Up 35-33, Carmel's Peter Suder, who was strong in the first half, picked up a technical (his 4th personal foul).  Imes his both FT's, and on the ensuing possession hit a hop back toward the left short corner, giving Zionsville their first lead since it was 3-2.  They never relinquished the lead.

• Zionsville didn't get anything out of their two bigs, Nick Richart and Isaiah Davis, in the first half.  Davis did have some first half foul trouble, but Richart wasn't able to score on Carmel's Charlie Williams nor take advantage when Williams was in foul trouble.
  • The second half, Richart was able to get going a little more, mostly when Williams was sitting due to fouls.  Davis got going a bit from mid-range, and he hit the a dagger 3pter off a back action ball screen read from Imes, giving Zionsville a five point lead the possession after finally getting the lead.
• Imes played at his own pace the whole game.  Carmel's defense is good, and it kept Imes from getting everywhere he wanted, but he didn't force things or look at any point sped up.  He hit two contested 3pters in the first half, showing growth in his outside shot.
  • He had to work for each scoring opportunity, but it was in the final stretch, tying the game at the FT line and hitting a hop back to give Zionsville the lead, to the next possession of hitting Davis off the ball screen, which gave Zionsville their first two possession lead.  
• Suder was impressive in the first half.  He was aggressive with the ball and without.  He was pretty aggressive the whole game.  Zionsville decided to jam the paint the whole game, taking away a lot of Suder's gaps in the second half.
  • Suder's shot mechanics have taken another leap forward.  His mechanics are smoother and quicker.
• Carmel didn't get much scoring from anyone other than Suder in the first half.  However, they were aggressive off the ball.  It underscored the value of player movement, and while the others didn't shoot well, they were moving well, scoring off cuts.  
  • That was the big change in the third quarter.  There was a lot of standing around offensively, and that wasn't enabling anyone  Carmel came out sharper in the fourth, but they couldn't get much to fall.
  • Carmel only hit four 3pters on the night, three from Suder and one from Josh Whack, whose was in the waning seconds of the first half.
• Williams did battle foul trouble much of the night, but he wasn't aggressive at all with his touches.  

DJ Hamilton, 6'5" small forward; Fishers (Hamilton Southeastern) - class of 2024

One of the bigger surprises on the day was Hamilton, not just in terms of his talents, but his willingness to make plays in the heat of the game.  Fluid with the ball and has a change of pace to him.  Quick release, smooth shot.  Work in progress on defense, but just loses focus.  He’s an able defender.  One of the better 2024 wings.

Aiden Lambert, 6'2" point guard; Fort Wayne (Snider) - class of 2022

So we didn't see the huge outing he had vs. Lawrence, but even in a more normal game, he impacts it.  Great energy on the court.  The more he is a point guard, the higher he can go.  Good size for the position, certainly athletic enough.  Gets to spots he wants and can finish.  Good shooter off the catch, set shot.

AJ Lux, 6'4" shooting guard; Crown Point - class of 2023

Whenever Crown Point needed a big basket, they turned to Lux, mixing up ways for him to get catches.  Lux elevates into his jump shot, quick release.  Cuts hard without the ball, and gets into his shot quickly after ball fakes.  Struggled a bit with quicker/stronger players on both ends, but that’ll improve as he gets stronger.

Jayden Pinkston, 6'5" small forward; Indianapolis (Tindley) - class of 2023

Just a monster effort on both ends.  Physical on defense, active on the glass.  Finished spectacularly in transition.  One of his better games.  His motor is never in question, but there are times when he can be stationary on offense and ball hawking on defense.  Locked in this game.

Charlie Williams, 6'10" center; Carmel - class of 2023

With Peter Suder out this June, Williams is getting some serious "goto" reps.  Showing more footwork in the low post, scoring on pivot outs.  Dribbled into a post up, quick from gather to shot.  A little sky hook. In a blow out win, Williams was using the time to get looks behind the 3pt line.  A direction his game is going, and he connected.  The stroke looks good.  He was effective in the low, strong with the ball through contact.

• Cathedral did get air cover from Jake Davis.  The 6’6” sophomore forward hit his first four 3PTers, 5-6 from 3PT on the game.  Another sophomore, Jarron Tibbs connected on a couple as well. 
  • Tibbs was impactful on defense, guarding Brian Waddell or Peter Suder most of the night.
• Tayshawn Comer, 6’0” junior point guard, had a great battle vs. Carmel’s senior point guard, Connor Goia.  
  • Goia’s damage was creating opportunities for others, getting downhill off ball screen and finding people.  The main recipient was Charlie Williams. 
  • Comer put up more points and has really shown this year he can manage a team, while still making big plays when called upon.  
• Waddell was aggressive early, active on the offensive glass too.  He still scored in the second half, but he passed up on opportunities, even in the paint.  Both Suder and he make unselfish which are hard to criticize other than they’re usually the better option.
• Carmel loses the game, but Williams got going.  The 6’9” junior center had his best game of the season, and it’s the kind of game he should have on a regular basis.  He was active in spurts on the offensive glass, and while he battled some foul trouble, it didn’t sap his aggressiveness.
  • He still struggled with contact, including on the second to last possession for Carmel when he lost his footing, eventually being called for the travel.  However, he wasn’t backing away from anything last night.  

• Carmel's Peter Suder has taken another step toward being a consistent shooter.  Not just knocking down mid-range jump shots, Suder is looking more comfortable and fluid from the 3pt line.
• Brian Waddell struggled in the first half to get much going, but he scored 14 of his 16 points in the second half, including a dunk in the half court.  Still his best asset is movement without the basketball, even  gainst Columbus North's zone.  
• Charlie Williams struggled with physicality, and he didn't take advantage of a decided height advantage.
• There was a point in the first half where it felt like Blake Barker was going to go on a scoring spurt.  As well as he played, he didn't have a big scoring stretch.  He can score in bunches.  Carmel made him work.
• Cooper Horn, 6'2" sophomore guard, was impressive for Columbus North.  He's a consistent from the 3pt line, works on the defensive end and even blocked a couple of shots.  He could also be a primary ball handler.

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Zak Tyler gets us up to date on offers and commitments, and the commitments of Blake Sisley and Langdon Hatton are discussed more by Zak and Jim Reamer

Zak and Jim break down the class of 2022 power forwards and centers

Close with a quick discussion on Marion's junior wing, Rasheed Jones, transferring to Elevate Prep

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• Peter Suder, 6'4" sophomore guard
• Charlie Williams, 6'9" sophomore center
• Bryan Waddell, 6'6" junior guard

• Mabor Majak, 7'2" senior center
• Vinny Buccilla, 6'2" junior point guard
• Kole Hornbuckle, 6'4" senior forward

Five Takes

• HSE was better in large stretches last night when Mabor Majak was off the floor.  However, the gravity he had on the floor for the Carmel's defense did put three players into foul trouble.
• Carmel still struggles with physicality.  Last night it created bad angles coming off screens and rushed passes.  
• HSE is better when Vinny Buccilla is looking to score.
  • Carmel is better when Brian Waddell is looking to score.  
• Charlie Williams is likely the most skilled big man in the state.  The 6'9" sophomore battled fouls all night, but last night he showed touch over Majak. He's shown it all year.  It was just most impressive last night.  His battle will be keeping weight on.  
• HSE getting production from DeAndre Rhodes, 6'4" senior forward, and John McCall, 6'4" junior forward, put them over the top.  Both were physically stronger matchups, and as HSE owned the paint, they did the most damage, as especially as the other bigs on both teams were battling fouls.

Five Takes:

• LC has more options than just the Davises (DeAndre, DeAnte) and Nijel Pack.  Jasen Graves, 6'1" senior guard, transferred over from Pike, and they have a scoring threat in Greg Jenkins, 6'3" junior guard.   Javien Bigbee, 6'5" senior forward is good on the glass and defensively around the basket. 
• DeAndre Davis' shot improves each time out it seems, and he certainly pleased all the people in the stands wearing Louisville gear.  Pack struggled in the first half but was able to get going in the second. 
• DeAnte Davis, 6'5" sophomore forward is bigger than his brother at a comparable age, and his talent is apparent.  He could stand to be more assertive on the offensive end, and his teammates could be heard urging him on during game.  Loved that he was a willing defender.  
• Charlie Williams, 6'8" sophomore center, and Pete Suder, 6'4" sophomore guard, had a lot of good looks that just didn't go in.  Their willingness to make plays, especially Williams, bodes well going forward.
• The only other player who is aggressive offensively for Carmel is Will Leary, 6'2" junior guard. 

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