3 For 3: Week 13 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":["2053681"],"_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-67b2340059636"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">South Ripley is on track to rounding out the regular season undefeated and a big reason to that has been the play of senior shooting guard [player_tooltip player_id='2053681' first='Blaine' last='Ward']. Ward has always been one of the better under-the-radar players we have had in the in-state 2025 class and this season, he stepped up in a big way for the Raiders, being one of their leading scores. Ward plays with a high IQ, has good confidence in his game, and can light it up from deep. Watch him this week at Rising Sun (2/21) and then when South Ripley hosts Greensburg (2/22).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1297074"],"_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-67b2340059684"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The Park Tudor Panthers have had a little bit of a rough season but a standout for them, as expected, has been senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1297074' first='KJ' last='Mark']. With some roster moves at the start of the year, Mark became the main guy for the Panthers while trying to help lead them the best he can. Throughout his high school career, Mark has consistently been a dynamic threat on and off the ball with his elite speed and burst off the ball.&nbsp;Park Tudor has big matchups with Terre Haute North (2/18) and Irvington Prep (2/21) coming into town this week. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1306153"],"_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-67b2361a6b3d2"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">Coming into this season, [player_tooltip player_id='1306153' first='Michael' last='Johnson'] was viewed as one of the best in-state transfers and has more than lived up to that hype. Being a great backcourt piece alongside UConn signee [player_tooltip player_id='1296984' first='Braylon' last='Mullins'], Johnson is averaging 13.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.9 assists per game. Real long, smooth, and create both on and off the ball. Greenfield-Central will look to improve on their 18-3 record when they travel to East Central on Friday and then host Martinsville on Saturday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">3 Teams</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Warsaw (4A)</strong> – One of the teams that have really impressed this season in class 4A has been the Warsaw Tigers. Right now, they are 18-4 on the year having won their last 12 of 13 games. In class 4A, they one of the more balanced and experienced teams you will find being led by guys such as [player_tooltip player_id='2050029' first='Luke' last='Bricker'], [player_tooltip player_id='2391213' first='Brandt' last='Martin'], [player_tooltip player_id='1296995' first='Carson' last='Gould'], [player_tooltip player_id='1529288' first='Robbie' last='Finlinson'], and many more players. When it comes to the postseason, their discipline and experience is going to be a major advantage of them as they try to make a deep run. This week, they have Harrison (West Lafayette) on Friday then Hammond Morton on Saturday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Shelbyville (3A)</strong> – Do not look now, but the Shelbyville Golden Bears are a team to pay attention to in Class 3A. At 16-5 on the season, the Golden Bears are proving themselves to be a top 15 team in Class 3A having won 6 of their last 8 games. Another team that is well balanced and has a senior group leading them, the trio of [player_tooltip player_id='1561061' first='Caden' last='Claxton'], [player_tooltip player_id='1561096' first='Mar' last='Nicholson'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1607277' first='Damon' last='Badgley'] are averaging a combined 39.0 points for the Golden Bears. Sectional 28 is going to be a dog fight when the time comes, but I like what Shelbyville brings to the table. They host Delta on Friday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Northeastern (2A)</strong> – The Northeastern Knights are a serious contender to make it to Indianapolis come March. They are one of the very few teams in the state that have 20 wins on the year. Guys that have stood out for them all season include leading scorer [player_tooltip player_id='2628156' first='Noah' last='Payne'] with his 16.4 ppg as well as Sam White and [player_tooltip player_id='1578433' first='Landon' last='Scarrette'] also. They should steamroll over each team in Sectional 44 with ease. This week, they host Winchester on Friday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">3 Matchups</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fishers<strong> (4A) at Lawrence North (4A), February 18th, 7:30 pm</strong></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is no bigger game on tap this week than two teams that will be a contender to win the Class 4A State Championship. The undefeated Fishers Tigers will go on the road to face their toughest challenge yet vs a very good Lawrence North. By this point in time, we all know who the stars between these two games but man, you can't ask for better matchups than Butler signee [player_tooltip player_id='1296979' first='Azavier' last='Robinson'] vs [player_tooltip player_id='2140345' first='Cooper' last='Zachary'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2267046' first='Jason' last='Gardner Jr.'] or [player_tooltip player_id='1509229' first='Kai' last='McGrew'] and Brandon Miller vs [player_tooltip player_id='1297069' first='Justin' last='Kirby'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1297097' first='Nathan' last='Baker']. This game could easily go either way, just flip a coin. I for one, cannot go against a team that has not lost yet so give me Fishers to escape with another win. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Christian Academy<strong> (1A) at Seymour (4A), February 21st, 7:30 pm</strong></strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>To me, this is one of the more sneaky good games we have in the state this week. Christian Academy will go on the road to face Seymour in a true 1A vs 4A clash. Christian Academy, led by Marion signee [player_tooltip player_id='1297066' first='Joshua' last='Renfro'], bring in a team that can make a deep run come march and will face a Seymour team that is extremely underrated. This one should be very competitive throughout. In a game like this, the best player on the floor will be the advantage, which makes me think that Christian Academy will get the road win. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Brownstown Central (3A) at Jeffersonville (4A), February 22nd, 7:30 pm</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>If Fishers and Lawrence North were not facing each other this week, Brownstown vs Jeffersonville would have been the top game of week 13 of the high school season. In this one, you have another undefeated team in Brownsburg going on the road to face a team that can certainly beat them in Jeffersonville, who is fully healthy. [player_tooltip player_id='1296999' first='Chace' last='Coomer'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1297005' first='Colby' last='Hall'] will have their hands full with [player_tooltip player_id='1388408' first='Tre' last='Singleton'], [player_tooltip player_id='1297093' first='Michael' last='Cooper'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1373104' first='P.J.' last='Douglas']. Like I said earlier, I can't go against an undefeated team so I am going to go with Brownstown to get the huge road win. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->