3 For 3: Week 9 Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2022-23 high school boys' basketball season is underway and we at Prep Hoops Indiana want to give you the absolute best coverage in the whole state. Indiana is full of great teams and talented players thus giving the fans incredible matchups every week. Join me, Kyler Staley, every Monday during the season as I preview the 3 Players, 3 Teams, and 3 Matchups to watch for that coming week. Are you ready? Let's get started!</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3 Players</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1042491"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63c57faf5fea2"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Belmont commit has been playing so well and has really done well as "the guy" for Carmel. You know he was going to score at a high level from three but he has also been attacking the basket so well and making plays above the rim. You have to think if there wasn't a certain guard up north that was also going off this year, Orme would be one of the favorites for Mr. Basketball. However, he is a for sure All-Star. Orme and Carmel have a tough week ahead they travel to Pike on 1/20 and host Brownsburg on 1/21. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1158231"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63c57faf5ff03"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In northern Indiana, there are a very few player that have the athletic ability that Sims does. He has tremendous length and has become a solid scorer around the block. Around the basket as well, he has proven to be a tough rebounders and defenders as well. Still want to see him stretch the floor a little more, but his natural size and athleticism has taken him far up to this point. He and Chesterton host Hobart (1/17) and Crown Point (1/20) this week. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1159224"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-63c57faf5ff4f"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Lawrence is a taller, more physical shooting guard that has a ton of range from the outside and is so smooth with his shot. He has a quick release and seems to always be ready to knock a shot down. High motor as well and that translates on the defensive end. Lawrence is one of the main reasons Evansville Memorial is 8-3 on the season. He and the Tiger travel to Evansville Harrison on 1/20. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3 Teams</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Noblesville</strong> <strong>(4A):</strong>&nbsp;While things have looked a little rocking as of late, the Noblesville Millers have been one of the better teams at the 4A level. Led by the senior "big three" of [player_tooltip player_id='1042494' first='Luke' last='Almodovar'], [player_tooltip player_id='868230' first='Preston' last='Roberts'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1272185' first='Cooper' last='Bean'], the Millers have a 9-4 record on the year are currently tied with Carmel with a 3-1 record over Sectional 8 opponents. 2024 guard Arron Fine has also played well for Noblesville and has provided that toughness to this team. This team has the makings to win Sectional 8 this season. The Millers travel to Franklin Central (1/20) and host Hamilton Heights (1/21) this week. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>South Bend Washington</strong> <strong>(3A):</strong>&nbsp;The Panthers are making a strong case as being the best 3A team in the northern Indiana region. Led by senior PG [player_tooltip player_id='868232' first='Marcus' last='Northern'], South Bend Washington has 12-2 record up to this point and have beaten teams such as Lake Central, LaPorte, Portage, and a host of their solid teams. They have a great supporting cast around Northern with guys like [player_tooltip player_id='935730' first='Ty'Shaun' last='Grundy'], [player_tooltip player_id='1049194' first='Alex' last='Jefferies'], and the best freshman in the state [player_tooltip player_id='1561449' first='Steven' last='Reynolds III']. This week, the Panthers should improve to 13 wins on the year when they host Jimtown on Friday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Barr-Reeve</strong> <strong>(1A):</strong>&nbsp;After a 30+ win streak at home, the Barr-Reeve Vikings saw that streak snap when they fell Loogootee 44-36 this past weekend. While this Barr-Reeve team is not the dominant team that we have seen in the past, they are still 8-6 on the year and currently are a top 10 team in 1A. This overall is a pretty young roster so a up-and-down year like this is not all that surprising. The Vikings are on the road this week first at Wood Memorial (1/20) and at North Daviess (1/21). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>3 Matchups&nbsp;</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Linton-Stockton (2A) at North Daviess (3A) – Jan. 20th, 7:30 pm:</strong>&nbsp;The rematch that everyone has been waiting for. In case you weren't aware last year, this game was one of the more highly anticipated games that ended up being one of the more disappointing as Linton elected to hold the ball for the majority of the game. North Daviess would go onto win the game but let's hope this year's game is much more fast paced like it should be. Both squads match up pretty evenly and led by two elite guard in [player_tooltip player_id='868240' first='Joey' last='Hart'] and [player_tooltip player_id='935727' first='Jaylen' last='Mullen']. Both teams are a combined 26-3 on the year and could be the state championship favorites in both 2A and 3A. While I think [player_tooltip player_id='935736' first='Logan' last='Webb'] and [player_tooltip player_id='1158180' first='Braden' last='Walters'] will give the Cougars fits, I think North Daviess has just enough to get a win over Linton. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Indianapolis City Tournament (First Round - Semifinals) – Jan. 17th-21st</strong>: The annual Indianapolis City Tournament takes place this week with the championship happening next Monday, 1/23. This event has a bunch of talent participating and usually has great games throughout. When looking at the teams involved, Cathedral should be the favorite to win this year's event. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Here is a breakdown of the top talent involved:</strong> [player_tooltip player_id='868219' first='Xavier' last='Booker'], [player_tooltip player_id='868251' first='Jake' last='Davis'], [player_tooltip player_id='868252' first='Jaron' last='Tibbs'], [player_tooltip player_id='868227' first='Kamari' last='Slaughter'], [player_tooltip player_id='1578443' first='Mikial' last='Miller'], [player_tooltip player_id='1402477' first='Robert' last='Davidson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1556368' first='Drew' last='Knapp'], [player_tooltip player_id='1560973' first='Ethan' last='Roseman'], [player_tooltip player_id='868236' first='Qushawn' last='Ware'], [player_tooltip player_id='868229' first='Myles' last='J. Colvin'], [player_tooltip player_id='1556386' first='Julian' last='Robinson'], [player_tooltip player_id='1275771' first='Ron' last='Rutland III'], [player_tooltip player_id='1275781' first='Demetrius' last='Jenkins'], [player_tooltip player_id='1297019' first='Dezmon' last='Briscoe'], and more. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>First Round Schedule (1/17): </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cardinal Ritter (5-4) at Purdue Poly (11-3) - 7:30 p.m.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Providence Cristo Rey (1-9) Bishop Chatard (6-2) - 7:30 p.m.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Indianapolis Washington (4-5) at Heritage Christian (4-5) - 7:30 p.m.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Scecina (7-3) at Tech (4-7) - 7:30 p.m.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Herron (0-5) at Covenant Christian (9-1) - 7:30 p.m.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Christel House Manual (5-4) at Tindley (6-7) - 7:30 p.m.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Quarter Finals Schedule (1/19): </strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Purdue Poly-Cardinal Ritter winner at Cathedral (7-1) - 7:30 p.m.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Chatard-Providence Cristo Rey winner vs. Heritage Christian-Washington winner - 7:30 p.m.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Tech-Scecina winner at Crispus Attucks (3-4) - 7:30 p.m.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Covenant Christian-Herron winner vs. Tindley-Christel House Manual winner - 7:30 p.m.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kokomo&nbsp;(4A) at Tipton (2A) – Jan 21st, 7:30:</strong>&nbsp;This games falls into my "this one might be fun" category. Kokomo, who just came off of a monster win over Harrison (West Lafayette), goes on the road to face a scrappy Tipton team led by guard trio of [player_tooltip player_id='868266' first='Connor' last='Hussong'], [player_tooltip player_id='1158205' first='Nolan' last='Swan'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1297029' first='Grady' last='Carpenter']. While this Tipton team may be scrappy and have great guard play, the one problem that they will face is trying to stop 2024 five-star center [player_tooltip player_id='1363488' first='Flory' last='Bidunga'], which hardly any team has been able to do this season. I expect Tipton to put up a fight here and keep it closer that many might think, but the Bidunga factor is legit and in my opinion, will be too much for Tipton to handle. Kokomo is my pick here. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->