POTW: Week of November 25-December 1

Opening week and while several players and teams are settling in, there are always those who come out of the gate firing.  It started with Nick Anderson's 35 point display vs. Andrean, as Lake Central defeated the defending 2A state champ.  Saw that first hand, and he followed it up with a 31 point performance, going 25/27 from the FT line on the week.

Carson Barrett, 6'5" wing from Lafayette Central Catholic, lived up to my 'label' of a triple-double machine (27 points, 11 rebounds and 14 assists), and Tristan Ross broke Pendleton Heights' school record for 27 rebounds in a game (18 points).  Butler commit, Jayden Taylor, 6'5" guard from Perry Meridian, launched his junior year with a 39 point, 9 rebound game in a loss to rival Southport, following it up with 20 points and 6 steals in a win over Roncalli.

All that said, the Player of the Week (POTW) presented by Metro Indy Basketball is Hamilton Heights'  Gus Etchison.  The 6'0" junior point guard got off to a stellar start with 41 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists and 6 steals in Hamilton Heights' 71-69 OT win over Lebanon.  Even though 41 is not his career high, Etchison has taken his shot making to a higher level, which makes his athleticism and ability to finish at the rim even more imposing for defenders.

Other considerations aside from the above (alphabetical):

• Silas Bauer, 6'5" junior center; Loogootee
  • 17.7 ppg, 13 rpg in three wins last week
• Mason Brooks, 6'5" junior forward; North Putnam
  • vs Southmont 30 points, 7 rebounds, 6 steals with 5 3pts made
• Austin Farlow, 5'10" junior guard; Centerville
  • vs. Seton Catholic - 33 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 8/19 3pt 
  • vs. Eastern Hancock - 17 points
• Lane Lauderbaugh, 6'5" junior forward; South Decatur - 
  • vs. Trinity Lutheran - 22 points; 8 rebounds; 4 blocks
  • vs. Oldenburg Academy - 38 points; 14 rebounds; 2 blocks
• Braden Smith, 5'11" sophomore guard; Westfield
  • vs. Kokomo - 35 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists
• Kolden Vanlandingham, 6'2" junior guard; Northeastern
  • vs Seton Catholic - 38 points, 6/14 3pt

Other nominations:

• Ayden Brobston, 6'6" junior forward; Frankton
• Holtman Doades, 6'0" sophomore guard; North Knox
• Bryce Graber, 6'3" junior guard; Barr-Reeve
• Baylin Graf, 6'2" sophomore wing; Bloomfield
• Connor Lucas, 6'0" senior guard; Brownsburg
• Chris Mantis, 6'7" junior guard; Lowell
• Isaiah Swope, 5'10" senior guard; Castle
• Clayton Tomlinson, 5'11" junior guard; Northfield
• Jordan Wildman, 5'10" junior guard; Loogootee

Thank you to the coaches and fans who submitted entries