Charlie Hughes Shootout: Details, matchups, players to watch at high school basketball event

Craig Lyon wonders what Charlie Hughes would think of the 17th annual end-of-June high school basketball event that bears his name.

“The thing that would crack him up is the technology,” Lyon said. “I tried to push him as much as I could, but he was always a paper guy. But I think he’d be pleased to see what it has become.”

Hughes died in 2014 age 74. Earlier that year, doctors discovered an inoperable brain tumor that would eventually take his life. But Hughes’ name lives on after a life dedicated to his work behind the scenes for youth basketball in the state. For years, he coordinated the high school basketball event in June that became an annual highlight for coaches and players.

Hughes took pride in getting the defending state champions in the field. But the event was not named for him until 2014, when his cancer diagnosis had become public. Almost eight years after Hughes’ passing, “The Charlie Hughes” is synonymous with the tournament, not the person. But maybe that is fitting for a man who worked countless volunteer hours.

Lyon, who assisted Hughes and has since taken on a larger role coordinating the event that begins Friday and runs through Sunday, thinks people should appreciate why it is named after Hughes.

“I’d like to be able to tell more of Charlie’s story,” Lyon said. “Who is this guy? I’d like to have one of those pull-up banners to explain why it’s named after him. You feel like the landscape changes so much that you want to keep some traditions and this is one of them because of Charlie’s hard work.”

This year’s IHSAA/IBCA Team Showcase in Memory of Charlie Hughes will include 134 high school teams from the state and will be an NCAA sanctioned event during a live period, which means college coaches at all levels are able to attend. Here are a few other notes about the event, followed by 10 things to watch on the court this weekend:

*The tournament proceeds support Riley Hospital for Children and IBCA scholarship funds. Last year, $5,000 was donated to Riley.

*Event is open to the public and admission is $10 per day

*Sites are Carmel High School, Westfield High School, Carmel Dad’s Club and Westfield Middle School

*Each team will play four games over two days (no tournament bracket)

*Event begins Friday at 4 p.m. and runs through Sunday afternoon

Here are eight things to watch this weekend:

Defending Class 4A champs get tested

Defending Class 4A state champion Cathedral is off to a good start this summer, winning the 32-team bracket at the KABC Titans Rockets Summer Shootout at Shelbyville, Ky., last weekend.

Xavier Booker, ranked No. 2 in the country by Rivals and No. 4 by 247sports, will be coming off an official visit to Notre Dame Thursday and Friday. Cathedral will be tested with games against star sophomore Jalen Haralson and Fishers Saturday (2:30 p.m. at Carmel’s freshman/auxiliary gym) and Kokomo and standout junior Flory Bidunga (7 p.m. on Carmel’s main court). The Irish will then face Valparaiso and Junior All-Star Mason Jones Sunday (10 a.m. at Carmel gold gym) and Junior All-Star Markus Burton and Penn (1 p.m. on Carmel freshman/auxiliary court).

That is a challenging four-game slate for Cathedral, though the Irish should be able to handle about anything with Booker, Junior All-Star Jaron Tibbs and Jake Davis returning, among others. One area to watch will be the point guard spot after the graduation of Eastern Kentucky recruit and Indiana All-Star Tayshawn Comer. Sincere Germany is a player who should step into a bigger role this season.

Keep an eye on Ben Davis

The Giants are loaded with talent and had four players – seniors Zane Doughty, Sheridan Sharp and Clay Butler and junior K.J. Windham – competing last weekend at the Top 100 Underclass Showcase. Ben Davis is undefeated so far in June and could potentially be the preseason No. 1 team in the state going into the season.

Coach Don Carlisle’s team will play Saturday vs. Homestead (4 p.m. at Westfield fieldhouse) and vs. Center Grove (7 p.m. at Westfield fieldhouse), then Sunday vs. Noblesville (8:30 a.m. at Westfield fieldhouse) and Zionsville (11:30 a.m. at Westfield fieldhouse).

Bidunga watch

Kokomo’s Flory Bidunga was one of the hottest names at the end of the high school basketball as he led the WildKats to a Class 4A regional title. The 6-10 Bidunga picked up offers from Creighton and Wake Forest this week.

Kokomo, as noted above, will play Cathedral Saturday at 7 p.m. at Carmel. The Wildkats open Saturday at 1 p.m. vs. Valparaiso (Carmel blue court) and will also play Sunday vs. Fishers (10 a.m. on Carmel blue) and vs. Mt. Vernon (2:30 p.m. at Carmel fieldhouse).

Rising junior standouts

In addition to Bidunga, there are a few other rising juniors to keep an eye on this weekend:

Kanon Catchings, Brownsburg: The 6-7 Catchings, who has a Purdue offer, visited Illinois and Indiana this week. Brownsburg plays Saturday vs. Mishawaka Marian (10 a.m. on Carmel gold) and Columbus North (1 p.m. at Carmel fieldhouse) and Sunday vs. Lawrence North (10 a.m. at Westfield fieldhouse) and vs. Beech Grove (1 p.m. at Westfield fieldhouse).

Micah Davis, Franklin: The lefty guard has offers from IUPUI and Purdue Fort Wayne and is steadily improving. Franklin opens Friday vs. Evansville Bosse (4 p.m. on Westfield main) and Franklin Central (7 p.m. at Westfield Middle School) and then plays Saturday vs. Warren Central (1 p.m. on Westfield main) and Danville (7 p.m. at Carmel fieldhouse).

Jack Benter, Brownstown Central: The 6-5 Benter has offers from Indiana State, Bellarmine and Liberty and high-major interest. His Brownstown Central team will have a challenging slate Saturday vs. Bloomington South (8:30 a.m. at Westfield main) and vs. Hamilton Southeastern (11:30 a.m. at Westfield fieldhouse) and Sunday vs. Fort Wayne Snider (10 a.m. at Carmel fieldhouse) and vs. New Palestine (1 p.m. at Carmel Dad’s Club).

New-look Fishers

As noted above, sophomore standout Jalen Haralson and Fishers will have a tough test Saturday vs. Cathedral. Marion transfer Taden Metzger, a junior who can light it up from the 3-point line, is also a player to watch for the Tigers. Fishers also plays Valparaiso (8:30 a.m. Saturday at Carmel freshman/auxiliary), Kokomo (10 a.m. Sunday on Carmel blue) and Bloomington North (1 p.m. Sunday on Carmel gold).

Unique matchups

You can find unique matchups all over during the three days of the tournament. Linton-Stockton and Junior All-Star Joey Hart, for example, play Friday vs. Tech (5:30 p.m. on Carmel main) and vs. Culver Academy (8:30 p.m. at Carmel fieldhouse) and Saturday vs. Southport (2:30 p.m. on Carmel blue) and vs. NorthWood (5:30 p.m. at Westfield fieldhouse). Linton-Stockton, a 22-5 team a year ago, should be one of the best teams in Class 2A.

Another example is Class A state champion North Daviess playing Saturday vs. Tindley (2:30 p.m. at Westfield fieldhouse) and Avon (7 p.m. at Westfield fieldhouse) and Sunday vs. Wapahani (10 a.m. at Carmel Dad’s Club and vs. Gary 21st Century (1 p.m. at Carmel Dad’s Club). North Daviess will be a Class 3A team, choosing to play up a class after reclassification placed the program in 2A.

Carmel’s different look

Watching Carmel without graduated Pete Suder will take some adjustment. But the Greyhounds should be one of the state’s best teams with Providence recruit Garwey Dual, Division I prospect Sam Orme and Spencer White, among others. Carmel will play Saturday vs. Penn (10 a.m. on Carmel main) and vs. Bloomington South (2:30 p.m. on Carmel main) and Sunday vs. Mt. Vernon (10 a.m. on Carmel main) and vs. Valparaiso (1 p.m. on Carmel main).

Best matchups

In addition to some of the games listed above, here are five games to watch:

Zionsville vs. North Central, Saturday 11:30 a.m. on Carmel main: Zionsville has Penn State recruit Logan Imes and Nick Richart leading the way and looking forward to build off a 14-8 season. North Central, led by senior Joey Brown, was the Marion County tournament champion last season.

Providence vs. Eastern Hancock, Friday 7 p.m. on Carmel blue: This is a rematch of the Class 2A semistate. Providence won, then won the state championship the following week. Some new faces here, but Providence still has senior Casey Kaelin and Eastern Hancock returns Jacob and Silas Spaulding.

Heritage Christian vs. Heritage Hills, Sunday 11:30 a.m. at Westfield Middle School: Heritage Christian and Purdue recruit Myles Colvin vs. Heritage Hills and rising sophomore standout Trent Sisley. Good matchup.

Lawrence North vs. Mishawaka Marian, Saturday 1 p.m. on Carmel main: New-look Lawrence North matched up with last year’s Class 3A runner-up.

Noblesville vs. Center Grove, Saturday 4 p.m. at Westfield fieldhouse: I think both of these teams could be sleeper teams this season in Class 4A.

Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: High school basketball: Shootout a highlight on June schedule