Charlie Hughes Preview – Way Too Early 1A Preseason Favorites

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Welcome to Charlie Hughes Showcase week! The best scholastic live period event in the country comes to the best high school basketball state in the country this weekend. Games will tip-off at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time between Carmel High School and Westfield High School and run through Sunday evening. This year over half of the IHSAA-member schools in the state will be participating in the Charlie Hughes Showcase including all four of the reigning State Champions. Our staff will have boots on the ground all weekend long and have already started posting preview content here on the website. Let's take a look at some of the preseason favorites at the Class 1A level heading into the 2026-2027 season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>***Listed Alphabetically***</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Barr-Reeve Vikings</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The reigning Class 1A State Champions are in a very good position to repeat. The Vikings return their top five scorers and only lose one primary rotation player. Rising senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='3045017' first='Kierson' last='Lengacher'] is the headliner bringing back 14.0 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.7 steals per game. [player_tooltip player_id='3148411' first='Jaylon' last='Graber'], a rising junior, averaged in double-figures as well with 10.8 points and 4.0 rebounds per game. Look for other rising juniors [player_tooltip player_id='2797665' first='Braxton' last='Neidigh'] and [player_tooltip player_id='3527814' first='Josh' last='Miller'] to take another leap as well. They averaged 9.9 points and 8.6 points per game respectively. Barr-Reeve has a culture of winning and they will likely have the most talented Class 1A roster in the state next season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Cloverdale Clovers</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Having a 6'9" dominant interior presence at the Class 1A level can serve as a cheat code. Ishamel Kiteka, a rising junior center with Division I offers and interest, averaged 20.3 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 4.2 blocks per game last season. However, Cloverdale has more to be excited about than just their superstar big man. They also return their next four leading scorers including [player_tooltip player_id='3493161' first='Trey' last='Schabel'] and [player_tooltip player_id='3028141' first='Donavin' last='Newby'] who averaged 11.5 points and 11.3 points per game. Look for 6'1" rising junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2797122' first='Toby' last='Hart'] to step into a larger role this coming season as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Liberty Christian Lions</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This is a team that has been knocking on the door for several years now. The Lions have won three consecutive Regional titles, but haven't yet punched their ticket to Gainbridge Fieldhouse. A talented Class of 2027 will now be seniors so the time is now for them to make their run. [player_tooltip player_id='2140408' first='Kendrick' last='Martin'] will be one of the best players at the Class 1A level bringing back 17.8 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 2.1 steals per game. Fellow rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='2267054' first='Tywaine' last='Fuller Jr']. has been a big part of all three Regional championship teams as well. The dynamic playmaking point guard averaged 9.1 points, 2.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists, and 1.8 steals per game last season. Look for rising sophomore Kamaries Allen and rising junior [player_tooltip player_id='3472328' first='Marcus' last='Boyd'] to take steps into larger roles this season as well. Liberty Christian will be hungry to finish their climb to the mountain top this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Marquette Catholic Blazers</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Returning your top two scorers is a really good place to start when building a winner. Marquette Catholic went 19-8 last season, while playing one of the toughest 1A schedules in the state as usual, and won a Sectional Championship while leaning heavily on the backcourt duo of [player_tooltip player_id='2368903' first='Vaughn' last='Rael-Kludt'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2414957' first='Josiah' last='Mays']. Rael-Kludt averaged 15.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 2.8 steals per game while Mays added 15.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 2.0 steals per game. Alongside those two talented rising juniors, the Blazers are set to add rising sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2361891' first='Izzy' last='Hutcheson'] who should make an immediate impact as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">North Vermillion Hornets</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>North Vermillion was one step away from Gainbridge Fieldhouse last season. They will return their star guard in rising junior [player_tooltip player_id='2538005' first='Teagan' last='Leonard'] who averaged 18.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. He will once again be one of the most talented scorers and pure shot-makers at the Class 1A level. Rising junior forward Graham Young brings back 8.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per game and should be ready to step into a larger role. As long is Leonard is in the Hornets' backcourt they will be a tough team to beat at the Class 1A level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Rossville Hornets</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>At the Class 1A level a couple of star players can make all of the difference. Rossville, a reigning Sectional champion, will feature one of the top scorers in teh state in [player_tooltip player_id='2414956' first='Brayden' last='Thiele-Hahn'] and very good running mate in Aiden Schaumburg. Thiele-Hahn averaged 22.2 points and 6.7 rebounds per game as a junior while Schaumberg put up 13.1 points per game. Overall, the Hornets are set to return their top four scorers from last season's 20-win team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Other Teams to Know</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>South Decatur, Monroe Central, Tri, Trinity Lutheran, Triton, West Washington</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->