Way Too Early Class 1A Preview – Top 10 Players to Watch

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It has been a little over a month since we released our first look at the top Indiana High School Basketball teams for the upcoming 2026-2027 season. Now that the academic year is about to start, we've watched all of these teams compete in June, and we are entering a quieter period in our content calendar it seemed like a good time to revisit our earlier takes. Have our takes been solidified? Would we change anything? We did this with the top teams in each class and now will do it with the top players/prospects. Here are 10 of the best players to watch at the Class 1A level this coming season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2194824' first='Antonio' last='Baymon'] (Libery Christian 2027) - A move in from the state of Florida, Baymon put up some big offensive numbers against a very high-level of competition in the Sunshine State. The 6'0" guard immediately made his impact felt at the Charlie Hughes Showcase with Liberty Christian and should be one of the most talented scorers at the small school level on one of the best teams at the small school level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2140407' first='Kellen' last='Crim'] (Morristown H.S. 2027) - Anyone who followed the Charlie Hughes Showcase in June left knowing Crim's name. He went off for some massive scoring performances and should be in a position to be one of the top Class 1A scorers in the state this season. Crim is an excellent three-point shooter and a prospect for small college programs to follow.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2561161' first='Quentavious' last='Fly'] (Bowman Academy 2028) - Arguably the most athletically and physically gifted prospect on this list, Fly has really started to take off on the gridiron but is also an excellent basketball player. He was selected to the Indiana Futures All-Star game after putting up some monster numbers at Bowman Academy as a sophomore.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2871482' first='Manon' last='Gant'] (Henryville H.S. 2027) - Gant Jr. averaged 20.3 points per game as a junior and played well in the Indiana All-Star Classic at Anderson University this summer when we were in attendance. He is a do-it-all guard for Henryville and will once again be one of the top statistical producers at the Class 1A level for a team that could sneak up on some people.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2617833' first='Ishmael' last='Kiteka'] (Cloverdale H.S. 2028) - In terms of college prospectus, nobody at the Class 1A level in Indiana compares to Kiteka. The 6'9" center holds an offer from Ball State and has interest from all levels of Division I programs. He is an elite shot-blocker, has been a dominant force on the glass, and keeps getting better and better offensively. There are games where Kiteka is able to put up video game type numbers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='3045017' first='Kierson' last='Lengacher'] (Barr-Reeve H.S. 2027) - Lengacher will enter his senior season with the impressive distinction of "best player on the best team." Barr-Reeve won the Class 1A State Championship last season with this 6'0" point guard averaging 14.0 points and 2.5 assists per game.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2538005' first='Teagan' last='Leonard'] (North Vermillion H.S. 2028) - Leonard has put up some big numbers through both his freshman and sophomore seasons while also contributing to a good deal of winning. The 6'1" guard is an excellent perimeter shot-maker, but also is a talented playmaker with the ball in his hands. He is definitely one to watch this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2140408' first='Kendrick' last='Martin'] (Liberty Christian 2027) - The elder statesman of Liberty Christian's core, Martin has been a key piece of the Lions' last three runs to the Class 1A Semi-State. This season, as a senior, the dynamic playmaking guard will look to get them all of the way to Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Martin is the top guard prospect at the Class 1A level among rising seniors.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2414957' first='Josiah' last='Mays'] (Marquette Catholic 2027) - Mays is coming off of a really strong summer where he has established himself as a solid small college prospect. He has a strong build, the necessary quickness to get downhill, and all-around playmaking chops that college programs look for in a lead guard. Marquette Catholic is going to have an excellent backcourt and will be a tough out at the Class 1A level.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2368903' first='Vaughn' last='Rael-Kludt'] (Marquette Catholic 2027) - There was no picking between Mays and Rael-Kludt so we decided to include them both on this list. Rael-Kludt averaged 15.9 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 2.8 steals per game as a junior and will once again be part of a dynamic backcourt at Marquette Catholic.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2414956' first='Brayden' last='Thiele-Hahn'] (Rossville H.S. 2027) - Thiele-Hahn averaged 22.2 points and 6.7 rebounds per game as a junior. The 6'2" guard was impressive at the Charlie Hughes Showcase and will once again be the go-to offensive threat for what could be a Class 1A Top 5 team at Rossville. Look for him to be among the state's leading scorers this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Five Others to Watch:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='2123812' first='Hudson' last='Lang'] (Trinity Lutheran 2028), [player_tooltip player_id='2140381' first='Jaedyn' last='Litzlbauer'] (Indianapolis Metropolitan H.S. 2027), [player_tooltip player_id='2553970' first='Luke' last='Morgan'] (Monroe Central H.S. 2028), [player_tooltip player_id='2538845' first='Nolin' last='Pearce'] (Lanesville H.S. 2028), [player_tooltip player_id='2140372' first='Holden' last='Russell'] (West Washington H.S. 2027)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->