3 For 3: Week 5 Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2024-25 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 week 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":["1296979"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-676989ef5c38c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">There is an obvious top tier when it comes to players that are legit contenders for Indiana Mr. Basketball. Butler signee and Lawrence North senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1296979' first='Azavier' last='Robinson'] is certainly one of them. Robinson has had fantastic season this far for the Wildcats averaging 19.2 points and 3.2 assists per game, which is why Lawrence North is 5-1. Watch this special guard this week when he and the Wildcats travel to Franklin Central on Saturday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1561617"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-676989ef5c418"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">It was only a matter of time before 2026 wing [player_tooltip player_id='1561617' first='Dikembe' last='Shaw'] broke out in the 2026 in-state class. This season for the Bulldogs, Shaw has looked to have taken that next step as player and Crown Point has benefited from it. Shaw is one of the more versatile players in the in-state 2026 class being able to be dangerous both inside and out. Shaw and the Bulldogs got the Noblesville Tournament on Saturday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2140328"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-676989ef5c460"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">This Silver Creek guard is starting to become one of the more exciting in-state 2027 guards as what he has shown so far this year. He is nearly a walking triple-double of 8.4 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 9.0 assists. He is one of the best pure point guards in the state and one of the more unselfish ones at that. He does what it takes to win games. Silver Creek is in action in the Lawrenceburg Tournament this weekend. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">3 Teams</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>New Palestine (3A)</strong> - The Dragons of New Palestine are making themselves serious contenders in Class 3A. At this point in the season, they are 5-1 with their only loss coming from Greenfield-Central. Of course for the Dragons, it all starts with Indiana Wesleyan signee Julia Gizzi with his 26.7 points per game. Guys like [player_tooltip player_id='1539484' first='Moses' last='Haynes'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1539483' first='Ben' last='Slagley'] have been major brights spots as well taking a ton of pressure off of Gizzi. New Palestine has a chance to make some major noise this week in the Lawrenceburg Tournament. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sullivan (2A)</strong> - A sneaky team in Class 2A that you may need to keep your eyes on moving forward are the Sullivan Golden Arrows. They are a top 10 team in Class 2A with a 4-2 record with wins over South Knox, Greencastle, and others. The main guy here is 2026 power forward [player_tooltip player_id='1561438' first='Cooper' last='Bock'], who is one of the best under-the-radar players in the state. He, along with 2027 forward [player_tooltip player_id='2807644' first='Paul' last='Ridgway'], are leading the Golden Arrows with 12.3 points a game. Watch Sullivan this week when they play in the Wabash Valley Tournament.,</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Indianapolis Lutheran (1A)</strong> - Rinse and Repeat. Indianapolis Lutheran is a top 5 team in Class 1A once again. When it comes to experience and depth, that is exactly what the Saints have. With the senior combination of LJ Ward and [player_tooltip player_id='2053660' first='Cayden' last='Loescher'], the Saints have two of the best senior leaders in the Class 1A level. Although they are just 1-2 right now, the Saints will be winning a lot of games this season. They are in the Shenandoah Tournament this weekend.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">3 Matchups</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Washington Shootout – Dec. 28th</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td>11:30 am</td><td>Decatur Central vs. Evansville Bosse</td></tr><tr><td>1:00 pm</td><td>Martinsville vs. Bethesda Christian</td></tr><tr><td>2:30 pm</td><td>Mishawaka Marian vs. Indianapolis Attucks</td></tr><tr><td>4:00 pm</td><td>Benton Central vs. Washington</td></tr><tr><td>5:30 pm</td><td>Decatur Central vs. New Albany</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Phil Cox Memorial Tournament (Kokomo) Dec. 27th-28th</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><th><small>DATE</small></th><th><small>GM</small></th><th><small>SCHEDULE (EASTERN TIME)</small></th><th><small>SITE</small></th><th><small>ROUND</small></th></tr><tr><td>Dec. 27</td><td>1</td><td>New Haven at Kokomo, 11 am</td><td>Kokomo</td><td>R1</td></tr><tr><td>Dec. 27</td><td>2</td><td>Hanover Central vs. Merrillville, 12:45 pm</td><td>Kokomo</td><td>R1</td></tr><tr><td>Dec. 27</td><td>3</td><td>Portage vs. Plainfield, 2:30 pm</td><td>Kokomo</td><td>R1</td></tr><tr><td>Dec. 27</td><td>4</td><td>Warren Central vs. Greensburg, 4:15 pm</td><td>Kokomo</td><td>R1</td></tr><tr><td>Dec. 27</td><td>5</td><td>Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 6 pm</td><td>Kokomo</td><td>Con</td></tr><tr><td>Dec. 27</td><td>6</td><td>Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4, 7:45 pm</td><td>Kokomo</td><td>Con</td></tr><tr><td>Dec. 28</td><td>7</td><td>Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 11 am</td><td>Kokomo</td><td>SF</td></tr><tr><td>Dec. 28</td><td>8</td><td>Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4, 12:45 pm</td><td>Kokomo</td><td>SF</td></tr><tr><td>Dec. 28</td><td>9</td><td>Loser Game 5 vs. Loser Game 6, 2:30 pm</td><td>Kokomo</td><td>7th</td></tr><tr><td>Dec. 28</td><td>10</td><td>Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6, 4:15 pm</td><td>Kokomo</td><td>5th</td></tr><tr><td>Dec. 28</td><td>11</td><td>Loser Game 7 vs. Loser Game 8, 6 pm</td><td>Kokomo</td><td>3rd</td></tr><tr><td>Dec. 28</td><td>12</td><td>Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8, 7:45 pm</td><td>Kokomo</td><td>1st</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Noblesville Tournament – Dec. 27th</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:table --> <figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><th><small>DATE</small></th><th><small>GM</small></th><th><small>SCHEDULE (EASTERN TIME)</small></th><th><small>SITE</small></th><th><small>ROUND</small></th></tr><tr><td>Dec. 27</td><td>1</td><td>Brebeuf Jesuit at Noblesville, 10 am</td><td>Noblesville</td><td>R1</td></tr><tr><td>Dec. 27</td><td>2</td><td>Crown Point vs. Gary 21st Century, 11:45 am</td><td>Noblesville</td><td>R1</td></tr><tr><td>Dec. 27</td><td>3</td><td>Loser Game 2 vs. Loser Game 1, 6 pm</td><td>Noblesville</td><td>3rd</td></tr><tr><td>Dec. 27</td><td>4</td><td>Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 1, 7:45 pm</td><td>Noblesville</td><td>1st</td></tr></tbody></table></figure> <!-- /wp:table -->