One Month Out Rankings: Class 3A Top 5

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>About three months ago we highlighted our "Way Too Early State Title Contenders" in each class. Fast forward to late October and we are just about one month away from the 2025-2026 Indiana High School Basketball season tipping off. We have spent September and October attending high school open gyms and workouts across the state and now will see if any of our opinions have changed heading into the season. Here are our top five teams in each class one month out from the 2025-2026 season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#1 Silver Creek Dragons</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last Season: 22-5, Sectional Finals</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Silver Creek, on paper, will be the favorite to win the 2025-2026 Class 3A State Championship. Led by three Division I prospects and several other small college prospects, the Dragons have the talent to compete with anyone in the state regardless of class. Sharpshooter <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1385611' first='Kasen' last='Daeger']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/kasen-daeger/"></a> was named to the Indiana Junior All-Star team after averaging a team-high 16.2 points and making 57 three-point shots at a 40% clip. He recently committed to Stony Brook. Meanwhile, 6'9" forward <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2476482' first='Dane' last='Caldwell']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/dane-caldwell/"></a> announced his commitment to Richmond. The super athletic forward averaged 12.0 points and 7.0 rebounds per game last season. Rising junior point guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2140328' first='Brandon' last='Hunter']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/brandon-hunter/"></a> is arguably the best passer in the state of Indiana. He averaged 9.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game last season. Then, there is rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1561483' first='Dane' last='Sprigler']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/dane-sprigler/"></a> who put up 15.4 points per game and made 70 three-point shots at an incredible 53% clip. The Dragons are loaded with talent.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#2 Cathedral Fighting Irish</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last Season: 20-5, Sectional Semi-Finals</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Cathedral was one of the most talented teams in Class 3A last season, but ran into eventual State Runner-Up Crispus Attucks in the Sectional Semi-Finals. A trifecta of returning seniors will look to lead the Fighting Irish to a deep tournament this time around. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1561435' first='Julien' last='Smith']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/julien-smith-3/"></a> averaged 13.5 points per game last season while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1561135' first='Keaton' last='Aldridge Jr']</strong>. put up 11.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game. Those two have committed to Mount St. Mary's and Detroit Mercy respectively 6'5" versatile wing/forward R'Mani Wells is poised for a breakout senior season as well. Look for some young talent, including freshmen, to step up and play right away for the Irish as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#3 Northview Knights</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last Season: 24-3 Regional Final</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Returning all but two rotation players, including your top three scorers, from a 24-3 Sectional Championship team is a pretty darn good place to start. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1561022' first='Brayden' last='Goff']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/brayden-goff/"></a> is one of the top stat sheet stuffers in the state and will be back for his senior season running the show. He averaged 16.2 points, 6.1 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 2.2 steals per game last season. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2892554' first='Avery' last='Perry']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/avery-perry/"></a> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2622247' first='Trayven' last='Buis']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/trayven-buis/"></a> are excellent players as well while <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2797123' first='Quinn' last='Lewis']</strong> <a href="https://prephoops.com/player/quinn-lewis/"></a>returns after averaging 6.1 points and 3.7 rebounds per game as a freshman. Northview will participate in the 2025 Hall of Fame Classic as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#4 Princeton Community Tigers</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last Season: 24-3, Semi-State Semi-Finals</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>First and foremost the Tigers return Indiana Junior All-Star <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1560964' first='Edwin' last='Holmes']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/edwin-holmes/"></a> who averaged 16.7 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.9 steals, and 2.7 blocks per game. The 6'6" do-everything forward will be one of the best players in southern Indiana this coming season. DeMarcus Newson is an athletic two-way guard that returns alongside a couple of other rising seniors that have made varsity contributions. Princeton also picked up a 6'6" rising senior forward in <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2892468' first='Drew' last='Wilkas']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/drew-wilkas/"></a> from Florida and rising sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='2539928' first='Quintyn' last='Voltz'] who averaged 12.0 points per game as a freshman at Decatur Central.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">#5 Guerin Catholic Golden Eagles</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Last Season: 23-5, Regional Final</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The rising junior class at Guerin Catholic has been winning games since their freshman year. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2140383' first='Jake' last='Grissom']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jake-grissom/"></a> has made the biggest varsity impact of the bunch having averaged 12.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per game as a sophomore. Grissom played in the Indiana Futures All-Star game over the summer. Meanwhile, both <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2137375' first='Carter' last='Murans']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/carter-murans/"></a> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2140371' first='Hayden' last='Rogers']</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/hayden-rogers/"></a> have valuable varsity experience as well. [player_tooltip player_id='2137317' first='Andrew' last='Riethman'] and 6'8" [player_tooltip player_id='2410408' first='Alex' last='Wall'] are other rising juniors who are ready to step into a larger role on this year's team.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Other Teams to Consider</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Blackhawk Christian, Charlestown, Columbia City, Crispus Attucks, Gary West Side</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->