IPSAC/Midwest Showcase

What a great day of action at Indianapolis John Marshall High School! Some of the best teams in the state were in action today, and P-Hoops was on hand for a number of the games and is back with a report. Here we go...

Indianapolis Northwest 66 - Evansville Bosse 64

Upset alert! The Space Pioneers were the clear underdog in this one, facing off with the #5 ranked team in 3A. The Bulldogs were in control early, as is their MO. The Bulldogs were off and running early, leading 18-10 after the first quarter, in which senior guard Jalen Pendleton made an impact, taking the ball to the hole with abandon. Sophomore star Jaquan Lyle, meanwhile, seemed disinterested for most of the early going, perhaps affected by playing five games in five days. Nonetheless, Bosse clung to a solid six point lead at halftime, 33-27. In the second half, Northwest point guard and Lamar recruit Donnell Mixon came alive. He took the ball to the hoop, scoring off the bounce and setting up his teammates, most often 6'3 junior Michael Brown, for open looks. Bosse hung tough as Lyle got more involved, showing off his tremendous passing skills. However, his great dishes often went wanting as his teammates often failed to convert open looks or layups. At the end of the third, the game was all knotted up at 45-45. The Space Pioneers started the fourth on a quick run, taking the lead by four, but the Bulldogs clawed back to tie the game at 51-51 with just under five minutes remaining. The game was back and forth, and with two minutes to play, Bosse led by one, 56-55, and Lyle made a beautiful pass to Romeo Wright for layup plus the foul. Wright converted the freebie to give the Bulldogs a 59-55 lead. On the following possession, Brown hit a three pointer for the Space Pioneers to cut the lead to one. With a minute to go, Bosse sophomore Perry Fairrow turned the ball over at midcourt and fouled Minton, who made the first of his of two free throws to tie the game at 59-59. The second came up short, but Northwest's Harris Brown came up with a huge offensive rebound, was fouled, and made two free throws to give the Space Pioneers a 61-59 lead. A Pendleton turnover and foul followed, and Northwest's Alphonso Bowen made one of two free throws to stretch the lead to 62-59. After a Bosse timeout, the Bulldogs ran a nice play, setting up Bo Burkhart for an open three, which he nailed to tie it at 62-62 with 18 seconds to go. But the Bulldogs inexplicably fouled Minton on the inbounds pass, sending him to the line, where he made one of two, giving the Pioneers a one point lead. Pendleton took the rebound of the missed free throw coast-to-coast, spun at the top of the key, and attacked the rim, finishing the layup, giving Bosse a 64-63 lead. Northwest called a timeout with nine seconds left. Bosse came out in a 2-2-1 press, which failed them this time. Minton took the inbounds pass, raced up the court, drove the paint, and finished over three Bulldogs, plus the foul. He knocked in the free throw with two seconds on the clock, and Pendleton's half court heave went long, giving Northwest the two point win.

Minton and Brown led Northwest with 19 points each, while Brown added 17 points. Minton was awarded game MVP honors.

Pendleton tied game high honors with 19 points, Fairrow added 15 points, and Lyle had 12 points, seven assists, and seven rebounds to go along with a pair of blocks and steals.

Ft. Wayne Northrop 66 - Indianapolis Tech 55

Quick takeaway before the recap. BRYSON SCOTT IS REALLY GOOD. Okay, moving on.

The first quarter was a display of two of the state's best in Bryson Scott of Northrop and Trey Lyles of Tech. The Titans were successful at the start of the game feeding the ball inside to the 6'8 Lyles, who scored six quick points to start the game. He also took the ball coast to coast off a steal in transition, finishing at the rim on the run, one of the most impressive moves I've seen this season, considering he's supposed to be a power forward. The twins Bryson and Brenton Scott were also hot at the start, specifically Brenton, who hit a pair of threes in the opening frame, which ended at 17-16 with the Bruins holding the lead. The second quarter was when things started going downhill for Tech. The Titan guards could not find a way to get the ball into Lyles, their shots weren't falling, and they had numerous turnovers, a trend that continued for the remainder of the contest. And this was also the time when Bryson Scott began taking over. None of the Tech guard could do anything to prevent him from taking them off the dribble, more often than not getting all the way to the rim for an easy layup, or for a shooting foul. But the Bruins did not take full advantage of Tech's struggles just yet, and led by three at half, 32-29. The first two minutes of the third quarter is where Tech lost the game. Lyles picked up a quick reach in foul and then two fairly to very questionable charging calls, saddling him with his fourth foul with six minutes to go in the third. Coach Jason Delaney blew a gasket at the second charge, earning a technical, and by the end of it all, the Bruins stretched their three point lead considerably. Lyles sat almost the rest of the third quarter, and Tech tried valiantly to stay in the game with their star on the bench. They did just enough, and were still withing striking distance, down eight at the end of three, 46-38. There was a glimmer of hope for Tech, as they came out fired up to start the fourth. A pair of free throws and a dunk by Lyles eventually cut the lead down to five points with just under seven minutes to play. But the turnover bug bit the Titan guards yet again, as they threw the ball away on three consecutive possessions, and the Bruins capitalized, stretching the lead to eleven at 54-43, and they never looked back. The remainder of the game was a layup-fest by Northrop, and Lyles fouled out on a 50-50 ball with over two minutes to go.

Bryson Scott's game was unreal. He attacked the basket at will and showed a killer instinct. The ball is as safe in his hands as it would be in a Brinks armored car (aka, it's on a string and you ain't taking it from him). He struggled a bit at the line and didn't take many outside shots, but I'm nitpicking. He was phenomenal on the way to 35 points. Brother Brenton was no slouch, finishing with 21 points and those two threes. Bryson is Purdue bound, and I'm not so sure Brenton couldn't be at that level as well. He holds only mid and low major offers, but if that's how he always plays, he can find a spot and be productive at a big school.

Lyles finished a frustrating day with 13 points, ten rebounds, and by my count, six blocks. His guards, while very good on other nights, were ineffective at getting the ball to him. Lyles is not their only player or their whole team, but Northrop had no one to stop him. Bruins coach Barak Coolman was wise to zone them and make it tougher to get him the ball in a position to score. Not trying to pile on, but I have to imagine Tech had upwards to 25 turnovers, and as many rushed or poor shots by their guards. One thing to note is that Lyles did not let his frustration affect his play or his outward demeanor, a big plus for a young team.

Nice win for the Bruins, who should move up from #10 in 4A.

Richmond 70 - Ft. Wayne Luers 49

A defensive clinic by the Red Devils, who recently took North Central to the wire. They threw all they had defensively at one of Indiana's best sophomores, James Blackmon, Jr., often double and triple teaming him, making his teammates rise to the occasion. Obviously, they didn't. Richmond's Quenten Hunter and freshman Joel Okafor took turns on the Blackmon assignment (with help) and did amazingly well. Richmond big man Bola Olaniyan was dominant. At 6'8 and 220 pounds, and as a senior, schools are going to come calling on Bola. He had 17 points and 17 rebounds and was simply too much for Luers to handle. Hunter led the Red Devils with 19 points.

Blackmon was harassed and held to a season-low eight points. He came in averaging over thirty per game, so this is obviously one he'd like to forget.

Broad Ripple 58 - Louisville (KY) Central 43

Big night for many reasons for Broad Ripple senior Ron "Buss" Patterson, an IU recruit. In front of his future coach Tom Crean (who was there all day, and raced to North Central-Park Tudor as well!), Buss led his team to a big showcase win, and set a record along the way.

Broad Ripple and Patterson both started slow, leading 13-11 after one with only two points from their star. From there, the Rockets defense took over, holding Central to only two second quarter points, taking the lead to 25-13 at halftime. Still, Patterson had only four points at the break.

In the third quarter, Buss revved his engine and scored nine in the frame, taking the Broad Ripple lead up to 15 points at 40-25.

A team oriented fourth quarter was Patterson score two more points, finishing the night with 15 points, six rebounds, and five assists. The record? Patterson's 15 points moved him into first place on the all-time scoring list at Broad Ripple, placing him in front of former Rocket and IUPUI Jaguar and current NBA star George Hill. Major congrats are in order to Buss for a high school career to be proud of, but not yet content with.

Non-IPSAC Game of the Night

Park Tudor 83 - North Central 61

Wow! I'd be lying if I said I saw that one coming. Park Tudor winning is not that shocking, but Park Tudor winning by 22 points at North Central is that shocking! Park Tudor, the #1 ranked team in 2A, were the best Panthers tonight.

Park was on fire in the first half, draining threes, more often than not, threes that were set up by a Yogi Ferrell pass or drive and kick. Ferrell played the role of floor general to a "T" tonight, mimicking the role he'll likely play in college at IU. And a fine time to do it, too, as Coach Crean was in the crowd. Also in attendance was future MSU Spartan Gary Harris of HSE, who recently spurned the like of IU and Purdue to go out of state.

North Central's pressure led to open shots in the first half and led to free throws in the second half, as Park Tudor was in the bonus with two minutes to play in the third quarter. North Central never got it closer than eight points in the second half.

Sophomores Trevon Bluiett and Troy Spears led Park Tudor in the scoring department tonight. Bluiett had 24 points and Spears, a New Mexico recruit, had 19 points. Ferrell had 13 points and nine big assists. Even though his scoring was not high, the win over 4A's number one team and the assists make it a strong statement to stake his claim as a Mr. Basketball frontrunner.

Purdue signee Ronnie Johnson led North Central with 19 points.

IPSAC Showcase Tomorrow!

An INSANE amount of fantastic games tip off tomorrow morning at 10:15 and last all day long in the IPSAC Midwest Showcase. Indianapolis John Marshall High School will play host to seven great games Friday. Let's take a glimpse at the action for Friday.

10:15- East Chicago Central (3-2) vs. Indianapolis Marshall (4-1)

Top Players - EC Central: Anfernee Brown - Marshall: Jock Breeding

12:00- Gary West (3-2) vs. Indianapolis Howe (2-2)

Top Players - Gary West: Arnold Wilson - Howe: Tyler Alexander

1:45- Evansville Bosse (6-1) vs. Indianapolis Northwest (3-2)

Top Players - Bosse: Jalen Pendleton, Jaquan Lyle - Northwest: Donnell Minton (Lamar)

3:15- Fort Wayne Northrop (6-0) vs. Indianapolis Tech (4-2)

Top Players - Northrop: Bryson Scott (Purdue), Brenton Scott - Tech: Trey Lyles (IU), Jeremie Tyler, Mike Jones

5:00- Fort Wayne Luers (4-1) vs. Richmond (4-1)

Top Players - Luers: James Blackmon, Jr. (IU) - Richmond: Bola Olaniyan, Joel Okafor

6:45- Bowman Academy (1-3) vs. Southport (3-3)

Top Players - Bowman: DeJuan Marrero (Depaul), Stephen Hawkins (Robert Morris), Elijah Ray (IUPUI) - Southport: Kellon Thomas (Kent State), Michael Ramey (Ball State)

8:30- Indianapolis Broad Ripple (4-1) vs. Louisville Central (KY)

Top Players - Broad Ripple: Ron Patterson (IU), Aaron Payne, Mo Cross

Check in throughout the day for results!

Game Highlights: Wednesday, December 21st

It was an exciting Wednesday night of hoops action across the Hoosier state! Top teams clashed, upsets were pulled off, and players excelled in individual performances they'll remember long after the whistle blew. Here are a few recaps of the P-Hoops Preview, as well as other highlights.

Lawrence Central 70 - Hamilton Southeastern 68

After earning the #1 ranking in 4A, the Royals have dropped two bitter losses in a row, first to North Central, and now this one, which many would consider a sizeable upset, to the Bears. The Royals got out early and led by ten at halftime, 34-24. The lead got up to 11 points in the fourth quarter before LC went on a 16-0 scoring run, sparked by a switch to a 2-3 zone, to take a lead they never relinquished. The lead grew to as many as nine points for the Bears before Gary Harris tried his best to get 4A #2 HSE back in the game. A three by Harris with under 20 seconds to play cut the lead to three for LC at 68-65. The Royals put LC at the line, where they missed the one-and-one, but Bears junior Richard Freeman promptly stole the ball and threw down a thunderous windmill jam. A 45-foot heave by Harris at the buzzer went in, but it was all over by then, as the 4A #7 Bears hung on for a classic win, 70-68. IU commit Jeremy Hollowell and teammate Tyler Fischl led the Bears with 16 points apiece. Fischl also grabbed 11 rebounds, and point guard Tyler Corley had 15 points and eight assists. while Harris led HSE with 26 points.

Warren Central 51 - Pike 49

Another upset! Pike came into the game riding high with the #4 ranking in 4A, while the Warriors have been up and down so far this season. With the game tied and under ten seconds to go, the Warriors worked for a layup by Sam Thompson to give them the win. One of the top juniors in the state, IU commit Devin Davis, led Warren Central with 18 points and nine rebounds. Detriot signee Brent Calhoun chipped in ten points for the Warriors, while RJ Hunter, a Georgia State commit, led Pike with 21 points, including five three pointers.

Fishers 70 - Avon 51

As predicted, the Tigers got back on track against a quality, ranked 4A team. Fishers jumped out to a 13 points lead at the end of the first quarter, going up 27-14. The remainder of the game was played fairly evenly, but the big start was too much to overcome for the Orioles. CJ Johnson led Fishers with 18 points, while Tyler Alderman added 14 points of his own. Joe Retic and Jaylon Brown had 12 points apiece for the Tigers, and JP Pena was also in double
figures with ten points. Notre Dame commit Austin Burgett struggled to just seven points for the Orioles, who were led by Lance Magee's 12 points.

Other Highlights

* Bosse beat Reitz 78-72, getting 24 points from senior Jalen Pendleton. Sophomore Jaquan Lyle scored 16 points, including four treys in six attempts.

* New Castle beat Centerville 56-30 behind 17 points from Korey Ryan.

* Evansville Harrison, playing without star sophomore Ernie Duncan (back injury), beat Floyd Central 72-66, getting 31 points from brother Everett Duncan. He had seven three pointers in the win.

* Greensburg rolled Hauser 87-64, getting 26 points from Sean Sellers and 19 points from Bryant McIntosh, both sophomores.

* Finally, LaPorte LaLumiere won their third game in a row at the Elgin Holiday Tournament, advancing to the championship game, but did so without their top two players. Hanner Mosquera-Perea was gone while attending his sister's first communion, and sadly, Rapheal Davis was gone with the passing of his grandmother. Both will miss the final. Prayers go out to Raph and his family in this hard time.

Top Games for Wednesday, 12/21

A few games pop up on the P-Hoops radar as ones to watch for Wednesday, December 21st. Top players and teams will take the floor looking to score big wins for their teams. Here's a quick look at some of the best the state has to offer four days before Christmas!

Hamilton Southeastern (5-1) vs. Lawrence Central (4-1)

Two of the top teams in the 4A class will do battle at the home of the Bears. HSE is coming off a heart-breaking loss in the one-versus-two matchup against North Central, despite top dog Gary Harris' 34 points. The Royals also boast juniors Zakarie Irvin and Paul Furlin, and are led by senior point guard Jaccobby Bledsoe. They look to get back on track against a team who is coming off potentially the biggest win in school history. The Bears broke Bloomington South's 50-game home win streak with a 51-50 win on the road. Leading the way for LC is IU recruit Jeremy Hollowell, averaging over 20 points a game. Flanking him are point guard Tyler Corley, who made the game winning layup against thr Panthers, and forward Richard Freeman. This should be an awesome game.

Warren Central (3-2) vs. Pike (5-1)

Greg Graham's Warriors have yet to play their best basketball, and tonight would be the perfect time to do so. Led by 6'6 junior forward Devin Davis and 6'8 senior Brent Calhoun, the Warriors have the size and skill to compete with anyone. Pike has won five straight after dropping their opener to North Central, including big wins over Lawrence Central and Avon. The Red Devils are led by 6'5 senior guard RJ Hunter and 5'9 junior play maker Zavier Turner. They also get strong inside play from Johntae Alexander. This could be a signature win for the Warriors, but Pike is rolling right now.

Avon (5-1) vs. Fishers (2-4)

The Orioles are off to a fast start, with their only loss a nine-point defeat to Pike. They are led by 6'8 forward Austin Burgett, a Notre Dame recruit. Fishers has lost a string of heartbreakers recently, dropping their last four by a combined 21 points. The Tigers have gotten strong play this year from 6'9 senior center Tyler Alderman, and from guards JP Pena and Jaylon Brown. I expect Fishers to get back in the win column tonight, with their size and depth more than Avon has seen since Pike.

Other Good Games

Evansville Bosse (5-1) vs. Evansville Reitz (4-3)

Centerville (5-0) vs. New Castle (5-1)

Connersville (4-2) vs. Winchester (4-2)

And the LaPorte LaLumiere Lakers are in action for the third game of four in the Elgin Holiday Tournament today. The Lakers are 2-0 thus far led by Rapheal Davis (19.5 ppg in tourney) and Hanner Perea (10.5 ppg in tourney).

Check back for results as they come in!

Tuesday 12/20 Trio: Update!

Today P-Hoops focused on three fantastic games between top teams in Indiana. Let's take a glimpse at how things went tonight!

Muncie Central 58 - Jay County 33

The game was much closer than the score indicated. The Bearcats finished the game on a 23-3 run as the well simply went dry for the Patriots. Senior point guard Adam Botts led all scorers with 25 points. Travis Woods chipped in 13 points for Central. Big man Nick Osborne was limited to five points offensively, but he still did work on the glass, gobbling up ten rebounds. The Patriots were led by Kegan Comer with 11 points. The Bearcats face a brutal upcoming stretch, playing the likes of Pike, HSE, Ricmond, and North Central. If they cam navigate this stretch successfully, 3A will have a big time favorite.

Warsaw 46 - Triton 40

In an ugly, turnover filled game, the 4A Tigers pulled out a lackluster win over the visiting 1A Trojans. Triton had many chances to win this game, and they will no doubt look back in disgust at their 4-12 performance at the free throw line.

Lake Central 53 - Munster 49

It was close all game long. The Indians went into the half, nursing a four point lead at 31-27. In the third quarter, Lake Central doubled that lead to eight, 42-34. But Munster was not about to go down without a fight. They scrapped and clawed, outscoring the Indians 15-11 in the fourth. In fact, the game was tied until Indians reserve guard Zach Gentz nailed a go-ahead three pointer with under three minutes remaining. Munster had two tries at a three pointer with under 25 seconds, trailing 52-49. Both came up short, however, and the Mustangs were forced to foul. Glenn Robinson III stepped to the line and made one of two, putting the game out of reach. Robinson scored 13 points in all, but missed four free throws in the fourth quarter which made it very interesting. Junior center Tyler Wideman led Lake Central with 14 points and Tye Wilburn added 11 points. Munster was led by Nate Bubash and Mike Schlotman, with 14 points apiece.

Other Highlights

* Castle junior Blake Simmons had 27 points and 5 boards in a win over New Albany. Simmons is a 6'6 forward.

* Bosse sophomore Jaquan Lyle had 14 points, eight assists, and five rebounds in a win against Mt. Carmel (IL).

* Wapahani got a mice win over Frankton and 25 points from sophomore Grant Evans.

* North Judson thumped Culver behind 25 points from big forward John Eckert.

LaLu Wins Again

In round two of the Elgin Holiday Tournament, the LaLimiere Lakers defeated Dundee-Crown, 62-42. DC was extremely patient, playing a slowed down pace, but they could not keep up with the Lakers. Purdue recruit Rapheal Davis scored 21 points while IU recruit Hanner Mosquera-Perea had ten points. LaLumiere, who is now 9-1, plays again tomorrow. Check back for updates.

A Tuesday Trio for 12/20

On a relatively quiet night of games in the state of Indiana, three games stand out as ones to keep a close eye on. Let's take a look at the trio of games for Tuesday, December 20th.

Jay County (5-0) vs. Muncie Central (6-0)

Two unbeaten teams square off tonight, one with a much more impressive resume than the other. The class 4A Patriots are 5-0, but four of those wins came against 1A or 2A opponents. Meanwhile, the Bearcats have taken down Kokomo, New Castle, and others on their way to their 6-0 mark. Will Jay County be able to keep pace with big man Nick Osborne and the rest of the Bearcats? It would certainly be an upset if the Patriots won, despite the undefeated record. Look for Muncie Central to stay unbeaten and retain the #1 ranking in the 3A class.

Lake Central (5-1) vs. Munster (5-0)

A region game with implications of area dominance tips off tonight. The Indians are led by dynamic guard Glenn Robinson III, a Michigan commit who is scoring over 22 points a game. Lake Central junior forward Tyler Wideman, a 6'7 wide body, is a D1 prospect who has been scouted live by Purdue and many others this season. The Mustangs are once again unbeaten, much like last year until their fall in the postseason. They are led by a pair of juniors, 6'6 forward Nate Bubash (15 points) and 6'3 guard Mike Schlotman (13.4 points). This should be a close one!

Triton (5-2) vs. Warsaw (5-1)

The classic little guy and big man game. Triton is a perennial power in the 1A class, and this year's version is led by high-scoring Clay Yeo. The Tigers are without 2011 Indiana All-Star Nic Moore, now playing in college, but they are having another good season under coach Doug Ogle. If the Trojans are able to pull off the upset, all of 1A will be officially put on notice!

Today also marks day two of the Elgin Holiday Tournament, which LaPorte LaLumiere is playing in. Check back for updates on all of these games!

Bosse Wins in Underwhelming Fashion

The Evansville Bosse Bulldogs came into this season with a ton of hype and at one time held the #1 ranking in the 3A class. The talent in undeniable, and the schedule seemed favorable for a monster year. But coach Shane Burkhart has been displeased with his team and their lack of effort and focus at times this season. Monday night was more of the same from Bosse. Six days after being upset by Evansville Memorial, and three days removed from an eight point win over an overmatched Washington squad, the Bulldogs squared off with a 3-1 Gibson Southern squad. This should have been an easy win for Bosse, and for a while, it seemed it would be. Leading by 22 points midway through the third quarter, the Bulldogs were in cruise mode, although instead of maintaining speed, the players seemed to decelerate and let up. Gibson Southern stormed back and cut the lead to 12 with about seven minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Bosse held on for an 11 point win, 77-66, but Burkhart was incensed. He did not speak to reporters after the game, and his players were off limits too. Bosse has a ton of potential, and there is still plenty of time to realize it. I'm betting they do.

Lost in all the negativity was another great game by senior Jalen Pendleton. He notched a triple-double, with 21 points, 14 rebounds, and ten assists. Quite impressive, considering the lackluster effort.

The Bulldogs will get a chance to redeem themselves immediately, as they go against Mt. Carmel (1-4) this evening. Let's see if the can keep the throttle down throughout the entire game.

LaLu Dominates

In the first round of the Elgin Holiday Tournament, the LaLumiere Lakers had a dominating performance over Walther Lutheran, 81-36. They played suffocating defense, forcing 18 turnovers. They also dominated the glass, outrebounding their opponent 39-19. IU recruit Hanner Mosquera-Perea led the Lakers balanced attack with 11 points, while Matej Buovac added ten points. LaLumiere plays tomorrow at 11:15 AM. Check back for updates!

LaLumiere Starts Tournament Today

The LaPorte LaLumiere Lakers (8-1) begin the four day Elgin Tournament today with a 2:15 game against Walther Lutheran. The Walther Broncos (4-4) are a team from Melrose Park, IL, led by senior guard Patrell Green and junior guard Joe Lomnicki. The Lakers should be able to handle the Broncos with their lineup featuring multiple high-level D1 recruits, including seniors Rapheal Davis (Purdue), Hanner Mosquera-Perea (IU), Obij Aget (New Mexico), Jay Simpson (Purdue), and Bobo Drummond (S. Illinois). The tournament runs through Thursday, and the Lakers will play each day. Check back for updates throughout the week on LaLu!

Another Top Game

Evansville Bosse (3-1) vs. Gibson Southern (3-1)

The Bosse Bulldogs led by senior Jalen Pendleton and sophomore Jaquan Lyle look to keep rolling versus Gibson Southern, a bit of a surprise at 3-1. Bosse has been putting up points in bunches; will Southern be able to slow them?

Game Highlights: Saturday, December 17th

* The #2 4A squad, North Central, prevailed over #1 ranked Hamilton Southeastern 81-76 in the game of the year. In what was a back and forth affair, Purdue recruit Ronnie Johnson hit a 12-foot floater with 2:18 to go in the fourth quarter to give the Panthers a 74-72 lead, one they would never relinquish. Holding the same two point lead with under 20 seconds, Johnson missed a jumper, but Iowa recruit Patrick Ingram got the offensive rebound and putback basket to pad North Central's lead to 80-76. On the next possession, HSE's Gary Harris missed a three pointer, and after an additional free throw for the Panthers, that was all she wrote.

Johnson led North Central with 27 points, while Ingram battled through foul trouble to score 20 points, including ten in the fourth. Big man Darius Latham had 17 points. Harris scored 34 points and grabbed 13 rebounds. Junior Zakarie Irvin added 17 points and senior Jaccobby Bledsoe had 13 points.

* In an amazing individual performance, Ft. Wayne Luers sophomore James Blackmon, Jr. scored 40 points, including four three pointers, to give the Knights an 89-83 victory over Indianapolis Howe. Dwight Richards added 23 points for Luers, while Aaron Mann led the Hornets with 25 points.

* Park Tudor rolled to a comfortable win over Triton Central, 87-60, getting 23 points from Manhattan recruit Paul Bayt. Yogi Ferrell added 18 points and sophomore Trevon Bluiett had 16 points.

* Cathedral got a nice win over fellow parochial school Lafayette Central Catholic, 59-42. Saint Louis recruit Jared Drew had 16 points, while junior Collin Hartman, an IU recuit, had 14 points.

* Ben Davis bounced back from an overtime loss to Warren Central to thump Brownsburg 56-31, getting 14 points from Tony Wills. Promising sophomore Jaraan Lands led the Bulldogs with 12 points.

* Pendleton Heights had a nice game to sharpen up for their upcoming tilt with HSE, defeating Rushville 62-44. Butler signee Kellen Dunham had 24 points in the win.

* Guerin Catholic kept rolling along the night after beating Lawrence North, handling Anderson 59-44. Sophomore Aaron Brennan had another good game, notching 13 points for the Golden Eagles.

More Updates from Friday, December 16

FW Luers 83 - FW Canterbury 79

Sophomore IU recruit scored 22 points to pace Luers in their win over Canterbury.

FW Northrop 66 - FW North Side 64

In one of the wildest finishes of the night, the Bruins went the length of the floor in 0.5 seconds for a two point win over North Side. Rallying from nine points down in the fourth, and with both Bryson and Brenton Scott fouled out, Northrop found a way to pull it out in exciting fashion. On a play called "Jump" designed by coach Barak Coolman, Spencer Cowherd threw an 85-foot pass that found teammate Carter Rump under the basket, who promptly laid it in for the stunning victory. The Redskins really let this one slip away, missing 15 of their final 17 shots, and shooting 28-40 from the line. Bryson led the Bruins with 26 points, six rebounds, and four assists, while Brenton added 19 points. Quilyn Howard-Upshaw led North Side with 20 points, while Andy Bachman added 17 points and 13 rebounds.

Penn 70 - South Bend Clay 58

Rising junior star Leo Svete had a season high 27 points as Penn knocked off a persistent and pesky Clay team. Senior and Bellmont recruit Jeff Laidig notched a double-double of 15 points and 12 rebounds, whiile Aaron Brady scored 13 points. Kenny Jones led Clay with 19 points.

South Bend Washington 63 - Mishawaka Marian 61

Washington overcame a slow start that saw them trailing 20-5 in the first quarter. Duron Ivery led the winning side with 14 points while Bo Calhoun added 13 points. Marian's star point guard Demetrius Jackson had 19 points and Robert Mischler had 16 points of his own.

Game Recaps: Friday, December 16

Crazy night of games with some amazing wins and astounding final scores. Let's take a look at Friday's action.

HSE 74 - Zionsville 59

In a game of unbeatens, and in what some considered a trap game for HSE, the Royals prevailed comfortably over the Eagles. Before turning to the clash with North Central on Saturday, HSE handled business behind 21 points, six rebounds, six assists, and four blocks from Gary Harris. Zakarie Irvin added 18 points and nine rebounds. Zionsville was led by Will Dixon's 18 points.

Lawrence Central 51 - Bloomington South 50

Possibly the biggest win in recent memory for the Bears. On the road, in a hostile environment, with star forward Jeremy Hollowell the focus of a bevy of junk defenses, Lawrence Central got a HUGE statement win. Bears point guard Tyler Corley had two free throws with under ten seconds with LC trailing 50-49, and he missed both. On the rebound, Panther Trae Washington was fouled and went to the line for a one-and-one. The free throw clanked off the rim, and fittingly, Corley took it the length of the court, through the defense, and laid it in as the buzzer sounded. Hollowell had a nice all around game despite being limited by a box and one, a "T" defense, and other looks. He had six points, eight rebounds, and four assists. This marked the end of the Panthers 50 game win streak on their home court.

Roncalli 60 - Brebeuf Jesuit 46

The Rebels keep running along, beating another quality opponent. Roncalli's pair of 6'7 forwards, David Heckman and Ryan Weber, had 18 points apiece, dominating the interior against the smaller Braves. Sophomore point guard PJ Thompson scored 23 points for Brebeuf.

Muncie Central 75 - New Castle 45

Most did not see this blowout coming, but as it was New Castle's first true test against a top team, expectations went out the window. The Bearcats leaped out to a 44-16 halftime lead and never looked back. Big man Nick Osborne led Muncie Central with 15 points, and Steven Bennett had 18 points for the Trojans.

Warren Central 54 - Ben Davis 50 (OT)

Giants guard Harry Wills scored eight points, including two free throws with three seconds to play that forced overtime. But in the end, it wasn't enough to overcome the Warriors. Warren Central forward Devin Davis had 15 points, while 6'8 senior center Brent Calhoun added 11 points. Ben Davis guard Tony Wills led all scorers with 25 points.

Evansville Bosse 65 - Washington 57

Jalen Pendleton had 25 points and Jaquan Lyle had five points, nine assists, and six rebounds as Bosse beat the Zeller-less Hatchets.

Carmel 53 - Fishers 50

The Greyhounds move to 5-1 behind 16 points from Ben Gardner. Fishers has played well but have suffered several close losses, and they're tired of moral victories. Point guard Jaylon Brown scored 18 for the Tigers and big man Tyler Alderman added 12 points.

Guerin Catholic 58 - Lawrence North 52

The Golden Eagles got coach Pete Smith possibly his biggest win at Guerin. The teams were tied 38-38 at halftime. Aaron Brennan had 20 points for Guerin while Adam Hufford added 15 points. The Wildcats got 18 points from Eron Harris and 15 points from Sean Howard.

Arsenal Tech 77 - Indianapolis Washington 54

The Tech Titans jumped out to a 33-9 lead from the tip and never looked back. Jeremie Tyler led the Titans with 14 points, while super soph Trey Lyles added 13 points. Continental Julian Page led all scorers with 16 points.

Kokomo 74 - Marion 67

LaBradford Seabree scored 18 points and Evansville recruit DJ Balentine added ten as the WildKats got a big win over a rival. Marion led by one at halftime, but couldn't maintain it going down to the wire.

Lake Central 66 - Merrillville 60 (OT)

The Pirates had this one in the bag, but forgot to tell the Indians. Leading 46-38 after the third, Merrillville watched their lead slip away, and Lake Central fought back and forced overtime. The Indians were dominant in the extra frame led by Glenn Robinson III, who finished with 22 points. The Pirates were led by BJ Jenkins with 18 points.

Greensburg 102 - Jennings County

Unexpected blowout city! Sophomores Sean Sellers and Bryant McIntosh led the winners with 21 and 19 points, respectively.

Broad Ripple 63 - Indianapolis Northwest 51

Ernest Burton scored 16 points, Mo Cross had 15 points, and IU recruit Ron Patterson had 11 points, seven boards, four assists, and four steals to lead the Rockets to the win.

Lebanon 66 - Danville 54

Trey Hendrix and Jack Day scored 17 points each to keep Lebanon undefeated.

Tri-West 69 - Sheridan 67 (OT)

The Bruins got a much needed win, getting 21 points from star freshman Trevor Waite, who is one to keep an eye on for the future. Senior Earl Chastain scored 19 points, and junior Sam Koelling added 12 points.

Other Notables

* Joe Fagan scored 28 points and Greg Gardner added 19 points as Chatard rolled Baptist Academy.

* Heritage Christian topped Cardinal Ritter by 18 points behind 20 points from junior point guard Anthony Warrum, a big time football recruit. Senior Joel Smith added 11 points.

* Pike beat Columbus North 78-51, getting 21 points from RJ Hunter.

* Pendleton Heights demolished Shenandoah, getting a "meager" 21 points from Kellen Dunham.

* Avon snuck past Brownsburg 60-49, getting 12 points from Notre Dame recruit Austin Burgett.

* Southport notched a big win over Bloomington North 67-50. Senior duo Kellon Thomas and Michael Ramey were at it again for the Cardinals, scoring 24 and 20 points, respectively.

Clash of the Titans on Saturday

The single biggest game of the early hoops season is undoubtedly the Hamilton Southeastern at North Central game set for this Saturday night. The Royals (4-0) will be playing their second game in two nights, as they host Zionsville on Friday. If they are able to get past the Eagles, which is likely, HSE will come into the game at 5-0 with the #1 ranking in the 4A class. The Panthers (4-1) lost a tough road game at Carmel last week which dropped them to #2 in 4A. Assuredly, North Central will be chomping at the bit in this game, eager to get the bad taste left by the Greyhounds out of their collective mouths.

The play of Royals Gary Harris, Zakarie Irvin, and Jaccobby Bledsoe has been nothing short of impressive thus far. Harris (MSU) is playing at a Mr. Basketball level, Irvin (Michigan) is making a strong case for best in 2013, and Bledsoe is running the show in an effective way, making things easy for his teammates. Through four games, Harris is scoring 20.5 points per game and pulling down seven rebounds, to go along with nearly five assists. Irvin is pouring in 17.8 points a game, and Bledsoe scores 14.3 points a game, with just under five assists as well. Depth is provided by Paul Furlin, a junior who averages just under ten points a game.

The Panthers are led by Purdue recruit Ronnie Johnson, another Mr. Basketball contender. He is scoring 20 points a game and dishing out over five assists to his capable teammates. A major beneficiary of Johnson's passes is 6'3 combo guard Patrick Ingram, an Iowa commit. Ingram is scoring 15.6 points a game. Big man Darius Latham chips in 12 points per game and over six rebounds. Depth is provided by John Murry, Perry Poindexter, and Jimmy Miller.

What a game this should be! The two top teams in the state battling it out for regular season bragging right and a serious confidence boost. The game could also be a possible preview for the Sectional 8 Champioship, the winner of which will be a favorite for the state title. Enjoy the game, folks!

Other Great Games

Noblesville (2-2) vs. Hamilton Heights (2-3)

Lafayette Central Catholic (1-3) vs. Cathedral (3-1)

Park Tudor (5-1) vs. Triton Central (3-2)

Penn (1-2) vs. Munster (4-0)

Northrop (4-0) vs. Canterbury (3-2)

FW Luers (2-1) vs. Indianapolis Howe (2-1)

And remember to check the post two below to see which teams are going full tilt tonight!

Mr. Basketball Race Updated

P-Hoops previously profiled seven of the top seniors in the state of Indiana who are deemed most likely to be in contention for the coveted Mr. Basketball award at the end of the season. Today we take a look at how their seasons are going thus far through the early portion of the season.

Kellen Dunham - Pendleton Heights (5-1)

32.2 points, 53% FG, 25/55 3FG (44%), 47/50 FT (94%), 5.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.0 steals, 2.1 TOs

Yogi Ferrell - Park Tudor (5-1)

16.8 points, 7.0 assists

Gary Harris - Hamilton Southeastern (4-0)

20.5 points, 55.1% FG, 5/12 3FG (42%), 13/21 FT (62%), 7.0 rebounds, 5.3 steals, 4.8 assists

Jeremy Hollowell - Lawrence Central (3-1)

24.0 points, 52% FG, 5/17 3FG (29%), 18/25 FT (72%), 9.0 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, 1.0 TOs

Ronnie Johnson - North Central (4-1)

20.0 points, 61% FG, 18/35 3FG (51%), 23/34 FT (68%), 5.2 assists, 2.6 rebounds, 2.6 TOs

Ron Patterson - Broad Ripple (3-1)

19.8 points, 51% FG, 6/28 3FG (21%), 17/24 FT (71%), 4.1 assists, 3.1 rebounds, 2.0 steals, 3.0 TOs

Glenn Robinson III - Lake Central (4-1)

21.6 points, 62% FG, 2/6 3FG (33%), 32/42 FT (76%), 5.0 rebouunds

Check back often for the progress of these stars!

Game Previews: Friday, December 16th

Some really interesting match ups to get excited about for this Friday night. Here are a few previews to get you ready for the big weekend of Indiana high school hoops action!

Zionsville (5-0) vs. Hamilton Southeastern (4-0)

The Eagles are flying high at 5-0, but their schedule has been somewhat soft, especially since their impressive season opening win over Brebeuf. Can Zionsville play with the big dogs? They'll get their chance to prove they're for real on the road against the #1 team in the 4A class, Hamilton Southeastern. The Royals boast the three-headed monster attack of Gary Harris, Zakarie Irvin, and Jaccobby Bledsoe, a trio that has been overwhelming for all takers on this season. If HSE wins handily again, there will be no arguing their deserving a top ranking.

Lawrence Central (3-1) at Bloomington South (4-0)

The Bears suffered a tough loss at Pike last week, but the Red Devils are no slouch. Can they rebound on the road against a perennial 4A favorite? IU commit Jeremy Hollowell will bring his 23-plus point per game average to his future home of Bloomington in hopes of knocking the Panthers from the ranks of the unbeatens. South has gotten great play from sophomore duo Keaton Hendricks and Isaiah Gooch. Coach JR Holmes will have his 4A #4 ranked team ready when the 4A #8 ranked Bears come to town. Should be a great game.

Roncalli (4-0) vs. Brebeuf Jesuit (3-1)

Two of the best parochial schools in Indianapolis square off in this tilt. The Rebels, ranked #16 in the 4A class, are led by a pair of 6'7 senior forwards, Ryan Weber and David Heckman. With impressive wins over Park Tudor and LCC, they are obviously a tough out. Brebeuf counter their size with great guard play, specifically sophomore point guard PJ Thompson. Michael Kroot and Michael Lenz are also solid guards for the Braves. Which strength will win out, guards or bigs?

New Castle (5-0) vs. Muncie Central (4-0)

The Trojans are fresh off a dominating 84-49 statement win against Wapahani. Led by Steven Bennett and Jordan Richardson, New Castle has the look of a quality 4A team. But much like Zionsville, their schedule has been suspect in strength as of yet. Well no more. The 3A #1 ranked Bearcats will host the Trojans in this NCC rivalry game. The Bearcats rely heavily on one of the best big men in the state in 6'8 Loyola (IL) recruit Nick Osborne. New Castle will be challenged to respond on the road against the best team they have faced so far.

Other Great Games

Ben Davis (3-1) vs. Warren Central (2-2)

Evansville Bosse (2-1) vs. Washington (3-2)

Fishers (2-3) vs. Carmel (4-1)

LaPorte LaLumiere (7-1) vs. Body of Christ, NC

FW Concordia (3-1) vs. FW Luers (2-1)

FW North (4-2) vs. FW Northrop (4-0)

Guerin Catholic (3-1) vs. Lawrence North (3-2)

Arsenal Tech (3-2) vs. Indianapolis Washington (2-3)

Marion (2-1) vs. Kokomo (3-1)

Merrillville (3-3) vs. Lake Central (3-1)

South Bend Washington (3-0) vs. Mishawaka Marian (5-1)

Concord (4-0) vs. Elkhart Memorial (4-0)

Upset Alert! Memorial Defeats Bosse

In what was supposed to be a game easily handled by the 3A #2 ranked Bosse Bulldogs, the Evansville Memorial Tigers refused to give in. The Bulldogs had the ranking, the big names, and the momentum after crushing Princeton, but the Tigers had their number last night. Memorial trailed by 11 early in the second quarter before a timeout by coach Rick Wilgus lit a fire under the Memorial team. Following the breather, the Tigers finished the first half on a 24-6 run, making seven of ten three pointers, giving them a 44-37 lead. Memorial's lead stretched and shrunk throughout the final two frames, and there was a flurry of activity down the stretch. The Tigers' Alphonso Baity hit four straight free throws in the final 14 seconds to give Memorial a five point lead at 88-83, but Bosse sophomore Jaquan Lyle responded by coming down and nailing a three to cut the lead to two. With one second on the clock, Memorial was whistled for an offensive foul while trying for the inbounds pass, giving Bosse one last chance to send the game to overtime, or win it outright. The Tiger defense dug in, however, and didn't even allow a shot attempt, holding on to win 88-86. Baity led the Memorial cause with 29 points, and Lyle matched his output for the Bulldogs. Senior Jalen Pendleton chipped in 22 points for Bosse, and sophomore Perry Fairrow added 15 of his own.

Other Highlights

* Merrillville beat Michigan City 48-47 on two last second free throws by 6'8 senior Ed Seay, who finished with 13 points.

* Bishop Chatard handled Covenant Christian 76-61, getting 23 points from Joe Fagan and 18 points from Alabama-Huntsville recruit Greg Gardner. Ian Asher led Covenant with 28 points.

* Heritage Christian beat Indianapolis Washington 74-64 behind 26 points from 6'6 senior wing Joel Smith.

* Purdue head coach Matt Painter, Michigan State assistant Dane Fife, and several other coaches were in the building to see Lake Central take down Chesterton 66-47. Most were there to see Lake Central 6'7 junior center Tyler Wideman, but Chesterton's 6'6 freshman Matt Holba is a player who may end up being one of the best in the 2015 class. Glenn Robinson III led the Indians with 16 points, while Wideman contributed 13 points. Holba had 11 points for Chesterton.

Game Recap: New Castle vs. Wapahani

Whoa boy! Talk about a statement from the Trojans! As a team, New Castle had an off-season full of hardship and adversity, and they seem to be using it as motivation on the court. Tonight was billed as a game ripe for an upset as 2A Wapahani was visiting Chrysler Fieldhouse. The Raiders were the smaller school, but have been a feel good story, winning their first four games behind the strong play of sophomore Grant Evans, a highly recruited youngster. In fact, IU assistant Tim Buckley was in the stands. But from the tip, it was clear the Trojans were in another class, literally and figuratively, from the Raiders. Their defense was swarming and their offense crisp, dominating Wapahani in all aspects of the game. New Castle held a 43-21 halftime lead. Evans had a miserable half due to the stifling Trojan defense, scoring just five points on 2-10 shooting. The Trojans' Jordan Richardson had 17 points at the break. While Evans did get going in the second half, it was far too little too late. Joel Haler led New Castle with 24 points as New Castle won going away, 84-49. Richardson had 23 points, and also playing well for the Trojans was Steven Bennett, who scored 14 points. Evans poured in 23 points in the second half for a total of 28 points on 9-21 shooting, including 4-9 from downtown. Admirable after starting 2-10. Can you say statement win?

Game of the Day: Tuesday 12/13

There are several great games throughout the state of Indiana tonight, but one seems to stand head and shoulders above the rest. Two undefeated teams will square off in the biggest high school basketball arena in the universe to play for bragging rights. The New Castle Trojans (4-0) welcome the Wapahani Raiders to Chrysler Fieldhouse for a matchup of unbeatens, a game many are anticipating feverishly. The home team is led by Steven Bennett, who runs off screens like Rip Hamilton , scoring right at 20 points per game. A trio of others also average double digits. Jordan Richardson (11.8 ppg), Korey Ryan (11.5), and Kyle Goolsby (10 ppg) all help the Trojans cause. The Raiders are led by outstanding sophomore Grant Evans, who scores 17.5 points a game, and Jacob Foster, who puts up an identical output of 17.5 points. Tanner Davis and Alex Gordon both average in double figures as well. This should be an excellent game, but the Trojans are tough at home. Home court could decide this one.

Other Games of Note

Chesterton (1-3) vs. Lake Central (3-1)

The Indians should handle Chesterton in this one behind the continued strong play of Michigan recruit Glenn Robinson III and big man Tyler Wideman. But P-Hoops is interested to see how 6'6 freshman Matt Holba plays against such a tough opponent. Holba was a recent visitor to Bloomington to see IU's upset win over Kentucky. He is, along with Cathedral's Jalen Coleman, considered one of the best freshmen in the state.

Evansville Memorial (2-1) vs. Evansville Bosse (2-0)

The Tigers are off to a strong start, but can they keep up with the Bosse Bulldogs, a top 3A team? Bosse put up 12 three pointers in their last game, a dominating win over previously unbeaten Princeton. In that game, they only got seven points from star sophomore Jaquan Lyle, a five star recruit. Imagine if all their players gell at once? Things could get ugly fast for an opponent. This is a cross-town rivalry to keep an eye on.

Poll Results: Best Player of 2014

In a landslide victory, Arsenal Teach sophomore Trey Lyles won the P-Hoops Poll for the best player in Indiana for thr 2014 class. The 6'9 versatile forward notched 101 votes for better than 79% of the total ballots cast. Lyles, an IU recruit, is certainly deserving. He is averaging better than 20 points and 10 rebounds through the first few games of his sophomore campaign.

Following him in the voting were Evansville Bosse's 6'4 guard Jaquan Lyle, and 6'2 Luers scoring sensation James Blackmon, Jr. Each had seven percent of the votes.

Congrats to Trey on this title and his strong play so far this season!

Game Updates: Saturday 12/10

Lots of great Indiana high school hoops went down this past Saturday night. P-Hoops was unable to attend, or even report on them until now, due to being in a state of blissful catharsis due to Christian Watford. Apologies, but I think you all can understand the delay.

* The Anderson Indians upset 2A favorite Luers 73-72 (the IU score!!!) behind 29 points from Tre Boyd. Luers got another fantastic game from James Blackmon, Jr. who scored 32 points in defeat.

* North Central prevailed 75-72 over Bowman Academy, who was playing without IUPUI recuit Elijah Ray. Impressive outing for both teams.

* Wabash beat Whitko 72-66 in a physical contest despite 36 points from Stetson recruit Logan Irwin.

* Cathedral beat Perry Meridian 47-40 in an ugly foul-fest that included a technical foul against IU recruit Collin Hartman. The Irish won despite getting mediocre scoring outputs from big guns Jared Drew (8), Hartman (7), Mo Evans (7), and Jalen Coleman (5). Gotta win ugly sometimes!

* Lebanon looks to be the best in Hendricks County and the Sagamore Conference as they torched Western Boone 76-52 behind 22 points from Trey Hendrix.

* Pike got a ten point win over Brownsburg, 64-54, getting 15 points from Zavier Turner and 14 points apiece from RJ Hunter and Johntae Alexander. The Bulldogs got 19 points from Chase Dutra, a high level football recruit.

* Roncalli won a slobberknocker 43-34 over perennial 1A power Lafayette Cental Catholic, getting 11 points from 6'7 forward Ryan Weber.

* Lawrence North found their offense, beating Ft. Wayne North Side 80-64. West Virginia recruit Eron Harris had 16 points and Purdue recruit Basil Smotherman finally got in a groove, scoring 12 points.

* Park Tudor walloped Convenant Christian 75-43, resting most of their starters for the fourth quarter. Trevon Bluiett led the Panthers with 20 points, Manhattan signee Paul Bayt added 11 points, and Yogi Ferrell had a solid floor game, scoring seven points and dishing out seven assists.

* Franklin Central upset Fishers 63-57 after entering the fourth quarter all tied up. Point guard Jaylon Brown led the Tigers with 19 points.

* Carmel topped Decatur Central 75-54, getting 20 points from Michael Volovic, while Sam Curts added 17 points of his own.

* Pendleton Heights thumped Connersville 58-30 at Hinkle Fieldhouse. Kellen Dunham matched his season low (!!!!!!!!) of 23 points.

* Mishawaka Marian beat Triton 58-52 behind 23 points from Demetrius Jackson. Triton star Clay Yeo scored 28 points, but missed three critical free throws that could have helped his team to an upset win.

Check back later on to see what top games are coming up early this week.

P-Hoops Interview: Tyler Alderman

One of the most under the radar players in the state is Fishers 6'9 center Tyler Alderman. I've known Tyler since he was a freshman and his progression as a player from then to where he is now is nothing short of remarkable. He has developed his game, his body, and his mentality into that of a division one athlete, a dream he realized earlier this year. I had a chance to converse with him recently, and here's a transcript of the interview. Enjoy!

P-Hoops - What are your current measureables?

Tyler Alderman - I'm 6'8 1/2", weigh 225 pound, and have a 6'11 wingspan.

PH - Do you have team goals for the season?

TA - Defense is our thing; offense will come to us from our defense. We have to defend or we will not be very successful.

PH - Fishers hasn't had a ton of basketball success. What are you doing to change that?

TA - I'm trying to fill the role this year that my team needs me to. Sometimes it may be a scorer, a rebounder, or a big defensive presence in the paint, or most times all three.

PH - You recently made your commitment. What made you choose Jacksonville?

TA - I fell in love with the school on my visit, and I just clicked with the players and coaches. It just felt right.

PH - What is the coaching staff like?

TA - They are real laid back off the court, but get down to business when they need to.

PH - Do you think distance from home is going to be an issue? Why or why not?

TA - Of course it will be hard not having my parents at my games. Especially my dad, who has missed maybe ten in my entire career. But at the same time, I don't think I will have a problem fitting in into a new environment and meeting new people.

PH - What are some games you have marked downs as ones you really want to win this year?

TA - Obviously HSE is a big one. We have have become one of the biggest rivalries in Indiana. Before fishers was built, we all were going to HSE together. We all grew up together and have been friends for years.

PH - What are some things you are working to improve on?

TA - My overall game. I am a firm believe in getting better every day. Every day I work on post moves and my mid range game.

PH - Who is the best player from Indiana you've played against? What stood out about them?

TA - Mitch McGary hands down. He is one of the strongest and most athletic big men I've every played and I wish him the best of luck at Michigan next year. The thing that stood out to me about him was his motor. He was constantly active and all over the ball defensively, especially on the help side. He probably had ten blocks on us when we played him at Cook Hall this summer.

PH - Who is the teammate you've had that was the most fun or best to play alongside, and why?

TA - I would have to say Michael Lenz and JP Pena. I started out in seventh grade playing with these guys and we are all still close. These two always found a way to get me going and helped me develop my game over the years. JP and I play at Fishers together, and I played AAU with Michael for the past couple of years.

PH - I've heard you've struggled on and off with injuries throughout high school and are finally healthy. True? What type on injuries?

TA - My junior year, preseason, I had hernia surgery and my wisdom teeth removed. So I missed conditioning and workouts the entire month of September. Then on Thanksgiving break i got mono and ended up in the ER on Thanksgiving. Over Christmas break, I got tonsillitis and played 48 seconds against HSE on January 4 where I thought i was going to pass out on the floor. I shouldn't have been there.

PH - Do you have any special "hidden talents" outside of basketball that people may not know about?

TA - Most people wouldn't believe it, and most don't even when they see it, but I can play the piano. I've never had lessons, but I taught myself and honestly, I'm not that bad (laughs).

PH - Now for some favorites. Any favorite quote? "When my time on Earth is gone, and my activities here are past, I want they bury me upside down, and my critics can kiss my ass." - Bob Knight

PH - Food?

TA - Steak and mushrooms.

PH - Music?

TA - Country and rap.

PH - Pro teams?

TA - I love watching the Boston Celtics play.

PH - Thing to do besides hoop?

TA - Always love kicking it with my friends and family.

Thanks to Tyler for doing this interview. He's a great kid with a great game, but an even better personality. P-Hoops wishes Alderman tons of success this year and in the future.

Game Recaps: 12/9

Wow! An unbelievable night of action went deep into the evening and some amazing things resulted. Players scoring in bunches, teams playing great team ball, and even a #1 upset! Read on for more!

Muncie Central 65 - Kokomo 60

The 4A #3 WildKats came up short in a great game that could have gone either way. Big man Nick Osborne led the way for the Bearcats with 17 points, while Adam Botts and Travis Woods added 13 apiece. Evansville recruit DJ Balentine paced Kokomo with 20 points, while LaBradford Seabree added 13 of his own.

Pike 73 - Lawrence Central 67

The Red Devils got the big win that was eluding them thus far, knocking of the 4A #5 Bears. Senior wing RJ Hunter had 24 points for Pike, while junior point guard Zavier Turner had 16 points. IU commit Jeremy Hollowell was the game's high scorer with 25 points, while Tyler Corley added 15 points for the Bears. LC fought back valiantly after starting the fourth down 12 points, but came up wanting in the end.

Hamilton Southeastern 70 - Noblesville 52

The Royals' train keeps on rolling! The likely new #1 in the state (more on that later!) dominated the Millers behind 24 points and eight boards from Gary Harris, 18 points from Zakarie Irvin, and 10 points and five assists from Jaccobby Bledsoe. Sam Philpot led Noblesville with 16 points.

Evansville Bosse 93 - Princeton 49

Holy smokes! Princeton was undefeated, but went down hard at the hands of one of 3A's best. Jaquan Lyle had a solid all around game with 9 points, 7 rebounds, and 7 assists, but the story was Bosse's three point shooting. The team had 12 treys, led by seven from sophomore Fairrow, who ended with 33 points. P-Hoops would love to see a Bosse - Muncie Central match up for sure!

Arsenal Tech 59 - Cathedral 58

Perhaps the best game in the state last night, it came down to the final 2.9 seconds. Trailing by one with under ten seconds to play, Tech inbounded the ball and brought it up the floor, where sophomore sensation Trey Lyles was fouled with just under three seconds to play. He went to the line and calmly sank both free throws, giving the Titans the lead. A halfcourt attempth by Cathedral's Collin Hartman missed, and Tech celebrated a huge win over a top ten 4A opponent. Lyles led Tech with 24 points and ten rebounds, while the Irish got 18 points and ten boards from Hartman. Freshman Jalen Coleman added 13 points for Cathedral.

Carmel 64 - North Central 60

Upset alert! Carmel seems to be good for one of these a season. The Greyhounds took down the #1 ranked team in 4A with a balanced attack led by Jason Crowley's 16 points on four threes. Carmel also got 13 points apiece from Michael Volovic and Ben Gardner. Ronnie Johnson led the Panthers with 23 points.

Pendleton Heights 58 - Mount Vernon 49

The Kellen Dunham show continued, as expected. The not-so-friendly rivals (as was pointed out to P-Hoops) went toe-to-toe, but the Arabians just had too much Dunham, who finished with 32 points, including a trio of threes. The Marauders got 18 points from Stephen Turner and 15 points from rising soph CJ Coleman.

Brebeuf Jesuit 45 - Lawrence North 31

The Wildcats offensive woes continued as the Braves finished the game on an 18-2 run after trailing up till that point. Michael Kroot scored 13 for the Braves, while PJ Thompson scored nine of his 11 in the final frame. West Virginia recruit Eron Harris led LN with 12 points.

Concord 57 - Penn 47

The Minutemen were too much for Penn, getting 14 points from big man Franko House and 13 points from Jason Spriggs. Penn got another great game from junior Leo Svete, who had 25 points, but their other big gun, Jeff Laidig, struggled to just four points.

FW Northrop 90 - FW Wayne 69

This battle of unbeatens was pretty one sided, thanks in large part to Northrop junior point guard Bryson Scott. The Bruins got an amazing 46 points from Scott, who simply couldn't be stopped. Purdue fans must be drooling for his arrival!

Broad Ripple 71 - Howe 41

The IPS showdown was a one sided affair. The Hornets simply could not keep up with the high scoring Rockets, who were led by IU recruit Ron Patterson's 20 points. They also got 13 big points from Mo Cross. Howe was led by Tyler Alexander's ten points.

Bloomington South 84 - Southport 70

A high scoring affair was dominated by a couple of South sophomores. Keaton Hendricks had 21 points and nine boards and Isaiah Gooch had 17 points and nine rebounds for Bloomington South. The Cardinals were once again led by their experienced seniors Michael Ramey (27 points) and Kellon Thomas (26 points).

Other highlights

* James Blackmon, Jr. scored 35 points as Luers beat FW South 82-71.

* Mishawaka Marian beat South Bend Clay 71-60 behind 26 points from Demetrius Jackson.

* Center Grove beat Terre Haute South behind 19 points from Joe Reed.

* Park Tudor smoked Beech Grove by 30. Trevon Bluiett had 17 points, Troy Spears had 16 points, and Yogi Ferrell had 15 points and 10 assists.

Mr. Basketball Candidate: Ron Patterson

The last in our series of the seven top seniors brings us to 6'3 Broad Ripple shooting guard Ron "Buss" Patterson. Patterson's name and renown began to grow from the time he was a freshman, including several great head-to-head matchups in AAU play against Georgetown commit D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera. Buss is a tremendous athlete and defender, boasting a seven foot-plus wing span, making him a nightmare for whomever he guards. He is also a great finisher and a big time deep threat. With an improving midrange game, Patterson is a prime candidate for the 2012 version of Mr. Basketball. As a side note, Buss was the first of all the current native Hoosiers to commit to IU, and he's the one who coined the phrase "The Movement" in regards to IU's recent recruiting prowess. Something to love if you're an IU fan, and something to loathe if you root against them. Let's take a look at Buss.

Player
Ron Patterson

Position
6'3 Shooting Guard

High School
Broad Ripple Rockets

College Choice
Indiana University

Junior Stats
18.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 3.2 steals, 54% FG, 70% FT

Past Seasons
Sophomore - 16-7, lost in Sectionals
Junior - 20-3, lost in Sectionals

National Rankings
Rivals.com - 3 star, 131st overall
Scout.com - 3 star, unranked in top 100, #24 SG
ESPN.com - 3 star, unranked in top 100, #20 SG
247sports.com - 4 star, 93rd overall

Mr. Basketball Outlook
Patterson has a pretty strong case for the award. He's been consistently excellent for all four years of high school play and started on the varsity since the moment he's stepped into the Rocket's gym. He's also won at a high level despite the adversity of having three coaches in four years, and the unbearable loss of teammate and friend Steven Jamison to cancer. The Rockets haven't won a a Sectional title in his time, but voters may take in to account that Broad Ripple was previously part of a sectional that included North Central, Cathedral, Lawrence North, Lawrence Central, and other. With IHSAA realignment, the Rockets moved to 2A, which may be the biggest blessing Patterson could have asked for regarding his award chances. If Broad Ripple can advance deep in the tournament and challenge top teams like Park Tudor for the 2A title, Buss has a real chance. With continued great play from teammates Aaron Payne and Mo Cross, the likelihood of such a run is high. He may currently be on the outside looking in, but Patterson could win it if the Rockets have a monster season.

Games of the Day: Friday, December 9th

SO MANY GAMES! I think P-Hoops may lose his mind with the full slate of unbelievable games tipping off tonight all across the great state of Indiana. There are almost too many good games to give their due, but this brisk, clear Friday morning, we'll look at just a few. And I say "few" a bit tongue in cheek. Here are a daily dozen games to keep tabs on.

Kokomo (3-0) vs. Muncie Central (3-0)

Oh, yeah. It's on! These two rivals come in to this game unbeaten and looking for some serious bragging rights. The 4A #3 ranked WildKats have won in convincing fashion, and they've won close, specifically their overtime thriller against Fishers. DJ Balentine will look to continue his great play and scoring against the Bearcats. Muncie Central, the #1 ranked team in 3A, boasts 6'8 big man Nick Osborne, a Loyola recruit. Osborne is one of the most underrated players in the state. He may be the difference in this one, as the Kats have no one who can match up with his size and strength.

Lawrence Central (3-0) vs. Pike (2-1)

A great city battle shold be expected here. The Bears have proven their worth, beating the likes of Lawrence North and Arsenal Tech. Senior Jeremy Hollowell, a 6'8 IU signee, is throwing his hat in the ring for Mr. Basketball, averaging over 23 points per game so far this year. Point guard Tyler Corley and forward Richard Freeman help the LC cause. Pike is led by senior and Georgia State recruit RJ Hunter, a versatile 6'6 scoring guard who can shoot it and get to the rim. Junior point guard Zavier Turner is also playing well of late for the Red Devils.

Noblesville (2-1) vs. Hamilton Southeastern (3-0)

Rivals clash in this tilt where there is no love lost. Noblesville is a disciplined, grind-it-out team with a solid big man in senior Daniel Purvlicius. The Royals are a high-flying, high-scoring team led by MSU-bound Gary Harris and teammates Jaccobby Bledsoe and Zakarie Irvin. Contrasting styles will be on display here. Who will dictate style of play?

Evansville Bosse (1-0) vs. Princeton (2-0)

Not as much is known about these teams aside from their records and their past success. One very known commodity, however, is Bosse sophomore Jaquan Lyle. The 6'4 scoring guard is, by some, seen as the best player in the state in the 2014 class, with Tech's Trey Lyles and Luers' James Blackmon also getting mentions. He is an early five star on Rivals.com in that class. Princeton is a perennial power in that area of the state, but can they keep up with Lyle and his 3A #2 ranked Bulldogs?

Cathedral (2-0) at Arsenal Tech (2-2)

Two more top Indianapolis area teams square off in this one. Cathedral is loaded with talent, starting with 6'6 senior wing Jared Drew, a St. Louis recruit. Flanking his are 6'6 junior Colin Hartman (IU), sophomore guard Mo Evans, and perhaps the best freshman in the state in point guard Jalen Coleman. Tech is led by a trio of sophomores: Trey Lyles, Jeremie Tyler, and Mike Jones. Lyles is a 6'9 matchup nightmare who is a top ten national player according to most recruiting services. Tyler and Jones are two dynamic scoring guards. The experience of Cathedral's players may be the difference in this one.

North Central (3-0) vs. Carmel (2-1)

The 4A #1 ranked Panthers look to keep things rolling against the Greyhounds. North Central's high scoring attack is spearheaded by 5'10 point guard Ronnie Johnson, a Purdue recruit. He is helped considerably by wing players Patrick Ingram, Perry Poindexter, and Jimmy Miller, as well as 6'6 widebody Darius Latham. Carmel is at home, but will the Greyhounds have enough? They can stroke it from deep. Sam Curts had seven threes in their last game.

Mt. Vernon (2-1) vs. Pendleton Heights (3-1)

A somewhat friendly rivalry exists between these two teams. The Marauders have won a big game already this year, knocking off Noblesville on the road. But will they be able to slow down the Kellen Dunham show? The Arabians 6'5 shooting guard has been nearly unstoppable this year, with games of 40, 38, 37, and 23 points so far. Dunham, a Butler recruit, is one of the early season odds-on favorites for Mr. Basketball, and a win over a qualtiy Mt. Vernon squad will only enhance an already strong resume.

Brebeuf Jesuit (2-1) vs. Lawrence North (2-1)

The Braves opened the season with a dud against Zionsville, but have since then rebounded and played great the last two games. Their offensive attack is led by sophomore point guard PJ Thompson, a high scoring lead guard. The Wildcats also dropped their opener to 4A #5 ranked Lawrence Central, and they've struggled to find their groove offensively. Looking to change their offensive woes are 6'3 shooting guard Eron Harris (WVU) and 6'1 point guard Petey Balls (N. Illinois). The depth and size of LN may be too much for Brebeuf, and considering they're on the road, a win by the braves would have to be considered a decent upset.

Concord (3-0) vs. Penn (0-1)

Another great game. Man, there are a ton of them! The Concord Minutemen have started the season with three impressive wins with an average magin of victory of over 20 points. They are led by 6'6 junior power forward Franko House, who checks in a #19 on P-Hoops 2013 Class Rankings. Penn dropped their first game of the season to Ft. Wayne North (3-1) and they look to rebound at home. They are led by a pair of 6'4 guards: senior Jeff Laidig (Penn) and junior Leo Svete (P-Hoops #11 in 2013). Svete is one of the highest risers in terms of college exposure and interest in the junior class. Should be a great one with plenty of stars on display.

Ft. Wayne Wayne (3-0) vs. Northrop (3-0)

Wayne is off to a 3-0 start while playing some tough competition, beating three area teams. But will they be able to keep up with the Bruins? Led by junior point guard and Purdue recruit Bryson Scott, Northrop looks to move to 4-0 on the season at home. Expect coach Barak Coolman's crew to do just that.

Howe (2-0) vs. Broad Ripple (2-1)

A super IPS showdown at the Rockets home court. The Hornets come in undefeated with one blowout win and one three-point battle against Washington. Broad Ripple won a close one on Tuesday against a tough Guerin squad after dropping a heartbreaker to Cathedral. Senior guard and IU recruit Ron Patterson is looking to get in a groove, having struggled to for this year with his shot. Good news for the Rockets is that they expect point guard Aaron Payne back tonight, and he'll get Buss better looks. Playing well for Broad Ripple has been Mo Cross, who had 23 points against Guerin on 8-8 shooting.

Bloomington South (2-0) vs. Southport (2-2)

Bloomington South remains a 4A powerhouse despite losing top players every season. They are currently ranked #4 in the class with wins over Bedford North Lawrence and New Albany. Southport has been up and down so far this season, but can never be counted out with senior stars Kellon Thomas and Michael Ramey. Home court advantage should help the Cardinals too.


Other Games of Interest

FW Luers (1-0) vs. FW South (0-2)
Lake Central (2-1) vs. Crown Point (1-1)
Mishawaka Marian (3-1) at South Bend Clay (3-0)
Park Tudor (3-1) vs. Beech Grove (2-2)
Loogootee (3-0) vs. Forest Park (1-1)

Game Recap: Fishers vs. Warren Central

This matchup of rising 4A powers was all it was chalked up to be in terms of competitiveness. While not always the prettiest to watch with a seemingly unending amount of loose ball scrambles and players all over the floor, it was close and hotly contested throughout. Fishers jumped out to a quick start, relying on their defense and transition opportunities, leading 14-9 after one quarter. The Warriors battled back in the second frame, outscoring the Tigers 17-11 on their way to a one point lead, 26-25 at halftime. The big names were relatively quiet through this point, with IU recruit Devin Davis scoring only six points and grabbing three rebounds while hampered with foul trouble. The third quarter was a back and forth affair with bodies flying all over the court, ending up tied at 38 all heading into the fourth quarter. In the fourth quarter, the Warriors came to life. Warren Central pushed the lead to seven, 50-43, with under three minutes to play. Davis really came alive during this stretch, especially on the glass. His activity and second half scoring led the Warriors to the win, as they were able to hold on and extend the lead by one in the final three minutes, winning by the final of 59-51. Davis finished with a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds. Stay tuned for more stats as they are tabulated.

Game of the Day: Fishers at Warren Central

One big time tilt tips off Thursday evening as Fishers (2-1) travels across Indianapolis to square off against Warren Central (1-1). These two teams match up well, and there will a ton of top talent on display. Fishers rolls in after playing at a high level but losing in overtime to Kokomo, 72-68. They got a great game from 6'9 center and Jacksonville University recruit Tyler Alderman, who scored 23 points in defeat. The Tigers also boast a great back court with point guard Jaylon Brown and the productive JP Pena. The Warriors will look to counter Alderman's size and effectiveness with their own big man, Detroit recruit Brent Calhoun, a 6'8 center. The battle in the paint should be fierce. The top player on either team is Warren Central's 6'6 junior forward Devin Davis, an IU recruit who is averaging 18 points per game and put up 20 points in a loss at Cathedral earlier this year. Check back later tonight for a game recap, and later still for an interview with Fishers big man Tyler Alderman.

Mr. Basketball Candidate: Glenn Robinson III

Getting back to the topic we began last week, today P-Hoops takes a look at one of the two remaining candidates most likely to be in contention for the coveted title of Indiana Mr. Basketball 2012. The player in the crosshairs today id Lake Central's 6'5 wing Glenn Robinson III. A dynamic scoring guard, Robinson flew under the radar in Indiana for a long time, and was essentially unrecruited in large part by local schools, including his father's alma mater, Purdue. But John Beilien stole another gem out of the Hoosier state to go along with guys like Stu Douglass and Zak Novak, adding to the Wolverines chances to be among the Big Ten elite year in and year out. Let's go deeper with Robinson.

Player
Glenn Robinson III

Position
6'5 Small Forward

High School
Lake Central Indians

College Choice
University of Michigan

Junior Stats
22.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists

Past Seasons
Sophomore - 13-9, lost in Sectionals
Junior - 13-8, lost in Sectionals

National Rankings
Rivals.com - 4 star, 34th overall
Scout.com - 4 star, 38th overall
ESPN.com - 4 star, 52nd overall
247sports.com - 4 star, 49th overall

Mr. Basketball Outlook

Robinson is one of the most dynamic scorers in the state in a loaded 2012 class. He is built strong and able to overpower most guards on the drive and in the post, and he is able to take bigger defenders outside and shoot over them or drive around them. He is easily the best player in Northwest Indiana this year, and that's saying something since there are a bevy of D1 players and prospects in the area, including Depaul signee Dejuan Marrero and others. He has already had some monster games, including a 30-plus point and ten rebound performance against Gary Harris' HSE squad. The Indians need wins to give Robinson a chance, and helping him achieve that goal will be 6'7 sophomore big man Tyler Wideman, who holds a few offers already, including Purdue. Winning a Sectional is a must, and more than likely GR3 will need a Regional or better to solidify him as a viable option, considering a relative lack of success postseason-wise. Also potentially working against him is the famed "Region bias," which claims that Mr. Basketball almost never goes to a player from that area of the state, except in the most extreme circumstances. Getting to Semistate or further would give the future Wolverine a legitimate shot at Mr. Basketball, assuming he continues to put up monster numbers.

Game Recap: Broad Ripple vs. Guerin Catholic (and Northrop vs. Carroll, too!)

A back and forth affair featuring one of the state of Indiana's very best came down to the wire in this Tuesday tilt. The stars of these two teams struggled to get going in the first half as IU recruit Ron Patterson had one point on 0-4 shooting going into half, and Guerin stud Aaron Brennan had two points on 1-5 shooting. Other players stepped up, namely Rockets' senior Mo Cross, who had 15 points at half, with the score 27-26 in favor of Guerin. The stars of both teams got on track in the second half, however. Patterson scored six third quarter points to give the Rockets a 42-41 lead. Brennan scored ten himself in the third. The fourth was nip and tuck, and Broad Ripple held a two point lead at 49-47 with just over two minutes to play. The Golden Eagles simply could not come up with enough plays in that stretch of time and the Rockets held on to win a close one, 53-50. Patterson played big when it mattered most, scoring nine of his 16 points in the final stanza. He also dished out six assists, grabbed five boards and had three steals. He did have his second consecutive cold shooting night, going 5-17 from the field. This is after shooting 10-26 against Cathedral. Buss will undoubtedly get his shot falling soon, though. BCross also had a solid second half, finishing with 22 points. He'll be a great get for a mid or low major school. Still a bit undersized as a 6'3 small forward, but a supreme athlete. On a side note, Michigan coaches were in the stands, possibly to see Brennan, a 2014 recruit.

The other Two for Tuesday game pitted a 2-0 Northrop squad led by Purdue recruit Bryson Scott against an 0-3 Carroll team. This one proved to be as good as I predicted. Northrop may have been a heavy favorite going in, but the Chargers' record belied their talent. In a back and forth game, Carroll held a one point lead, 34-33, going into the fourth. Northrop woke up just in time, however, and pulled out a gritty 52-46 win. Carroll's Jonathan McKeeman had a big game, finishing with 20 points. Bryson Scott, a Purdue recruit, led the Bruins with 22 points.

* Also of note, Triton beat North Miami by twenty behind 37 points and 6 boards by Clay Yeo. Nice game, Clay!

Poll Result: Best of 2013

The most recent poll results are in! P-Hoops' loyal readers have spoken and made their collective voices heard. Ft. Wayne Northrop point guard Bryson Scott was the winner of the title of "Best 2013 Player in Indiana" with 47% of the vote. The dynamic, high scoring floor general is headed to Purdue to play for coach Matt Painter. Second in the voting was Warren Central 6'6 wing Devin Davis, who is headed to IU. He notched 30% of the vote. Two players tied for third place: Cathedral's 6'6 wing Colin Hartman and HSE's 6'6 shooting guard Zakarie Irvin. Both had over six percent of the vote. A big congrats to Bryson Scott!

Be sure to vote on the poll this week, for the best player in Indiana in the 2014 class.

Games of the Day: Two for Tuesday 12/6

There aren't a ton of games with big implications today, but a few do stand out. Of specific note are two for Tuesday the sixth of December.

1. Guerin Catholic (2-0) at Broad Ripple (1-1)
Guerin is off to a fast start with a high paced, high scoring offense. They thumped Elwood to open the season and best a quality Hamilton Heights team handily. Broad Ripple lost a hotly contested matchup against 4A power Cathedral last week in which the Irish pulled away at the end. IU recruit Ron Patterson is averaging over 20 points per game, and senior wing Mo Cross is also a player of note for the Rockets. I expect Broad Ripple to rebound at home and use their athleticism to defeat Guerin.

2. Ft. Wayne Northrop (2-0) at Carroll (0-3)

Carroll is much better than their record suggests, but this will be a tall task. Defeating Northrop and coach Barak Coolman may be too much to ask, especially considering the Bruins are led by junior point guard Bryson Scott, a Purdue recruit who way be the best in the class of 2013. His brother Brenton is also a great athlete with a potential D1 basketball future. Look for Northrop to move to 3-0 in this one.

Kellen Dunham Interview

P-Hoops was fortunate to get an interview with one of the best seniors in the state, Pendleton Heights shooting guard Kellen Dunham. His exploits have been well documented on this site and others, and through the first four games of his senior season, he's led the Arabians to a 3-1 start while averaging 34.5 points a game. The lone loss came to 4A powerhouse Hamilton Southeastern, nothing to be overly upset about. And the Arabians will get a chance to avenge that loss later in the season during the holiday tourney time. Here's the transcript of the interview. Enjoy!

P-Hoops: Alright Kellen, can you tell me your current measurement?

Kellen Dunham: I'm 6'5", and 180 pounds.

PH: You guys have gotten off to a great start. What are the contributing factors to your and Pendleton Heights' early season success?

KD: We have been training very hard since the summer to be ready for the season. Coach Hahn has done a great job so far getting us prepared for every game.

PH: What are your personal goals for the season?

KD: My personal goals are to be Mr. Basketball and being an Indiana All-Star and getting myself prepared for the next level.

PH- Any team goals?

KD: We want to win every tournament and championship opportunity we can.

PH - So you're officially a Bulldog. What made you choose Butler?

KD - Everything about Butler is a perfect fit for me. They are a great school academically, and they have a great job placement rate. The basketball program knows how to win and I think I will fit in well with the style they like to play. The players and coaching staff are great and I look forward to becoming a Bulldog.

PH - What other schools had offered you when you made your commitment?

KD - Wright Sate and Ball State.

PH - Can you give me your thoughts on Coach Stevens?

KD - Coach Stevens is a very intelligent and all around great person. He is also a very successful coach that I will enjoy playing for. He is a winner.

PH - How does he say you'll be used at Butler?

KD - He said I will most likely play the "2" and run off screens to score.

PH - Does their slow start this season affect you in any way?

KD - No. Of course I am cheering for them to win every game, but they always play great at the end of the season when it matters the most. That is another thing that I appreciate about their program.

PH - Are you actively recruiting anyone to join you at Butler?

KD - No.

PH - How would you describe yourself as a player?

KD - I am a scorer and play maker. I work on my weaknesses to be the best player I can be.

PH - What are some things you are working to improve on?

KD - I need to work on my defense on and off the ball. I need to become more of a combo guard to help control the ball more on offense. Most importantly, I need to gain strength, speed, and explosiveness.

PH - Who would you say is the best player from Indiana you've played against, and what stood out about them?

KD - The best player I have played against is probably Nick Moore of Warsaw High School. Last year in the summer games at Butler and the Indiana All-Star Senior-Junior game, he always played tough and never took a play off. He would come at you every possession if he could. He is also such a versatile scorer and great rebounder for his size he is hard to contain.

PH - If someone asked you to make a pitch for yourself as the 2012 Indiana Mr. Basketball, how would you respond?

KD - I am happy to be a candidate ,and I am hoping for the best.

PH - And, some random fact questions: Favorite food? Teams? Thing to do outside of basketball?

KD - I love Olive Garden. I root for Butler, the LA Lakers, and the Colts. And I like to hang out with my friends besides hooping.

Thanks to Kellen Dunham for sharing all of these great insights and quality information. He's a great kid with a bright future. I expect him to be heavily considered for Mr. Basketball, especially if the first four games are any indication of how his season will play out.

Mr. Basketball Candidate: Jeremy Hollowell

Returning to last week's series, P-Hoops takes a look at three more potential candidates for the most coveted individual basketball award in the state. Last week, Gary Harris, Yogi Ferrell, Ronnie Johnson, and Kellen Dunham all made their cases for the title of Mr. Basketball. Today we begin with the first of the final trio, Lawrence Central's 6'8 wing Jeremy Hollowell. The Bears have one of the top small forwards in the nation in Hollowell and are looking to use his strong play to achieve a better season than they've notched in recent memory. Let's take a look at Holowell's Mr. Basketball capsule.

Player
Jeremy Hollowell

Position
6'8 Small Forward

High School
Lawrence Central Bears

College Choice
Indiana University

Junior Stats
18.9 points, 7.1 rebounds, 1.5 blocks, 1.1 steals, 41% 3FG

Past Seasons
Sophomore - 8-13, lost in Sectionals
Junior - 15-10, lost in Sectionals

National Rankings
Rivals.com - 4 star, 48th overall
Scout.com - 4 star, 36th overall
ESPN.com - 4 star, 58th overall
247sports.com - 4 star, 78th overall

Mr. Basketball Outlook

Hollowell may be the most versatile player in the state. At 6'8, he is adept in the post, but put a big man on him, and he'll use his guard skills to take him out on the perimeter and make him look foolish. He truly doe it all on the offensive end of the floor: back to the basket game, midrange game, three point shot, and getting to the foul line. His length and athleticism also make him a great defender and rebounder. The knock on him in past seasons has been his tendency to float in and out of games in terms of effort and impact. Not the case this season. Hollowell has led LC to a 3-0 start with key wins over rival Lawrence North and IPS up-an-comer Arsenal Tech. In the three wins, Hollowell is averaging over 23 points a game, dominating on both ends of the floor in crunch time and late game situations. The Bears are also ranked number five in the 4A class thanks to his play, a ranking above anything the Bears have had in recent memory. That is also in part to Hollowell having more help this season than in years past, specifically point guard Tyler Corley and 6'7 forward Richard Freeman. A detriment to Hollowell's chances will likely be an overall lack of past regular post-season success. With an overall winning record of 23-23 his past two seasons, Hollowell and the Bears will have to make some serious noise and a deep run in the post-season to legitimize his chances at Mr. Basketball. Their undefeated start and top five ranking are a big step in that direction. Hollowell may be on the outside looking in for the award, but a great individual and team season will certainly put his name firmly in the discussion.

More Updates from 12/3

* Following up on Kokomo's overtime win over Fishers, DJ Balentine led the Kats with 28 points. Fishers big man Tyler Alderman had a huge game with 23 points, while Jaylon Brown and CJ Johnson added 15 apiece in the loss.

* Stats, or a lack thereof, from the low-scoring LN game last night included Petey Balls with 11 points and Eron Harris with ten of his own.

* Pike beat Avon 70-61 and were led by Zavier Turner's 21 points. RJ Hunter added 17, while Johntae Alexander chipped in with 15 of his own. The Orioles were led by Austin Burgett's 19 points.

* Ben Davis blew out Arlington, led by Tony Wills' 19 points, while Harry Wills and Michael Beaty had 11 points each.

* Center Grove handled Bloomington North 69-59 behind 24 points from Joe Reed.

* Lebanon beat Western 104-93 in a double overtime thriller, getting 33 points from Jack Day, 32 from Trey Hendrix, and 18 from Caleb Brannon. Western was led by Quin Fields with 29 points.

* Warren Central dominated Franklin Central 68-33 behind 16 points from IU recruit Devin Davis.

* Lutheran beat Morristown 75-66, getting 39 points from CJ Faubion. Dylan Langkabel scored 22 points in the loss.

* Brebeuf Jesuit smoked Culver Academy 50-20, getting 18 points from sophomore point guard PJ Thompson.

* And North Central broke the century mark, beating Gary Lew Wallace 101-49. Purdue recruit Ronnie Johnson led 6 Panthers in double digits, scoring 17 points, including three three-pointers. Senior forward Jimmy Miller was almost a seventh North Central Panther over ten points, falling just short, with nine points.

Game Highlights: 12/3

Here are some looks at the top games of the day, as previously profiled by P-Hoops! Some amazing action and stat lines!

1. Oak Hill (VA) 77 - LaPorte LaLumiere 59

Oak Hill's depth and playmaking guards were too much for LaLu to handle. Former North Central star D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera led the way for Oak Hill with 25 points. IU signee Hanner Mosquera-Perea led the Lakers with 15 points, but had only three rebounds, which is very low output for him. Indiana head coach Tom Crean was in attendance to see his guy Hanner, as well as to recruit and see others like Oak Hill's RJ Curington. Maybe to scout future opponenets Rapheal Davis, Jay Simpson, and AJ Hammons (Purdue recruits). Hammons won game MVP honors.

2. Hamilton Southeastern 71 - Pendleton Heights 53

The Royals were simply too much tonight for the Arabins, although Pendleton Heights can look forward to a rematch later this season in the Hall of Fame tourney. Jaccobby Bledsoe led the way for HSE with 20 points, while Gary Harris had 16 points. Butler recruit Kellen Dunham was slowed off his pace of over 38 points per game, but he still but up and impressive 23 in the loss. Brogan Gary added 17 points for the Arabians.

3. Cathedral 78 - Broad Ripple 60

The Irish stormed back for an 18 point win after trailing at one point 43-39. Cathedral was led by Saint Louis recruit Jared Drew's 18 points and seven rebounds, while IU recruit Collin Hartman had 13 points and nine boards, to go along with some tough defense. Freshman Jalen Coleman ran the show and played beyond his years, scoring 15 points for the Irish. Indiana signee Ron Patterson scored 26 points in the loss. The Rockets were playing shorthanded, losing Aaron Payne prior to the game with an injury.

4. Ft. Wayne Luers 82 - Mishawaka Marian 67

Super soph James Blackmon, Jr. stole the show with 26 points and six rebounds. He's headed to IU and taking his silky stroke with him. Marian was led by junior Demetrius Jackson's 19 points, six assists, and five rebounds. His teammates left him hanging on several occasions, or he could have had several more dimes.

5. Kokomo 72 - Fishers 68 OT

Kokomo gritted out a tough win in overtime against the Tigers. Still trying to find stats.

Other Highlights

* Carmel beat Arsenal Tech 61-49 behind 24 points and 7 threes by Sam Curts. Tech big man Trey Lyles had 19 points and 7 rebounds, although he struggled to score in the second half.

* Bowman Academy fell to Chicago Curie 81-71 despite getting 14 points from Dejuan Marrero and 12 points from Stephan Hawkins. IUPUI recruit Elijah Ray struggled with just two points.

* Lawrence North struggled to beat Marion 39-34, in which the teams combined to shoot under 30% and LN scored just 5 points in the third quarter.

* Sophomore star Grant Evans scored 19 points to lead Wapahani to a blowout win over Knightstown.

* West Vigo stomped Owen Valley by 20 behind 35 points by senior point guard Jordan Hauser.

* Greensburg beat Batesville by 9 and got 16 points from Bryant McIntosh and 12 from Sean Sellers.