FORUM Tipoff Classic Lineup Announced
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We are still a couple months away from the start of the 2023-2024 Indiana High School Basketball season. However, there is a reason why we say that in 49 states it is just basketball…but this is INDIANA. Fans want 365…
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Continue ReadingWe are still a couple months away from the start of the 2023-2024 Indiana High School Basketball season. However, there is a reason why we say that in 49 states it is just basketball…but this is INDIANA. Fans want 365 day a year coverage and that is what we provide here at Prep Hoops Indiana. On September 6th, the six-game lineup for the annual FORUM Tipoff Classic was announced. The annual event, which is always one of the best showcases in the state, will be held at historic Southport Fieldhouse on December 9th. Let’s take a look at this year’s participants.
12:30 p.m. Southport vs. Greenfield-Central
Players to Watch: Braylon Mullins Braylon Mullins 6'6" | SG Greenfield-Central | 2025 State #123 Nation IN (Greenfield-Central H.S. 2025)
Last Season: Southport (14-10), Greenfield-Central (21-2)
Preview: The host Southport Cardinals will look a lot different than they did a year ago. Last year’s group was loaded with seniors and first year head coach Bill Zach will be replacing the top six scorers from that squad. Look for their strong 2025 class to make a leap this season though led by guard Michael Johnson Michael Johnson 5'11" | PG Southport | 2025 State IN and forward Jack Turner Jack Turner 6'4" | SF Southport | 2025 State IN . Senior guard Jye Rudolph Jye Rudolph 5'10" | PG Southport | 2024 IN will be a name to know as well. As for the Cougars of Greenfield-Central, it will be all about Top 100 national prospect Braylon Mullins Braylon Mullins 6'6" | SG Greenfield-Central | 2025 State #123 Nation IN . The 6’5″ guard averaged 16.9 points per game a year ago along with a team-leading 5.2 rebounds. His ability to score from any spot on the floor will make him one of the most dangerous offensive players in the state this coming season.
2:00 p.m. Warren Central vs. Center Grove
Players to Watch: Jevon Guess Jevon Guess 6'6" | PF Warren Central | 2025 State IN (Warren Central H.S. 2025), Joey Schmitz Joey Schmitz 6'2" | PG Center Grove | 2024 State IN (Center Grove H.S. 2024), Will Spellman Will Spellman 6'6" | PF Center Grove | 2024 State IN (Center Grove H.S. 2024)
Last Season: Warren Central (14-10), Center Grove (22-3)
Preview: After leading the Warriors to a 32-0 state championship in 2018, head coach Criss Beyers returns to the Warren Central sideline with an under-the-radar group. 6’3″ wing Robert Walker Robert Walker 6'3" | SF Warren Central | 2024 State IN had an excellent summer and should really emerge as a two-way threat on the perimeter. 6’5″ forward Jevon Guess Jevon Guess 6'6" | PF Warren Central | 2025 State IN is a physically gifted big man who will dominant the paint and the glass inside. Center Grove is fresh off an excellent season and has several pieces to help them maintain success. Senior point guards Joey Schmitz Joey Schmitz 6'2" | PG Center Grove | 2024 State IN and Jalen Bundy Jalen Bundy 5'11" | PG Center Grove | 2024 State IN bring back a lot of playmaking ability while Schmitz is also a high-level shooter. 6’6″ senior forward Will Spellman Will Spellman 6'6" | PF Center Grove | 2024 State IN is one of the best big men in the area that people may not know a ton about yet as well. His skill level at his size makes him a versatile piece for coach Zach Hahn to play with on the offensive end of the floor.
3:40 p.m. Guerin Catholic vs. Heritage Hills
Players to Watch: Dylan Murans Dylan Murans 6'7" | SF Guerin Catholic | 2024 State IN (Guerin Catholic 2024), Trent Sisley Trent Sisley 6'8" | PF Heritage Hills | 2025 State #47 Nation IN (Heritage Hills H.S. 2025), Robert Sorensen Robert Sorensen 6'0" | PG Guerin Catholic | 2024 State IN (Guerin Catholic 2024)
Last Season: Guerin Catholic (20-9, Class 3A State Runner-Up), Heritage Hills (16-9)
Preview: This matchup will feature one of the top teams in Class 3A against the best individual player in Class 3A. Last season, Guerin Catholic went on an impressive postseason run to reach the state finals at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. They return a lot from that team including leading scorer Robert Sorensen Robert Sorensen 6'0" | PG Guerin Catholic | 2024 State IN who posted 14.4 points per game along with senior forward Dylan Murans Dylan Murans 6'7" | SF Guerin Catholic | 2024 State IN who recently received a Division I offer from Army and up-and-coming junior forward Bryson Cardinal Bryson Cardinal 6'6" | PF Guerin Catholic | 2025 State IN should have a breakout season. On the Heritage Hills sideline, it is all about 6’8″ junior forward Trent Sisley Trent Sisley 6'8" | PF Heritage Hills | 2025 State #47 Nation IN . The highly sought after Big 10 recruit is a four-star, Top 75 prospect nationally and is coming off a monster sophomore season that saw him average 26.3 points, 10.2 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game.
5:20 p.m. Crispus Attucks vs. Noblesville
Players to Watch: Dezmon Briscoe Dezmon Briscoe 6'9" | PF Crispus Attucks | 2025 State #107 Nation IN (Crispus Attucks H.S. 2025), Justin Curry II Justin Curry II 6'4" | SG Noblesville | 2026 State IN (Noblesville H.S. 2026), Aaron Fine Aaron Fine 6'3" | PG Noblesville | 2024 State IN (Noblesville H.S. 2024), Ron Rutland III Ron Rutland III 6'1" | SG Crispus Attucks | 2024 State IN (Crispus Attucks H.S. 2024 – University of Indianapolis), Hunter Walston Hunter Walston 6'6" | SF Noblesvile | 2024 State IN (Noblesville H.S. 2024)
Last Season: Crispus Attucks (18-8), Noblesville (19-7, Sectional 8 Champions)
Preview: Two very successful teams from a year ago will face-off in the evening of the Forum Tipoff Classic featuring what could be Top 10 rosters in the Class 4A preseason rankings. Crispus Attucks won last season’s Indianapolis City championship and return nearly all of their production from that team. UIndy commit Ron Rutland III Ron Rutland III 6'1" | SG Crispus Attucks | 2024 State IN was the Tigers leading scorer averaging 18.0 points per game while making nearly 80 three-point attempts. Inside, Top 150 national prospect in the Class of 2025, Dezmon Briscoe Dezmon Briscoe 6'9" | PF Crispus Attucks | 2025 State #107 Nation IN brings back 15.6 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 4.0 blocks per game. Noblesville will counter with senior guard Aaron Fine Aaron Fine 6'3" | PG Noblesville | 2024 State IN who averaged 13.8 points and 3.5 assists per game last year and stock-rising senior wing Hunter Walston Hunter Walston 6'6" | SF Noblesvile | 2024 State IN who contributed 8.3 points and 5.0 rebounds. Look for sophomore guard Justin Curry II Justin Curry II 6'4" | SG Noblesville | 2026 State IN to step into a much expanded role this year as well.
7:00 p.m. Lawrence North vs. Fort Wayne Wayne
Players to Watch: Chase Barnes Chase Barnes 6'1" | PG Fort Wayne Wayne | 2025 State #355 Nation IN (Fort Wayne Wayne H.S. 2025), Kobi Bowles Kobi Bowles 6'2" | PG Lawrence North | 2024 State IN (Lawerence North H.S. 2024), Jevon Lewis (Fort Wayne Wayne H.S. 2024), Azavier Robinson Azavier Robinson 6'1" | PG Lawrence North | 2025 State #88 Nation IN (Lawrence North H.S. 2025)
Last Season: Lawrence North (18-8), Fort Wayne Wayne (21-5, Regional Champion)
Preview: Lawrence North has a good chance of being the preseason #1 team in Class 4A while Fort Wayne Wayne will likely be in the Top 5 or 10. The Wildcats feature four-star guard Azavier Robinson Azavier Robinson 6'1" | PG Lawrence North | 2025 State #88 Nation IN who has blossomed into a legitimate high-major prospect with offers from the likes of Arizona State, Butler, Illinois, Notre Dame, Oklahoma State, St. John’s, and TCU. He averaged 20.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game. Alongside fellow guard Kobi Bowles Kobi Bowles 6'2" | PG Lawrence North | 2024 State IN , Lawrence North will have one of the most dynamic, explosive backcourts in the state. For Fort Wayne Wayne, the Generals return a lot from their team that made a run to Semi-State last season. Senior point guard Jevon Lewis averaged 16.6 points and 6.4 assists per game while junior Chase Barnes Chase Barnes 6'1" | PG Fort Wayne Wayne | 2025 State #355 Nation IN brings back 13.9 points per game. Those two will matchup well against LN’s guards.
8:30 p.m. Fishers vs. Kokomo
Players: Flory Bidunga Flory Bidunga 6'9" | C Kokomo | 2024 State #7 Nation IN (Kokomo H.S. 2024 – Kansas), Keenan Garner Keenan Garner 6'6" | PF Fishers | 2024 State IN (Fishers H.S. 2024), Taden Metzger (Fishers H.S. 2024 – Huntington University)
Last Season: Fishers (14-12), Kokomo (24-5, Class 4A State Runner-Up)
Preview: Admittedly, this game lost a little bit of its luster when Jalen Haralson Jalen Haralson 6'7" | PG La Lumiere | 2025 #8 Nation IN announced that he was leaving Fishers for La Lumiere. However, the Tigers, who would have been the preseason #1 team, are still likely to be a Top 10 roster going against the reigning Class 4A state runner-up Kokomo Wildkats. Obviously, the major draw here is Kansas commit Flory Bidunga Flory Bidunga 6'9" | C Kokomo | 2024 State #7 Nation IN . The 6’9″ five-star center averaged 20.2 points, 13.8 rebounds, and 4.5 blocks per game while shooting over 80% from the field last season. Kokomo will be retooling a bit, but there is still some talent surrounding their generational big man. This should be a fun night cap to a great event.