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

<!-- 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 (South).</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">The Field</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional 25 @ Frankfort</strong><br>Brebeuf Jesuit, Crawfordsville, Danville Community, Frankfort, Guerin Catholic, Lebanon, Tri-West</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional 26 @ Indianapolis Shortridge</strong><br>Herron, Bishop Chatard, Cathedral, Crispus Attucks, Shortridge, Purdue Polytechnic – Downtown</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional 27 @ Cascade</strong><br>Cascade, Edgewood, George Washington, Northview, Owen Valley, Speedway</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional 28 @ Shelbyville</strong><br>Beech Grove, Greenwood, Indian Creek, New Palestine, Roncalli, Rushville, Shelbyville</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional 29 @ South Dearborn</strong><br>Batesville, Franklin County, Greensburg, Jennings County, Lawrenceburg, South Dearborn</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional 30 @ Charlestown</strong><br>Brownstown Central, Charlestown, Corydon Central, Madison, North Harrison, Silver Creek</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional 31 @ Southridge</strong><br>Gibson Southern, Jasper, Princeton Community, Southridge, Vincennes Lincoln, Washington</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Sectional 32 @ Boonville</strong><br>Boonville, Evansville Bosse, Evansville Central, Evansville Memorial, Heritage Hills, Mt. Vernon (Posey)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Toughest Sectional: Sectional 26 @ Indianapolis Shortridge</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>This was an easy choice simply because of the expected matchup between Cathedral and Crispus Attucks who begin the season ranked #1 and #2 respectively in the Prep Hoops Indiana Preseason Class 3A Top 10. Those two teams, who competed at the Class 4A level last season, are two of the best in the state regardless of class, but only one will survive the Sectional 26 field. With all due respect to the other teams, all eyes will be on that matchup whenever it comes.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">State Title Contenders</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cathedral: Cathedral won 18 games last season and enters 2024-2025 ranked #1 in the Prep Hoops Indiana Preseason Class 3A Poll. Northwestern signee [player_tooltip player_id='1525663' first='Brady' last='Koehler'] leads the way while senior classmates [player_tooltip player_id='1297015' first='Deric' last='Cannady'] and LeBron Gough hold down the backcourt. Indiana Junior All-Star candidate [player_tooltip player_id='1561135' first='Keaton' last='Aldridge Jr'] returns 15.3 points and 6.5 rebounds per game as well. Pending eligibility, Mt. Vernon (Fortville) transfers [player_tooltip player_id='1561435' first='Julien' last='Smith'] and R'Mani Wells could provide a big boost for the Fighting Irish as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Crispus Attucks: [player_tooltip player_id='1297019' first='Dezmon' last='Briscoe'] has won back-to-back Indianapolis City Player of the Year awards and will now look to lead his team to greater postseason success as a senior. The dominant 6'9" interior presence averaged 14.3 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 4.2 blocks per game last season. He will be surrounded by IU-South Bend commit [player_tooltip player_id='1297004' first='Chris' last='Hurt'], [player_tooltip player_id='1534940' first='Kayden' last='English'], and a plethora of other talent.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New Palestine: One of a few teams that won a Class 4A Sectional last season but moved down to Class 3A, the Dragons are ranked #3 in our preseason poll. Led by Indiana Wesleyan bound [player_tooltip player_id='1297068' first='Julius' last='Gizzi'], who averaged 28.9 points and 8.0 rebounds per game last season, New Palestine is absolutely a state title contender with what they bring back. [player_tooltip player_id='1539483' first='Ben' last='Slagley'], [player_tooltip player_id='1539484' first='Moses' last='Haynes'], Keegan Harrison, and more will look to get New Palestine to Gainbridge Fieldhouse.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Top Players</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1297019' first='Dezmon' last='Briscoe'] (Crispus Attucks H.S. 2025)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2053658' first='Bryson' last='Cardinal'] (Guerin Catholic 2025)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1297068' first='Julius' last='Gizzi'] (New Palestine H.S. 2025 - Indiana Wesleyan)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1296996' first='Carter' last='Kent'] (Jennings County H.S. 2025 - Bethel)</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='1525663' first='Brady' last='Koehler'] (Cathedral H.S. 2025 - Northwestern)</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>Top 3 teams and 6 of our Prep Hoops Indiana Preseason Class 3A Top 10 are here in the South.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>The battle between Silver Creek, featuring [player_tooltip player_id='1385611' first='Kasen' last='Daeger'] and company, against [player_tooltip player_id='1296999' first='Chace' last='Coomer'], [player_tooltip player_id='1297005' first='Colby' last='Hall'], and the Brownstown Central Braves will be a fun one to watch in Sectional 30 at Charlestown.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li>Guerin Catholic, led by [player_tooltip player_id='2053658' first='Bryson' last='Cardinal'] and a strong core of sophomores, should be the favorite in an always competitive Sectional 25.</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->