3 For 3: Week 1 Preview

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The 2025-26 high school boys' basketball season is BACK and it is the first week of the regular season 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":["1728587"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6907daff4275c"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">I always want to start the 3-For-3 Series off with a bang and by doing so, it is always good to feature arguably the favorite to win Indiana Mr. Basketball right off the bat. Senior point guard and Purdue signee [player_tooltip player_id='1728587' first='Luke' last='Ertel'] is without question the favorite to win the prestigious reward this upcoming season. While that would be a great personal goal, you can bet Ertel's main goal will be looking to lead a talent Mt. Vernon-Fortville squad to a potential Class 4A State Championship behind the 22.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 4.0 assists&nbsp;he brings back. You can watch this special player this week when MVF hosts Lebanon on Saturday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2140328"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6907daff427b8"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The southern portion of Class 3A basketball may very well run through the Silver Creek Dragons this year due to the exceptional talent that they bring in this season across the board. Arguably the most talented player that hasn't even scratched the surface of what he can eventually become is junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2140328' first='Brandon' last='Hunter']. A player with a host of mid-major offers, Hunter brings back elite skill in the backcourt as well as 9.4 points, 6.1 rebounds, and a team-high 7.5 assists from his sophomore year. Hunter and the Dragons kick off their season with a home matchup vs rival Floyd Central on Tuesday.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["2539991"],"_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":1,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"preview","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-6907daff427f9"} --> <!-- wp:paragraph {"placeholder":"Add evaluation here...","className":"text-gray-700"} --> <p class="text-gray-700">The class of 2028 is looking to be one that has so much upside to it as far as players that could reach a high level. A player with an unlimited amount of upside to him that could really breakout at a national level this season is guard [player_tooltip player_id='2539991' first='Amarian' last='Leggett'] of Blackford High School. As a freshman for the Bruins, Leggett stepped right into a varsity role and averaged an impressive 14.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game. This season, he will continue his rise as a player with it starting this weekend when Blackford travels to Southwood on Tuesday and hosts Bluffton on Saturday. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- /wp:acf/evaluation-block --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">3 Teams</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Fishers (4A) –&nbsp;</strong>The Fishers Tigers aren't going anywhere. After making back-to-back Class 4A State Finals appearances, they enter this season once again as a strong favorite to return to Indianapolis. They'll be led by elite junior guards [player_tooltip player_id='2140345' first='Cooper' last='Zachary'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2267046' first='Jason' last='Gardner Jr.'], arguably the best backcourt in the state, and now add one of Indiana's top frontcourt players in senior transfer [player_tooltip player_id='1509229' first='Kai' last='McGrew'] from Lawrence North. With that trio, a solid returning core, and an exciting freshman class, Fishers is built to contend at the highest level yet again. The Tigers open the season on the road at Ben Davis on November 25 and Arsenal Tech on November 28.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Princeton (3A) –</strong>&nbsp;&nbsp;Class 3A South is loaded with teams capable of making noise this season, and the Princeton Tigers are firmly among them. Coming off a 24–3 campaign that ended in the Semi-State, Princeton returns its centerpiece in senior forward [player_tooltip player_id='1560964' first='Edwin' last='Holmes'] and adds one of the state's top in-state transfers in sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='2539928' first='Quintyn' last='Voltz']. Together, they form one of the best 1–2 duos in Indiana. The Tigers open their season on the road at Wood Memorial on November 25 and then host Evansville North on November 29.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Hauser (1A) –&nbsp;</strong>Class 1A has no shortage of teams capable of making a run at a state title this season, and Hauser is firmly in that conversation. The Jets are coming off a 24–4 campaign that ended in the Semi-State Semifinals, and while they graduated their top three scorers, the returning backcourt of [player_tooltip player_id='2814297' first='Gavin' last='Keller'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2272841' first='Stryker' last='Gill'] keeps them dangerous at the 1A level. After claiming their first sectional title since 2017, Hauser aims to build on that momentum. They'll open the season with road trips to Brown County on November 25 and Columbus North on November 29. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">3 Matchups</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Guerin Catholic (3A) at Cardinal Ritter (2A) – Nov. 26th, 6:30 pm</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There are a lot of intriguing games on the Wednesday slate of games this week and one of the ones that I found one of the most interesting is Guerin Catholic going on the road to face Cardinal Ritter. Both teams are looking to make big statements with their aspirations of making a deep runs come the post season. Guerin Catholic is viewed a possible Class 3A favorite and will be heading into season led by junior duo of [player_tooltip player_id='2140383' first='Jake' last='Grissom'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2137375' first='Carter' last='Murans']. Once again this season, Cardinal Ritter will be led by their guy in junior power forward [player_tooltip player_id='3068383' first='Devin' last='Bolden']. Ritter will face a tough challenge going up against the versatile Guerin Catholic team and if they want to pull out the home win, they will need get someone like a [player_tooltip player_id='1990762' first='Cheick' last='Wade'] to step up for them. With that, I have Guerin Catholic getting this road win. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Westfield&nbsp;(4A) at Scecina (2A) – Nov. 25th, 7:30 pm</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>On the opening Tuesday of Indiana high school boys basketball action, a Class 4A contender travels to face a promising Class 2A North squad with the potential to win plenty of games this season. The Westfield Shamrocks, led by Abilene Christian commit [player_tooltip player_id='1988138' first='Drew' last='Haffner'], hit the road to take on Scecina Memorial, which features talented sophomore wing [player_tooltip player_id='2617866' first='Jaylin' last='Foster'], in what should be an exciting matchup. The biggest X-factor will be Westfield junior center [player_tooltip player_id='2414955' first='Luke' last='Vandegriff'], whose presence inside could create major problems for Scecina. With all that considered, I like Westfield to pick up a solid road win to open the year.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Terre Haute North&nbsp;(4A) at Parke Heritage (2A) – Nov. 29, 7:00 pm</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Class 4A South is one of the most wide-open groups in the state this season with no clear-cut favorite to reach Indianapolis. One team, however, that could break out and emerge as a legitimate state contender is the Terre Haute North Patriots. THN will be tested early and often, and that continues Saturday night when they travel to face Parke Heritage — arguably the favorite in Class 2A. This matchup features strong coaching on both sidelines and a ton of talent on the floor, including [player_tooltip player_id='1561105' first='Brady' last='Klopfenstein'], [player_tooltip player_id='2425772' first='Tyler' last='Renn'], [player_tooltip player_id='2140323' first='Blake' last='Hammond'], [player_tooltip player_id='2140339' first='Carter' last='Crum'], [player_tooltip player_id='1560965' first='Treigh' last='Schelsky'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2272232' first='Isaac' last='Pickel']. If you want to watch a tough, hard-nosed game this weekend, this is the one to keep an eye on. Terre Haute North escapes with an impressive road win.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->