Way Too Early Class 4A State Title Favorites

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We have essentially made it through the summer and school is starting back in session. With that comes a bit of a quiet period here in the month of August when it comes to Indiana High School Basketball content. There are a few camps and showcases, but for the most part the grassroots season is behind us and high school workouts don't start up as formally at least until September. However, we here at Prep Hoops Indiana still find content to deliver even in the quiet times. This week we will go class-by-class and highlight some of the top teams, and top individuals, heading into the 2025-2026 season. Let's take a look at Class 4A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Crown Point Bulldogs</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last Season: 23-3, Semi-State Finals</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bulldogs were one of the best teams in the state last season going 23-3 and reaching the Final Four. Their rotation will look very similar this year led by returning rising seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1561617' first='Dikembe' last='Shaw'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1561445' first='Mason' last='Darrell']. Shaw, a 6'6" wing, was an Indiana Junior All-Star averaging 16.2 points, 6.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Darrell, who recently received his first Division I offer from Incarnate Word, averaged 14.4 points per game as a junior. There are plenty of other seniors returning as well including [player_tooltip player_id='1561016' first='Bryce' last='Peters'], [player_tooltip player_id='1561063' first='Kingston' last='Rhodes'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1561064' first='Kaiden' last='Rhodes']. Crown Point will be very tough to beat this season. They went 4-0 in the top pool at the Charlie Hughes Showcase.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Fishers Tigers</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last Season: 30-1, State Runner-Up</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Until something changes the Fishers Tigers will always be a preseason favorite. The tigers won the 2023-2024 State Championship and were the State Runner-Up in 2024-2025. Rising junior backcourt of [player_tooltip player_id='2267046' first='Jason' last='Gardner Jr.'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2140345' first='Cooper' last='Zachary'] are an incredible 59-2 in two seasons and will be one of the best backcourts in the country once again. 6'8" forward/center [player_tooltip player_id='1509229' first='Kai' last='McGrew'] transferred in from Lawrence North where he was named an Indiana Junior All-Star after averaging 14.5 points and 8.2 rebounds per game. Look for guys like [player_tooltip player_id='2472279' first='Tommy' last='Williams'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2470635' first='Levi' last='Walker'] to step into larger roles this season as well. Fishers will once again have the talent to compete for a state championship.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Mt. Vernon (Fortville) Marauders </h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last Season: 21-6, Semi-State Semi-Finals</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We didn't get to see [player_tooltip player_id='1728587' first='Luke' last='Ertel'] at the Charlie Hughes Showcase, but the Purdue commit is enough to make the Marauders a legitimate state title contender. The 2026 Indiana Mr. Basketball front runner has really taken his game to the next level and will make Mt. Vernon tough to beat. However, they also added Lawrence North transfer [player_tooltip player_id='2843570' first='Jamar' last='Thomas'] to their rotation and returning their second and third leading scorers behind Ertel in [player_tooltip player_id='2252566' first='Elijah' last='Parra'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2140419' first='Max' last='Vise']. This will be one of the most complete teams in the state of Indiana. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Pike Red Devils</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last Season: 12-10, Sectional Semi-Finals</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>From a pure talent standpoint there might not be a team better, on paper, than the Pike Red Devils. The feature three high-level Class of 2027 prospects in [player_tooltip player_id='2266896' first='Isaiah' last='Hill'], [player_tooltip player_id='2266897' first='Kenneth' last='Lampley'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2194328' first='Jahari' last='Miller'] plus one of the top Class of 2028 prospects in [player_tooltip player_id='2538892' first='Landon' last='Lampley']. Other pieces such as Terrencio Davis, [player_tooltip player_id='2477115' first='Brennan' last='Dokes'], [player_tooltip player_id='2892469' first='Ian' last='Macon'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2414872' first='Aiden' last='Woods'] will play key roles as well. The Red Devils went 4-0 at the Charlie Hughes Showcase against excellent competition proving themselves among the favorites going into the 2025-2026 season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">South Bend St. Joseph Huskies</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last Season: 27-3, Class 3A State Champion</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The reigning Class 3A State Champions, who were also the State Runner-Up the previous year, have now moved up to Class 4A and should immediately compete with the best of the best. Indiana Junior All-Star [player_tooltip player_id='2024513' first='Nick' last='Shrewsberry'] returns after averaging 13.9 points per game and making 78 three-point shots. Fellow rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='1560973' first='Ethan' last='Roseman'] returns as one of the top point guards in the state as well. He averaged 10.6 points and 7.0 assists per game. However, it was rising junior [player_tooltip player_id='2140359' first='Elijah' last='King'] who actually is the Huskies top returning scorer. King averaged 14.0 points to go with 5.1 rebounds and 2.4 steals per game. Braylen Wright is a returning contributor as well. South Bend St. Joseph also added a few transfers in [player_tooltip player_id='1561090' first='KJ' last='Avery'] (Valparaiso), [player_tooltip player_id='2101318' first='Peyton' last='Miamba'] (Penn), and [player_tooltip player_id='2434102' first='Donovyn' last='Williams'] (Niles, Michigan).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Others to Consider</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carmel, Lawrence North, Noblesville, Plainfield, Terre Haute North</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->