A battle of purple and gold went down in Scottsburg tonight as the visiting Eastern Muskateers went up against the IBCA #15 state ranked Warriors. Scottsburg put this game on ice early jumping out to a 27-1 lead after 1. The Warriors were on cruise control from that point on leading at half 44-11 and winning the game 70-26. Scottsburg is a senior led team and have been planning on this being a big year since their middle school days. Expect another big run this March from the Warriors. Scottsburg was led in scoring by senior Kody Clancy with 25 while Eastern was led by senior Branson White with 14.
● 6'3 senior Kody Clancy is a true point guard that can lead a team, get to the basket, or hit the outside shot. He has taken his game to another level so far in the early season. Kody started out hot scoring 17 in the first quarter, including a breakaway dunk. As of now Clancy has offers from Hanover College and IU- East but expect more looks to come his way. There are not many senior point guards south of Indy that have played better in their first 3 games. Clancy finished with a game high 25 pts.
● 6'8 senior Wyatt Zellers is a long lefty with outside range. For now Zellers feels much more comfortable offensively on the perimeter and looks to be a stretch 4 at the next level. Knockdown shooters with his size will get you to the next level. Wyatt currently has a handful of offers including, Bethel, McKendree, Kentucky Wesleyan, UW Parkside, IU East, and Goshen. Strength will come and I would like to see him become more comfortable with his off hand (right). Zellers finished with 15 tonight.
● 6'5 senior Jack Miller is the 3rd member of Scottsburg's Big 3 and may have the most potential at the next level. Miller has good size for a 2 guard and can defend multiple positions on the floor. He is easily their best athlete. Offensively I would like to see him become more consistent with his outside shot. Jack had a frustrating night offensively before finding his rhythm in the 4th, finsihing with 12.
Scottsburg travels to Charlestown on Friday and I will be back here on Saturday night against a sneaky good Bedford North Lawrence team.
The highly anticipated game between two of the top 2A teams in the state took place on Saturday night in Brownstown between the host Braves and Pioneers of Providence. This game started with both teams cold from the floor and after 1 quarter it was 10- 8 Brownstown. The game started to open up for Jack Benter in the 2nd quarter as Brownstown began flexing their muscle on the way to a 28-15 halftime lead. From there it grew to 55-33 to end the 3rd with Benter reaching 30. The game was never in question as the Braves won handedly, 68-55.
● Jack Benter is a 6'4 senior that is an Indiana all star lock and Mr. Basketball candidate. Sometimes the game is as simple as one team has "a guy" and the other team doesn't. That "guy" is Jack Benter. He lifts over smaller defenders and drives past bigger kids. I will be very interested to watch him play against tougher and stronger competition this season as the Braves face Jeffersonville, Lawrence North, and Brownsburg. He did force a few shots that his dad let him know about from the sidelines. Benter finsished with 33 pts.
● Chace Coomer is a 6'5 junior guard that can really shoot it. Tonight was not his best but with his size and shooting ability he will get some NAIA/ D3 looks. I would like to see him more comfortable handling the ball going forward. Coomer finished with 8 pts.
● Colby Hall is a 6'5 junior big that can be a load to deal with at times. He is a willing passer from the post and I'd like to see him get more aggressive and involved. Got caught in switches defensively which left him guarding the perimeter. That is not where he is best used. Capable of hitting the outside shot when left open tonight was not his night offensively and finished with 4 pts.
● Noah Lovan is a 6'3 senior for the Pioneers that had a big night offensively, yet left alof of points on the table. Lovan came out shooting from behind the arc with nothing to show for it. When Noah gets going downhill he is tough to stop and his 10-12 foot midrange game is his bread and butter. If he can show a more consistent outside shot then he is a 30 ppg scorer this season. Lovan finished with 33 pts tonight. I could see him fitting into a Crossroads League school next season.
● Elijah Fuller- Tucker is a 6'5 sophomore prospect for Providence. EFT showed much improvement on the offensive end from the last time I saw him. He even stepped out and hit a shot from the outside which he didn't have last year. He can be tentative at times and I would like to see him become more aggressive offensively. With 3 years left of high school ball EFT is a legit prospect to watch in southern Indiana. He finished with 9 pts.
What a way to start out the season for Woodlan. New Haven lead the whole game including a 13 point lead early in the 3rd quarter, but Woodlan hung around long enough to capitalize off New Haven turnovers at the end. 6’6 Junior forward Trey Yoder really got it going in the 2nd half for Woodlan where he scored 19 of his 26 and the game winning tip in. Ajani Washington had it going for New Haven all night, but too many turnovers late in the 2nd half ending up costing them.
* 6’6 Junior forward Trey Yoder (Woodlan) impressed me in this one. First time seeing him in person. The lefty has excellent touch around the rim and stretches it out to the 3 point line. He was a little loose with the ball in the first half when New Haven was blitzing ball screens, but he showed the ability to put it on the floor and get to the paint and finish from the perimeter. Yoder ended with 26.
* 6’2 Senior guard Braden Smith (Woodlan) also came alive in the 2nd half with Trey Yoder. Smith had 16 of his 22 points in the 2nd half. Smith plays on the ball a lot for Woodlan, but I think he’s a 2 in college. He was a little loose with the ball at times. Smith can knock down shots from the perimeter and see more value in him at the 2. Love his competitiveness and toughness on the court.
* 6’2 Senior Ajani Washington (New Haven) played his first game with New Haven after transferring from Concordia. All facets of his game were working tonight. Ajani hit 5 threes, a few pull-up jumpers, and a couple nice finishes at the rim with both hands. Ajani unofficially finished with 31 points.
Madison had a 5- 4 lead early but the Rebels flexed their muscle from then on. Southwestern is led by 2 seniors, Jamison Lewis and Peyton Cloud but run 7 or 8 deep. Junior Landon Kidwell and sophomore Brady Cook were major contributors this game and are names to remember for the future. Southwestern raced out to a 38- 22 and it didn't get much better for the Cubs in the 2nd half. Madison junior Mason Davis was the only Cub in double figures with 19. Southwestern went on to win the game in convincing fashion, 80- 55 leading no doubt in my mind they are a top 10 team in 2A this season.
● Senior Jamison Lewis is an underrated kid in southern Indiana. Good looking 3 point shot with the ability to put the ball on the floor. Had a fast break dunk in the 2nd half that showcased his athleticism. Drives the lane and gets to his spots. A good baseball prospect as well as basketball. The 6'4 guard finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
● Senior Peyton Cloud is a really tough defender at 5'11. Causes chaos on the perimeter and is an all around smart 4 year player for the Rebels. Solid ball handler and shooter. A leader on this SW team. Finished the game with 19 pts.
● Landon Kidwell is a 6'5 junior that has improved leaps and bounds in the past few years. He looks like he is ready to take the next step. Has good footwork on his post moves and doesn't fall for ball fakes on the defensive end. If Kidwell becomes consistent with an outside shot he will become a very nice player and prospect. Finished the game with 14 pts., 6 rebounds, and 5 blocks.
● 6'2 sophomore Brady Cook is another Rebel underclassman that shows real promise. A starter from Day 1 last year, Cook is looking to show he belongs in the conversation as one of Southern Indiana's top 2026 kids. He has gotten stronger on the drive and is a lethal outside shooter. He will be a name to remember for the next 2 years. Brady finished with 17 pts.
● 5'9 junior Mason Davis for Madison was their lone bright spot on the night. Davis played unafraid of the moment even with his team struggling to find their rhythm. Mason is a knockdown shooter that is learning to get to the basket. His natural position is a 2 guard but looks to be handling the ball more this season. Davis finished with 19 points.
● Madison travels to Jennings County on December 1 while Southwestern visits Shawe on November 25.
The Wildcats came into this one hungry to prove they will be a force to be reckon with in 4A. LaPorte was coming in with 2 players injured in Malik Corley and Dylan Salisbury, and trying to figure out what they had. Riley was ready and came out of the gates hot. Played swarming defense and cause 20 Slicer turnovers. They also had 4 players in double figures, led by Bethel commit Paton Baird who had 27. LaPorte will be a team that Riley has the chance to see again come sectional time, and we know will be improved by then. Should be a fun season for the Wildcats.
Early on Zionsville seemed poised to take control of the game. Their scoring opportunities were coming easier, and they were starting to exploit size advantages they had at the wing. Both teams coming into this season major losses to graduation, relying heavily on underclassmen. Zionsville is likely leaving with a better sense of their team identity.
The visiting South Ripley Raiders visited the Eagles in Osgood, Indiana on Tuesday night. The preseason buzz around the Raiders is they are a top 10 team in 2A and junior Cole Henry is a potential junior all star come June. Jac-Cen-Del in the meantime is coming off back to back semi state appearances and looked to be in a mini rebuild this season.
The Raiders started the game in the first quarter by being 0-6 from three point range while the Eagles just slowly and surely ran their offense and capitalized on suspect perimeter defense. By halftime the Eagles made sure they weren't just going to roll over and let their county rivals take over leading by 9. The Raiders zone did nothing to cut into the Eagles lead. JCD Senior guard Caleb White got to the basket at will and ended with a game high 22 points.
South Ripley cut it to 3 by the end of the third but by that time Jac knew they could play with the Raiders and gained confidence. South Ripley junior guard, Blaine Ward started to take things into his own hands driving the lane and drawing fouls. Ward finished with 14. 6'7 junior Cole Henry got it going in the 4th quarter getting South Ripley within 1 but it never got any closer.
Henry finished the night with a team high 16 points with an Oakland City coach there to watch. Jac-Cen-Del took the win 49-46. Eagle Coach Clint Bowman is one of the better coaches in this area showing he has built a winning culture. JCD will be in the mix, if not favorites in their 1A sectional.
For the Raiders they were left with lots of questions afterwards and the Versailles crowd had a long 5 minute drive back home. South Ripley is back in action on Saturday at Rising Sun while Jac-Cen-Del plays Batesville next.
Each year the Prep Hoops Freshman Showcase is an outstanding way to see most of the top freshmen in the state. This year was no different. 179 players, on twenty teams piled into Fishers HS to showcase their talents. All tolled, 64 evaluations were posted, and we're starting to get a handle on projecting their level.
The deepest position at the camp were the point guards. Below are ten kids who really stood out.
Courtside Indiana published some non-point guard evaluations at the link below.
PH Freshmen Showcase :: non-point guards
As for the point guards, keep in mind, I didn't get to see Teams 3 or 13, so that clips Cooper Zachary, whom we've seen several times already.
The best match up of the day was Bles'sed Thomas from Pike and Cash Daniels from Cathedral. Unfortunately, Pike hasn't played Cathedral since 2015, so not sure if we'll get to see them butt heads during the school season, but it sure has a chance to be a match-up.
The ball pressure both applied to each other seemed competitively personal, and while there was a little bit of one on one going on during the game, it was over the top like that can happen in camp settings. In the half court they both were intent on getting to the paint, and their decision making from there was excellent, finding shooters, making reads behind them. Daniels' shot is a little more fluid at this stage, but Thomas shot it well behind the arc.
Both played hard the whole day, but this game was different and fun to watch.
The Liberty Christian duo of Kendrick Martin and Tywaine Fuller will be the best guards to come through there Chris Nunn (2015).
Martin is bigger at 6'1" and more of a natural distributor. More than a capable defender with good off ball instincts, where his length comes into play, he'll eventually be capable of guard most perimeter spots at the HS level, and with any additional growth, he'll be a match up issue at the 1A level. Good shooter, 3PT range as a stationary shooter for now.
Fuller, like Zachary, is the nephew of Anderson basketball royalty. Zachary's uncle is Randy Zachary from now closed Anderson Highland. He was an Indiana all-star in 1993. Fuller's uncle, Kojak, was a 1993 grad from Anderson, and he was named Mr. Basketball. Fuller plays A LOT like his uncle.
Short but mighty, he's tremendous off the dribble, one of the better movement shooters in the class. Lightening with the ball, he winds his through traffic and finishes at the rim. His range makes it tough to lay off of him, but get in too tight, he's by you.
If you're looking for a little size at the point, Brandon Hunter from Silver Creek and Camden Moore from Zionsville join the conversation. Both are 6'2", handle ball pressure extremely well and can knock down shots.
Hunter probably comes in with a clearer path to varsity minutes and is the more physically mature. He's part of an anticipated freshman class at the Creek, despite the departure of Donovan Whitehead to Colorado to live with his father. Hunter plays with great awareness around him, and he's strong with the ball in traffic.
Moore is comfortable with and without the basketball, and he's also comfortable in getting downhill from anywhere on the floor. He might still have some growing to do.
Defensively, both of these guys defend their position, and as they get stronger, they'll be versatile defenders.
A couple of fresh faces. While the freshman showcase is a great place to catch most of the top freshmen, there are some seen in June. However, two players not seen this past June were Tyvon Alexander from Fort Wayne South and Derrick Cross Jr. from Bloomington North.
Cross, whose father starred at Bloomington North and Miami(OH), is a 6'2" combo guard, who looked great with the ball. One of the few consistent looking movement shooters. The only nitpick on his shot is the release will have to get quicker. Good vision of the dribble, and he showed real defensive potential.
Alexander was fabulous in our viewing. The 5'8" guard is super quick, but he plays at his own pace. He wasn't pressured into speeding up, and then he could get to a level of quickness when he's just by his defender. He was doing that to just about anyone. He also showed a variety of finishes around basket, which will come in handy.
Others to keep in mind:
Overall the only concern of this group when it comes to projection them for college is their size. Including Zachary, five of the top guards, who all appear to have high level skill sets are sub 5'10". The plus side of that though is they all appear to be solid or above average shooters and shot makers. Defensively, there wasn't any of them who didn't that side of the ball seriously, which is rare for at the number for young kids. Pretty impressive group of players.
Before get going on this, we're going to have a separate report on the 2027 point guards. It's an exceptionally deep class at that position, at least early on, and not only should they get their own posting, the others should get some spot light as well.
So if you're looking for PG's, stay tuned on that one!
We should note, these were based on games seen. Did not get to see Teams 3 and 13.
PS - Most of these kids were outstanding in transition and in space, but it was a camp and not much help was offered, so that won't get mentioned specifically as positives.
These were the standouts...
Harper Baker-Lands, 6'3" shooting guard; Plainfield
Good size for a freshman wing, and in that we know his cousins, could have some growing left to do. Super skilled and certainly can excel as a secondary playmaker. Hard environment to judge fully if he could be an initiator of offense. Stationary shooter from the 3PT line, and he moved well without the basketball.
JJ Craig, 6'2" shooting guard; Indianapolis (Warren Central)
One of the best motors in the camp on the day and shot mechanics that are good enough to build on. His strength finishing amid contact was evident, as we was able to stay on balance and show good feel about the basket. He was also one of the better ball defenders on the day, taking opportunities off the ball to get deflections.
Brandon Day, 6'2" shooting guard; Brownsburg
His athleticism and strength pop on the court vs. other freshmen. He's a stationary shooter from the 3PT line, and he can attack closeouts, looks to get downhill. Worked defensively.
Blake Hammond, 6'4" small forward; Terre Haute (North)
He was aggressive off the dribble and made good decisions in traffic. Stationary shooter from the 3PT line, but it's a good looking shot. (Not many movement shooters as freshmen.) Smart and physical defensively. Look for what he settles into relatively to what positions he can guard.
Ben Ly, 6'9" center; Indianapolis (Brebeuf)
Intriguing low post prospect, who was more than willing to battle it out in the paint. He's thin, but he carved out space well. He showed great hands in terms of catching. Getting it through contact was an issue, but chalk that all up to strength. He showed great feel around the basket, and away from the basket he showed enough to project him, at worst, a big who can facilitate offense.
Peyton Miamba, 6'5" power forward; Mishawaka (Penn)
One of the more pleasant surprises of the camp. He definitely has a skill base that reflects a lot of work. He's still loose with the ball, which in a camp setting doesn't always hurt. What translates yet to high school games is unknown, but it's there. He finished through traffic, taking contact and staying on balance to finish.
Big, strong with length and lots of physical upside, if he's a 6'8"+ with what he's working on, he's different. Loved his motor as well.
Griffyn Robisch, 6'4" small forward; Indianapolis (Park Tudor)
Another upside play here, showed a good level of skill and should have some growing to do (dad, 6'10", uncle as tall, grandfather played in the NBA). He more aggressive in the second half of his game, starting to attack his bigger opponent more. He was forced to guard in the paint and was physical though outsized. He more he can guard wings the better suited he'll.
June is typically viewed as the start of the 'next season' in high school basketball. Seniors have moved on, and underclassmen step into different and/or bigger roles. Below are way too early class rankings of the top 5 in each class. Much of this is based on what we already knew about returning players, but some of it was also based on what we saw in June.
Top 4A teams
Could easily see them in the North Semi-state: Carroll
Could easily see them in the South Semi-state: Mt. Vernon (Fortville)
Top 3A teams
Could easily see them in the North Semi-state: NorthWood (in fact, we should)
Could easily see them in the South Semi-state: Danville
Top 2A teams
Could easily see them in the North Semi-state: Parke Heritage (again)
Could easily see them in the South Semi-state: South Ripley
Top 1A teams
Could easily see them in the North Semi-state: Morgan Township (likely the best team in the North on paper)
Could easily see them in the South Semi-state: Christian Academy
Key Transfers:
It's really been kind of a light year on transfers, minus the influx of players running from Homestead to Fort Wayne Canterbury. The Fort Wayne area carries the bulk of it though. There is reportedly some movement from Hammond Central to Hammond Noll, but we haven't been able to confirm names.
The biggest transfer is the news from down under, as Nic Book, a native of New Zealand, transferred to Westfield from Oak Hill Academy.
Below are the transfers we have been able to confirm. If we're missing any, please feel free to DM us on Twitter (if Twitter still works) @courtsideIND