Prep Hoops Indiana 2024-25 High School Preview – Class 3A (North)

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>It is almost time to tip-off the Indiana High School Basketball season. The games begin on Monday, November 25th which means we are in full season preview mode here at Prep Hoops Indiana headquarters. Last week we gave our preseason Top 10 class-by-class rankings, highlighted the Top 20 players in each class, previewed the candidates for the Indiana All-Star teams, and much more. Now, this week, we will dive a bit deeper into previewing each class before it is time to see it all play out next Monday. We will dive in here with an overview look at the Class 3A (North).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional 17 @ East Chicago Central</strong><br>Calumet, East Chicago Central, Gary West Side, Griffith, Hammond Bishop Noll, Highland</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional 18 @ Kankakee Valley</strong><br>Hanover Central, Illiana Christian, Kankakee Valley, Lowell, River Forest</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional 19 @ Plymouth</strong><br>Culver Military Academy, Glenn, Mishawaka Marian, New Prairie, Plymouth, South Bend Saint Joseph, South Bend Washington</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional 20 @ NorthWood</strong><br>Columbia City, Fairfield, NorthWood, Tippecanoe Valley, Wawasee, West Noble</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional 21 @ Garrett</strong><br>Angola, DeKalb, East Noble, Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger, Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian, Fort Wayne Concordia Lutheran, Garrett, Leo</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional 22 @ Bellmont</strong><br>Bellmont, Heritage, Marion, Mississinewa, New Haven, Norwell</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional 23 @ Logansport</strong><br>Logansport, Maconaquah, Northwestern, Peru, Twin Lakes, West Lafayette, Western</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional 24 @ New Castle</strong><br>Connersville, Delta, Hamilton Heights, Jay County, New Castle, Yorktown</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Toughest Sectional: Sectional 17 @ East Chicago Central</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I almost went with Sectional 19 at Plymouth, but ultimately I think the defending Class 3A State Runner-Up South Bend St. Joseph will be able to navigate those waters despite how talented South Bend Washington is and the friskiness of Mishawaka Marian. In Sectional 17 you'll have a heavyweight matchup at some point between the host East Chicago Central and Gary West Side. Both teams competed in Class 4A last season with East Chicago Central beating Gary West Side on their way to a Sectional championship. This game will be loaded with talented featuring Indiana All-Star candidate Dominque Murphy Jr and classmate [player_tooltip player_id='2390221' first='Yamauree' last='Wallace'] for the Cardinals and the likes of [player_tooltip player_id='1560995' first='Reggie' last='Hinton'], [player_tooltip player_id='2053673' first='Derek' last='Collins'], and [player_tooltip player_id='1560969' first='Tyler' last='Crews'] for the Cougars.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">State Title Contenders</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blackhawk Christian: Blackhawk Christian is a traditional powerhouse that will make the jump from Class 2A to Class 3A this season. They are ranked #8 in the Prep Hoops Indiana Preseason Class 3A Top 10. [player_tooltip player_id='1364589' first='Kellen' last='Pickett'], a 6'9" forward signed to play at Wright State, will be the focal point of what the Braves do once again this season. There are some impressive freshmen to keep an eye on as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>East Chicago Central/Gary West Side: We've already discussed these two programs, but whoever makes it out of Sectional 17 will have a chance to go the distance. They are ranked #5 and #6 respectively in the Prep Hoops Indiana Preseason Class 3A Top 10.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>South Bend St. Joseph: Ranked #3 in the Prep Hoops Indiana Preseason Class 3A Top 10, South Bend St. Joseph made it to Gainbridge Fieldhouse last season. The return a ton of production including Indiana All-Star candidate [player_tooltip player_id='1297002' first='Chase' last='Konieczny'] and Indiana Junior All-Star Candidate [player_tooltip player_id='2024513' first='Nick' last='Shrewsberry']. They also added Indiana Junior All-Star candidate [player_tooltip player_id='1560973' first='Ethan' last='Roseman'] who transferred from Bishop Chatard this off-season. Sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='2140359' first='Elijah' last='King'] is a difference-maker as well. This team has a chance to be very, very good.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Top Players</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1747066' first='Josiah' last='Ball'] (Maconaquah H.S. 2025 - Bethel)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1297002' first='Chase' last='Konieczny'] (South Bend St. Joseph H.S. 2025)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1297020' first='Dominique' last='Murphy Jr'] (East Chicago Central H.S. 2025)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1364589' first='Kellen' last='Pickett'] (Blackhawk Christian 2025 - Wright State)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1561449' first='Steven' last='Reynolds III'] (South Bend Washington H.S. 2026)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Quick Hitters</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>4 of our Prep Hoops Indiana Preseason Class 3A Top 10 are here in the North.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Defending Class 3A State Runner-Up South Bend St. Joseph is back as a favorite to advance to Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Blackhawk Christian advanced to the Class 2A Final Four last year while East Chicago Central won a Class 4A Sectional last season.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>[player_tooltip player_id='1747066' first='Josiah' last='Ball'] (Maconaquah H.S. 2025) will look to lead the state in scoring. The Bethel commit averaged 30.3 points per game last season.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->