Preseason Team Rankings: #24

<p>It’s now creeping up on the start of the high school season and we are looking to start our series of previews on some of the best teams in the state. Today, Eric Gardner and Kyler Staley join up to start our deep dive into some of these teams.</p> <p>Our series will take a look at the best teams in the state for each class with our rankings. Starting at #50 and going to #1, we will look at each class ranking across all classes starting now with #24.</p> <p><b>1A #24:  Southwood</b><br /> Southwood has been in a really good spot the last few years but they might have graduated a ton of that core. However, what we saw last year is that they are ready to develop new talent every year and compete. Carson Rich and Gabe Lloyd really took to their roles last year to support outgoing senior Dallas Holmes. Braden Barney returns to give them some size as well. They moved out of Central Catholic's Sectional and are the clear favorite to start the year. Don't be shocked if this is a Top 10 team very soon this year.</p> <p><strong>2A #24:  Evansville Mater Dei</strong><br /> Mater Dei is in a spot where they might have lost their most impactful seniors in Logan Carter and Zach Schoenstein but they have a ton of talent still in tack. Alex Money, Jackson Heister, and Tyler Phelps make Mater Dei maybe the tallest teams in 2A going 6'5, 6'4, and 6'7. The biggest issue will be more about which guards can step in to help get these guys the ball. Mater Dei went 17-8 last season but were not able to get out of Sectionals which were loaded. Things didn't get easier as Southridge moved into their Sectional but they should be right there with them.</p> <p><strong>3A #24: Beech Grove</strong><br /> Last year was heartbreak for Beech Grove who lost their long time head coach Matt English to brain cancer. But Mike Renfro took over and really seemed to not lose a beat. Now, a full year removed from that, Beech Grove brings in a roster of very interesting talent. Vin Pich, Isaac Stennett, Jadyn Curry, Jajuan Allison, Gus Chikamba, and transfer Brice Langford. If Langford is eligible, that gives them a 6'9 post presence with a host of guards that can all shoot and have some athleticism. As we write this, 24 mjight really be low if this all comes together just right. With a very easy Sectional relative to previous years, don't be shocked if this team makes a Semistate run this year.</p> <p><b>4A #24: South Bend Riley</b><br /> South Bend RIley has been really successful but most of their top guys and role players have now graduated leaving Blake Wesley as the remaining standout. Now a junior, Wesley will have a lot more of the scoring to handle but his growth and development has made him a high-major talent nationally. Last season they lost 9 seniors, 7 of which averaged from 13.6 points to 2.1 each game. That is a ton. Talent wins a lot of the time but this is a little bit of a hedge on if Riley can find pieces to put around Wesley that haven't had much experience yet.</p>