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Indiana high school basketball Class A preview: What to know about Indy-area teams

kyle neddenriep, indianapolis star
·8 min read

Here is a look at the local Class A boys basketball sectional fields (teams ranked in order of finish, by sectional):

Defending state champion: North Daviess (moved up to 3A)

Local sectional winners in 2021-22: Lutheran, Metropolitan, Edinburgh

IHSAA boys basketball: Where's your team in our preseason Fab 15 rankings?

Sectional 58

Bethesda Christian (16-7) – Coach Jon Grubaums looks to build for the sectional with a tougher schedule and a team that will be smaller but skilled. The top returner is 6-1 junior Sam Mlagan (15.0 ppg, 4.7 rebounds, 1.9 assists), who is one four starters from last year. The others are 6-2 senior Jamison Chapman (7.9 ppg, 3.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists), 6-2 senior Luke Stuckey (7.4 ppg, 2.2 assists, 2.0 rebounds) and 6-2 junior Isaac Mlagan (6.0 ppg, 3.7 rebounds). The other projected starter is 6-2 junior Luke Douglas. Providing depth will be 5-10 junior Jimmy Fancher, 6-3 junior B.J. Johnson, 6-3 senior Collin Smith (2.0 ppg, 1.3 rebounds), 6-2 senior Jesse Gehring (2.2 ppg, 1.7 rebounds) and 6-2 sophomore Andrew Hensley.

Traders Point Christian (12-13) – Shaun Busick goes into his second season as coach with three starters returning in 6-1 junior Drew Busick (8.5 ppg, 2.5 assists, 42% 3-pointers), 6-1 senior Amari Justice (8.0 ppg, 3.0 rebounds) and 6-2 senior Cooper Simmons-Little (9.0 ppg, 5.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 52% field goals). Also joining the starting lineup will be 6-1 senior TJ Robinson (3.0 ppg, 2.0 rebounds) and 6-2 senior Gus Westerfield, a transfer from Tennessee. Adding depth off the bench will be 6-foot sophomore Nick Dearman, 6-foot sophomore Colton Pollard, 5-8 sophomore Ryan Kowal, 6-4 junior Joel Cook and 6-5 junior Nick Bartels.

Indiana Math & Science (17-10) – Second-year coach Joshua Gilbert has two of his top three scorers returning in 6-2 senior Maury Lewis (18.7 ppg, 3.7 rebounds, 2.0 assists) and 5-9 senior Jaden Mickens (5.9 ppg, 1.9 assists).

Metropolitan (13-13) – This will be a much different team than it was a year ago for seventh-year coach Lee Jackson, who graduated several of his top players and a Junior All-Star, David Meriwether, who transferred. Returning with some experience are 5-11 junior Wesley St. Juste and juniors Jason Powell and John Shaffer. Senior guards Aaron Wilson and Eric Torrance are senior newcomers who will have an immediate impact. The Pumas play a tough schedule early.

Indiana Deaf (8-15) – Coach Joey Kutcka has a solid group of veterans, though 6-1 junior Dylan Puent (17.9 ppg, 8.9 rebounds, 2.8 assists) suffered a knee injury during the football season and could miss a significant part of the season. Other projected starters would be 6-1 senior Tyler Wascher (12.1 ppg, 5.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists), 5-10 senior Kyle Hess (2.9 ppg, 5.5 rebounds), 6-1 senior Jai’Ayre Burton (1.3 ppg, 2.1 rebounds) and 5-10 junior Jayden DeFalco (8.9 ppg, 2.3 rebounds, 3.0 assists). Other contributors will be 5-6 junior Jamiroquai Pickney (1.8 ppg), 5-10 junior Trey Smith (1.1 ppg) and 5-5 freshman Matthew Saaty.

International (5-15) – Second-year coach Dwayne Cobb loses two of his top three scorers to graduation, but does return leading scorer and 6-1 junior guard Philip Randolph (19.9 ppg, 6.9 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 3.9 steals).

Sectional 59

Lutheran Saints head boys basketball coach Remus Woods demonstrates what he'd like to see defensively from his 6 foot, 5 inch sophomore power forward Kameron Patterson during practice Monday, Feb. 22, 2021, in preparation state tournament. "I think we went 6-1 in the conference," Woods said. "So, pretty good for the only 1A school that's in the conference."

Lutheran (19-6) – The Saints played for a regional championship last season for coach Remus Woods and will bring back 6-5 senior KJ Patterson (12 ppg, 7 rebounds), 6-5 senior Kameron Patterson (13 ppg, 9 rebounds) and 5-10 sophomore LJ Ward (10 ppg, 4 assists, 3 steals). The other projected starters are 6-3 sophomore Cayden Loescher and 5-9 sophomore Boss Jones and projected contributors off the bench are 5-10 senior Durray Smith, 6-foot senior Aiden Alialy, 6-4 senior Micah Mackay, 6-6 sophomore RaiShaun McHaney, 6-6 junior Taurean Langston, 6-foot junior Cole Hess and 5-9 junior Israel Bower.

Tindley (16-8) – Coach Omar Dillard will have a much different team this season with several new faces. The top returner is 5-8 senior Arlondo Hall (9.4 ppg, 2.1 assists, 43% 3-pointers), who will be joined by 6-6 senior Julian Robinson (2.3 ppg, 2.1 rebounds), 6-6 junior Deon Dickerson (1.4 ppg), 6-4 senior Tre Marcelin (1.5 ppg) and 6-3 freshman DeZhon Hall as probable starters. Other projected contributors will be 5-11 senior Dorian Glider, 6-2 junior Adonis Warfield, 5-7 senior Tamareon Tucker, 5-10 freshman TJ Clark, 6-7 sophomore Henri Maye and 5-10 senior Billy Brown (8.4 ppg).

Greenwood Christian (17-10) – Second-year coach Jackson Williams will have a young team with potential with returning starters in 6-1 junior Max Booher (14.9 ppg, 2.6 rebounds, 42% 3-point shooter), 6-3 senior Blake Shewmaker (12.2 ppg, 5.3 rebounds, 39% 3-pointers) and 5-11 Ian Reed (6.2 ppg, 2.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists). Other projected starters are 5-11 sophomore Noah Reed (4.8 ppg, 3.3 rebounds, 46% 3-pointers) and 6-3 senior Parker Satre (2.4 ppg). Coming off the bench is 5-10 junior Jordan Taulman (2.5 ppg, 2.3 rebounds), 6-1 sophomore Evan McIntire, 6-7 junior Reid Smith, 5-9 sophomore Ben Comerford and 6-1 sophomore Zach Haynes.

Central Christian (16-9) – Mike Kinney takes over as coach, following Bobby Brown’s long tenure with the program. Central Christian graduated six of its top seven scorers from last season, returning only 5-10 junior Jeremiah Henderson (2.1 ppg) with varsity experience.

Eminence (0-20) – Kevin Bradshaw goes into his second season as coach with a team that should be improved with three starters returning in 6-3 senior Evan Keeton (12.4 ppg, 5.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists), 6-4 senior Hayden Holley (8.6 ppg, 8.8 rebounds, 1.4 steals) and 6-foot senior Aidan Ray (2.9 ppg, 2.0 rebounds). The other two projected starters are 6-foot senior Dylan Barnett and 6-2 senior Joel Mobley. Senior Cole Webb, a 6-foot guard, and 6-1 junior Chance Girt will also be part of the rotation.

Victory College Prep (1-23) – Isaac Smith goes into his six year with the Firehawks looking to improve on last year’s one-win season.

Providence Cristo Rey (0-22) – The Wolves will look to BJ Johnson, AJ Hayes and Jeremiah Kurtz to lead the way in Dominic Papalia’s second season as coach. The Wolves lost four games last year by 10 points or less.

Sectional 60

Edinburgh Lancers Caleb Dewey (3) yells in excitement on Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021, at Edinburgh Community High School in Edinburgh. The Edinburgh Lancers defeated the North White Vikings, 57-47.
Edinburgh Lancers Caleb Dewey (3) yells in excitement on Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021, at Edinburgh Community High School in Edinburgh. The Edinburgh Lancers defeated the North White Vikings, 57-47.

Edinburgh (22-4) – Edinburgh is coming off a memorable 22-4 season that ended in heartbreak with a one-point loss to a North Daviess team that ended up winning the state championship. Three starters graduate, though 6-3 senior Caleb Dewey (21.2 ppg, 6.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.1 steals) returns and is already a 1,000-point scorer. The other returning starter is 5-10 senior Jarrett Turner (9.8 ppg, 2.6 assists, 2.5 rebounds, 37% 3-pointers). Coach Keith Witty expects 5-7 sophomore Connor Ramey (2.5 ppg), 6-3 senior Braylon Bryant (1.8 ppg) and 6-3 senior Keegan Smith (1.2 ppg) to join the starting lineup with 6-foot junior Austin Brockman, 6-foot senior Jackson Hartwell and 5-10 senior Devyn Milburn in the rotation.

Jac-Cen-Del (22-6)

Waldron (12-11) – Fourth-year coach Beau Scott has a team he believes can compete for the program’s first sectional title since 2009. The top returners for the Mohawks are 5-8 senior Bryce Yarling (20.4 ppg, 2.5 rebounds, 2.5 steals) and 6-5 senior Lucas Mitchell (17.3 ppg, 2.5 assists, 1.8 blocked shots). The other three projected starters are 6-2 sophomore Lucas Shaw (4.0 ppg, 2.2 rebounds), 6-3 junior Sam Jones and 5-8 sophomore Parker Douglas. Adding depth will be 6-6 junior Keith Settles, 6-foot junior Jacob Lindsey (1.2 ppg), 6-1 junior Jacob Bennett, 5-10 senior Sam Adkins, 6-2 senior David Miller and 6-1 sophomore Will Larrison.

South Decatur (13-11)

Oldenburg Academy (6-16)

Southwestern of Shelbyville (9-13) – First-year coach Chris Ingels has two returning starters in 6-3 senior Matthew Clements (4.4 ppg, 4.1 rebounds) and 6-4 senior Jonah DeArmitt (2.1 ppg, 5.3 rebounds). Other projected starter are 6-2 senior Conner Jewell (1.1 ppg, 4.3 rebounds), 6-3 junior Carter Snepp and 5-9 sophomore Eli Stone. Others in the rotation are 6-3 sophomore Ben Kahler, 6-foot sophomore Michael Clements and 5-9 freshman Carter Cooley.

Morristown (3-18) – First-year coach Cory Kreiger returns three starters in 6-4 junior Cade Mahin (4.4 ppg, 6.8 rebounds), 5-10 senior Chase Theobald (2.5 ppg, 2.8 rebounds) and 5-10 junior Mathew Carlton (1.3 ppg, 1.6 rebounds). Expected to round out the starting lineup are 6-1 junior Wyatt Marcum and 6-3 senior Jameson Palmer (3.1 ppg, 1.6 rebounds). Others projected to contribute are 6-3 sophomore Colin Kieninger, 6-3 senior Kamdyn Gaines, 5-8 sophomore Jacob Hawk and 6-1 junior Noah Garthwaite (1.2 ppg, 1.0 rebounds).

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

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IHSAA boys basketball Class A preview: Players to watch, predictions