Hall of Fame Classic: Marquee 2023 field includes Flory Bidunga, Purdue basketball commits
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
A star-studded field on the boys and girls side was announced Wednesday for the 2023 Raymond James Hall of Fame Classic at New Castle Fieldhouse.
The prestigious event, one of the most-anticipated days on the schedule each season, is going into its 40th season for the girls and 47th for the boys. The four-team girls event will be played Dec. 29 and the boys the following day on Dec. 30.
Thoughts from an electric state finals.Indiana high school basketball never disappoints.
A to Z: Wrapping up a memorable 2022-23 basketball season
The schedule for the girls:
Columbia City vs. Indian Creek, 11 a.m.
Lake Central vs. Jennings County to follow
Consolation game, 6 p.m.
Championship game to follow
The schedule for the boys:
Kokomo vs. Crispus Attucks, 11 a.m.
Brownstown Central vs. Brownsburg to follow
Consolation game, 6 p.m.
Championship game to follow
Tickets for tournaments will be available through participating schools and the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in the 2023-24 school year. More about the teams:
More about the girls teams
Columbia City: Columbia City returns its entire team from a 20-3 season that saw the Eagles fall in the first round of the sectional to Homestead. Leading the way will be 5-9 sophomore Addison Baxter (19.8 ppg), 5-7 junior Kyndra Sheets (15.2 ppg), 5-10 junior Molly Baker (12.2 ppg) and 5-6 junior Tessa Tonkel (8.2 ppg). Coach Amy Shearer is 175-134 through 14 seasons with Columbia City, including back-to-back 20-win seasons. Columbia City previously played in the Hall of Fame Classic in 1988 and 1997.
Indian Creek: Indian Creek was 27-2 last season, losing Corydon Central in the nightcap of the Class 3A semistate. Coach Brian Ferris brings back 5-7 guard Lauren Foster (18.6 ppg, 4.3 assists, 3.2 rebounds, 2.4 steals), 6-4 Indiana recruit Faith Wiseman (16.1 ppg, 9.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists) and 5-6 guard Ayla Lollar (7.2 ppg, 2.4 steals). This is will be Indian Creek’s second appearance in the Hall of Fame Classic, the first coming in 2003.
Lake Central: Lake Central brings its entire team from a 23-6 regional championship season. Coach Joe Huppenthal has a balanced squad led by 5-10 junior Aniyah Bishop (9.7 ppg, 6.2 rebounds), 5-7 junior Riley Milausnic (9.4 ppg), 5-11 sophomore Ayla Krygier (8.4 ppg), 5-5 sophomore Vanessa Wimberly (7.4 ppg) and 5-8 junior Nadia Clayton (7.2 ppg). Huppenthal is in 122-60 in his tenure at Lake Central, which won the Hall of Fame Classic in 1994, its only previous appearance.
Jennings County: The Panthers are coming off a 16-6 season and return several top players, including 6-foot junior Juliann Woodard (22.8 ppg, 12.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.4 blocked shots), 5-9 freshman Mollie Ernstes (12.0 ppg) and 5-6 sophomore Madelyn McIntosh (6.0 ppg). Coach Kristi Sigler is 94-74 in eight seasons at Jennings County, including 16 or more wins each of the past three seasons. This will be the Panthers’ third appearance in the Hall of Fame Classic. Jennings County played in the 1992 event and won the title in 2001.
More about the boys teams
Kokomo: The Wildkats are coming off a 24-5 season and runner-up appearance in Class 4A, but bring back one of the top players in the country in 6-10 junior Flory Bidunga (20.2 ppg, 13.8 rebounds), along with 5-8 sophomore Zion Bellamy (6.8 ppg) and juniors Reis Beard and Karson Rogers. Kokomo coach John Peckinpaugh is 43-13 in his tenure at Kokomo and 65-37 overall, including two years at Noblesville. The Wildkats, who lost the state championship to 2022 Hall of Fame Classic champion Ben Davis, are making their third Hall of Fame appearance after playing in the 1988 and 2011 events.
Crispus Attucks: The Tigers return the majority of their team from a 18-8 season, including 6-2 junior Ron Rutland III (18.0 ppg, 3.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists), 6-7 sophomore Dezmon Briscoe (15.6 ppg, 11.1 rebounds, 4.0 blocked shots, 2.4 assists), 6-4 sophomore Deandre Lott-Hancock (8.3 ppg, 4.9 rebounds) and 6-1 junior Jacson Payton (5.2 ppg, 2.1 rebounds). Coach Chris Hawkins is 133-50 in seven years at Attucks and led the Tigers to the 2017 Class 3A state championship. This will be the first Hall of Fame appearance for the program.
Brownstown Central: Brownstown Central returns most of its team from a 24-5 season and appearance in the championship game of the Class 2A semistate against Linton-Stockton. Coach Dave Benter, who is 449-162 in his 25th season with the Braves, returns a team that will be led by 6-5 junior and Purdue commit Jack Benter (28.7 ppg, 7.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists), 6-4 sophomore Chace Coomer (9.2 ppg, 3.2 rebounds) and 6-6 sophomore Colby Hall (9.5 ppg, 5.5 rebounds). This will be the first Hall of Fame appearance for the Braves.
Brownsburg: Brownsburg will return the bulk of its team from a 22-5 season that saw the Bulldogs reach the Class 4A semistate championship before falling to eventual state champion Ben Davis. Coach Steve Lynch, who is 173-74 in his 10 seasons with Brownsburg, returns 6-7 junior and Purdue commit Kanon Catchings (17.5 ppg, 4.8 rebounds) and 6-2 junior Grant Porath (10.3 ppg, 2.6 assists) as the top scorers from a team that won a regional for the first time in 15 years. Brownsburg was the runner-up in two previous Hall of Fame Classic appearances in 1991 and 2014.
Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: 2023 Hall of Fame Classic: Flory Bidunga, 2 Purdue basketball recruits
