Sneakers For Santa Preview: Game Notes

<p>The 2021 All State Insurance Sneakers For Santa Shootout will tip-off Saturday morning at Brownsburg High School featuring many of the top teams and prospects from around the state. The top ranked team in Class 1A, 2A, and 4A are all in attendance according to our Prep Hoops Indiana Class Rankings. Also, the top ranked prospect in the Class of 2023 and 2024 will be suiting up. There are also six of the top 14 Class of 2022 prospects taking part in the shootout as well. Let's take a look at the seven matchups with some game notes to get you ready for a day full of great basketball.</p> <h3>Brownsburg (2-2) vs. Plainfield (2-1)</h3> <p>Junior forward Elhadj Diallo has burst onto the scene for the Bulldogs this season after a 26-point performance in their season-opening loss to North Central. 6'8" center [player_tooltip player_id="1168167" first="Shon" last="Tupuola"], a UIndy recruit, solidifies Brownsburg around the basket as well. For the Quakers, it is future Iowa football player [player_tooltip player_id="1063973" first="Cael" last="Vanderbush"] that is averaging 23 points and 9 rebounds per game (prior to last night's loss) with a 2-1 record. He will have a good test banging around with Diallo and Tupuola inside. Sophomore guard Eli Ellis is one to watch for Plainfield as well. This should be an evenly matched game to tip-off a day full of hoops.</p> <h3>Gary 21st Century (1-0) vs. Tuscola (IL) (2-0)</h3> <p>The top-ranked Class 1A Gary 21st Century squad has a plethora of talent in their junior class. [player_tooltip player_id="868220" first="Ashton" last="Williamson"] is the headliner and nearly recorded a triple-double in their season-opening win over Indianapolis Tindley. Fellow juniors [player_tooltip player_id="1160677" first="Quintin" last="Floyd"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1042493" first="D.J." last="Moss"] provide some size for the Cougars with double-doubles under their belt already this season. [player_tooltip player_id="863587" first="Jalen" last="Quinn"] is the player to watch for Tuscola that is headed to Loyola Chicago next season. The 6'3" guard averaged 24.5 points per game as a junior. His matchup with Williamson will be a great one to follow Saturday morning.</p> <h3>Hammond Central (0-1) vs. Fort Wayne North Side (0-3)</h3> <p>For most fans, this will be the first look at newly formed Hammond Central after the consolation of Hammond, Clark, and Gavit High Schools. The Wolves lost 60-58 to Bosco Institute in their first game of the season and now will face a young, talented North Side squad. Junior guard [player_tooltip player_id="1049160" first="Jordan" last="Woods"] will lead Hammond Central this season after averaging 10.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 3.6 steals per game as a sophomore. He will be battling with Class of 2024 #1 prospect [player_tooltip player_id="1158178" first="Brauntae" last="Johnson"] who put up 17.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists as a freshman with similar averages so far this year. The Legends have dropped games at Lawrence North , against Fort Wayne Blackhawk, and at DeKalb to open the season.</p> <h3>Crispus Attucks (2-1) vs. Linton-Stockton (3-0)</h3> <p>[player_tooltip player_id="870284" first="Christian" last="Nunn"] is off to a hot start averaging 25.3 points per game to lead Crispus Attucks thus far. The Tigers fell to Tennessee Prep 66-61 last night suffering their first loss of the season. Sophomore [player_tooltip player_id="1275771" first="Ron" last="Rutland III"] and senior guard [player_tooltip player_id="870264" first="James" last="Smith"] have each had strong beginnings to their season in the Attucks backcourt. Also, freshman big man [player_tooltip player_id="1297019" first="Dezmon" last="Briscoe"] is pulling down an impressive 13.3 rebounds per game to begin his high school career and is coming off of a double-double last night. Linton-Stockton is ranked as the #1 team in Class 2A by Prep Hoops Indiana led by the talented trio of [player_tooltip player_id="868240" first="Joey" last="Hart"], [player_tooltip player_id="935736" first="Logan" last="Webb"], and [player_tooltip player_id="1158180" first="Braden" last="Walters"]. Hart scored 30 in their first game against Indianapolis Metropolitan while Webb came back with a big game in their win over Parke Heritage.</p> <h3>Carmel (2-1) vs. Homestead (2-1)</h3> <p>In a rematch of last season's regional semi-final matchup, the Greyhounds and Spartans will tipoff Saturday evening. Carmel dropped one at Zionsville to begin their season but responded with a win over Elder (OH) in the Ohio Valley Hoops Classic and a win last night at Lawrence Central. [player_tooltip player_id="769662" first="Peter" last="Suder"] leads the way for Carmel as the best available prospect in Indiana's Class of 2022. The 6'5" guard is an excellent two-way player that will play a big role in trying to slow down Homestead's [player_tooltip player_id="1063961" first="Fletcher" last="Loyer"]. Speaking of the Purdue signee, Loyer is averaging 30 points per game and is the likely favorite to win Mr. Basketball. This will be a heavyweight matchup between two of the best teams in the state.</p> <h3>Lawrence North (2-0) vs. Heritage Christian (0-1)</h3> <p>This was supposed to be a matchup between Indiana University signee [player_tooltip player_id="870213" first="Chris" last="Gunn"] and Purdue University recruit [player_tooltip player_id="868229" first="Myles" last="J. Colvin"]. Unfortunately, Gunn is still nursing an ankle injury and will be out for this game. In his absence, the Wildcats are still off to a 2-0 start thanks to some strong play from senior guard Mac Brown who is averaging 17.5 points per game. For Heritage Christian, Colvin has some talented running mates in [player_tooltip player_id="1042495" first="Dylan" last="Doss"] and [player_tooltip player_id="1258290" first="Nolen" last="Duncan"] among others. Even without Gunn, this should be a fun matchup Saturday night.</p> <h3>Cathedral (3-0) vs. Brush (OH) (2-0)</h3> <p>The marquee matchup of the day is the nightcap between Cathedral and Brush High School out of Ohio. The Fighting Irish are ranked #1 in Class 4A by Prep Hoops Indiana and feature the #1 player in the Class of 2023 in [player_tooltip player_id="868219" first="Xavier" last="Booker"]. The 6'10" big man is averaging 14.7 points and 7 rebounds per game to begin the season while [player_tooltip player_id="868251" first="Jake" last="Davis"], [player_tooltip player_id="1063971" first="Jaxon" last="Edwards"], and [player_tooltip player_id="870212" first="Tayshawn" last="Comer"]. [player_tooltip player_id="868252" first="Jaron" last="Tibbs"] scored 10 points to go with 6 rebounds in his return to the court as well. The Irish survived an overtime thriller against Brebeuf Jesuit Friday night thanks to [player_tooltip player_id="870212" first="Tayshawn" last="Comer"] layup with 1.9 seconds left. Brush High School is ranked #2 in Ohio and brings 6'6" 4-star recruit [player_tooltip player_id="1076533" first="Marlon" last="Barnes"] to matchup with Cathedral. They also feature Ohio signee [player_tooltip player_id="809624" first="Elmore" last="James"], Rutgers signee Antwone Woolfork, and 6'8" [player_tooltip player_id="814555" first="Tyler" last="Williams"]. Brush will certainly have the size and talent on paper to matchup with the Irish. Will Cathedral have what it takes to take down another one of the best teams from the Buckeye state?</p>