Prep Hoops Indiana Class 1A Preseason Top 10

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Indiana High School Basketball season is right around the corner. That means that we here at Prep Hoops Indiana will be pumping out a ton of preview content over the next two weeks. We are beginning this week going class-by-class to highlight the preseason Top 10 teams and the top individual players. Here is our official Prep Hoops Indiana Class 1A Preseason Top 10.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#1 Liberty Christian</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It isn't often that a team led by freshmen find themselves one possession away from the state finals. That is where Liberty Christian was last season though as they rattled off eight straight wins before falling to Fort Wayne Canterbury 56-53 in the Class 1A North Semi-State Finals. [player_tooltip player_id='2414946' first='Tamarje' last='English'] (12.7 points), [player_tooltip player_id='2140408' first='Kendrick' last='Martin'] (11.4 points), and [player_tooltip player_id='2267054' first='Tywaine' last='Fuller'] (8.2 points) all return for their sophomore seasons after finishing first, second, and fourth respectively in scoring for the Lions. Look for 6'6" senior big man [player_tooltip player_id='2485724' first='A'Marien' last='Page'] to emerge as a real X-Factor inside this season as well. No team that made it as deep as Liberty Christian returns as much as they do and that made it an easy decision to put them at #1.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#2 Indianapolis Lutheran</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2023 Class 1A State Champions should once again compete to cut down the nets this season. Their Sectional has been a gauntlet of late, but it should take a bit of step back this season with the Saints being the clear favorites on paper. Seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1539996' first='Lonte' last='Ward'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2053660' first='Cayden' last='Loescher'] provide an excellent one-two punch for the Saints while superstar freshman [player_tooltip player_id='2539953' first='Jarrett' last='Harris'] should immediately raise their ceiling. Class 1A feels pretty wide open this season, but Lutheran is absolutely in the "top tier" of teams along with Liberty Christian and Christian Academy who we will talk about next.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#3 Christian Academy</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1297066' first='Joshua' last='Renfro'] is as good of a player as you will find at the Class 1A level. Quite arguably the best shooter in the state of Indiana, the Marian University commit made 95 three-point shots at just shy of 50% last season. He averaged a team-leading 21.5 points per game. Meanwhile, his running mate [player_tooltip player_id='1749327' first='David' last='Cook'] is back as well to give Christian Academy as solid of a top two as anyone at the Class 1A level. The Warriors will have the top end talent to compete with anyone this season. They belong in the conversation with Liberty Christian and Indianapolis Lutheran at the top of these rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#4 Barr-Reeve</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Until proven otherwise, it seems fair to pencil in Barr-Reeve as a Top 5 team in Class 1A. They won 25 games last season and advanced to the south Semi-State championship game. There is a lot to replace due to graduation, but the Vikings are used to reloading not rebuilding. Senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2391242' first='Seth' last='Wagler']<strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/seth-wagler/"></a> </strong>will be their top returning player after averaging 11.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game a season ago. Look for fellow senior Landon Miller to step into a larger role this year as well. Then, there are a trio of freshmen who got their feet wet last year at the varsity level who could become primary contributors this season as sophomores. Look for Miller Thompson, Kierson Lengacher, and Carson Yoder to all play bigger roles this winter.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#5 Marquette Catholic</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This was another young team that had really hit their stride by the end of the season. Despite finishing just 12-16 overall, Marquette Catholic reached the Semi-State. They are always battle tested by tournament time after playing a schedule littered with larger schools. With only one rotation player, who averaged 2.5 points per game, graduating expectations will be high this season for the Blazers. JJ Welch, [player_tooltip player_id='2414957' first='Josiah' last='Mays'], [player_tooltip player_id='1561100' first='Colson' last='Dobre'], and Aleks Pecoski all bring back double-figure scoring averages. Sophomore guard Mays and 6'7″ junior center Dobre both could take significant leaps this season as well. [player_tooltip player_id='2368903' first='Vaughn' last='Rael-Kludt'], who averaged 7.9 points per game as a freshman, is a name to remember as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#6 Orleans</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#7 Greenwood Christian</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#8 Rock Creek Academy</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#9 South Central (Elizabeth)</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#10 Clay City</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Others Considered: Bethesda Christian, Evansville Christian, Loogootee, Tindley, Triton</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->