Class 4A Preseason Favorites – Early October Edition

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Following the Charlie Hughes Showcase in June we took our first stab at some "way too early" season previews. We highlighted a handful of teams in each class that were legitimate contenders for their respective state championships. Then, at the end of July, we revisited the list and added some notes. Now that the calendar has turned to October and the season is within sight it seemed like a good time to revisit this discussion. Here are the preseason Class 4A favorites as of early October.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:separator --> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity" /> <!-- /wp:separator --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Fishers Tigers</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As long as <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2267046' first='Jason' last='Gardner Jr.'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2140345' first='Cooper' last='Zachary'] </strong>are walking through that door the Fishers Tigers will be a favorite in Class 4A. The two dominant guards are now rising seniors with a combined 83-3 record including one state championship in their three years. Gardner Jr. missed most of his junior season due to injury, but will be back and ready to lead the Tigers to Gainbridge Fieldhouse as a senior. Fellow rising senior <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2470635' first='Levi' last='Walker'] </strong>has had a great spring and should be ready to step into a larger role for the Tigers. There is no shortage of talent to go around at Fishers.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>***7/28 Update - As we said prior to the Charlie Hughes Showcase, as long as Fishers as Gardner Jr. and Zachary they are going to be among the favorites to win the state championship. Those two are back for the 2026-2027 season so they will be the preseason #1 team in Class 4A. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2470635' first='Levi' last='Walker']</strong> has emerged as a legitimate Division I/Division II prospect while sophomores <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2860080' first='Tristan' last='Breland']</strong> and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3666055' first='Max' last='Hopkins']</strong> should be ready to step into larger roles this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>***10/2 Update - The favorites are still the favorites. [player_tooltip player_id='2267046' first='Jason' last='Gardner Jr.'] is now committed to Auburn and [player_tooltip player_id='2140345' first='Cooper' last='Zachary'] is committed to Florida Gulf Coast. Having their recruitments behind them should allow them to play that much more free as seniors. Look for senior wing [player_tooltip player_id='3142197' first='Micaiah' last='Baker'] and junior wing [player_tooltip player_id='2520999' first='Maksim' last='Radovich'] to factor into the rotation as well. They both played well at the recent Fishers college combine day.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Homestead Spartans</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Homestead has won back-to-back Regional titles before falling to Crown Point and Northridge respectively. This could be their year to punch up another level or two in the state tournament. Not only do they return rising seniors <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2054869' first='Jake' last='Coolman'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2932419' first='Mack' last='Welker']</strong>, but they also added rising junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2539827' first='Bryce' last='LaCross'] </strong>from Blackhawk Christian. Welker, a 6'7" forward with multiple Division I offers, averaged 21.0 points and 9.8 rebounds per game on his way to earning Indiana Junior All-Star honors. Coolman, a Taylor University commit, added 12.0 points per game and is a very good shooter. LaCross averaged 19.4 points per game as a sophomore at Blackhawk Christian.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>***7/28 Update - This group, and specifically <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2932419' first='Mack' last='Welker']</strong>, was the talk of the Charlie Hughes Showcase. The Spartans went 3-1 with wins over Crown Point, Guerin Catholic, and Pike while losing to Fishers. LaCross' addition is just as important as expected. He gives Homestead another dimension as a perimeter scorer. Look for them to be a tough out, per usual, in the postseason.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>***10/2 Update - Back-to-back Regional championships proves that this team knows what it takes to win in the post season. Based on how they played this summer they have as good of a chance as anyone to make a deep run. [player_tooltip player_id='2932419' first='Mack' last='Welker'] is now committed to play at Wright State.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">New Albany Bulldogs</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>New Albany returns the vast majority of their production from a team that reached the Class 4A Final Four before falling to eventual State Champion Mt. Vernon (Fortville). Rising junior guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2382148' first='Noah' last='Washington'] </strong>and rising sophomore guard <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2888227' first='Karson' last='Stoudemire'] </strong>are the two big names to know. They are among the top prospects in the Class of 2028 and Class of 2029 respectively. However, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2125697' first='Reece' last='McKee']</strong>, Ashton McKee, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2873152' first='Greyson' last='Grubbs']</strong>, and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2831119' first='Seth' last='Winslow II'] </strong>are talented rising seniors who will make big impacts this season as well. There are a couple of transfer additions, including <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2622021' first='Jacob' last='Wilkerson'] </strong>from Jeffersonville, who could factor into the equation too.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>***7/28 Update - The Bulldogs are going to be really fun to watch. They apply pressure for 32 minutes both offensively and defensively. The guards are in constant attack mode and will pick you up full court causing a bunch of turnovers which leads to easy transition buckets. New Albany is likely going to be one of the best defensive teams in the state this season.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>***10/2 Update - If there is any team built to keep up with Fishers it is New Albany. They have the backcourt speed, overall depth of talent, and star power to go shot for shot. The Bulldogs will be incredibly fun to watch in 2026-2027.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Pike Red Devils</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>There is an obvious elephant in the room with Pike and it revolves around who will actually be on the roster when it comes time to play high school basketball games. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2266896' first='Isaiah' last='Hill']</strong>, the Red Devils' 6'11" Purdue commit, has been with them all summer. His presence alone, along with the other pieces that have been playing, makes them a contender. However, if <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2538892' first='Landon' last='Lampley']</strong>, <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2266897' first='Kenneth' last='Lampley']</strong>, and <strong>Jahari Miller</strong><a href="https://prephoops.com/player/jahari-miller/"></a> are all there they will likely be the most purely talented team in the state. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2444554' first='Vanden' last='Garner'] </strong>and <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='3219509' first='Bles'sed' last='Thomas']<a href="https://prephoops.com/player/blessed-thomas-3/"></a> </strong>are two incoming transfers that will make big impacts for Pike this season regardless of who else is on the roster.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>***7/28 Update - Jahari Miller recently announced that he will be attending prep school in Texas for his senior season. However, there is still a ton of firepower to go around. <strong>[player_tooltip player_id='2955304' first='Ryan' last='Gold Jr']</strong>. will likely slide in as the starting point guard now. The sophomore playmaker is coming off of a great summer. As long as the Lampley's stick around Pike will be one of the most talented teams in the state once again.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>***10/2 Update - Even without Miller, Pike will have a very strong backcourt featuring Gold Jr., Thomas, [player_tooltip player_id='2414872' first='Aiden' last='Woods'], and freshman [player_tooltip player_id='3686533' first='Brillon' last='Pritchett Jr.'] There is no shortage of top end talent either with Purdue commit [player_tooltip player_id='2266896' first='Isaiah' last='Hill'], the Lampley brothers, and [player_tooltip player_id='2444554' first='Vanden' last='Garner'] who has really emerged as a Division I prospect recently.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:heading --> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Other Teams to Consider</h2> <!-- /wp:heading --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Carmel, Chesterton, Fort Wayne Snider, Lawrence North, Penn, South Bend St. Joseph</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->