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

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

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Sectional 57

Bloomfield (14-10)

North Central (Farmersburg) (14-11)

Shakamak (10-13)

Clay City (2-12)

White River Valley (4-20)

Eminence (6-15) – First-year coach Kevin Bradshaw returns just one starter from last year in 6-2 junior Evan Keeton (7.7 ppg, 5.3 rebounds), but will look to 6-foot senior Reno Taylor (4.7 ppg, 2.5 rebounds), 6-2 junior Hayden Holley (2.8 ppg, 2.3 rebounds), 6-foot junior Aidan Ray and 5-10 senior Dylan Smith to make an impact in the starting lineup. Other contributors will be 6-foot senior Dylan Crowe, 6-foot senior Justin Michaelis, 5-11 senior Boston Pfaff, 6-2 junior Joel Mobely, 6-2 sophomore Devon Belcher and 5-10 junior Dylan Barnett.

Bloomington Lighthouse (4-19)

Sectional 58

Bethesda Christian (18-8) – Coach Jonathan Grubaums has a team that grew up quite a bit last season at won a sectional title, but loses some talent to graduation. Projected starters are 6-4 senior DeMonte Ferguson (15.2 ppg, 7.5 rebounds, 1.2 blocked shots), 6-1 junior Luke Stuckey, 6-foot sophomore Sam Mlagan (12.5 ppg, 3.9 rebounds, 42% 3-pointers), 6-1 junior Jamison Chapman (5.0 ppg, 4.0 rebounds, 2.6 assists) and 5-10 senior Carter Thornton (4.4 ppg, 2.3 assists, 1.8 rebounds). Others in the mix for playing time are 6-1 sophomore Isaac Mlagan (1.0 ppg), 6-1 junior Jesse Gehring, 6-2 junior Owen Marti, 6-5 senior Matt Kappel (1.7 ppg) and 5-9 sophomore Jeremiah Schmidt.

Metropolitan (10-14) – Coach Lee Jackson has a team that should be competitive with senior Omari Ferguson transferring in from Pike and 6-10 junior David Meriwether (12.0 ppg, 14.0 rebounds) playing at a high level. The Pumas play a competitive schedule.

Traders Point Christian (8-14) – Former Zionsville coach Shaun Busick returns to the area after a season at Covington. His projected starters are 5-9 senior Tabyas Grant (20.8 ppg, 5.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists in nine games), 6-foot junior Amari Justice (10.1 ppg, 4.9 rebounds), 6-2 junior Cooper Simmons-Little (7.5 ppg, 6.6 rebounds), 6-1 sophomore Drew Busick (3.6 ppg as a freshman at Covington) and 6-4 senior Jaden Corey (2.9 ppg, 3.6 rebounds). Others in the mix are 6-1 senior Jackson Wilhite, 5-6 senior Zavior Gibson, 6-2 senior Devon Gertin, 6-foot junior T.J. Robinson and 6-4 sophomore Joel Cook.

International (8-9) – The Gryphons, a sectional champion two years ago, will be rebuilding under first-year coach Dwayne Cobb after the graduation of several key players.

Indiana Math & Science (13-13) – First-year coach Joshua Gilbert brings back leading scorer in 6-4 senior Kameron Hordge (16.9 ppg, 5.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists).

Indiana Deaf (3-18) – Coach Joey Kutcka is looking for the Orioles to improve on last season’s record with leading scorer returning in 6-1 sophomore Dylan Puent (13.4 ppg, 6.3 rebounds), along with 5-10 sophomore Jayden DeFalco (10.9 ppg, 2.1 rebounds), 6-1 junior Tyler Wascher (8.5 ppg, 6.5 rebounds), 5-9 junior Kyle Hess (1.3 ppg, 2.8 rebounds) and 6-2 senior Zachary Bippus. A solid bench will include 5-6 sophomore Jamiroquai Pickney, 5-10 sophomore Trey Smith, 5-10 freshman Leon LeFors, 6-1 junior Jai’Ayre Burton, 5-6 sophomore Daniel Hamilton and 5-10 freshman Joey Wurtz.

Riverside (1-4) – Kendall Nichols takes over as coach of the Argonauts after the program played just five games a year ago and pulled out of the sectional.

Sectional 59

Tindley (18-10) – Coach Omar Dillard is optimistic after Tindley made a run to the semistate a year ago. The Tigers will be led by 6-7 senior Aaron Humphrey (14.2 ppg, 9.2 rebounds, 6-4 junior Jayden Pinkston (12.7 ppg, 5.5 rebounds, 2.0 assists), 5-11 junior Billy Brown (9.0 ppg, 2.3 assists), 6-3 senior Darion Davis (6.3 ppg, 4.3 rebounds), 5-8 junior Arlondo Hall (5.9 ppg, 1.1 assists) and 6-foot senior Malachi Coaster. Newcomers expected to contribute are 5-10 senior Jayden Thomas, 6-5 junior Jeff Pinkston, 6-foot junior Aaron King, 6-2 sophomore D.J. Viverette, 6-5 sophomore Deon Dickerson and 6-5 junior Julian Robinson Jr.

Lutheran (21-4) – Coach Remus Woods has a deep and experienced team with several players who will becoming off a trip to the state finals in football. Projected starters are 6-5 senior Cameron Patterson (16.0 ppg, 7.0 rebounds), 5-10 senior Montasi Clay (11.0 ppg, 4.0 assists), 6-2 senior Mitchell Lee (9.0 ppg, 3.0 assists), 6-2 senior Ethan Cutshaw (6.0 ppg) and 6-5 junior K.J. Patterson. Others in the mix to contribute are 6-foot senior Tristen Smith, 6-foot senior Javon Hosley, 5-10 senior Brandon Brooks, 6-3 junior Micah McKay and 6-3 junior Carson Andre. Lutheran lost in the sectional championship last season to Tindley.

Central Christian (10-13) – Coach Bobby Brown enters his 24th season with a veteran roster led by 6-6 senior Elijah Mattingly (18.4 ppg, 8.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists), 6-5 senior Christian Wood (13.1 ppg, 5.9 rebounds), 6-1 senior Kaleb Chambers (3.6 ppg, 3.7 rebounds), 6-1 senior Kyle Chambers and 5-10 senior Jaxon Mattingly, a newcomer. Adding depth will be 5-2 senior David Casas, 6-foot senior Cayden Jessie and 5-10 senior Allan Mitchener. Brown expects the Chargers to be competitive in the sectional.

Greenwood Christian (12-8) – First-year coach Jackson Williams will rely on a group of returners that includes 6-3 junior Blake Shewmaker (9.1 ppg, 3.7 rebounds) and 5-9 junior Ian Reed (1.8 ppg).

Victory College Prep (2-12) – The Firehawks, led by fifth-year coach Isaac Smith, have not won a sectional game since their first year of sectional eligibility in 2017-18.

Providence Cristo Rey (5-19) – Coach Dominic Papalia takes over a program that scuffled last year after winning 20 games in 2019-20.

Sectional 60

Jac-Cen-Del (15-8)

Southwestern of Shelbyville (14-11) – The Spartans reached the regional championship a year ago, but graduated most of the experience and production from that team. The top returner is 5-10 senior Aiden Hartsell (14.3 ppg, 3.5 assists, 2.6 rebounds). Other projected starters are 5-10 senior Jordan Jones (4.6 ppg), 6-3 junior Matthew Clements, 6-2 junior Conner Jewell and 5-11 senior Caleb Pappano. Others in the mix for playing time are 6-4 junior Jonah DeArmitt and 6-1 sophomore Carter Snepp. Coach Brady Days has led Southwestern to three consecutive winning seasons.

Morristown (20-5) – First-year coach Collin McCartt has a young group that will be learning to play at a different pace. Projected starters are 6-3 senior Nick Stidham (3.7 ppg, 5.3 rebounds), 5-10 junior Nolan Laster (0.9 ppg), 6-3 sophomore Cade Mahin, 5-10 junior Chase Theobald and 5-9 sophomore Mathew Carlton. Other projected contributors are 5-10 sophomore Carson Conrad, 6-2 junior Shane Riley and 6-foot sophomore Noah Garthwaite. McCartt, a former Morristown assistant, has previous head coaching stops at North Putnam, Morgan Township, Prairie Heights and Morton Memorial.

Hauser (8-15)

Oldenburg Academy (6-12)

Waldron (5-18) – Third-year coach Beau Scott expects the Mohawks to be improved with returning starters in 5-8 junior Bryce Yarling (16.0 ppg, 36% 3-pointers) and 6-3 junior Lucas Mitchell (6.1 ppg, 4.7 rebounds, 2.6 assists). Other projected starters are 5-8 senior Caden Sheaffer (1.1 ppg), 5-10 senior Bryant Becker and 5-10 junior Sam Adkins. Adding depth will be 6-foot freshman Lucas Shaw, 6-foot sophomore Jacob Lindsey, 6-2 sophomore Sam Jones, 5-8 freshman Tyler Crouch, 5-10 junior Josh Kellems and 6-foot sophomore Jacob Bennett.

Rising Sun (7-11)

Sectional 62

Edinburgh (18-6) – Coach Keith Witty returns his top two players in 6-3 junior Caleb Dewey (14.3 ppg, 6.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists) and 6-4 senior Travis Jones (11.3 ppg, 7.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists) and another returning starter in 6-3 senior Riley Palmeter (5.7 ppg, 4.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists). Other projected starters are 6-5 senior Landen Burton (4.1 ppg, 2.8 rebounds) and 5-9 junior Jarrett Turner (2.0 ppg, 1.7 rebounds). Others competing for playing time are 6-foot senior Travis Vidal (1.6 ppg), 5-10 senior Nick Detling (1.2 ppg), 6-3 junior Braylon Bryant (1.0 ppg), 6-1 junior Keegan Smith and 5-10 sophomore Austin Brockman.

Trinity Lutheran (12-14)

West Washington (12-12)

Crothersville (4-19)

Medora (3-19)

Shawe Memorial (1-19)

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

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana high school basketball preview: Class A top players, lineups