Charlie Hughes Preview – Way Too Early 3A 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 3A 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">Delta Eagles</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Fresh off of three consecutive Regional Championships, this Delta team could be their best one yet. [player_tooltip player_id='2797662' first='Ryan' last='Lynch'], Chase Phillips, [player_tooltip player_id='2958507' first='Walker' last='Johnson'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2349711' first='Madden' last='Ramsey'] were second through fifth on the team last season in scoring averaging 9.9, 9.1, 8.6, and 6.5 points per game respectively. However, it is the addition of rising junior guard [player_tooltip player_id='2540036' first='Jaxson' last='Johnson'] from Muncie Central that could really prove to be the difference this time around. He gives the Eagles a dynamic scoring and playmaking punch.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Guerin Catholic Golden Eagles</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>We've been tracking this Class of 2027 at Guerin Catholic since they were freshmen. Now here are they as seniors and they are poised to potential lead the Golden Eagles to Gainbridge Fieldhouse. [player_tooltip player_id='2140383' first='Jake' last='Grissom'] earned Junior All-Star honors averaging 20.5 points per game. Fellow rising senior [player_tooltip player_id='2137375' first='Carter' last='Murans'] and [player_tooltip player_id='2140371' first='Hayden' last='Rogers'] are major impact returning players as well. Murans, a 6'7" wing, averaged 12.4 points and 4.6 rebounds per game while Rogers averaged 8.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 7.0 assists per game. Luke for rising sophomore guard [player_tooltip player_id='3033279' first='Luke' last='Keller'] to be a potential breakout player this season as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">New Haven Bulldogs</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Bulldogs were able to advance to Gainbridge Fieldhouse finishing as the Class 3A State Runner-Up last season. This year they will return a very important core trio of rising seniors in [player_tooltip player_id='2140444' first='Tarvar' last='Baskerville II'], [player_tooltip player_id='2837232' first='Lavell' last='Ledbetter'], and Shane Rogers-Smith. New Haven should once again be one of the best teams in the Fort Wayne area and a real threat to make a repeat trip to the State Finals.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Silver Creek Dragons</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>For the second straight season it will be Silver Creek who will likely be the #1 Class 3A team in the preseason. Last year they advanced to the Class 3A Final Four before falling to the eventual champion Cathedral. Rising senior point guard [player_tooltip player_id='2140328' first='Brandon' last='Hunter'], who holds multiple Division I offers, is the Dragons' top returning player. Hunter averaged 12.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 10.5 assists per game last season. There is quite a bit of size returning as well. [player_tooltip player_id='2470698' first='Brody' last='McLaughlin'], [player_tooltip player_id='2831121' first='Lucas' last='Linderman'], and [player_tooltip player_id='2436214' first='Donovan' last='Whitehead'] all return for their senior seasons. Look for rising juniors [player_tooltip player_id='3038275' first='Aiden' last='Makun'] and [player_tooltip player_id='3038274' first='Evan' last='Renn'] to step into larger roles as well.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Other Schools to Consider</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Brebeuf Jesuit, Cathedral, East Chicago Central, Gibson Southern, Parke Heritage</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->