Charlie Hughes Preview – Way Too Early 2A Preseason Favorites

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Welcome to Charlie Hughes Showcase week! The best scholastic live period event in the country comes to the best high school basketball state in the country this weekend. Games will tip-off at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time between Carmel High School and Westfield High School and run through Sunday evening. This year over half of the IHSAA-member schools in the state will be participating in the Charlie Hughes Showcase including all four of the reigning State Champions. Our staff will have boots on the ground all weekend long and have already started posting preview content here on the website. Let's take a look at some of the preseason favorites at the Class 2A level heading into the 2026-2027 season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>***Listed Alphabetically***</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Austin Eagles</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>In early January this team was 2-6 with a few ugly, blowout losses. However, from that point on, they lost just three more times including in the Class 2A South Semi-State to Linton in overtime. Rising sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2636078' first='Micah' last='Mohler'], who is ranked as the #1 prospect in the Class of 2029 by Prep Hoops Indiana, brings back 21.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.9 assists per game. [player_tooltip player_id='2538909' first='Tracen' last='Roush'], a rising junior, is one of the top catch-and-shoot threats in southern Indiana as well. Then, there is the addition of rising sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='3626117' first='Braysen' last='Russell']. The transfer from Madison averaged 21.4 points per game as a freshman and was one of the most prolific three-point shooters in the state. This team has had a great summer and will have a strong case to be at the top of the preseason 2A rankings.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Blackford Bruins</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='2539991' first='Amarian' last='Leggett'] is just about enough at the Class 2A level to make any team a legitimate contender all by himself. The 6'4" rising junior guard averaged 26.3 points, 4.2 rebound, and 4.3 assists per game while leading Blackford to a Sectional Championship last season. There is some attrition due to graduation around him, but 6'7" forward [player_tooltip player_id='3662612' first='Eli' last='Petro'] will be back for a full season after a shortened junior year due to transferring. Also, the Bruins added rising junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2791287' first='Rayveon' last='Fetz'] from Mississinewa. The 5'10" playmaker averaged 15.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists as a sophomore.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Oak Hill Eagles</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Oak Hill was one of the best teams in Class 2A from start to finish last season. They did not lose a game until February 7th against Class 4A Homestead and finished 25-2 falling to Bishop Luers in the Class 2A North Semi-State. The Eagles will return their talented backcourt duo of rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='2266894' first='Jace' last='Tonagel'] and rising sophomore [player_tooltip player_id='2956681' first='Will' last='Tonagel']. The elder averaged 16.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, 6.0 assists, and 2.6 steals per game while the younger one averaged 14.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 2.6 assists per game. Kevaunte Simmons, [player_tooltip player_id='2526294' first='Jayden' last='Younce'], [player_tooltip player_id='2272271' first='Landon' last='Cruzan'], and others are ready to step into larger roles as well. This group has a very legitimate case to be the preseason #1 in Class 2A.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Scecina Memorial Crusaders</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>After being tripped up in the Sectional in back-to-back years by Triton Central, look for Scecina Memorial to break through and cut down the nets this season. They have the talent to go even further as well. 6'5" rising junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2617866' first='Jaylin' last='Foster'] is a very difficult matchup for opponents. He averaged 12.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game last season. Rising junior guards [player_tooltip player_id='2954490' first='Ian' last='Collins'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2881715' first='Boomer' last='Minch'] bring back a good deal of production as well. [player_tooltip player_id='2950496' first='Conner' last='Weaver'], a rising sophomore guard, gained some varsity experience as a freshman and should be ready to step into a larger role as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Other Teams to Know</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Bremen, Gary 21st Century, Lapel, Paoli, South Ripley, Westview</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->