Prep Hoops The Stage – Ramsey’s Friday Night Notebook

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Prep Hoops Circuit quietly puts together some very high-level independent events throughout the spring. However, The Stage is taking things to another level this weekend in Indiana. With multiple shoe circuit teams, high-level prospects, and an elite team of Prep Hoops scouts this is one of the best events we have had yet. There were multiple college coaches at the Pacers Athletic Center on Friday evening as well to take in the action. Prep Hoops Indiana, of course, had boots on the ground as well and as we do each evening it is now time to empty out the notebook and discuss what we saw on Friday evening.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">[program_tooltip program_id='2076451' first='D1' last='Indiana'] P32 17u vs. Indiana Basketball Club 17u</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The first game of the evening at the Pacers Athletic Center featured two high-level 17u Indiana-based teams full of college prospects for various levels. There were players with Division I offers, Indiana Junior All-Stars, and multiple Division II, Division III, and NAIA coaches in attendance to watch this matchup.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[program_tooltip program_id='2076451' first='D1' last='Indiana'] got off to a strong start, mostly thanks to the hot three-point shooting of [player_tooltip player_id='2141040' first='Brody' last='Baker'] (Harrison West Lafayette H.S. 2027). He connected on three triples in the first half alone. Left-handed guard [player_tooltip player_id='2140441' first='Skylar' last='Rodgers'] (Cathedral H.S. 2027) knocked down a pair of three-point shots of his own for [program_tooltip program_id='2076451' first='D1' last='Indiana'] as well. Then, point guard Tywaine Fuller (Liberty Christian 2027) sparked a run with a couple of steals and fast break layups. It felt like they were controlling the half, but [player_tooltip player_id='2140420' first='Nash' last='Sigmund'] (Decatur Central H.S. 2027) connected to light it up from beyond the arc. He had five three-pointers in the first half. The matchup between Sigmund and Baker was fun to watch as those two are two of the best catch-and-shoot threats in the state.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In the second half, [player_tooltip player_id='2907635' first='Bo' last='Washington'] (Pike H.S. 2027) and [player_tooltip player_id='2470635' first='Levi' last='Walker'] (Fishers H.S. 2027) led a comeback for Indiana Basketball Club that ultimately gave them a lead. Walker, a 6'4" elite athlete, nailed a couple of three-point shots to go along with the tough finishes he had off of the dribble earlier in the game. However, there was no stopping [player_tooltip player_id='2140359' first='Elijah' last='King'] (South Bend St. Joseph H.S. 2027) down the stretch or in overtime. The 6'2" guard who holds an offer from IU-Indy was consistently making defenders bounce off of him as he scored it from the mid-range and at the rim. Ultimately, 19 of his game-high 26 points came in the second half and overtime as he led [program_tooltip program_id='2076451' first='D1' last='Indiana'] to a 73-70 victory.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2140392' first='JJ' last='Craig'] (Warren Central H.S. 2027) added 15 points for [program_tooltip program_id='2076451' first='D1' last='Indiana'] while [player_tooltip player_id='2141040' first='Brody' last='Baker'] chipped in 13 points. In the loss for Indiana Basketball Club, it was [player_tooltip player_id='2140420' first='Nash' last='Sigmund'] leading the way with 17 points while [player_tooltip player_id='2470635' first='Levi' last='Walker'] added 12 points.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Indiana Elite - Team Crossroads 17u vs. Soil 17u</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Admittedly, there was almost zero defense played in this game. It was up-tempo and high-scoring from the very start. Both teams were trading baskets in transition with the guard play of Soil 17u leading the charge while some of the wing strength and athleticism of Indiana Elite - Team Crossroads worked to win some battles in the paint.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2560395' first='Le'Jordan' last='Fowler'] (Mishawaka H.S. 2028) was one of the first standouts for Soil 17u. The 6'3" sophomore guard shined while playing up a year. He connected on a couple of three-point shots while also running the floor and finishing in transition using his athleticism and length. There is some serious upside to get excited about with Fowler.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Soil 17u backcourt duo of [player_tooltip player_id='3164890' first='Andre' last='Wells'] (Mishawaka Marian H.S. 2027) and [player_tooltip player_id='2129321' first='Drew' last='Dixon'] (South Bend St. Joseph H.S. 2027) really shined as well. Their explosiveness in the open floor and ability to make plays for themselves and their teammates allowed them to dominate in transition.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For Indiana Elite - Team Crossroads, the interior strength and athleticism of [player_tooltip player_id='2470698' first='Brody' last='McLaughlin'] (Silver Creek H.S. 2027) and [player_tooltip player_id='2831119' first='Seth' last='Winslow II'] (New Albany H.S. 2027) simply wasn't enough. They scored it in the paint with a variety of moves, but couldn't keep up with the end-to-end quickness of Soil.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Eventually, Soil would go on to win 101-89 in the track meet affair. [player_tooltip player_id='3164890' first='Andre' last='Wells'] scored 26 points in the win while [player_tooltip player_id='2560395' first='Le'Jordan' last='Fowler'] added 24 points. Both [player_tooltip player_id='2470698' first='Brody' last='McLaughlin'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2831119' first='Seth' last='Winslow II'] scored 19 points in the loss for Indiana Elite - Team Crossroads.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->