3 For 3: Week 12 Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2023-24 high school boys' basketball season is at week 12 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!&nbsp;</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">3 Players</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1158180"],"_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":"Walters has always been one of the more consistent players in the in-state 2024 class. While he is not known for his scoring prowess, the the 6'6 power forward has always been willing to do ALL the little things it helps to win basketball games. After spending his first three seasons at Lincoln-Stockton, Walters transferred to Terre Haute North for his senior season and is a big reason why the Patriots are 16-3 on the year where his averaging a solid 11.2 points per game shooting 63% from the field. There was always a knock of Walters needing to show his scoring ability more, and this season, he has done just that. A true 'point-forward' in every sense. Watch Walters and Terre Haute North host Robinson (Ill.) (2/6), Bloomington North (2/9), and travel to Clay City (2/10) this week.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65c0422293c3a"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1275728"],"_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":"When it comes to bigs in the in-state 2024 class, a big that I have felt has always been under-the-radar is Seton Catholic power forward [player_tooltip player_id='1578439' first='Mason' last='Harvey']. At a true 6'7, Harvey plays like a modern day four with an ability to not only take advantage of his size in the paint, but stretch the floor at a high level. He is an excellent pick-and-pop 4-man and has gotten more mobile every passing game it seems like. This season, he has led the Cardinals in almost every stat averaging an outstanding 22.7 points and 13.5 rebounds a game. He has also contributed 3.0 blocks a game as well. This was a crucial season for Harvey to get noticed at the college level, and he has done about all he could to get noticed. Busy week for Harvey and Seton Catholic as they travel to Randolph Southern (2/6), start the Pioneer Conference playoffs (2/9), and travel to South Decatur (2/10).","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65c0422293c8b"} /--> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["1275802"],"_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":"One of the more smoother guards in the senior class that knows how to play his roll is Brebeuf Jesuit guard [player_tooltip player_id='1275802' first='Reis' last='Butcher']. For his high school career, he has always been a great complementary piece to Butler signee [player_tooltip player_id='1278639' first='Evan' last='Haywood'] which in-turn has made Jesuit one of the best backcourts in in the class 3A level. Butcher plays with really good, controlled speed and knows how to create on the ball. What I like about Butcher on this Brebeuf Jesuit team is that he plays his silent, killer role so well and while most of the defense will be focused on Haywood, Butcher is there to remind everyone that he is a guy you have to pay attention to. This season, he is averaging 12.1 points per game. Watch Butcher when the Braves travel to Covenant Christian (2/9) this week.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-65c0422293cd0"} /--> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">3 Teams</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Evansville Harrison (4A) -</strong> Down south is a 4A team that I feel is not getting enough attention as being a possible contender to make a deep postseason run. The Evansville Harrison Warriors sit at 15-2 on the year and are currently listed a top-12 team in Class 4A. What has made Harrison such a dominant team in the Evansville Harrison is because they have one of the better 1-2 punches in the state in senior center [player_tooltip player_id='1761697' first='Malachi' last='McNair'] and junior sharp-shooter [player_tooltip player_id='1578468' first='Shane' last='Sims'], who both are averaging a combined 33.8 ppg. Junior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1297123' first='Jay' last='Summitt'] has also been having a breakout year with his 11.8 ppg, as well. They are riding a 9-game winning streak and are a team to pay attention in that area. They travel to Evansville Reitz (2/9) and host Owensboro (Ky.) (2/10) this week. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Mishawaka Marian (3A) - </strong>The Knights have quietly been a 3A team that has been improving for the last few weeks. They are currently on a 6-game winning streak and have beaten teams such as South Bend Clay, Penn, and South Bend Washington in that time frame. After starting just 4-8 on the year, they are now 10-8 and are arguably a top-15 team in Class 3A. They currently have two players scoring in double-figures with junior guard William Owens (12.7) and senior guard Zion Rhodes (12.6). The Knights are lowkey a team that you should not sleep on in northern Indiana 3A. They have a true gauntlet this week with three-straight road games at New Prairie (2/6), John Glenn (2/7), and South Bend St. Joseph (2/9). </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Adams Central (2A) - </strong>The Flying Jets of Adams Central has been one of the more consistent teams in Class 2A all season long. They enter into this week 14-3 on the year but just went 3-2 in their last 5 games. For the Flying Jets, it all starts with 6'7 2024 center [player_tooltip player_id='1763448' first='Isaac' last='Schultz'], who recently committed to Olivet Nazarene. Schultz is a gamechanger at the 2A level and has a soft touch at the rim, rebounds the ball in his area at a high level, and continues to flash his improving mobility and footwork. The Flying Jets have a legit chance to make a run at 2A state this season. They travel to both South Adams (2/9) and Eastside (2/10) this week. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">3 Matchups</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Springs Valley (1A) at Paoli (2A) – Feb 6th, 7:30 pm</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In southern Indiana, this is a primetime matchup between two teams that are looking to continue to build momentum as they look to make runs in their respective classes in the postseason. Both teams enter this week with 12 wins on the year while also having played some of the same teams throughout the year. The key matchup here is between juniors [player_tooltip player_id='1297013' first='Deion' last='Edwards'] (SV) and [player_tooltip player_id='1297025' first='Fletcher' last='Cole'] (Paoli), both who are having phenomenal seasons in their own right. This will be a classic southern Indiana matchup and I will give the slight edge to Paoli here due to the homecourt advantage. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Cathedral (4A) at Fishers (4A) – Feb 9th, 7:30 pm</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Heavyweight. Showdown. Period. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is probably not bigger game on the scheduled this week than Cathedral at Fishers. You have two of the best teams in the state going at it with both looking for another big win before the state tournament starts. Cathedral has had a lot of guys step up with junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='1525663' first='Brady' last='Koehler'] having a breakout season while Fishers, even though they saw their first loss on the year last week, have one of the more compete teams in the state led by likely All-Star lock [player_tooltip player_id='2079500' first='Keenan' last='Garner']. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Expect a highly competitive game and I predict Fishers gets the W. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Plainfield (4A) at Center Grove (4A) – Feb 10th, 7:30 pm</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prep Hoops Indiana will have boots on the ground for this one, which should be one of the more fun games this weekend. After a little bit of shaky start for the first half of the year, Center Grove has won 5-straight with senior guard [player_tooltip player_id='1158238' first='Joey' last='Schmitz'] averaging 17.8 ppg this season. Plainfield, on the other hand, has also been a little shaky at times but sit here today with a 13-6 record. The Quakers have one of the more balanced trios in the state seniors [player_tooltip player_id='1293396' first='Collin' last='Schmidt'] (14.8 ppg) and [player_tooltip player_id='1384422' first='Eli' last='Ellis'] (13.7 ppg) and rising sophomore forward [player_tooltip player_id='1561513' first='Noah' last='Smith'] (12/9 ppg). There is going to be a lot of talent on the floor for this one that is for sure. Center Grove has the slight edge here. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->