Mr. Basketball Candidate: Joey Brunk

<p>With the start of the high school season, we look to dive into the possible candidates for the Mr. Basketball Award in Indiana.  Since 2006, seven of the ten winner have been drafted by NBA teams.  Of those three others, Bloomington South’s Jordan Hulls went undrafted and Hamilton Southeastern’s Zak Irvin and Purdue’s Caleb Swanigan are still in college.  This prestigious award is always a difficult choice with the amount of talent in the state every year.</p><p>This year is no different and maybe even more than the past few.  There are no really dominant teams at the top levels and that evens the playing field even more. Players from all over the state should vie for this opportunity.  Guys like Dru Smith down in Evansville or Damien Jefferson up in East Chicago.  As always, there are tons of options in the central part of the state with C.J. Walker, Eron Gordon, Kyle Guy, and Joey Brunk near the top of the list.</p> <p>This season will be difficult to predict but we breakdown some of the key factors of each player we think has an early shot this year.  We begin with Joey Brunk of Southport (IN).</p> <h3><span style="background-color:rgb(34, 34, 34)">Joey Brunk of Southport (IN)</span></h3> <p>Of all of the Mr. Basketball candidates, Joey Brunk is the only big man on the list.  The 6&#39;10 center has a lot of things going for him and is really one-of-a-kind in this group of guards and wings.  He started out at Park Tudor and it was a open gym in the back courts at Park Tudor that I first got my look at the slightly smaller Brunk.  He spent most of that day shooting threes if that gives you any indication of how far he has come.  Now, he&#39;s the best big in the class and headed to Butler.  Southport looks to be the best team in the state and is ranked #1 in the initial Associated Press poll.  He&#39;s got everything he needs to be successful and can make quite an interesting case as to why he could be Mr. Basketball this season.</p> <h3>?WHY HE CAN WIN</h3> <p>Nobody else has his size and Brunk can use that to his advantage.  The 6&#39;10 post has become better and better the last few years and is something that catches your eye in the gym.  He can be strong and and effective when playing down low and can average a double-double this season.  His stats are going to be pretty good in his last go-around.  He&#39;s also a local kid staying at the local school.  Being a Butler commit has its advantages and usually that can make things a little easier in getting noticed from all around the state.  Being different and one of the only kids to stay local will give him a leg up on a lot of others heading into the season.  He still has to be really good and should get as many chances as he can handle being the best player in the state.</p> <h3>THINGS TO WATCH FOR</h3> <p>There aren&#39;t many downsides for him.  He&#39;s got a team that is looking to do really well and a team that feeds him the ball at a good clip and relies upon him to score points.  One issue that will be figured out before the end of the season is if his team can actually get past Indianapolis Pike.  They haven&#39;t beat Pike since the start of this Century.  No, I&#39;m not making that up.  January of 2000 was their last win against them so things have to be on high alert.  Other than that, he might have the best case before the season even starts.</p>