 53 @ North Vermillion</strong>: Attica, Covington, Faith Christian, Fountain Central, Lafayette Central Catholic, North Vermillion, Riverton Parke</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional 54@ Clinton Central</strong>: Bethesda Christian, Carroll (Flora), Clinton Central, Clinton Prairie, Frontier, Rossville, Traders Point Christian</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional 55 @ Southwood</strong>: Cowan, Daleville, North Miami, Northfield, Southern Wells, Southwood, Tri-Central, Wes-Del</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional 56 @ Blue River Valley</strong>: Blue River Valley, Cambridge City Lincoln, Monroe Central, Randolph Southern, Seton Catholic, Union (Modoc), Union City</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Toughest Sectional: Sectional 54 @ Clinton Centeral</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>By virtue of some Sectional realignment, both Class 1A state finalists from 2024 are now in North bracket. Defending runner-up Bethesda Christian finds themselves here in Sectional 54 and will once again compete to advance in the state tournament. Carroll (Flora) graduated a good deal of production, but has enough up-and-coming talent from a 16-win team to compete in this Sectional as well. Clinton Prairie, who won 18 games last season, will arguably have the best individual player in [player_tooltip player_id='1297051' first='Jake' last='McGraw'] who certainly could lead his team to a championship this season. Rossville is an under-the-radar team with young talent that should build off a run to their Sectional Championship game last season as well. From top to bottom this definitely looks to be the most wide open and competitive Sectional in the Class 1A North.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">State Title Contenders</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Clinton Prairie:</strong> After winning 18 games last season, Clinton Prairie returns one of the best players at the Class 1A level in [player_tooltip player_id='1297051' first='Jake' last='McGraw']. The talented guard averaged 25.2 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. One of a handful of teams that are dropping down from Class 2A which should help make them even more competitive when the postseason rolls around.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Lafayette Central Catholic:</strong> Anytime you see Lafayette Central Catholic pop up in Class 1A they have to be considered a favorite. In 2022 they took North Daviess to double overtime before falling 48-46 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. There has never been a shortage of postseason success under head coach Drake Barrett and that should continue this season. The Knights won a Class 2A Sectional last season and return their second, third, and fourth leading scorers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Marquette Catholic:</strong> The lone team from the north ranked in the Prep Hoops Indiana Preseason Top 10, Marquette Catholic returns a solid core from their team that reached the Semi-State last season. With their level of returning production they should once again be a top contender to make it out of the Class 1A North.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Top Players</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1561100' first='Colson' last='Dobre'] (Marquette Catholic 2026)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2414957' first='Josiah' last='Mays'] (Marquette Catholic 2027)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1297051' first='Jake' last='McGraw'] (Clinton Prairie H.S. 2025)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2617467' first='Steven' last='Tierney'] (Bethesda Christian 2025)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2136359' first='Bryce' last='Wilcox'] (Southwood H.S. 2026)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Quick Hitters</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Both Class 1A state finalists are here in the North now this season with Fort Wayne Canterbury (champions) and Bethesda Christian (runner-up).</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Liberty Christian going South certainly changes the dynamic of this bracket. Definitely wide open with a preseason Top 5 team, plus two solid programs moving down from Class 2A, begin the favorites on paper to make it to Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Don't sleep on Canterbury or Bethesda Christian though.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Few individual players in the state will put up the type of numbers that you'll see from Clinton Prairie's [player_tooltip player_id='1297051' first='Jake' last='McGraw'] this season. 6'7" junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='2136359' first='Bryce' last='Wilcox'] at Southwood H.S. is another one for fans to make it a point to see this winter.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->