3 For 3: Week 9 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":["2625235"],"_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-678d15cec2e36"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">One fastest rising juniors we have in the in-state 2026 class is Bend Davis wing [player_tooltip player_id='2625235' first='JaShawn' last='Ladd']. With the opportunity to step into a more important role for the Giants this step, Ladd has ran with while becoming the leading scorer for Ben Davis with his 11.8 points per game. Ladd is an extremely athletic prospect not he wing that can make plays with his bounce and length on the ball. Watch him this week when Ben Davis travels to North Central on 1/22. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1525679"],"_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-678d15cec2e8d"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">There are very prospects still left on the board when it comes to the in-state 2025 class and Zionsville senior shooting guard [player_tooltip player_id='1525679' first='Drew' last='Snively'] is one of them. Zionsville has had a shaky year thus far but Snively has been a highlight for them for the most part as was expected. He is second in both points (13.4) and rebounds (4.8) for the Eagles. Watch this D1 prospect this week when the Eagles face Hamilton Southeastern (1/24) and then travel to Warren Central (1/25). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2140349"],"_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-678d15cec2ed2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">A division one guard that is a little under the radar down at Bloomington North is [player_tooltip player_id='2140349' first='Derrick' last='Cross Jr']. It is no secret, the Cougar have been pretty bad this season at just 4-9 but the highlight for them has been the play of Cross. He is leading the team with 15.4 points per game while also adding 4.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists. Get you eyes on this high upside prospect this weekend when the Cougars travel to Terre Haute South on Saturday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">3 Teams</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Princeton (3A)</strong> –  Class 3A is probably the most wide-open when it comes to potential state winner and the Princeton Tigers may have established themselves a possible contender over the course of this season. The Tigers stand at 12-1 which includes winning their last 6 games. For them, it's been a combination of junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1560964' first='Edwin' last='Holmes'] (17.4 ppg) and Hanover commit [player_tooltip player_id='1297040' first='Jace' last='Jenkins'] (14.4 ppg) that have been the leaders with senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2819533' first='Jaylin' last='Price'] also being real solid. The Tigers should win Sectional 31 and could make a run to Indianapolis. This week, they travel to Washington on 1/24. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fort Wayne Luers (2A)</strong> – Just as expected, Forth Wayne Luers is one of the best teams all across Class 2A. The Knights stand at 11-2 on the season with their only losses coming to Ben Davis and Fort Wayne Blackhawk. The big three of [player_tooltip player_id='1749046' first='Drelyn' last='Truesdale'], [player_tooltip player_id='1749047' first='Dereon' last='Truesdale'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1297012' first='Danny' last='Kelly'] have combined for 33.9 points per game on the year. This Luers team has been viewed as 2A State winner and this season could finally be the year. Up next, its a date ant Fort Wayne Dwenger on 1/24. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Indianapolis Metropolitan(1A)</strong> – Class 1A is another one that is seemingly wide-open this season but one of the contenders could be the Indy Metro Pumas, who sit at 11-3 thus far. For the Pumas, it has been a pretty balanced effort by plays such as Jaedyn Robinson, Kwame Hawkins, and [player_tooltip player_id='1297080' first='Landon' last='Petty'] along with help with a few other guys. They are currently riding a 3-game winning streak but may have their toughest week yet when they travel to Brebeuf Jesuit on Monday and then host Park Tudor on Friday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Avon (4A) at Fishers (4A), January 24th, 7:30 pm</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is no question that this is the best game on paper this week with possibly the two top contenders to win Class 4A in March. Fishers will put their undefeated streak on the line against a talented Avon team that sits at 13-1, winners of 12 straight. I mean, there not even that much more hype that needs to be put on this game when you look at this player lineup: [player_tooltip player_id='1565984' first='Keriawn' last='Berry'], [player_tooltip player_id='1561685' first='Jedidiah' last='Minnett'], [player_tooltip player_id='1539455' first='DeAndre' last='Lott-Hancock'], [player_tooltip player_id='2194415' first='Jason' last='Gardner'] Jr, [player_tooltip player_id='1297069' first='Justin' last='Kirby'], [player_tooltip player_id='2140345' first='Cooper' last='Zachary'], Jonanthony Hall, [player_tooltip player_id='1297097' first='Nathan' last='Baker'], and many more. Flip a coin here, but I'll go with Fishers for the respect of being the unbeaten champs. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fort Wayne Wayne (4A) at Penn (4A), January 25th, 7:30 pm</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>A little up north we have a really good matchup on our hands with Fort Wayne Wayne traveling to Penn on Saturday. Lot of talent in this one with the main guy to watch here being U-Indy commit [player_tooltip player_id='1297001' first='Chase' last='Barnes']. The matchup to watch here will be between Barnes and standout freshman guard [player_tooltip player_id='2457404' first='Caleb' last='Coolman'], who has taken the basketball scene by storm here in the state. End the end, I think Wayne gets the job done on the road. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>New Albany (4A) at Evansville Reitz (4A), January 25th, 7:30 pm</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Way down south, we have another big time Class 4A game with the New Albany Bulldogs traveling to face the Evansville Reitz Panthers. This is a game of two elite underclassman with New Albany's [player_tooltip player_id='2382148' first='Noah' last='Washington'] going up against Evansville Reitz's [player_tooltip player_id='2195051' first='Jaylan' last='Mitchell']. New Albany has only lost 1 game compared to the 9 wins while Reitz is still unbeaten at 11-0. With that, give me Reitz to get the win. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->