Indiana Hoops

Marion County Tournament Tips Tomorrow

2012-01-09T11:43:00.004-05:00

The annual Marion County Tournament, tipping off tomorrow evening, is full of great games. Many top teams and star players will be in action. Here's a look at a few of the best games, as well as some other games for Tuesday, January 10th.

Roncalli (9-0) vs. Warren Central (8-2)

Perhaps the top game of the first round pits some great big men against each other. The Rebels are undefeated and the only team to have beaten Park Tudor thus far. Led by a pair of 6'7 big men in Ryan Weber and David Heckman, Roncalli has size and strength to go along with their disciplined playing style. The Warriors counter with 6'6 junior forward Devin Davis, an IU recruit who has been playing his best ball as of late, including a 27 point, nine rebound game against Lawrence North. They also have 6'8 center Brent Calhoun, who will hope to slow down the Rebel inside attack. Should be a great game. Look for the Warriors' pressure to play a factor in the outcome of this one, depending on effectiveness.

Lawrence North (3-4) vs. Park Tudor (10-1)

The Wildcats are the poster-children for underachievement so far this season. Can they get back on track against one of the state's best? Senior guards Eron Harris and Petey Balls, along with 6'7 junior wing Basil Smotherman, are all D1 players for LN. The expectation for the Wildcats are high with reason. A string of tough losses could be overcome with this one win, but it won't be easy. The Panthers have a stable of talent and a laundry list of impressive wins, most notably a recent win on the road versus North Central. Senior IU-bound point guard Yogi Ferrell is the engine that makes the Park car go, and there are quality pieces galore. D1 level players include senior Paul Bayt and sophomores Trevon Bluiett and Troy Spears, and seniors J.B. Rapp and Brandon Tannenbaum aren't slouches, either. The Park Tudor suffocating 2-3 zone defense will likely be highly effective as well, since the Wildcats have struggled with the deep ball. Could be yet another statement win for the tops in 2A.

Other first round Marion County Tournament games include:

Ben Davis vs. Speedway - The Wills brothers should be able to withstand a Sparkplug attack led by 6'4 sophomore Justin Brent.

Pike vs. Beech Grove - All prayers go out to Beech Grove coach Matt English in his battle with cancer. His Hornets will have to play the game of the season to hang with R.J. Hunter, Zavier Turner, Johntae Alexander, and the rest of the Red Devils.

Brebeuf Jesuit vs. Franklin Central - An intriguing match up featuring the Braves high scoring sophomore point guard P.J. Thompson.

North Central vs. Indianapolis Lutheran - I simply feel bad for the Saints as North Central will be in AVENGE mode after a disappointing loss to Ben Davis. Will Ronnie Johnson still be in Doug Mitchell's dog house?

Southport vs. Perry Meridian - Seniors Michael Ramey and Kellon Thomas have scored a lot for the Cardinals this year, but help has been lacking. Perry has struggled to two wins so far, so this could be a momentum builder for both teams.

Lawrence Central vs. Decatur Central - The Bears have exceeded the expectations of many on their way to a 6-2 record, including wins over HSE and Bloomington South. Jeremy Hollowell and crew should be to much for Diamond Seltzer and the Hawks.

* Tuesday is also the start of the Southern Indiana Conference Tournament, and features great games like Bosse-Memorial and Harrison-Reitz.

* Also in action on Tuesday is Lake Station (6-2) vs. Bowman Acadeny (5-5), and LaPorte LaLumiere is in action as well.

Game Recaps: 1/7

2012-01-07T21:17:00.008-05:00

* HSE beat Muncie Central 60-51 in a matchup of top ranked teams. MSU bound senior Gary Harris had 30 points, including five dunks.

* Bishop Luers beat Muncie South 94-65. IU bound sophomore James Blackmon Jr. Had 33 points for the second consecutive night. Luers football dynamo Jaylon Smith added 25 points, and South also got 25 points from Myron Smith.

* Tech beat Ben Davis 62-53. The Giants were coming off a huge win over North Central. IU commit Trey Lyles had 15 points to lead the Titans.

* Bosse beat Vincennes Lincoln 67-57. Sophomore Jaquan Lyle notched a triple double with 16 points, 14 assists, and 10 rebounds.

* LaPorte LaLumiere beat Farragut 66-51, getting 18 points apiece from Rapheal Davis and Hanner Perea. Perea even had a three tonight!

* Nortrop beat Zionsville earlier today, getting 26 points from Purdue bound Bryson Scott.

* Kokomo beat McCutcheon 61-49 behind 17 points from LaBradford Seabree.

Game Recaps: January 6th

2012-01-06T20:44:00.032-05:00

* IU bound senior Ron Patterson had 18 points, 5 boards, and 5 steals in a 65-point blowout win over Herron.

* Another future Hoosier, Lawrence Central's Jeremy Hollowell, went over 1,000 career points in a win over Columbus North. It was an efficient shooting night. In fact, through three quarters, he had 32 points on only 14 shot attempts! Hollowell finished with 36 points and 11 rebounds in the 74-60 win.

* Guerin Catholic jumped out early on Chatard, leading in an ugly first half 28-17. Sophomore Aaron Brennan played well in the half, despite foul trouble, scoring nine points. But the Trojans came out hot to start the third, as Alabama-Huntsville bound Greg Gardner scored seven straight to cut the lead to 28-24. At the end of three, Guerin still clung to a 37-34 lead. The Golden Eagles tried to pull away many times, but Chatard kept hanging tough, and trailed 45-40 with just over four minutes to play. Guerin stretched the lead to six at 49-43 with under two minutes left. But Chatard, and specifically Gardner, would not go down without a fight, cutting the lead to two at 51-49 with 12.9 seconds to play. Guerin was able to hold on for the two point win, getting 19 points from Brennan. IU assistant Steve McClain was in attendance to watch him. Gardner had 25 points for Bishop Chatard, 23 of them in the second half.

* In the title game of the Madison County Tournament, Pendleton Heights jumped out to a 22-3 lead over Anderson, but the Indians battled back, whittling the lead to ten, trailing 35-25 at halftime. But the Arabians eventually pulled away by double digits, winning 66-54. Anderson had it as close as 7 points on occasion. Butler bound Kellen Dunham had another staggering scoring display with 39 points.

* Sophomore and IU commit James Blackmon , Jr. scored 31 points in a win over Ft. Wayne Dwenger.

* Searching for stats, but in an amazing result, Wabash beat Southwood 126-123 (!) in three overtimes.

* Uspet alert!!! Ben Davis handed North Central yet another loss, winning 70-66. Ronnie Johnson had a shot to tie that came up short at the end, and Ben Davis' Michael Beaty made two free throws to seal the win. The Purdue bound Johnson struggled a bit and was actually benches out of halftime, sitting the first two and a half minutes of the third. Tony and Harry Wills had 17 each for the Giants, and Patrick
Ingram had 21 points for the Panthers. Johnson was held to only ten points.

* Kokomo handled Peru 76-53 behind 21 points from Evansville bound DJ Balentine.

* Carmel and Center Grove played a nip and tuck first half, tied up 29-29 after two quarters. But the Greyhounds pulled away on the night their girls soccer team was recognized as ESPN's National Champs, and beat the Trojans 61-51. Ben Gardner, Michael Volovic, and Sam Curts scored in double figures for Carmel, while Joe Reed scored 18 for CG.

* Cathedral routed Howe by 34, getting 15 points from St. Louis signee Jared Drew. Collin Hartman, an IU recruit, added 12 points.

* Devin Davis had 12 points as Warren Central pounded TH South to move to 8-2.

* HSE beat Lafayette Harrison behind 23 points from Gary Harris.

* Greensburg trounced Shelbyville behind 25 points from Sean Sellers and 24 points from Bryant McIntosh, both sophomores.

* Park Tudor beat sectional foe Heritage Christian in an ugly game, 47-37. IU bound point guard Yogi Ferrell led the Panthers with 16 points, while sophomore Trevon Bluiett added 15 points.

Games of the Day: Friday, January 6th

2012-01-06T11:00:00.002-05:00

Lots of great teams in action tonight and several interesting match ups to take note of. Here are five of the best in the state for Friday the sixth.

Center Grove (7-2) vs. Carmel (6-1)

The Trojans are having another strong season thanks in large part to the play of 6'8 senior forward Joe Reed, who is averaging over twenty points a game. Carmel has once again seemingly overachieved in terms of expectations. They have no "superstar," but they combine balanced scoring with great outside shooting, a real recipe for success. Should be a great game of evenly matched teams.

Guerin Catholic (8-3) vs. Bishop Chatard (8-0)

Two of the top parochial teams in the Indianapolis area square off in this one. Coach Pete Smith has Guerin rolling. Led by sophomore big man Aaron Brennan, who is getting looks from Big Ten schools including Michigan and Indiana, the Golden Eagles are a tough out. Chatard has two big, dynamic guards in Joe Fagan and Greg Gardner, both capable of going off for 20-plus in any game. Can Guerin hand Chatard it's first loss of the year?

North Central (8-3) vs. Ben Davis (5-3)

The Panthers are probably out for blood after a string of tough games including a recent loss to 2A Park Tudor. The trio of Ronnie Johnson, Patrick Ingram, and Darius Latham has been great for North Central, but so far they've lacked outside shooting, allowing teams to really key on Panther stud Johnson. Ben Davis is playing well under coach Mark James. Harry Wills is one to watch for the Giants.

Park Tudor (9-1) vs. Heritage Christian (5-3)

A potential sectional match up here. The 2A #1 ranked Panters led by IU-bound Yogi Ferrell are rolling. With several D1 and college caliber players on the squad, they are killing teams. Sophomore Trevon Bluiett has been scoring close to 30 points a game of late, and he is the happy recipient of many of Ferrell's assists. Heritage is no slouch. They lost Basil Smotherman to Lawrence North this offseason, but seniors Joel Smith and Tyler Mink, as well as junior point guard Anthony Warrum have made the Eagles really tough this year. This will be a test for Park Tudor and a chance to show if they're the odds on favorite in their sectional.

Anderson (6-3) vs. Pendleton Heights (10-2)

The championship of the Madison County Tournament should be a good one as rivals take the floor. Anderson has rolled to the title game with a pair of blowout wins. The Arabians have done the same and come into tonight with the advantage of playing on their home floor. Oh, and also having the advantage of deploying the most dynamic scorer in the state in Butler-bound Kellen Dunham. The Arabians are the better squad, but will they prove it tonight?

Also in action tonight state-wide are stars such as Gary Harris, Ron Patterson, Bryson Scott, Jared Drew, Collin Hartman, Jaquan Lyle, Jeremy Hollowell, and James Blackmon, Jr. Should be a fantastic night of hoops action!

Game Recap: Arsenal Tech versus Decatur Central

2012-01-05T08:58:00.003-05:00

One of IPS's best team, the Arsenal Tech Titans, were in action last night on the road at Decatur Central. The Hawks are struggling this year, but they do have some talent and a pair of nice wins against Perry Meridian and Brownsburg.

From the start, this one appeared to be all Tech. The Titans jumped out to an 11-0 lead and rolled throughout the first quarter or so. In the first frame alone, Tech sophomore star and IU recruit Trey Lyles had 11 points. Midway through the second quarter, the Titans had a commanding 30-point lead at 41-11. But as is common for Tech, the guard play got sloppy and they went away from their bread and butter in Lyles. A DC run cut the lead to a somewhat manageable 50-28 halftime score.

The third quarter was more of the same for Tech, as Lyles could not get a touch and the Hawks crept closer, trailing onlt 59-46 after three. In all, Lyles got minimal touches and no points in the second and third quarter.

But the fourth quarter was when Lyles came alive. He demanded the ball, got it in the paint and in space, and scored in transition, including a thunderous dunk in the face of a DC defender. Tech and Lyles owned the final stanza, and he scored 15 of his team's 26 points in the quarter. Lyles finished with 26 points and nine rebounds, and fellow sophomore Mike Jones added 16 points. The Hawks were led by Diamond Seltzer, son of IU assistant coach Bennie Seltzer, with 14 points.

Tonight is a slow day for hoops action, although one game in the Hendricks County Tournament could be interesting, as Avon and Notre Dame recruit Austin Burgett takes on Tri-West, led by rising freshman point guard Trevor Waite, who has scored in double-digits in every game since becoming a starter, including a 21 point effort against Sheridan.

Game Recaps: January 3rd

2012-01-04T11:10:00.004-05:00

Great games last night. P-Hoops previewed three of them, and here are the results!

Bowman Academy 84 - Lawrence Central 76

The Bears travelled to the Region last night, and the #5 team in 4A came away with a hard fought loss. Despite once again playing without star Elijah Ray, Bowman's depth was too much to overcome. A great scoring spread was led by Carlos McCormick, who had 24 of Bowman's points. Justin King added 17 points and DaMario Smith had 15 points. DePaul signee DeJuan Marrero could not get it going offensively, finishing with only 8 points, but he did notch 12 board. IU commit Jeremy Hollowell was the individual story of this one, going for a season high 38 points (or 50% of his team's points) in the loss.

Warren Central 56 - Lawrence North 52 (OT)

Another statement win by Greg Graham's Warriors. Just days after beating two of the Region's best in Munster and Bowman, Warren Central came back with another strong performance against one of Indy's best. Purdue recruit Basil Smotherman helped the Wildcats jump out to an early lead, scoring seven of the team's first nine points. But it was back and forth all the way to the end, where LN senior guard Petey Balls drilled a three to tie it at 46-46 and send it in to overtime. Warren Central pulled away for good on a trey by Jamal Bridges. The story of the game was Warrior's junior forward Devin Davis. He scored a season high 27 points to go along with 9 rebounds, playing with a purpose throughout the game. Smotherman's fast start didn't really continue, but he led LN with 13 points, and Sean Howard scored the same amount. Eron Harris chipped in 11 points for the Wildcats.

Cathedral 70 - Indianapolis Northwest 50

A close game at halftime was blown open in the third. Leading 31-29 going into the half, Cathedral outscored the Space Pioneers 23-10 in the third stanza and never looked back. Freshman guard Jalen Coleman led the Irish with 14 points, while Jared Drew added 12 points. Northwest's Donnell Minton, a Lamar recruit, notched 16 points, and freshman Harris Brown added 13 points. IU recruit Collin Hartman was saddled with foul trouble and managed only nine points.

* Michigan City upset lake Central 51-42. Glenn Robinson III scored 22 points in the loss, but the Indians were never really in this one.

Games of the Day: Tuesday, January 3rd

2012-01-03T13:11:00.003-05:00

Welcome back, hoops fans! P-Hoops was out and about all Christmas break, but being on the road so much didn't allow for any write ups. Apologies. I did see Yogi Ferrell in action over break and came away impressed, but that will have to wait till another time. Many Indiana high schools are already back in session, so this week is full of many great games, a few of which tip off tonight! Let's take a brief look at some of the best games across Indiana for Tuesday night.

Lawrence Central (5-1) vs. Bowman Academy (4-4)

The Bears will likely be shaking off the rust as they've been off since December 21, and they come back to a tall task. IU commit Jeremy Hollowell leads the LC charge and has been putting up great numbers despite being the focal point of all opposing defenses. Bowman has a bevy of D1 talent, most notably 6'6 senior forward DeJuan Marrero, a DePaul signee. Travelling to the Region accompanied with the long layoff will make this a tough one for Coach Shelt and the Bears.

Lawrence North (3-3) vs. Warren Central (6-2)

Perennial 4A power Lawrence North has fallen on some hard times this year with an inability to score the ball despite having some big time talent. Senior guards Eron Harris (WVU) and Petey Balls (NIU) lead the Wildcats, who are looking to get back in the win column after losing to Guerin Catholic all the way back on December 16. Greg Graham's Warriors are rolling of late, beating Region powers Munster and Bowman Academy in holiday tournament action. Warren Central is led by 6'6 junior forward Devin Davis, an IU recruit who has played his best ball of late. Home court should aid the Warriors.

Cathedral (5-2) vs. Indianapolis Northwest (4-2)

The Irish visit IPS power Northwest in an Indy area match up. Cathedral dropped a New Year's Eve game to Bowman 49-46, and they are out for a fresh start led by 6'5 senior wing Jared Drew (SLU) and 6'6 junior shooter Collin Hartman (IU). Northwest had a big time win in the IPSAC/Midwest Shootout against Evansville Bosse and Jaquan Lyle, and are looking to continue their strong play. Lamar recruit Donnell Minton, a senior point guard, leads the way for the Space Pioneers. Should be a chance for Northwest to gauge how good they truly are.

Check back later for updates!

IPSAC/Midwest Showcase

2011-12-23T21:37:00.004-05:00

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!

2011-12-22T21:45:00.003-05:00

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

2011-12-22T08:27:00.009-05:00

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

2011-12-21T09:31:00.004-05:00

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!

2011-12-20T21:19:00.014-05:00

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

2011-12-20T18:32:00.002-05:00

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

2011-12-20T09:00:00.006-05:00

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

2011-12-20T08:23:00.003-05:00

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

2011-12-19T21:01:00.004-05:00

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

2011-12-19T09:49:00.004-05:00

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

2011-12-18T09:19:00.003-05:00

* 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

2011-12-17T10:02:00.002-05:00

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

2011-12-16T22:55:00.005-05:00

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

2011-12-16T09:13:00.002-05:00

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

2011-12-15T08:52:00.003-05:00

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

2011-12-14T10:55:00.004-05:00

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

2011-12-14T08:26:00.006-05:00

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

2011-12-13T21:11:00.005-05:00

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

2011-12-13T10:12:00.003-05:00

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

2011-12-12T13:28:00.003-05:00

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

2011-12-12T11:03:00.007-05:00

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

2011-12-12T08:47:00.004-05:00

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

2011-12-10T08:00:00.004-05:00

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

2011-12-09T11:52:00.004-05:00

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

2011-12-08T21:19:00.014-05:00

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

2011-12-08T20:35:00.004-05:00

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

2011-12-08T11:30:00.005-05:00

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

2011-12-08T09:02:00.005-05:00

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!)

2011-12-06T20:49:00.013-05:00

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

2011-12-06T18:53:00.002-05:00

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

2011-12-06T08:28:00.004-05:00

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

2011-12-05T14:26:00.004-05:00

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

2011-12-05T08:36:00.005-05:00

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

2011-12-04T12:21:00.004-05:00

* 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

2011-12-03T22:13:00.005-05:00

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.

Game Highlights: 12/2

2011-12-03T11:16:00.003-05:00

Beneath this post are the top games P-Hoops profiled earlier this week, but here are some other highlights of note across the state.

* RJ Hunter scored 22 points while Johntae Rutherford and Zavier Turner both scored 13 points as Pike knocked pff Ben Davis 65-57.

* Lawrence North destroyed Terre Haute South 81-44. Petey Balls led the Wildcats with 13 points, while Eron Harris added 12 points. Purdue recruit Basil Smotherman had six points.

* Center Grove beat Southport 75-49 behind 25 points from Joe Reed. Southports Kellon Thomas had 23 points, while Michael Ramey added 16 points.

* Guerin Catholic beat Hamilton Heights 58-49 despite 2o points from Alex Etherington, younger brother of IU's Austin Etherington.

* Fishers beat Brownsburg 65-51 behind 15 points from JP Pena, 14 points from Jaylon Brown, 12 points from Joe Retic, and seven from big man Tyler Alderman.

* Noblesville beat Carmel 65-57. Big man Daniel Purvlicis had 19 points in the win.

Avon beat Danville 79-64 behind 26 points from Austin Burgett and 20 points from Lance Magee.

* Munster beat Hammond 57-45 behind 22 points and 13 boards from 6'6 junior Nate Bubash.

* As stated above, Lake Central beat Valpo, but as an add on, Glenn Robinson III added 16 points to go along with the 25 from Tyler Wideman. Andrew Kittridge had 10 points for the Vikings.

* Merrillville beat Highland 66-58. Junior wing BJ Jenkins had 31 points, going 8-10 from three point range.

Game Recaps: 12/2

2011-12-02T23:06:00.006-05:00

Quickly following up with the top games for Friday night. Some tough games, unbelievable finishes, and big time stat lines. Read on for more!

1. Roncalli 54 - Park Tudor 53

This game came down to the wire as 2A #1 Park Tudor was knocked off by the Roncalli Rebels. Trailing by two with under twenty seconds to play, IU commit Yogi Ferrell nailed a deep three to give the Panthers a one point lead. However, a buzzer beating layup by Roncalli did in Park Tudor, handing them their first loss against an Indiana opponent. Ferrell finished with 24 points. Roncalli 6'7 senior Ryan Weber had 13 points, and another 6'7 senior, David Heckman, had 12 points and 10 rebounds.

2. Lawrence Central 69 - Arsenal Tech 64

A big game featuring two IU recruits, LC's 6'8 senior Jeremy Hollowell and Tech's 6'9 sophomore Trey Lyles. The Bears were seeking to legitimize themselves as for real 4A contenders against another tough foe, and they did so. Hollowell finished with 26 points and nine rebounds. Lyles put up a staggering stat line of 19 points and 19 rebounds in the loss. Sophomore Mike Jones was also impressive for Tech in the losing effort.

3. Hamilton Southeastern 67 - Mt. Vernon 39

Wow. Did not see an utter blowout coming in this one. The Royals look like one of 4A's best. The trio of Gary Harris, Zak Irvin, and Jaccobby Bledsoe was more than the Marauders could handle. Harris finished with 17 points, five rebounds, six assists, and seven steals. Irvin had a game high 18 points, while Bledoe had 14 points and four assists.

4. Cathedral 60 - Warren Central 56

A back and forth affair for both team's season opener with the Irish pulling out the home win. Cathedral freshman Jalen Coleman was very impressive in his varsity debut, notching 16 points to lead the Irish. He holds and IU offer. Indiana commit Collin Hartman added 13 points for Cathedral. Warren Central looked good in the loss and was paced by 6'6 junior Devin Davis' 20 points and nine rebounds. Davis is also an IU commit.

5. Lake Central 62 - Valpo 39

Another unexpected blowout. Junior Tyler Wideman returned from a one game suspension with a monster effort of 25 points and 7 rebounds.

6. North Central 76 - Richmond 68
Ronnie Johnson led all scorers with 31 points. Patrick Ingram added 20 points for the Panthers. Impressive play for the Red Devils came from 6’8” Center Bola Olaniyan who had 11 points and 13 rebounds.

7. Wapahani 64 - Winchester 44

Sophomore duo Sean Sellers and Bryant McIntosh lit it up tonight. Sellers poured in 26 points while McIntosh had 17 points and 7 rebounds. An impressive win over an impressive foe.

* Check back for more later, and be sure to check late tomorrow for Saturday's recaps!

Mr. Basketball Candidate: Kellen Dunham

2011-12-02T13:07:00.007-05:00

Forty points. Win. Thirty-seven points. Win. Thirty-eight points. Win. That's the way Pendleton Heights' senior Kellen Dunham's senior season has begun. As a player who has averaged over 20 points a game since his sophomore season, he's long been a known name on the Indiana high school basketball scene. But there has always been a negative perception of him as a "one-trick pony," a standstill shooter in the mold of Matt Roth of IU or Lee Humphries of Florida. Over last season, and certainly in the beginning of this one, Dunham has silenced the critics, scoring the ball in a myriad of ways while carrying his Arabians squad to a 3-0 start. He's scoring almost two-thirds of their points! While this kind of crazy output may not last the whole season, he's still one of the top seniors in the state, bar-none. Let's look in depth at Dunham.

Player
Kellen Dunham

Position
6'5 Shooting Guard

High School
Pendleton Heights Arabians

College Choice
Butler University

Junior Stats
23.6 points, 77/179 3FG (43%), 84% FT

Past Seasons
Sophomore - 18-6, lost in Sectional Final
Junior - 20-6, lost in Regional Final

National Rankings
Rivals.com - 3 star, 141st overall
Scout.com - 4 star, 88th overall
ESPN.com - 4 star, 97th overall
247sports.com - 3 star, unranked

Mr. Basketball Outlook

This season could be one that legends are made of in regards to Kellen Dunham. He is shorthanded with the loss of Kendall Waters (transfer), two other players for a time to suspensions, and Brogan Gary for a while to injury. He'll have an opportunity to lead his team against one of the toughest schedules in 4A, and also have the opportunity to continue to put up Maravich-esque scoring numbers. The Arabians square off against Hamilton Southeastern twice, Mount Vernon, Kokomo or North Central (depending on the Hall of Fame Tournament results), Lawrence North, Muncie Central, Fishers, New Castle, and North Central before Sectional play. That's a murderers row. If Dunham can navigate those games, winning a majority while putting up consistently solid numbers, no one will be able to deny his validity as a legitimate Mr. Basketball candidate. Working against him may be the fact that he not exactly a "big name" player. Tat he is ranked anywhere below fifty on the recruiting services is a head-scratcher to me. Also working against him is his lack of big-time team success. So far as a varsity player, he's lost to Muncie Central in Sectionals, and lost to Kokomo in Regionals in that memorable double-overtime thriller. Winning that game could have cemented him even more as one of the major frontrunners for the award. Ultimately, winning games will help him most in his campaign for Mr. Basketball, no matter what his numbers may be. If Pendleton Heights can finish the season 18-5 or better and make it out of their Region for the first time in Dunham's time, no one will have any reason not to vote for him.

Mr. Basketball Candidate: Ronnie Johnson

2011-12-02T10:45:00.005-05:00

Third in our installment of Mr. Basketball candidates is the second point guard who already has a State Championship to his credit. North Central's Ronnie Johnson was underappreciated, unheralded, and somewhat unknown, except as "Terone's little brother" for far too long. After a solid sophomore campaign, he excelled as a junior, bringing major college attention and offers, ending with a commitment to the Purdue Boilermakers. While there, he'll team up with is brother to make up a potentially all-Johnson backcourt (and possibly a trio of them if they both start with unrelated Anthony Johnson). His play has consistently risen over the seasons, making him a top choice for Mr. Basketball. Let's take an in depth look at RJ.

Player
Ronnie Johnson

Position
5'10 Point Guard

High School
North Central Panthers

College Choice
Purdue University

Junior Stats
14 points - 5 assists - 1.3 steals

Past Seasons
Sophomore - 25-3, won 4A State Championship
Junior - 22-3, lost in 4A Semistate

National Rankings
Rivals.com - 4 star - 91st overall
Scout.com - 4 star, 76th overall
ESPN.com - 4 star, 80th overall
247sports.com - 4 star, 88th overall

Mr. Basketball Outlook

This will be a defining season for Johnson. He will finally be looked at as "the man" at North Central. In the past, there was his brother Terone, and the ever-present accompaniment of classmate and superstar D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera. Well, DSR has moved on to greener pastures at Oak Hill Academy (VA), leaving Ronnie as the main option for the Panthers, and no longer a distributor who could score when needed to. He'll still have a stellar supporting cast including Iowa bound Patrick Ingram, Jimmy Miller, big man Daruis Latham, and lanky sophomore Perry Poindexter. With a 4A State Title under his belt, he has a leg up on most of the competition. And now that it's clearly his team, if North Central is able to win another State Championship this year, Johnson will have to be heavily considered for the award, considering how deep and tough the 4A class is this year. He may have some naysayers who attribute potential success to having such a talented group of teammates. Doing so would be a double-standard, however, as most of the other top candidates have serious help as well (Gary Harris has Zak Irvin and Jaccobby Bledsoe, and Yogi Ferrell has Trevon Bluiett, Troy Spears, Paul Bayt, and more). To me, Johnson is the dark horse candidate no one is talking enough about. He has a real chance if North Central can win it all, or make a deep run in which he plays great.

Mr. Basketball Candidate: Yogi Ferrell

2011-12-01T12:54:00.006-05:00

Continuing in our series of Mr. Basketball candidates, today we take a look at Kevin "Yogi" Ferrell of Park Tudor. His is a name that has been widely known and discussed since he was in elementary school, but now he's a senior and playing as well as or better than any player in the state. His accolades are numerous and his potential is big-time, and he is one-fifth of the 2012 Hoosier "Movement" that will be storming into Bloomington in one short season. Let's see what Yogi's outlook might be for the most coveted award in Indiana basketball.

Player
Kevin "Yogi" Ferrell

Position
6'0 Point Guard

High School
Park Tudor Panthers

College Choice
Indiana University

Junior Stats
18.7 points - 6.6 assists

Past Seasons
Sophomore - 15-11, lost in 2A State Finals
Junior - 26-2, won 2A State Championship

National Rankings
Rivals.com - 5 star, 17th overall
Scout.com - 4 star, 32nd overall
ESPN.com - 4 star, 33rd overall
247sports.com - 4 star, 26th overall

Mr. Basketball Outlook
He and North Central's Ronnie Johnson will battle for the title of best point guard in the state, and in my opinion, Yogi gets the nod on that one. He may not just be the best point guard, he may very well be the best overall player in Indiana. As a sophomore with less help around him, Ferrell proved he could score it, averaging about 24 points per game and more or less singlehandedly carried his team within one game of winning it all. Last season, with players like Trevon Bluiett and Troy Spears flocking to coach Ed Schilling and Park Tudor, Yogi proved he could play the distributor as well, and they won it all in the 2A class. The championship, and the likelihood of winning yet another 2A crown, may be what sets Ferrell apart from the competition. Dissenters will argue that he plays in the second smallest class in the state, which is a valid point in most cases. However, the Panthers have a schedule that would rival most 4A teams, with games against Roncalli, North Central, Heritage Christian, Brebeuf, Lawrence North (and the rest of the Marion County Tournament), not to mention the season-opening tournament they dominated in Chicago. Also helping Ferrell is the fact that he is headed to play for home-state favorite IU. Gary Harris is likely Ferrell's main competition for the award, but if Harris' team goes home early in postseason play, and if Yogi is able to win a second 2A title in as many years, he'll likely take home the hardware for Mr. Basketball as well.

Mr. Basketball Candidate: Gary Harris

2011-12-01T11:32:00.006-05:00

Over the next week or so, P-Hoops will be profiling a select seven seniors who I view as the top candidates for the most coveted individual award in Indiana high school hoops: the title of Mr. Basketball. More often than not, the awards precedes major success in college, and often beyond. The recent winners include Cody Zeller, Deshaun Thomas, Jordan Hulls, Tyler Zeller, Eric Gordon, and Greg Oden, all of whom have had or continue to have significant success in college hoops (and some in the NBA, too!). This year's crop of candidates is chock full of big names, big games, and bright futures. We will begin with one of the potential frontrunners in Hamilton Southeastern's Gary Harris. One thing to note before going in depth on Harris is that big names such as Rapheal Davis, Hanner Mosquera-Perea, and Jay Simpson are not up for this award as they are in non-IHSAA prep schools. On to Harris...

Player
Gary Harris

Position
6'5 Shooting Guard

High School
Hamilton Southeastern Royals

College Choice
Michigan State

Junior Stats
18.6 points - 7.1 rebounds - 2.8 assists - 2.2 steals - 77% FT - 36% 3pt%

Past Seasons
Sophomore - 17-4, lost in Sectionals
Junior - 20-4, lost in Regional Finals

National Rankings:
Rivals.com - 5 star, 24th overall
Scout.com - 5 star, 12th overall
ESPN.com - 5 star, 10th overall
247sports.com - 5 star, 15th overall

Mr. Basketball Outlook
Harris is consistently ranked the highest prospect in the state by most major scouting services, aside from Rivals.com, which is the outlier by having him ranked below Yogi Ferrell and Hanner Mosquera-Perea. But rankings are usually meaningless when it comes to Mr. Basketball. Harris is the most complete player in the state, a do-it-all guard that can score in a variety of way, who is ultra-athletic, and can defend with the best of them. He also plays on the #2 ranked team in 4A, hinting at his team's chances for postseason success. With teammates Jaccobby Bledsoe and Zakarie Irvin, the Royals have a legitimate shot at the 4A State Championship, something Harris might need in order to secure votes. Since he only has one Sectional title to his credit, a deep run in the tournament this year is a must for Harris to cement himself as the top candidate for Mr. basketball. He does have a few things working against him, namely that he spurned in-state schools IU and Purdue, instead choosing the Spartans for his college destination. This should not be a contributing factor for voters, but it unfortunately often is. If he can put up big number and win at least a Regional crown, Harris might just be the frontrunner for Indiana Mr. Basketball 2012.

Games of the Day: 12/3

2011-11-30T11:43:00.006-05:00

Following up from the theme yesterday, P-Hoops will again look at the top games in the state for this Saturday, December 3rd. There are big plenty of big showdowns full of the highest talent level and competition you'll find on a Saturday night in Indiana. Here's a look at the top five games, as I see them, with a brief look at another five with the potential to be good ones as well.

1. LaPorte LaLumiere vs. Oak Hill (VA) Academy

What a game this will be! While not specifically IHSAA Indiana hoops, this game squares off a bevy of talented players, many of whom have Indiana roots or connections. The LaLu Lakers, led by coach Alan Huss, roll into this prep school throwdown at 6-0 with some very impressive wins. They are headlined by a surplus of D1 commits and talent: seniors Obij Aget (New Mexico), Rapheal Davis (Purdue), Antonio Drummond (Southern Illinois), Hanner Mosquera-Perea (IU), Jay Simpson (Purdue), and sophomore Johnnie Vassar, to name a few. Oak Hill is a long time prep power, boasting such alumni as Carmelo Anthony and Brandon Jennings. They are of particluar note since two of their stars have Indiana roots, specifically D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera (via North Central - Georgetown commit) and AJ Hammons (via Carmel - Purdue commit). This game obviously features more than a dozen D1 recruits, many of whom are potential NBA first rounders in a few short years. Oak Hill has a much more national flavor to their roster, including seniors Tyler Lewis (NC State), Jordan Adams (UCLA) Damien Williams (Memphis), and Darian Clark (Charlotte), as well as juniors Ikenna Iroegbu and RJ Curington. LaLu will have their hands full in this one and big time names will have a chance to show out well in front of a national audience.

2. Pendleton Heights (3-0) vs. Hamilton Southeastern (1-0)

Can Pendleton Height's one-man show continue and upset a top 4A team? Butler signee Kellen Dunham has been on a tear so far this season, averaging 38.3 points a game and accounting for nearly two-thirds of the Arabians total points. He may to do that and more on Saturday with the likelihood that teammate Brogan Gary may miss the game with an injury he recently sustained. The Royals will likely be a bit tired as they will be playing their second game in consecutive days, and Friday's test against Mt. Vernon is sure to be a test. Can the trio of Gary Harris, Jaccobby Bledsoe, and Zakarie Irvin overcome dead legs to chase Dunham off screens all the way to an expected victory? Or will Dunham continue his eyebrow-raising output against his best opponent so far and solidify himself as a legitimate Mr. Basketball contender? My guess is a win for the Royals, but not without some serious exploits by KD.

3. Broad Ripple (1-0) vs. Cathedral (0-0)

The reclassified 2A Rockets get a major early season test by visiting a 4A contender in the Cathedral Irish. The headliner for Broad Ripple is 6'3 senior shooting guard and IU signee Ron "Buss" Patterson, who scored 17 points in the Rockets opening blowout win against Muncie South. Ripple also boasts 6'3 forward Mo Cross, likely a mid to low-major prospect. He also scored 17 points in their first game. Hindering the Rockets' chance is the fact that they will be playing without dynamic point guard Aaron Payne due to an injury. Patterson, Cross and company will have to pick up the scoring slack with him out. The Irish come to play with several studs, including 6'6 senior wing Jared Drew, 6'6 junior wing Collin Hartman, sophomore guard Mo Evans, and perhaps the best freshman in the state in point guard Jalen Coleman. Coleman already claims an offer from IU. Cathedral will be tested by Warren Central on Friday, and this is also a revenge game for Rockets' coach Scott Hicks who formerly coached Cathedral. All things considered, I give Broad Ripple a high chance to pull off the upset.

4. Mishawaka Marian (2-0) at Ft. Wayne Luers (0-0)

Two Knights enter the battleground, and only one will emerge victorious. Marian is the #8 ranked team in 3A and are led by 6'1 junior point guard Demetrius Jackson, who holds a bevy of D1 offers including Butler, Michigan, Notre Dame, and Xavier. Luers is the #2 team in 2A, led by outstanding sophomore guard James Blackmon, Jr., who verbally committed to IU as a freshman. Marian will be coming off a Friday night game against New Prarie, so they may be a bit winded. Combine that with the travel to Ft. Wayne, and I see Luers winning this matchup of two of the best non-senior guards in the state of Indiana.

5. Kokomo (2-0) vs. Fishers (1-0)

The WildKats are off and running in an effort to repeat last season's run to the State Championship. Led by Evansville signee DJ Balentine, Kokomo has proven to be one of the toughest outs in all of thr 4A class. Senior forward LaBradford Seabree is one to keep and eye on. He is super athletic and has tons of skill. Fishers dominated Greenfield-Central in their opener, but that doesn't say too much about one of the more mysterious teams in 4A. They seem like they have potential to be a great squad, but can they excel like never before? Three seniors lead the way for the Tigers, starting with 6'9 center and Jacksonville recruit Tyler Alderman, who is finally healthy this season and looking for a breakout year. Fishers' returning leading scorer is shooting guard JP Pena, and Joe Retic is another experienced senior. Their difference maker may be junior point guard Jaylon Brown, who is receiving a lot of D1 interest. I think Alderman's size will be a lot for the Kats to overcome, but their experience from last season may be the difference.

Five Other Great Games

6. Avon vs. Pike
7. Carmel vs. Arsenal Tech
8. Brebeuf Jesuit vs. Culver Adademy
9. Lawrence North vs. Marion

and the 1A battle of the week...

10. Morristown vs. Lutheran

Game Recap:11/29

2011-11-29T20:55:00.005-05:00

The game of the night for Tuesday was Pendleton Heights and Westfield. Butler signee Kellen Dunham came into the game averaging over 38 points per game, and tonight proved to be more of the same. Facing constant face guarding and double teams, and also dealing with an injury to point guard Brogan Gary, Dunham still went off. He had all 14 of the Arabians first quarter points and went into half with 21 points. With a three at the end of the third, Dunham had 27 points. The fourth was nip and tuck, and Dunham had his way, including a sequence of back to back long two point jumpers with under two minutes. In the end, the Arabians held on for a 56-46 win. Dunham had 38 points on 13-23 from the field. So far, Pendleton Heights is 3-0, and Dunham has games of 40, 37, and 38 points. Ridiculous output from the sharpshooting senior, especially when the entire game plan of the other team is to take him away.

Games of the Day: 12/2

2011-11-29T13:11:00.005-05:00

For us nine to fivers, Friday is a long way off, but for coaches preparing for tough games and top flight competition, it's creeping up quickly. With only three practices left to work and game plan, P-Hoops profiles the top games on deck for Friday, December 2nd.

1. Park Tudor (3-0) vs. Roncalli (1-0)

Class 2A #1 Park Tudor got off to a strong start in Chicago, sweeping through their tournament and winning by an average margin of almost 29 points. Led by senior Yogi Ferrell, and IU signee, and sophomore Trevon Bluiett, the Panthers look like one of the top teams in the state regarless of class. Roncalli will provide a great early season test for Park Tudor. The Rebels have one of the top teams in 3A, led by a dynamic frontline of Ryan Weber and David Heckman, both 6'7 forwards. Expect the two private schools to battle out a close one. The depth and outside shooting of Park Tudor may be the difference in this one, but Roncalli may be able to exploit them inside.

2. Arsenal Tech (2-0) vs. Lawrence Central (2-0)

The Tech Titans are looking to prove that they're 4A contenders and not pretenders after a strong 2-0 start with an average win margin of 25 points. Led by a bevy of talented underclassmen including sophomore Trey Lyles, a national 5 star recruit and IU commit who is averaging a double-double, Tech looks like a serious IPS powerhouse. Tech also boasts sophomore guards Mike Jones and Jeremie Tyler, which forms a strong backcourt to go along with the 6'8 Lyles. Lawrence Central comes into the game on a roll after defeating crosstown rival Lawrence North and Arlington. Leading the Bears is 6'8 senior wing and IU signee Jeremy Hollowell, who is averaging 22.5 points per contest. LC also boasts senior point guard Tyler Corley, another D1 level recruit. The Bears certainly have the edge in experience, but Tech is trying to prove itself as an up-and-comer. Expect a close one.

3. Hamilton Southeastern (1-0) vs. Mt. Vernon (2-0)

HSE proved it's mettle with an early season win over Glenn Robinson III's Lake Central squad. Led by seniors Gary Harris (MSU) and Jaccobby Bledsoe, and junior Zakarie Irvin (Michigan), the Royals are a 4A contender. The Marauders are off to a surprising 2-0 start with big wins over Noblesville and Hamilton Heights. Sophomore CJ Coleman has played well for Mt. Vernon so far this year, including a 21 point outburst against Noblesville. If the Marauders can continue their run and knock off the Royals, they will certainly make waves across the state. I expect HSE to have to fight, but pull away in the fourth.

4. Warren Central (0-0) vs. Cathedral (0-0)

The opener for both teams will be a battle. The Warriors are an athletic bunch, led by 6'8 senior center Brent Calhoun, a Detroit recruit. The top player on the team is likely 6'6 junior wing Devin Davis, a bouncy forward with a developing all around game. Davis is also headed to IU. Cathedral is another top private school, led by 6'6 senior guard Jared Drew, who is headed to St. Louis to play for Rick Majerus. Also starring for the Irish is 6'6 junior wing Collin Hartman, another IU recruit. Sophomore guard Mo Evans is another star-in-the-making for Cathedral. This should be a high scoring affair.

5. Lake Central (1-1) vs. Valparaiso (2-0)

The Indians look to rebound after a tough loss to HSE. Leading the way is Glenn Robinson III, a Michigan recruit who is tearing it up so far this season. Central also gets 6'7 junior post Tyler Wideman back from a one game suspension from receiving two techs in their first contest. Valpo was supossed to be in rebuilding mode, but thanks to the early season play of John Mosser and Andrew Kittridge, they look like they may make some noise in northwest Indiana. I expect Lake Central to rebound and hand the VIkings their first loss of the season.

Other Top Games

Winchester (1-0) vs. Wapahani (1-0)

Ben Davis (1-0) vs. Pike (0-1)

Center Grove (2-0) vs. Southport (1-1)

Noblesville (1-1) vs. Carmel (1-0)

Danville (0-0) vs. Avon (1-0)

Poll Results: Class of 2012

2011-11-29T12:12:00.003-05:00

The week long voting wrapped up on P-Hoops last evening, and the results are in. Fans of certain schools flooded the ballot boxes and there was one overwhelming favorite. With 562 total votes, IU recruit Yogi Ferrell took home the title of best player with over 50% of the votes (284). In second place, Purdue recruit Rapheal Davis had almost 20% of the vote (111). Coming in third was Michigan State recruit Gary Harris with almost 10% of the vote (52). Congrats to Yogi!

This week's voting focuses on the top player is the 2013 class, led by Bryson Scott, a Purdue recruit. Make sure to make your voice heard in voting for the top junior in Indiana.

Dunham's Explots Continue Tonight

2011-11-28T10:47:00.003-05:00

Butler fans can take some solace in the Bulldogs slow 3-3 start, including the 75-59 loss to the Indiana Hoosiers last night. Scoring has been the struggle for Butler so far in 2011-2012, but that dry spell may not last long. Pendleton Heights senior and Butler signee Kellen Dunham has that down to a science. In the Arabians first two games this season, Dunham has poured in 40 and 37 points, respectively. What is most impressive, however, is that Dunham is undoubtedly nearly the entirety of the opposing team's scouting report, especially since Pendleton Heights lost Kendall Waters, a D1 level recruit, to a transfer to Muncie Central. The fact that Dunham is performing at such an astounding level while being so focused upon is pretty dang impressive.

Tomorrow night, Pendleton Heights hosts coach Eric Rauch's Westfield squad who is looking for a win after falling to Kokomo 69-53 in their season opener. The Shamrocks will be given the task of trying to slow Dunham down, a task which both Alexandrian and Delta could not accomplish.

If Dunham is able to keep up this type of pace, expect to see Gary Harris, Yogi Ferrell and others to be peeking over their shoulders when it comes voting time for Mr. Basketball.

Game Highlights for 11/26

2011-11-27T13:30:00.004-05:00

The below post profiles a few highlights from last night's top games, but there are many more games of interest for Indiana hoops fans. Here are some of the noteable games and individual performances from a jam packed night of awesome action.

* IU signee Ron Patterson and his Broad Ripple squad opened their regular season with a 78-45 win over Muncie South. Patterson and fellow senior Mo Cross both notched 17 points for the Rockets.

* Kellen Dunham's torrid start continued as he dropped 37 points in Pendleton Height's 54-40 win over Delta. Dunham had 40 points in the Arabians other game.

* Center Grove senior and IPFW recruit Joe Reed continued his strong play as the Trojans knocked off Franklin Central 59-54. Reed had 20 points in the win.

* Brebeuf bounced back after a disappointing opening loss to Zionsville with a convincing 66-51 win over George Washington. Sophomore PJ Thompson had a season high 26 points for the Braves.

* Kokomo moved to 2-0 with a balanced scoring attack, defeating Westfield 69-53. LaBradford Seabree led the way with 14 points, Taylor Persons added 13 points, and Evansville signee DJ Balentine had 11 points.

* And the Lawrence Central Bears also moved to 2-0 with a 60-46 win over Arlington. IU signee Jeremy Hollowell dropped 23 points for LC.

Top Tilts for 11/26

2011-11-26T22:31:00.007-05:00

The biggest game of the day was no doubt the matchup between HSE and Lake Central. The HSE Royals boast multiple D1 recruits in Gary Harris, Jaccobby Bledsoe, and Zakarie Irvin while Lake Central claims Glenn Ribinson III and Tyler Wideman (who was sitting due to a two tech suspension).

HSE pulled outa huge early season win by the score of 79-64. Hariis scored 25 points, grabbed 9 boards and was active all game long. Irvin had 19 and Bledsoe had 13. Robinson III had 30 points and 13 boards for Lake Central.

Another big game was 3A #1 Evansville Bosse taking on Jeffersonville and winning 65-58. Bosse super soph Jaquan Lyle had 24 points and ten rebounds.

Highlights for 11/23

2011-11-24T07:58:00.003-05:00

Besides the games detailed below, here are a few other games and players of note.

* Morristown defeated Triton Central 70-69 behind 29 points from Dylan Langkabel a Hillsdale (D2) recruit.

* IPFW recruit Joe Reed scored 26 points in Center Grove's dominating win over Franklin.

* Mount Vernon upset Noblesville 51-46 behind 21 points from rising sophomore CJ Coleman.

* As mentioned below, Zionsville upset Brebeuf, despite 21 points from Michael Lenz and 17 more from stellar sophomore PJ Thompson.

* Carmel had a blowout win in a hostile environment over Brownsburg, 65-36. Michael Volovic led the way for the Greyhounds with 18 points.

* Another profiled game was a top 3A matchup between Lebanon and Hamilton Heights. This one was a laugher, as Lebanon dominated 75-43. Trey Hendrix poured in 20 points for the Tigers.

* Southport got of to a strong start, defeating Decatur Central 65-54 behind 22 points apiece from seniors Kellon Thomas (Kent State) and Michael Ramey (Ball State).

Games of the Night - UPDATED

2011-11-23T22:48:00.007-05:00

The number one game in today's P-Hoops profile was the cross-town rivalry game that pit Lawrence Central against Lawrence North. The game did not disappoint. Regulation time was not enough to settle things, and this one needed OVERTIME! In a potentially huge, momentum building win, the Bears were able to knock off the more heralded LN Wildcats 57-52 in overtime. Future Indiana Hoosier Jeremy Hollowell led the way for LC with 22 points, dominating inside and out, using his size and athleticism to confuse and frustrate the 3-2 zone employed by Jack Keefer. The Wildcats have had a stranglehold on Lawrence bragging right for a while, so this hs to mean a lot to the Bears. Congrats!

In one of the best games of the night, North Central defeated rival Pike by the score of 88-76. Purdue-bound Ronnie Johnson led the way for the Panthers, scoring 24 points, while future Iowa Hawkeye Patrick Ingram scored 16 points. Big man Darius Latham chipped in 15 points and, by my count, had well over ten boards. Congrats to the Panthers for starting their season out on the right note.

Another game I profiled had some scratching their heads as to why. Zionsville and Brebeuf? Why? Shouldn't the Braves walk through this one? They're a top 3A team!!! Well, in overtime, the Eagles knocked off Brebeuf behind nine points and ten assists from Andrew Dakich.

One more profiled game was Arsenal Tech and Manual in an IPS tilt. Super sophomore Trey Lyles had a huge opening game with 26 points as well as 12 boards, 4 assists, and a half dozen or so blocks in a 77-53 win.

I'll be posting other updates throughout the night.

Games of the Day - Wednesday, November 23

2011-11-23T12:35:00.005-05:00

Many teams have already begun their seasons, and the day before Thanksgiving is chock-full of even more exciting tip-offs. Here are P-Hoops' profiles for the top three games of November 23rd.

1. Lawrence North at Lawrence Central

Let's not waste any time, boys, huh? An intense rivalry game on the first week of the season? Yes, please! Jack Keefer and his Wildcats travel across town from Hague to 56th Street to meet JR Shelt and his up-and-coming Bears for this early season clash of the titans. North boasts two of Indianapolis' best guards in 6'3 SG Eron Harris (West Virginia) and 6'1 PG Petey Balls (Northern Illinois), both seniors. The Bears counter with stud small forward and IU signee Jeremy Hollowell, an Indiana All-Star front runner. Central also boasts dynamic play maker Tyler Corley, a 5'10 senior. This should be a close one, a real back-and-forth affair. Hollowell's size (6'8) and versatility may end up being the deciding factor in this one.

2. Pike at North Central

Another titanic tilt in Indy to start the season! The Red Devils, behind the leadership of coach Bill Zych, travel to the home of Doug Mitchell's Panthers in what should be an exciting match up. Pike lost Indiana All-Star Marquis Teague (Kentucky) to graduation, but the pieces are still in place to be a 4A contender. RJ Hunter, a 6'6 senior and Georgia State recruit, will look to up his output of over 14 points a game from last season as the new leader of the team. Alongside of him is 5'9 junior point guard Zavier Turner, who can score and distribute. A transfer should also provide serious help for Pike this season. Jamie Rutherford, a 6'5 junior, is a transfer from powerhouse Bowman Academy and should step in and start. On the other side, North Central is loaded and ready for another deep run in 4A. Leading the charge is 5'10 senior and Purdue commit Ronnie Johnson, a do-it-all point guard. Flanking him on the wings will be 6'3 senior guard Patrick Ingram, an Iowa commit, and 6'7 sophomore Perry Poindexter, who is loaded with potential. Patrolling the paint is 6'5 junior Darius Latham, a D1 level football recruit who also has soft hands and nice post moves. Should be a great game.

Lebanon at Hamilton Heights

Albert Hendrix's Tigers are looking to repeat last year's success, but this time have it translate to the postseason. The Tigers started last season 10-0 before faltering down the stretch and being upset by Danville in the first round of Sectionals. This is a senior laden squad led by Trey Hendrix, who scored over 24 points per game last season. Lebanon has lots of shooters and depth. Heights lost 6'6 forward Austin Etherington to IU, but a lot remains for another successful season. They, like Lebanon, had major regular season success, but postseason glory also eluded them. Leading the way will be 6'6 younger brother Alex Etherington, a double digit scorer and D1 level recruit. This one has potential to be a look at early season 3A favorites.

3 Other Top Games
4. Brebeuf Jesuit at Zionsville
5. Western at Kokomo
6. Manual at Tech

Kellen Dunham: Player of the Day

2011-11-23T12:25:00.003-05:00

Pendleton Heights 6'5 senior guard Kellen Dunham had a fantastic start to his senior campaign. The Indiana All-Star and Mr. Basketball candidate notched an impressive double-double in the Arabians 73-46 win over Alexandria, finishing with 40 points and 10 rebounds. Impressive to say the least. Dunham, a Butler signee, has made an early statement to be considered for the top accolades the state affords along with "bigger" names like Gary Harris and Yogi Ferrell, both of whom will also likely put up staggering numbers on occasion. Congratulations to Kellen on an impressive start to his senior season!

P-Hoops Class of 2014 Rankings

2011-11-17T10:49:00.007-05:00

The sophomore class appears to be loaded with high end talent, much like the class of 2012, which has dozens of players signed with D1 universities. Some of these youngsters are already committed to schools, while others have numerous scholarship offers. Today, P-Hoops offers his take on the Sweet 16 in the class of 2014.

P-Hoops Class of 2014 Rankings

1. Trey Lyles - 6'8 PF - Arsenal Tech (Indiana)

2. Jaquan Lyle - 6'4 G - Evansville Bosse

3. James Blackmon, Jr. - Bishop Luers (Indiana)

4. Trevon Bluiett - 6'5 F - Park Tudor

5. Tyler Wideman - 6'7 PF - Lake Central

6. Johnnie Vassar - 6'0 PG - LaPorte LaLumiere

7. Perry Poindexter - 6'7 F - North Central

8. PJ Thompson - 5'10 PG - Brebeuf Jesuit

9. Troy Spears - 6'3 F - Park Tudor (New Mexico)

10. Ernie Duncan - 6'4 G - Evansville Harrison

11. Sean Sellers - 6'5 F - Greensburg

12. Justin Brent - 6'4 SG - Speedway

13. Jaraan Lands - 6'5 F - Brownsburg

14. Grant Evans - 6'3 G - Wapahani

15a. Mike Jones - 6'4 G - Arsenal Tech

15b. Jeremie Tyler - 6'0 G - Arsenal Tech

16. Bryant McIntosh - 6'2 G - Greensburg

P-Hoops Class of 2013 Rankings

2011-11-17T09:11:00.009-05:00

Continuing the trend of the week, today P-Hoops turns his attention to the class of 2013. The junior class is not nearly as deep or as talented as the senior class, but there is some great quality at the top. Here's a look at the top 25 in the class of 2013.

P-Hoops Class of 2013 Rankings

1. Bryson Scott - 6'1 PG - Northrop (Purdue)

2. Zakarie Irvin - 6'6 SG - Hamilton Southeastern (Michigan)

3. VJ Beachem - 6'6 SF - New Haven (Notre Dame)

4. Devin Davis - 6'6 SF - Warren Central (Indiana)

5. Demetrious Jackson - 6'1 PG - Mishawaka Marian

6. Collin Hartman - 6'6 SF - Cathedral (Indiana)

7. Basil Smotherman - 6'6 SF - Lawrence North (Purdue)

8. Austin Hatch - 6'6 SG - Ft. Wayne Canterbury (Michigan)

9. Jaylon Brown - 5'11 PG - Fishers

10. Brenton Scott - 5'11 G - Northrop

11. Leo Svete - 6'4 SG - Penn

12. Zavier Turner - 5'9 PG - Pike

13. Mo Evans - 6'0 PG - Cathedral

14. Darryl Baker - 6'1 SG - Jeffersonville

15. Nick Davidson - 6'4 SG - Andrean (Valpo)

16. Richard Freeman - 6'7 SF - Lawrence Central

17. Alex Etherington - 6'6 SF - Hamilton Heights

18. Markese McGuire - 6'2 SG - Elkhart Memorial

19. Franko House - 6'6 PF - Concord

20. Milos Kostic - 6'8 PF - Hammond Noll (Northwestern)

21. Joe Fagan - 6'3 SG - Bishop Chatard

22. Jake Thompson - 6'4 G - Wawasee

23. Mike Crawford 6'4 SF - Tipton

24. Blake Simmons - 6'4 SF - Castle

25. Darius Latham - 6'5 PF - North Central

P-Hoops Class of 2012 Rankings

2011-11-16T14:02:00.019-05:00

P-Hoops is getting back into things with the 2011-2012 Indiana High School Basketball season right around the corner. After a long hiatus, I'm returning to writing about one of my greatest passions in life: the Indiana hoops scene. I'm hoping to have time to re-establish the niche I had carved out, with game recaps, player breakdowns, interviews, and other hoops-related nuggets for readers to enjoy. Today I'm starting with a ranking of the top players in the state for the 2012 class. It's hard to believe that when this blog was launched, these kids were FRESHMEN! All grown up, and with many college choices already made, P-Hoops is proud to unveil the best of the best in the 2012 senior class.

* One caveat is that these rankings exclude former Indiana studs D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera (formerly of North Central) and Mitch McGary (formerly of Chesterton), who are in prep schools out of state. Smith-Rivera, currently at Oak Hill, is a Georgetown commit. McGary, ranked as high as number two in the nation by Scout.com, is at Brewster Academy and is committed to Michigan. These two would undoubtedly find their way into the top 5 of this list, with McGary a likely number one overall. Also left off the list is former Carmel big man AJ Hammons, committed to Purdue, who would also be a top ten ranked player.

2012 Rankings

1. Gary Harris - 6'5 G - Hamilton Southeastern (Michigan State)

2. Yogi Ferrell - 6'0 PG - Park Tudor (Indiana)

3. Hanner Mosquera-Perea - 6'8 PF - LaPorte LaLumiere (Indiana)

4. Jeremy Hollowell - 6'6 SF - Lawrence Central (Indiana)

5. Glenn Robinson III - 6'5 SF - Lake Central (Michigan)

6. Ronnie Johnson - 5'10 PG - North Central (Purdue)

7. Ron Patterson - 6'3 G - Broad Ripple (Indiana)

8. Kellen Dunham - 6'5 SG - Pendleton Heights (Butler)

9. Rapheal Davis - 6'4 SG - LaPorte Lalumiere (Purdue)

10. Jay Simpson - 6'9 PF - LaPorte Lalumiere (Purdue)

11. Dejuan Marrero - 6'6 PF - Bowman Academy (DePaul)

12. Eron Harris - 6'3 G - Lawrence North (West Virginia)

13. Nick Osborne - 6'8 PF - Muncie Central (Loyola IL)

14. Austin Burgett - 6'8 F - Avon (Notre Dame)

15. Patrick Ingram - 6'3 G - North Central (Iowa)

16. Jared Drew - 6'6 SF - Cathedral (Saint Louis)

17. Obij Aget - 7'0 C - LaPorte LaLumiere (New Mexico)

18. DJ Balentine - 6'1 PG - Kokomo (Evansville)

19. RJ Hunter - 6'5 G - Pike (Georgia State)

20. Kellon Thomas - 5'10 PG - Southport (Kent State)

21. Mislav Brzija - 6'5 G - Traders Point Academy

22. Michael Ramey - 6'5 SG - Southport (Ball State)

23. Elijah Ray - 6'5 F - Bowman Academy (IUPUI)

24. Rhett Smith - 6'5 F - Sullivan (Indiana State)

25. Jermaine Myers - 6'0 PG - Culver Academy

26. Steve Hawkins - 6'8 PF - Bowman Academy (Robert Morris)

27. Antonio Drummond - 5'10 PG - LaPorte LaLumiere (Southern Illinois)

28. Matej Buovac - 6'7 SF - LaPorte LaLumiere

29. Petey Balls - 6'1 G - Lawrence North (Northern Illinois)

30. Ryan Weber - 6'7 F - Roncalli (Youngstown State)

31. Joe Reed - 6'8 PF - Center Grove (IPFW)

32. Jacobby Bledsoe - 5-9 PG - Hamilton Southeastern

33. Bo Calhoun - 6'6 PF - South Bend Washington (Ball State)

34. Ronnye Beamon - 6'4 SG - Hammond Noll

35. Jeff Laidig - 6'4 SG - Penn (Belmont)

36. David Heckman - 6'7 F - Roncalli (Lewis - DII)

37. Logan Irwin - 6'0 PG - Whitko (Stetson)

38. JT Yoho - 6'4 G - Eastern Greene (Wright State)

39. Jeremiah Jones - 6'3 G - Merrillville

40. Jalen Pendleton - 6'2 SG - Evansville Bosse

41. Harry Wills - 6'2 SG - Ben Davis

42. Brent Calhoun - 6'8 C - Warren Central (Detroit)

43. Alex Olah - 6'11 C - Traders Point Academy (Northwestern)

44. Matt O'Leary - 6'7 F - Terre Haute North (Loyola IL)

45. Kendall Waters - 5'10 PG - Muncie Central

46. Tyler Corley - 5'10 PG - Lawrence Central

47. Paul Bayt - 6'5 G - Park Tudor (Manhattan)

48. Donnell Minton - Northwest (Lamar)

49. Tyler Alderman - 6'10 C - Fishers

50. Jason Smith - Manual (Lamar)

51. Dylan Langkabel - 6'4 G - Morristown (Northwood - DII)

52. Greg Gardner - 6'5 G - Bishop Chatard (Alabama-Huntsville - DII)

53. Todd Johnson - 5'9 PG - Elkhart Memorial (Northern Kentucky - DII)

54. Trey Hendrix - 5'6 PG - Lebanon

55. Joel Smith - 6'6 SF - Heritage Christian

56. Adam Botts - 5'11 PG - Muncie Central

57. Mo Cross - 6'3 SF - Broad Ripple

58. Brad Hartman - 6'7 PF - Union County

59. Riley Rapp - 6'1 SG - Guerin Catholic

60. Michael Lenz - 6'0 PG - Brebeuf Jesuit

Heading to USSSA National Tournament

2009-07-27T14:25:00.002-04:00

P-Hoops hits the road this evening, heading to Fort Wayne to get ready for the final AAU tournament of the summer, the USSSA Nationals held at the Spiece Fieldhouse. Some great games are on tap for day one, including the Spiece Indy Stars, boasting Jeremy Hollowell, Ron Patterson, Austin Burgett, Rhett Smith and Kellon Thomas, facing off with the other Indy Stars from Eric Gordon. The latter Indy Stars feature up and coming guard Kellen Dunham and Dylan Langkabel. Other great teams in the event include Team Indiana 2012, Spiece Indy Heat Felder, and many others. Check back for updates throughout the tournament. I'll post tidbits as I have time.

End of Summer Rankings: Class of 2010

2009-07-25T15:18:00.009-04:00

The final installment of updated rankings focuses on this years' new crop of seniors. There are a bevy of highly talented players, many of who have already found their college home, whether D1 or at another level. One notable omission from the 2010 rankings is Dominique Ferguson, formerly of Lawrence North and the previous number two-ranked player in the state, who has chosen to transfer to an out-of-state prep school. Another name is absent as well, as Dwenger forward Jordan Didier is moving back home to Arizona. The top spot remains the same, but there was a lot of shifting around in the rest of the rankings. Read on to see where players check in, and feel free to post a message!

Class of 2010 Rankings (July '09)

1. Deshaun Thomas - 6'7 F - Bishop Luers
2. Terone Johnson - 6'3 G - North Central
3. Travis Carroll - 6'9 C - Danville
4. Russell Byrd - 6'6 G/F - Blackhawk Christian
5. Justin Martin - 6'6 F - Lawrence North
6. Donnie Hale - 6'7 F - New Albany
7. Xavier Jones - 6'3 G - Gary West
8. (tie) Eric Fromm - 6'8 F - Bloomington South
8. (tie) Jordan Manuel - 6'8 F - Howe Academy
9. Jesse Berry - 6'1 G - Lafayette Jeff
10. Jake Kitchell - 6'8 F - South Central (Union Mills)
11. Julian Boatner - 6'1 G - Bloomington North
12. Kegan Clark - 6'4 G/F - Jeffersonville
13. Tyrae Robinson - 6'2 G - Bowman Academy
14. Roddy Richardson - 6'1 G - Lafayette Jeff
15. Kennis White - 6'2 G - South Bend Washington
16. Michael Harris - 6'3 G - East Chicago Central
17. Andre Hampton - 6'3 G - Howe Academy
18. Jack Isenbarger - 6'3 G - Zionsville
19. Daniel Turner - 6'5 F - Mt. Vernon
20. Khristian Smith - 6'4 F - Pike
21. Chris Welker - 6'5 F - Zionsville
22. Crishawn Hopkins - 6'2 G - Manual
23. Brandon Demmings - 6'1 G - Indianapolis Washington
24. Matt Trimnell - 6'4 G - Seymour
25. Thomas Anderson - 6'6 F - Terre Haute North
26. Ronald Ross - 6'4 F - Northwest
27. John Michael Jarvis - 6'1 G - Terre Haute South
28. PJ Hubert - 6'5 G - Mt. Vernon
29. Randall Lowe - 6'0 G - Tri-West
30. Jordan Weidner - 6'1 G - Danville
31. Parker Stouffer - 6'8 C - Southwood
32. DeArmond Davis - 6'7 F - Mt. Vernon
33. Ethan Jacobs - 7'0 C - Tipton
34. Jake Browne - 6'7 F/C - Heritage Christian
35. Trip McFall - 6'2 G - North Central
36. Greg Miller - 6'4 F - North Miami
37. Enique Mason - 6'10 C - Brownsburg
38. Michael Kibiloski - 6'8 F - Elkhart Memorial
39. Trey Hughes - 6'1 G - Barr-Reeve
40. Leland Brown - 6'5 F - Noblesville

Watch List

Point Guard

Chris Birky - Mississinewa
Aaron Bluitt - Bishop Chatard
Nate Champion - Logansport
Andy Cochrane - Bloomfield
Stephan Jones - Carroll
Spencer Krhin - Southwood
Cortez Lee - Mishawaka
Josh McDonald - Columbus East
Christian Nicodemus - Franklin
James Stamper - Columbus North
La'Mondre Warren - Ft. Wayne Harding
Billy Wilson - New Albany
Zach Yeagy - Alexandria

Shooting Guard

Ryan Benner - Mishawaka
Cody Cochran - Bluffton
Bryant Conder - Lanesville
Brandon Cragun - Mississenwa
Nathan Hendershot - Pendleton Heights
Elliot Kampen - Yorktown
Hank LaRue - Evansville Mater Dei
Collin Maltsberger - North Montgomery
Eric Mitchell - Elmhurst
Troy Porter - Frankfort
Zach Starr - Hamiton Southeastern
Petar Todorovic - Wheeler
Taylor Wayer - Bishop Chatard
Wes Zimmerman - Peru

Forward

Chris Bond - Bowman Academy
Steve Brooks - Fort Wayne North
Dustin DeMuth - Laporte
Logan Ingle - Lapel
Brad Karp - Valparaiso
Seth Kisler - Blackhawk Christian
Robert Kitzinger - Carmel
Scott Laskowski - Carmel
Dylan McDaniel - New Albany
Ari Porkal - Bloomington North
Andrew Rudakas - Wheeler
Roderick Smith - Ft. Wayne Harding
Jake Stafford - Mt. Vernon
Darius Stevens - Merrillville
DavRon Williams - Marion
Taylor Wischmeier - Brownstown Central

Center

Josh Cook - Mississinewa
Jan Maehlen - Lawrence North
Mitchell Patton - South Knox

End of Summer Rankings: Class of 2011

2009-07-22T20:07:00.011-04:00

As July winds down, here's a look at how P-Hoops now views the very strong class of 2011. Read on to see how the rankings shifted with high risers and a few whose stock fell somewhat.

Class of 2011 Rankings (July '09)

1. Marquis Teague - 6'1 PG - Pike
2. Brandon Dawson - 6'6 G/F - Gary Lew Wallace
3. Michael Chandler - 6'10 C - Lawrence North
4. Ryan Taylor - 6'6 F - Lawrence North
5. Jeremiah Davis - 6'3 G - Muncie Central
6. Matt Carlino - 6'2 G - Bloomington South
7. Darwin "Dee" Davis - 5'10 PG - Bloomington South
8. Cody Zeller - 6'9 F - Washington
9. Mitch McGary - 6'8 F - Chesterton
10. Austin Ethrington - 6'6 G/F - Hamilton Heights
11. (tie) Jalen Packer - 6'3 PG - Princeton
11. (tie) Justin Gant - 6'8 F - Terre Haute North
12. Nic Moore - 5'10 PG - Warsaw
13. Steven Jamison - 6'5 G - Broad Ripple
14. Spencer Turner - 6'3 G - Bloomington South
15. Tony Springmann - 6'8 F - Ft. Wayne Dwenger
16. PJ Boutte - 5'9 PG - Howe Academy
17. Zac Van de Water - 6'5 G/F - Whitko
18. Kendall Griffin - 6'5 G - Avon
19. Rontray Chavis - 6'5 F - Princeton
20. Levi Garner - 6'6 F - Edgewood
21. Johnny Marlin - 6'1 PG - Center Grove
22. Greg Dickey - 5'10 PG - Tipton
23. Torrey Nibbs - 6'1 G - Brownsburg
24. Alexander Hutson - 6'0 G - Tipton
25. Evan Maschmeyer- 6'3 G - Jeffersonville
26. Alex Pritchett - 6'6 F - Bedford North Lawrence
27. Tyler Greathouse - 6'7 F - Columbus North
28. Kenny Mullen - 6'1 G - Bishop Luers
29. Brian Stolarz - 6'6 F - Munster
30. Chandler Thomas - 6'5 F - Yet to enroll

Watch List

Guards

Mike Albrecht - Crown Point
William Clinton "Clint" Barnes - Marion
Evan Blackmon - Bishop Luers
Nathan Bromm - Forest Park
Brandon Burtner - Western Boone
Griffyn Carpenter - Triton
Andrew Clark - Austin
Spencer Comer - Rushville
Trent Crabtree - Crawfordsville
Jack Dillon - Brebeuf Jesuit
Brandon Dunaway - Corydon Central
Jordan Hahn - New Castle
Eric Harris - Lawrence North
Garrett Krieg - Jay County
Max Landis - Perry Meridian
Demetrius Lawson - Zionsville
Phil Miller - Fishers
Brandon Muncie - Lawrence North
Chris Page - Plainfield
Zach Rush - Haover Central
Jujuan Sarver - Avon
Kyle Spencer - Cascade
Rick Thomas - Lawrence North
Kendall Vieke - Vincennes Rivet
Chris Whitehead - New Albany

Forwards

Travis Burkett - Indianapolis Home School Wildcats
Colin Bowles - Franklin Central
Dontray Chavis - Princeton
Dwight Cliff - Ben Davis
Robbie Dickison - Avon
Kenny Enoch - Howe Academy
Chandler Guion - Lapel
Ben Hogan - Loogootee
Matt Howard - Carmel
Michael Nesbitt - Evansville Memorial
Kevin Rose - Arsenal Tech
Brian Stolarz - Munster

Center

Isaiah Hill - Howe Academy

End of Summer Rankings: Class of 2012

2009-07-22T15:42:00.006-04:00

As the summer winds down and the AAU season quickly comes to and end, P-Hoops thought it necessary to update the Class Rankings for the state of Indiana. A lot has happened since the end of the high school season. Many players have taken huge leaps forward in their games, and some not quite as much. With so much hoops played this summer and with P-Hoops being at pretty much every AAU event that the top kids were playing at, it's high time we re-evaluate and shift some rankings around. Who were the high risers? Who slipped? Read below to check out the updated Class of 2012 Rankings and feel free to leave a message!

Class of 2012 Rankings (July '09)

1. D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera - 6'3 G - North Central
2. DeJuan Marrero - 6'6 F - Bowman Academy
3. Ron Patterson - 6'3 G - Broad Ripple
4. Jeremy Hollowell - 6'6 G/F - Lawrence Central
5. Kevin "Yogi" Ferrell - 5'9 PG - Park Tudor
6. TJ Bell - 6'7 F - Bloomington South
7. Raphael Davis - 6'4 G - Ft. Wayne South
8. Austin Burgett - 6'8 F - Avon
9. AJ Hammons - 6'10 C - Carmel
10. Gary Harris - 6'4 G/F - Hamilton Southeastern
11. Kellon Thomas - 5'10 PG - Southport
12. Kellen Dunham 6'3 G - Pendleton Heights
13. Patrick Ingram - 6'3 G - North Central
14. Rhett Smith - 6'6 F - Sullivan
15. Joel Smith - 6'6 G/F - Heritage Christian
16. Dylan Langkabel - 6'3 G - Morristown
17. Nick Osborne - 6'7 F - Muncie Central
18. Logan Irwin - 6'0 G - Whitko
19. Michael Ramey - 6'4 G - Perry Meridian
20. Ronnie Johnson - 5'10 G - North Central
21. Jared Drew - 63 G - Lawrence Central
22. Ryan Weber - 6'6 F - Roncalli
23. Brad Hartman - 6'7 F - Union County
24. DJ Ballentine - 6'0 G - Kokomo
25. Aaron Payne - 6'1 G - Broad Ripple
26. Trey Hendrix - 5'9 G - Lebanon
27. Brett Calhoun - 6'8 F - Warren Central
28. RJ Hunter - 6'2 G - Pike
29. Mo Cross - 6'3 G - Tech
30. Edward Seay - 6'8 F - Merrillville

2012 Watch List

Tyler Alderman - 6'7 F - Fishers
Paul Bayt - 6'3 G - Cathedral
Adam Botts - 5'10 G - Muncie Central
Michael Bower - 6'0 G - Bloomington South
Keith Cochran - 6'10 C - Bluffton
Nathan Cox - 6'8 C - Morristown
Kylan Dubbels - 5'8 G - Northwestern
Jake Dye - 6'1 G - Tipton
John Eckert - 6'6 F - North Judson
Kyle Fillman - 6'5 G - Norwell
Devin Futch - 6'0 G - Arsenal Tech
Jordan Hauser - 5'9 G - West Vigo
Nick Hutcheson - 6'5 F - Greencastle
Isaiah Jackson - 6'4 F - Arsenal Tech
Adam Kranda - 6'5 F - New Castle
James Knapke - 6'3 G - Bishop Luers
Carlos McCormack - 6'0 G - Michigan City
Tom McKay - 6'4 F - North Central
Jimmy Miller - 6'3 F - North Central
DJ Neal - 6'0 G - Ft. Wayne Wayne
Patrick Obras - 6'2 G - Pendleton Heights
Daniel Purvlicus - 6'7 C - Noblesville
JB Rapp - 6'2 G - Park Tudor
Riley Rapp - 5'10 G - Guerin Catholic
Jordan Regan - 6'2 G - Brownsburg
Brandon Tannenbaum - 6'4 F - Park Tudor
Zach Terrell - 6'2 G - Homestead
Thomas Treadway - 6'4 G - Zionsville
Kendall Waters - 6'2 G - Pendleton Heights
Jordan Williams - 6'2 G - North Central
Harry Willis - 6'2 G Ben Davis
Terrance Winfrey - 6'6 F - Ben Davis
Mitch Yeagy - 5'10 G - Alexandria
JT Yoho - 6'0 G - Eastern Greene

Award Winners from IWU/P-Hoops Prospect Camp

2009-07-22T15:09:00.003-04:00

Today P-Hoops will hand out the remaining hardware to some worthy recipients who rose to the top at the IWU/P-Hoops Prospect Camp. There were many deserving campers, but the ones awarded here really stood out as the very best in specific aspects of the game. So without further ado, let P-Hoops unveil the cream of the crop from camp!

Most Athletic: There were many high-risers and freak athletes in attendance this past Saturday, but none was so impressive as Lawrence North junior Brandon Muncie. From the beginning of camp, Muncie wanted to impress all spectators with an array of above the rim antics, whether off the dribble during point guard drills, during water breaks, or even throwing down an alley-oop during 5-on-5 play. Muncie is a tad raw yet, but his athletic tools have equipped him to succeed with more and more hours in the gym.

Other athletes of note: Travis Burkett (Jr) Indianapolis Home School, William Clinton Barnes III (Jr) Marion, Seth Kisler (Sr) Blackhawk Christian, Darius Williams (Sr) Oswego (IL).

Best Post Player: There were some great big men in attendance and they were drilled well by assistant coach Jeff Clark with the help of star Wildcat players Zach Coverstone and Will Hubertz. One young man stood out above the rest with his great ability to establish himself in the post, hold off defenders, catch the ball, and make solid moves in either direction with both hands. Parker Stouffer of Southwood, a senior 6'8 manchild, earns the honor of best down low.

Other post players of note: Tyler Greathouse (Jr) Columbus North, Greg Miller (Sr) North Miami, Josh Cook (Sr) Mississinewa, Wade Thomas (Jr) Lebanon

Toughest: This award went to the camper who competed the hardest on the floor and in the workouts they were put through by Coach Tonagel and his staff. This camper not only excelled at these aspects of camp, but truly seemed to enjoy being put through some difficult situations. Spencer Krhin of Southwood, another senior, gets this honor. He was a beast in all the measurables, benching 185 pounds 16 times, doing 30 pull ups, and rising up 33 inches on his vertical. Impressive!

Other warriors of note: Travis Burkett (Jr) Indianpolis Home School, Spencer Comer (Jr) Rushville

Best Ball Handler: This camper was the best with the ball in his hands, keeping it away from the opposition while setting up his team for scores and great possessions. He had deft moves with the ball, showing off a solid crossover and good passing skills. Crawfordsville junior Trent Crabtree showed me the most at the point.

Other ball handlers of note: Spencer Krhin (Sr) Southwood, Spencer Comer (Jr) Rushville, Josh McDonald (Sr) Columbus East, Chris Birky (Sr) Mississinewa, Stephan Jones (Sr) Carroll

Most Potential: This award goes to the player with the highest ceiling, the brightest future, and the most probability of a big time basketball career. This player may not have had the best showing at camp, but the tools were evident and his frame and skill set are of the kind that make college coaches drool. He also has great length and above average athleticism and the potential to play three or four positions. Who is he? None other than 6'8 wing and Columbus North junior Tyler Greathouse.

Others with high potential: William Clinton Barnes III (Jr) Marion, Greg Miller (Sr) North Miami, Seth Kisler (Sr) Blackhawk Christian, Kyle Fillman (Soph) Norwell, Parker Stouffer (Sr) Southwood, Brandon Muncie (Jr) Lawrence North

Check back later for P-Hoops' pick as Camp MVP!

Top Shooting Star of the IWU/P-Hoops Prospect Camp

2009-07-21T14:43:00.005-04:00

As promised, P-Hoops will be giving respect to the best of the best from the IWU/P-Hoops Prospect Camp. We'll look at standouts from several different skill areas including ball handling, post play, toughness, and athleticism. Today, however, we begin by awarding the title of "Best Shooter" of the camp.

First off, P-Hoops would be remiss without mentioning that the best shooting display of the day came from former Lafayette Central Catholic star and current IWU Wildcat Will Hubertz (pictured right guarding asst. coach Jeff Clark along with Zach Coverstone). A combo forward who starts and stars for the Wildcats, Hubertz is a match-up nightmare because he is super-athletic and bouncy, so he's able to guard the four, but his shot is so deadly that big men struggle to guard him on the perimeter. Hubertz demonstrated the shooting drill that the campers would be doing as he moved spot to spot around the three point line, nailing twenty of about twenty-four three pointers in about ninety seconds. Very impressive.

As for the campers, there were several standouts who could really pour it in from deep. This one camper, however, did not simply knock down the deep ball during drill work, he did it during 5-on-5 play. During one stretch in which P-Hoops was looking on, this local camper hit about five threes during a two game span. Very impressive. He has a quick release which makes up for his being an average athlete. He worked hard to get open and once he caught, he was in great position to fire, feet and shoulders squared up and in the shooting pocket. The Shooting Star of the IWU/P-Hoops Prospect Camp? Mississinewa senior guard Brandon Cragun.

Other shooters of note: Jacob Bagley (Sr) Van Wert (OH) - Trent Crabtree (Jr) Crawfordsville - Brandon Dunaway (Jr) Corydon Central - Chris Hamilton (Jr) Bellbrook (OH) - Josh McDonald (Sr) Columbus East - Greg Miller (Sr) North Miami - Troy Porter (Sr) Frankfort.

Kevin "Yogi" Ferrell Update

2009-07-21T14:32:00.002-04:00

The class of 2012 is absolutely loaded with talent. Names like D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera, Dejuan Marerro, Ron Patterson, Jeremy Hollowell have blown up on the recruiting scene over the past year or so and these guys have truly become national level recruits. One name that often gets forgotten or left out of conversations regarding the incoming sophomore class is Park Tudor point guard Kevin "Yogi" Ferrell, once hailed as the best fourth grader in the nation by a recruiting service. Yogi took the past two seasons off of AAU ball to work on his game, and also to find just the right fit in a summer team. Well, the hard work and patience has paid dividends in the form of big-time attention from D1 coaches and, as of today, two brand new scholarship offers. Both the Ohio State Buckeyes and the Butler Bulldogs have stepped forward and offered the lightning quick 5'9 point guard. There are definite connections and reasons for these two schools desiring the services of Yogi outside of his tremendous summer play. Ohio State has been in need of point guard help ever since the early defection of Mike Conley to the NBA, which was followed by the transfer of Anthony Crater. They do have Liberty-Benton standout Aaron Craft locked up for 2010, but point is still an area of concern for the Buckeyes. Butler should come as no surprise since Ferrell's high school coach is former Butler and New Castle star Darnell Archey, who would certainly love to see his star player end up at his alma mater. Congrats to Yogi, who has certainly earned what he has received with his strong play this summer and in the past high school season! More offers are sure to come....

Underclassmen of Note from the IWU/P-Hoops Elite Prospect Camp

2009-07-20T14:03:00.009-04:00

Yesterday, we took an in-depth look at the top seniors in attendance at the Indiana Wesleyan/P-Hoops Prospect and Skills Camp. This afternoon, we turn out attention the the cream of the crop from the underclassmen in attendance, of whom there were many. Some big-time talents were on court, displaying their vast skill and potential and proving that their future in hoops is bright. Here's a glimpse of the younger standouts from the camp.

William Clinton "Clint" Barnes III - Marion HS - Junior - 6'3 SG - Clint Barnes (in white) was a name I knew of coming into camp since he played a significant role last season on a loaded Marion team that included D1 talents Scott Wood and JaRob McCallum. Barnes stood out to me as a versatile guard capable of doing many things well. He is a solid athlete with the ability to defend multiple positions. His shot, while streaky, falls enough from deep to make him a legit threat from three point land. He gets up pretty well and can consistently finish at the rim while slashing. Two needed areas of improvement are his ball handling and the mental aspect of his game. If he can tighten up his handle and have better, more consistent focus on the floor, Barnes could be the next in a long list of Marion mega-stars.

Travis Burkett - Indianapolis Home School Wildcats - Junior - 6'3 and 1/2 SG/SF - Another big surprise was the play of Burkett, who along with Spencer Khrin, was one of the workout warriors of the camp. Travis and his IHS Wildcat teammates who were in attendance impressed me with their play. These aren't your father's home school basketball players. All of them played well, but Burkett really stood out to me. The muscular lefty has the ability to shoot it from deep with great form, but his shot didn't fall all that much. But with his textbook form and release, consistency can be developed with work. He is a good defender and has a high level motor. He also showed well on the bench press and vertical test, leaping 31 inches. If Burkett wants a college ball future and is willing to put in a little more work, he has the tools to do it.

Spencer Comer - Rushville HS - Junior - 6'4 G - Comer really impressed with his hard work and tremendous attitude all camp long. His strengths include his solid defense, good handles, and the constant hard, smart work. He has the ability to play the one or the two since he is heady enough to run a team and a good enough shooter to play off the ball. If Comer puts in hours making himself a deadly outside shooter and puts time in to improving his already quality ball handling, he has a certain college future. Really enjoyed the kid for his play and attitude.

Trent Crabtree - Crawfordsville HS - Junior - 6'0 PG - Crabtree may have been the best underclass point guard in the camp. He has some great handles and showed them off with a couple of nice crossovers during scrimmage play. He is heady as well, as his team had a lead with over 30 seconds to play in 5-on-5 and was able to dribble out the final seconds. Also a very capable deep shooter that was one of a handful to successfully complete a high level three point shooting drill. Crabtree needs to improve his strength and explosiveness as well as his ability to create for himself on the bounce.

Brandon Dunaway - Corydon Central HS - Junior - 6'3 SG - Dunaway, who plays for Indiana Elite Green in AAU ball, proved to be one of the top outside shooters in camp. He knocked down several outside J's and deep threes in drill work and 5-on-5 play. Shooting is his best asset, but he is also a tireless worker, going through all the skill work with high intensity. You can tell Brandon really wants it. He is a capable ball handler, but he needs to tighten his dribbling in order to be more versatile and appealing to college coaches. With another year to develop, Dunaway is one to keep an eye on.

Kyle Fillman - Norwell HS - Sophomore - 6'5 and 1/2 G - Fillman was probably the biggest surprise to me all day long. He more often than not dominated the 5-on-5 play on the younger kids court with inside-outside ability. He slashed well from the wing, once going one dribble, pro-hop jump stop, finish at the rim during scrimmage. His outside shot is average right now, but his form is solid, so with work it will improve. He first caught my eye while throwing down a two-handed dunk during point guard drills. I really like this kid, and since he's so young with plenty of time to continue his development, I like him all the more. Fillman could really be a stud in the near future.

Tyler Greathouse - Columbus North HS - Junior - 6'8 F - Greathouse, along with one or two other prospects at camp, had the highest ceiling of anyone in attendance because of his skill set, frame, and versatility. He has made a name for himself playing for one of the top AAU teams in the state, Spiece Select. He has had more college suitors as of late because he is so long and lanky and is versatile, with the ability to shoot it like a guard and the potential to be a mismatch in the post. He didn't get to participate in 5-on-5 play since he was required to rest for his upcoming AAU tourney, but I got a great picture of his ability nonetheless. He has a ton going for him and is clearly a high-level talent, but there are a few things he can work on to make himself all the better. One would be his strength. He is very slight of frame, weighing in at only 190 pounds, and along with that, he also needs to improve his physical strength. His reach is impressive, at almost nine feet, but he could improve his explosive jumping (26" vertical) to be an even more dynamic finisher above the rim. Tyler is a great kid with a great family and he will no doubt improve all his weaknesses, making him highly desirable for any college program.

Brandon Muncie - Lawrence North HS - Junior - 6'4 G - Muncie (pictured with Coach Tonagel) was another well-known name and high ceiling athlete in attendance. Brandon has stood out playing for another top AAU team, Spiece Indy Heat Felder. The first thing that stands out to someone watching Muncie is his freak athleticism. He was measured at 33 inches on his vertical, but he told me his best measurement was as high as 38 inches. During skill work and water breaks, he had some jaw-dropping jams that drew ooh's and ah's from the campers and raised eyebrows from the coaching staff. There were a few reverses and 360's, and one missed attempt at a between-the-legs dunk that was still impressive despite the result. His game is somewhat raw overall, but you can't teach the natural ability he has. His shot and handles are above average, but if he were to choose to work on them hard and decide to really improve, the sky is the limit for Muncie.

Check back later on this week for more on the camp and to see who earned awards for their play!

Top Performing Seniors from IWU/P-Hoops Prospect Camp

2009-07-19T21:09:00.005-04:00

Saturday was an awesome day of hoops on the Indiana Wesleyan Campus as Greg Tonagel and His staff joined forces with P-Hoops to hold an Elite Prospect and Skills Camp which had a fabulous turnout of nearly fifty of the area's top college basketball hopefuls. The kids worked hard and the intensity was high throughout the day. Across the board the level of play was top notch and several high caliber athletes stood out with great showings. Tonight, P-Hoops will take a look at some of the best from the senior class of 2010 who were in attendance, evaluating strengths and weaknesses. Throughout the week, we'll look at more standouts from the other classes, as well as hand out some hardware to the very top performers. Without further ado, let's delve into which seniors captivated with the potential and their play!

Parker Stouffer - Southwood HS - 6'8 PF/C - The biggest of the big men in camp, Stouffer did not disappoint. A recent commit to Coach Tonagel and the IWU Wildcats, Stouffer likely wanted to show his future coaches and teammates what he could do, and he was more often than not up to the task. He has a HUGE frame at 6'8 and is already a widebody who is tough to move off the blocks once he's rooted in post position. He has a long wingspan that he uses to receive the ball in the post, attack the glass, and block and alter shots. The scary thing? He's hardly lifted weights at all! His strength is natural and from a farming background, so if he finds time to devote to weight training, things could get really scary. But the big man is not all brawn and power; he also has a great face up game and a soft touch all the way out to the three point line. With so many positives going for Parker, including a great personality on and off the court, there are still a few things he could shore up to be the dominant force he could be. One obvious is hitting the weights and working on conditioning, especially coming back off his recent ankle injury. He also needs a bit of work on his hands and being able to gather in even tough passes. Also, if he played with a consistently high motor, he would be darn near unstoppable. Stouffer, a member of Spiece Indy Heat Downs, was truly a treat to watch. He will be a great one this season and in the future!

Greg Miller - North Miami HS - 6'5 SF/PF - Miller is a name consistently heard as one of the best in the class of 2010, and the versatile forward did not disappoint with his showing on Saturday. He has flown under the radar a bit, however, after taking the AAU season off this year to get some much needed down time. Versatility is the name of his game, and it's being adept at so many things that makes Miller such an attractive player to college coaches. Offensively, he really showed that he can pretty much do it all. If a smaller player guards him, he has an array of post moves, as well as the needed strength, to dominate down low. If a bigger player switches onto him, he can step away from the basket and hit threes and mid-range shots with regularity. Defensively, he's more comfortable defending bigger players, using his strength to push them off the block. He also has sneaky athleticism that's not really explosive, but he is able to time his jumps to affect and alter shots. He is not super-athletic, so guarding really bouncy wing players can be tough for him. He's a bit of a tweener, so his game is difficult to project to college. However, he is so highly productive and can affect the game on both ends of the floor in such a big way, that he will no doubt find a college home to continue stuffing the stat sheet.

Chris Birky - Mississinewa HS - 5'8 PG - Birky (pictured with big man Stouffer) showed out well all day long. His intensity, passion, and will to win are his greatest strengths. He won't wow you with a huge vertical or amazing strength, but he can control a team from the point, distribute the ball where it needs to be, and knock down the open shot. He is very fast with the ball in his hands, and he consistently made the correct pass, not always the flashy one. He came with three other teammates, all of whom played well, so there's lot to look forward to at Ole Miss this season. An obvious weakness is size, but he is pretty well able to overcome it with his heady play. Also a great team leader. There's lot to like here.

Josh McDonald - Columbus East HS - 5'10 PG - The point was a position of strength at the Prospect Camp, and McDonald (looking at card) was another of the best. He's had a solid summer playing for SCI Elite and he was equally impressive on Saturday. He is strong with the ball in his hands, and showed off some pretty flashy moved off the bounce. He also knocked down the trey with regularity in 5-on-5 play and in drill work with a smooth form and effortless release. He was one of the top senior shooters in camp. He's not super-strong at 5'10, so he'll need to hit the weights to fully realize all his hoop goals. Also is not a big leaper. If he shores up what he can from a strength and athleticism standpoint, he has a college future.

Wes Zimmerman - Peru HS - 6'3 SG/SF - Zimmerman proved Saturday why he has excelled as a high school player: productivity. He does not do any one thing great but does everything good, making him a tough match up. He's physically strong and a good athlete, capable of hitting mid-range shots consistently. His threes were not falling consistently, so that is a needed area of work. He refuses to be outworked and played with intensity all day long. He's one of those players who won't wow you watching him, but at the end of the game, he's got 15 points, eight boards, a few assists and steals. If he can develop a deadly deep game, there's a certain college future.

Spencer Khrin - Southwood HS - 6'3 G - Crin was easily the strongest player in camp, earning the nickname Hercules from some of the other campers. He was able to rep 185 pounds on the bench press 16 times, an outstanding number for any high school ball player. His biggest attributes besides strength are his great leadership, will to win, and the intensity with which he plays. His shot is good and he hit some threes and mid-range shots while P-Hoops watched. I was very impressed with how Crin cheered on his fellow campers in drill work and during the scrimmage time. He will form a formidable duo with Parker Stouffer at Southwood and is certainly one to keep an eye on.

Stephan Jones - Carroll HS - 5'10 PG - Another top point guard in the camp, Jones showed some serious savvy and great handles while showing well on Saturday. He was strong with the ball in his hands and had great moves on the bounce while protecting the ball. He got into the lane with ease, setting up his teammates or shooting little floaters over taller defenders. His deep shot had good form and he hit it with average consistency. He simply has a good feel for the game. Like the other point guards referenced above, his two biggest areas of improvement are strength and athleticism, as well shoring up the deep ball a bit.

Seth Kisler - Blackhawk Christian HS - 6'7 SF/PF - One of the more surprising players at the camp was the long, lanky combo forward from Ft. Wayne. He has likely flown under the radar playing in the shadow of one of the best players in the state in Michigan State recruit Russell Byrd. However, he burst onto the scene in a big way on Saturday. He is very bouncy, throwing down dunks with ease. He has good footwork. He has a good shot despite having his elbow out on his release. He had a highlight reel play, getting up to block a dunk attempt in 5-on-5 play. He really needs to add weight and strength, but he has a high a ceiling as anyone who attended camp. Another one to really keep an eye on this season.

Check back tomorrow for more write-ups and analysis!

P-Hoops Reports Back from IWU Prospect Camp

2009-07-18T19:30:00.004-04:00

Hey hoops fans. Just got back from the lovely campus of Indiana Wesleyan in Marion. There were right at fifty campers today ranging from freshmen to seniors, and the skill level did not disappoint. Head coach Greg Tonagel (pictured) and his staff put on a great day for these prospects who were looking to develop their game, learn new skills and techniques, and to be seen and potentially recruited either by IWU or others schools that heard about them through the Prospect Camp. The day included drill work, guard and big skill work, a recruiting seminar, five on five games, and a nutritional seminar on how to get an edge by fueling your body right. All of the camp was intense, high-energy, and top of the line in terms of professionalism and caliber of teaching. Coach Tonagel has an infectious personality and love for the game, which was clear to all onlookers and campers, and the facilities are top-of-the-line, making playing for the Wildcats an extremely attractive proposition. Over the next few days, P-Hoops will be breaking down some of the best players in attendance from each high school class, accompanied by pictures, and will be handing out some "Best in Show" awards for athletes who excelled in certain aspects of the game, like shooting or post play. Look out for names like Parker Stouffer, Tyler Greathouse, Greg Miller, Brandon Muncie, Clint Barnes, and many more!

IWU/P-Hoops Prospect and Skills Camp is TODAY!

2009-07-18T10:11:00.002-04:00

Hey readers and hoops fans, today is the big day. P-Hoops is joining forces with one of the best basketball schools in the state, the Indiana Wesleyan Wildcats, and putting on an Elite Prospect camp in Marion from 1-6 PM. Coach Greg Tonagel and his staff will be doing considerable drill, skill, and technique work, plus talking about helpful issues like recruitment and nutrition, while P-Hoops will be on hand to evaluate all the great talent that will be there for the blog. If you are interested in coming and have not yet signed up, don't fret; you can just sign up at the door! Check back this evening and in the coming days for my analysis and impressions of the players who were most impressive.

Top Under-the-Radar Players of AAU Play

2009-07-16T09:11:00.003-04:00

P-Hoops has been able to watch a lot of Indiana kids play during his travels on the AAU circuit this summer and has seen all the big names and familiar faces. Guys like Marquis Teague, Deshaun Thomas, Jeremiah Davis, Cody Zeller, and Terone Johnson have thoroughly impressed as expected, many going above and beyond the lofty expectations put on them. With so many great stars in the Hoosier state, it's easy to miss out on kids who are less heralded but supremely talented, kids who will have great college careers at mid or low major schools, or even in NAIA or D2 or D3 ball. So let's take a look at some of the under-the-radar guys who caught my eye so far this summer.

Randall Lowe and Jake Browne - Indiana Elite White 17U - These two seniors to be thoroughly impressed me from the time I first saw them at the Adidas May Classic all the way through this week at the Best of the Midwest. Lowe, a 6'0 point guard from Tri-West, is a high scoring point guard who is the best ball handler I've seen this side of Marquis Teague. He is capable or scoring in bunches either from deep, with his deadly midrange game, or off the bounce, as he proved in pool play against the Eric Gordon All-Stars this week when he went for 12 straight points in one second half stretch. He is getting looks from plenty of D2's including last year's national champs, Findlay University, but now that he's fully healthy, I have no doubt he'll be a great mid-major point guard. Browne, a 6'8 center from Heritage Christian, is long, lanky, and very athletic, with a 36" vertical and over a 7' wing span. He had back to back 20 point, 20 rebound games at the Adidas May Classic which began getting him some D1 looks, most recently from Dane Fife and his IPFW staff. Jake can defend well and has a great midrange game. If he develops more consistent post moves, schools like IPFW would be the right fit for the big man.

Justin Gant - Indiana Elite One 16U - Gant isn't exactly under-the-radar as he's already well known in the state and by college coaches, but he often isn't as highly regarded as the other great 2011 big men of the state. I think Gant is probably the most versatile out of all the great 4's and 5's in the loaded junior class. I watched him more than once this summer, but one period of play at the Spiece Run n' Slam stood out to me in which he hit several pull up jumpers, had a few nice post moves, rebounded hard, and blocked and altered several shots on the main floor at IPFW. I also saw him play at the Indiana State team camp with his Terre Haute North team as the took on Travis Carroll and Danville, and Gant, in my opinion, was more impressive than the Purdue commit in that one game, although I've sung the praises of Carroll for a long time. Gant also always seems to end up bleeding when I watch him too, a sign of how hard he plays. He'll be a great mid-major player or a solid role player on a high-major team when all is said and done.

Parker Stouffer - Spiece Indy Heat Downs 17U - Playing as the third big behind Travis Carroll and Donnie Hale, two Purdue commits, this 6'7 power forward from Southwood impressed me this week as I watched for a bit at the Best of the Midwest. He saw lots of time on the floor in the finals against the Eric Gordon All-Stars while Hale was out with an injury. He plays hard all the time and has a great motor, working hard on the glass and on defense. He'll have an outstanding career at local NAIA powerhouse Indiana Wesleyan, where he very recently committed!

Tony Springmann - Spiece Select 16U - Bruising and burly is the way to describe the 6'8 power forward from Ft. Wayne Bishop Dwenger. He's another name that is known by many, but I simply do not think he receives the recognition he deserves. Playing on coach Jim Reamer's Select squad, Springmann has impressed just about every onlooker who has seen him this summer. The game that stands out to me was in the Adidas May Classic against Indiana Elite 2011 with stars like Jeremiah Davis, Dee Davis, Austin Ehterington, and Deng Leek. Spiece won that game on the back of Springmann who was utterly unstoppable in the post, and was not to be denied on the glass, outmuscling the much taller Leek for offensive and defensive rebounds. He reminds me a lot of former Purdue standout Steve Scheffler. No one plays with more heart or effort the the big redhead Springmann.

Roddy Richardson - Eric Gordon All-Stars 17U - The "other guy" on Lafayette Jeff, Richardson has often been in the shadows of high-scoring Broncho teammate Jesse Berry, who plays for the SYF program. While Berry can post huge scoring numbers, Richardson is more of a do-it-all player, as he's proven this summer. Roddy is a great defender, as he's strong and big at 6'3 or 6'4. He does whatever it takes to win and has been an integral part of the success of the brand new Gordon franchise, which recently won the championship in the Best of the Midwest tourney.

Gary Harris - Fieldhouse Elite 2012 Air Indiana Up Tempo - One of a few 2012 names I'm going to throw out there. We hear so much about Smith-Rivera, Marrero, Patterson, Hollowell, and rightfully so as they're amazing young players. But there are others who are just coming into their own as sophs-to-be, one of which is Hamilton Southeastern's Harris. A 6'3 guard who is supremely athletic and can score and defend, Harris has a ton of potential. He is a bit passive at times and can phase out of games if not inspired, but he's shown several flashes of brilliance when I've seen him. Those flashes have begun to draw a crowd of D1 coaches, most notably prominent was Illinois head man Bruce Weber during the Hoosier Shootout.

Julian Boatner - Fieldhouse Elite Team Indiana 17U - The high scoring guard from Bloomington North has done just that this summer: score. He has parlayed his knack for pouring in buckets into at least one D1 scholarship offer, from the Naval Academy. Playing against tough competition, Boatner has fared well, and I expect him to be a great mid-major combo guard in the future.

Patrick Obras and Kendall Waters - Eric Gordon Central Stars 15U - This duo from Pendleton Heights will be deadly during high school play as they team up with Kellen Dunham, who I lauded praise on yesterday as his Eric Gordon Indy Stars team won their bracket at Best of the Midwest. Obras is a 6'3 guard/forward with a long wingspan who can defend all spots on the floor. He is a capable shooter and plays HARD. Waters is an unselfish point guard who is lightning quick and can score in bunches. These two, with several others, have helped the Central Stars, who typically play up an age group, fare well this summer.

Joel Smith - Eric Gordon Central Stars 15U - Another soph-to-be on the Central Stars is somewhat of a familiar name to big time recruiniks, but again, like Gary Harris, needs far more recognition in the 2012 class. Smith is a 6'6 guard/forward from Heritage Christian who has really come into his own this summer as he has become more and more of a consisent scoring threat, which has in turn drawn the attention of college scouts, most notably Brad Stevens of Butler. Smith plays with passion and communicates on the floor better than anyone I've seen in the age group, a trait college coaches covet. One stretch of play at the Adiddas May Classic stood out to me as Smith was required to play center with Muncie Central's Nick Osborne out with injury. Smith battled against the bigs of Indiana Elite Team Indiana and dominated Peter Jurkin and Obji Aget, keeping them from scoring or rebounding, while scoring well over 20 points himself. Smith will be a high-major when all is said and done: count on it.

Chrishawn Hopkins - Team Blaze Select - The Indianapolis Manual product created a ton of buzz this week with his play at the Best of the Midwest. He was a relative unknown coming in due to only playing a portion of the high school season this past year, but by the end of the week, several mid-majors and a few high-major coaches were checking him out. Hopkins can flat out fly and was heard saying his vertical was measured at over forty inches. He impressed me at the Hoosier Shootout with outstanding dunks, but also with an ability to hit the three. A college coach buddy of mine said he is quickly becoming a priority to see.

Neal Beshears - Indiana Select - Playing in the shadows of Tyler Koch at Winchester, the 6'6 Beshears is skinny as a rail but pretty darn athletic and can really shoot it. If he doesn't add strength, he will likely end up as a great D2/NAIA player, which is awesome, but if he bulks up a bit, the same buddy of mine says he has a great shot of ending up D1.

Tyler Alderman - Eric Gordon Indy Stars 15U - Alderman has not always put up huge numbers his summer, but he has steadily improved throughout, and at 6'8 and with another inch or two in him, he has a ton of potential. The Fishers product is said to have really only picked up basketball seriously as a seventh grader, so he has a very high ceiling. He has always had the soft touch of a Euro-style big man, but over the last two weeks of play at the Hoosier Shootout and the Best of the Midwest, he has shown more of a willingness to bang in the post and has posted hard and finished well when given the ball on the blocks. A lot of potential here.

There are many more deserving under-the-radar kids who I could write about, but that is a small sampling of the talent in the state with some names you may not have heard of, or which are at least not the first on your mind. Check back more this week for updates!

Updates on Best of the Midwest

2009-07-15T19:58:00.004-04:00

Hey hoops fans. Been at the Best of the Midwest tournament at the Fishers Fieldhouse all this week coaching and watching some of the greatest talent the state has to offer. A who's who of college coaches were assembled to see and be seen by kids they have either offered or are evaluating. Big time coaches including IU's Tom Crean, Ohio State's Thad Matta, Iowa's Todd Lickliter, Butler's Brad Stevens, IPFW's Dane Fife, and many, many others were court side for many games, most visible especially for the 15U Spiece Indy Stars team (playing up in the 16U bracket), a team which includes Ron Patterson of Broad Ripple, Jeremy Hollowel of Lawrence Central, Kellon Thomas of Southport, and Austin Burgett of Avon, among others. Here are some of the players who really stood out to me when I was able to watch in between coaching my own team.

Ron Patterson - Spiece Indy Stars - "Bus" had another great showing, leading the Stars to a runner-up finish while playing up an age level. He had a crowd-awing dunk on an out of bounds play in their semifinal matchup on an out of bounds set in which he faked a cut to the corner and then dove back into the lane for a lob pass which he promptly flushed with tow hands. I can't be totally sure, but from my vantage point, it seemed as if he shot Tom Crean a look as he ran back on defense, likely making sure the Hoosier head man got an appropriate eyeful. Patterson has consistently improved his outside shot and his handle, which still have a ways to go to be at a level of consistency needed for big time college play, but it's clear he's putting in the work. His defense is spectacular at times, but he too often relies on his speed, athleticism, and tremendous reach instead of just focusing on being the great, fundamental, lockdown defender he can easily be. The great thing about Patterson? All his shortcomings are minor and can be improved with hard work, and he's only a soph-to-be!

Austin Burgett - Speice Indy Stars - Burgett really caught my eye this weekend. He is a legit 6'9 at this point and appears to still have some growth left in him. He defends the post and the perimeter well. His post moves are solid and full of finesse, which is good as he is still slight of frame. He hit several midrange J's and a few threes while I watched, including a pull up trey on the break after he got a steal in transition defense. I like this kid a lot and I can see why Cincinnati and Iowa have offered him and why other schools like IU are close to pulling the trigger.

Jeremy Hollowell - Spiece Indy Stars - The last of coach Chris Hawkins' stars that I'll write about in this post is the 6'6 swing man from Lawrence Central, although several others played well, especially Sullivan's Rhett Smith, the man with the motor, and Southport's Kellon Thomas, the point man who makes them go. Hollowell hit a bunch of jumpers from deep and midrange and really surprised me with great defense. He often cut off drives with his long lateral strides and came over from the weak side to help by swatting away shots. Word is that Crean either has offered or is close to offering pending another visit. Sky is the limit for Jeremy, who is a nice kid and very personable.

Griffin McKenzie - Eric Gordon All-Stars - McKenzie, a recent IU target, is a 6'10 post player from Moeller in Ohio. He is coming off an injury so he is a bit under the radar, but I don't think that will last. He is a strong post defender and catches you off guard with his above average athleticism. I think it caught me off guard more than anything because he bears such a striking resemblance to former Hoosier Ben Allen. McKenzie has great post moves and demands the ball on the block with his ability to get great position and leverage on his defender. He has good 15-17 foot range and a great touch from the free throw line.

Ronnie Johnson - Eric Gordon Central Stars - The younger brother of North Central senior-to-be and Purdue commit Terone Johnson (who had another great week of work), Ronnie gets work done on Pat Mullin's 15U team. He is only 5'9, contrasted with his 6'3 bro, but he has a solid offensive game and is a pesky defender on the ball. He has an unorthodox lefty stroke, but he's deadly from deep. If he grows a little more or adds strength, he's a surefire D1 prospect.

Trey Hendrix - Fieldhouse White - The Lebanon product is another diminutive dynamo who can score in bunches. He is great with the ball in his hands with the ability to create for his teammates on the drive or finish himself. His greatest strength is his long range sniping, though, as in one game I saw, he had 7 or 8 treys. He may only be 5'9ish, but he can score on anyone.

Dylan Langkabel - Eric Gordon Central Stars - The 6'3 point man from 1A Morristown continues to impress throughout the course of the summer and into this week. He was recently invited to the Elite Boot Camp at Duke, and his play on the AAU circuit this summer, where he has averaged around 20 a game, is a big reason. He is deadly from deep with a pure stroke and is almost unstoppable on the high pick and roll and on 1-4 low isolation sets. If his defense improves on and off the ball, easily his biggest weakness, he has a high a ceiling as almost anyone in the 2012 class.

Kellen Dunham - Eric Gordon Central Stars - But, the player who impressed me the most this weekend was Pendleton Heights soph-to-be Kellen Dunham, who as a tenth grader has my personal vote as the best pure shooter in the state. Dunham earned MVP honors for the Central Stars, who won their 15U bracket, by scoring 34 and 28 points in their final two tourney games, with eight threes in each game. He is not one dimensional as you might think, like a Matt Roth. Dunham had several great drives which resulted in slashing scores, getting to the line, or nice assists to teammates, including a no-look dime in the finals that brought cheers from the crowd. In the finals, Dunham started the game nailing his first six threes, four of them in the first two minutes. The outburst from the fans made college coaches, including Crean and Fife, leave the 17U championship for a while to watch Dunham's display. Kellen was recently at the IU elite camp where he thoroughly impressed, and if he continues to play like he has recently, he is no doubt a Big Ten-caliber player. If he grows another inch or two from his current 6'3 and 1/2 and can add strength, he could be the next Scott Wood, as one college coach told me.

Check back for more updates from the remaining AAU play this summer!

Update on IWU/P-Hoops Prospect Camp

2009-07-14T17:06:00.004-04:00

Hey hoops fans! P-Hoops has been busy this summer, coaching AAU, high school ball, getting a new job, and being in the midst of moving from Lawrence to Washington Township in Indianapolis, with a quick two week stop-over stay with the in-laws! Needless to say, things have been INSANE this summer. As I've promised many who've asked, P-Hoops WILL be back in full effect once the high school season draws near, with all the write-ups, player reviews, scouting reports, and great recruiting tidbits you've come to expect. In the meantime, just wanted to give a quick update on the upcoming Indiana Wesleyan/P-Hoops Prospect Camp coming up THIS SATURDAY THE 18TH OF JULY on IWU's beautiful campus. The camp is filling up quickly as this will be an awesome event thanks to the expertise of Wildcat head coach Greg Tonagel and his top notch staff. P-Hoops will be on hand to assess the talent for the site, doing player evaluations and much more. Below is a message from Coach Tonagel. Follow the provided link if you're interested in attending, as there is still time to sign up. Don't delay as this will be a great event to be at to find out where you stand, to get tips on recruiting and on improving your game, or to get discovered for the first time! Here's Coach's note:

"I trust you are playing hard and I hope your summer is going well. Our staff at Indiana Wesleyan is having a great summer and preparing for an even better upcoming season. There is a lot of buzz on campus after coming off a 29-7 season with a Conference Championship and an Elite 8 appearance. Two of our graduating seniors have signed with agents and one is already playing professionally in Israel! I wanted to invite you to attend our Prospect/Skills camp Saturday July 18th from 1-6m here on the campus of Indiana Wesleyan University. We teach advance technique and fundamentals which will help elevate your game to the next level. We also have a recruiting seminar that focuses on the strategies and details to improve your recruitment. No matter where you want to play after high school, this camp will benefit you." The cost is only $45. For more information please visit: http://www.iwuwildcats.com/article/1160.php

Greg Tonagel
Indiana Wesleyan Men's Basketball

See you on the court, ballers!

P-Hoops

IWU/P-Hoops Prospect and Skills Camp

2009-06-12T09:33:00.002-04:00

Ladies and gentlemen, P-Hoops is making his return to blogging in the very near future, as I will be getting back to covering the Indiana high school hoops scene and the summer continues and come to a close leading up to the start of a new season. However, one BIG thing that I will be blogging on is the Indiana Wesleyan/P-Hoops Skills and Prospect Camp on JULY 18, which is a joint effort between Wildcats coach Greg Tonagel and his staff and yours truly. The camp, which is on JULY 18, goes from 1-6 PM and is for freshmen-to-be through seniors-to-be. Coach Tonagel, who starred at Valparaiso University, has patterned this camp after the NBA Pre-Draft camps to assess players and aid in their development. The main focus on Tonagel's end will be teaching skills to help players be successful at the next level and educating them about the recruiting process. P-Hoops will be on hand to evaluate the talent for write-ups on the blog. This should be not only a great camp, but a great chance for kids to be seen. If you want more information on the camp or have a player who would be interested in attending the IWU/P-Hoops Prospect and Skills Camp on July 18, contact Coach Tonagel at (765)677-2320, or visit www.iwuwildcats.com for more details.

Other Top Performers from Pitt Jam Fest

2009-04-20T17:33:00.002-04:00

Many other hoop stars from the state of Indiana also had great weekends. Some have already had their star rise and helped to improve their perception with their play, while other budding talents made a name for themselves with some eye-catching, had-turning performances. Here's a few of note. Unfortunately with a full docket of coaching responsibilities, I can only see so many other games (or partial games), so this list is not as comprehensive as I would like. Anyways, here are some other top performers outside of the 15U age group!

Michael Chandler - Spiece Indy Fast Break 2011 - Chandler, a current Louisville commit, may have had his most solid weekend ever in AAU play. Despite being nearly 6'11 and despite being on one of the best teams for producing big men in the country in Lawrence North, Chandler still has plenty of haters and doubters. He did play on the junior varsity for a portion of last season, but when your varsity roster includes around seven upperclassmen who are 6'7 and bigger, minutes are tough to come by. Chandler picked up the slack this weekend for Fast Break as his high school teammate Ryan Taylor, another UL commit, did not play his best. Big Mike had a double-double in their quarterfinal game, scoring 20 and pulling down about a dozen o so boards. He had around ten blocks too, so it may have in fact been a triple double. Great hater-silencing performance by Chandler.

Travis Carroll - Spiece Indy Heat 2010 - The Danville product has to have Boiler fans salivating at the thought of his arrival in West Lafayette. The 6'10 big boy is just what Purdue needs: a dominating inside presence to go along with their fantastic wing and guard play. Carroll is a beast on the blocks with a bevy of moves, and he plays solid post defense, giving up nothing easy. He also has improving range out to the three point line, but fear not Boiler nation, he's no Calasan part two.

Donnie Hale - Spiece Indy Heat 2010 - Hale, from New Albany, continues to prove critics wrong. The man who has no position continues to stuff the stat sheet despite being an undersized 6'7 four man. His seven-foot reach makes him a nightmare on defense, blocking and altering shots and getting plenty of tips. He also has an improving midrange game and can face up on plodding post players. Being a lefty helps him too, as some of his moves are not as predictable.

PJ Boutte - Spiece Indy Fast Break 2011 - Boutte is the 2011 point guard from Indiana who gets the least love compared to guys like Marquis Teague, Dee Davis, and Jalen Packer, but the Howe Hornet is just as productive as the names mentioned. Boutte is quick as lightning with the ball in his hands, he rarely turns it over, is suffocating on D, and is now consistently hitting from deep. Oh, and he continues to set up teammates for easy buckets, his greatest asset.

Tony Springmann - Spiece Select 2011 - Looking for someone to clean the glass? Need a garbage guy who will do all the dirty work it takes to win close games? Look no further than Springmann, a 6'6 or 6'7 bullish forward from Ft. Wayne Bishop Dwenger. His game is not the prettiest to look at, but the red head man-child will do whatever it takes to control the paint on both ends and make his teammates' lives easier in doing so. Love how hard this kid plays - non-stop motor.

Indiana Elite teams were at the Grassroots this week, but I look forward to seeing them again in a few weeks at the Adidas May Classic in Bloomington.

Pitt Jam Fest Report

2009-04-19T20:01:00.003-04:00

A few notes on players of interest from Indiana playing in the Pitt Jam Fest.

Ron Patterson - Spiece Indy Stars 15U - Bus continues to impress. He can do so much defensively with his length when he chooses to get after it. He told me his main focus right now is working on his handle, which is exactly what he should be doing. As his shot continues to improve (as it has), his dribbling skills are the next thing that need to come. He had multiple games of double digit points.

Kellon Thomas - Spiece Indy Stars 15U - The Southport freshman is another one who caught my eye for the second week in a row. He is able to push the ball in transition so effectively and so under control. Tom Crean has been to see him work out as of late. Whoever their new head coach ends up being, Southport can surely build around Kellon.

Austin Burgett - Spiece Indy Stars 15U - Burgett is so versatile for a 6'8 guy. He can put it on the deck and attack with the best of them, and his size gives him a huge advantage. He needs to be more physical and attack the glass better, but the young Avon Oriole is a stud.

Jeremy Hollowell - Spiece Indy Stars 15U - The Lawrence Central frosh is silky. He needs to get more urgency to his game, but he can flat out score the ball from deep, off the bounce, and on the break.

Joel Smith - Eric Gordon Central Stars 15U - Smith played for the first time this week after sitting out with plantar issues. The 6'6 wing does it all. His shot needs to improve an he needs to work on getting stronger and more explosive, but he simply stuffs the stat sheet. He also can handle well for a big guy and pushes very effectively in transition with the ball in his hands.

Patrick Ingram - Eric Gordon Central Stars 15U - The combo guard from North Central is explosive. He can score in many ways and he crashes hard for a guard. He needs to work on his deep shot and handle, but he will team up well with Terone and Ronnie Johnson for the Panthers next season.

Mo Cross - Eric Gordon Indy Stars 15U - Mo Mo had a second big weekend in a row. He is an ultra-athletic, bouncy, active guard. He scores best in straight lines and is effective from deep. His handle needs work, and he will work hard on it. Once he does, the Tech Titan will be unstoppable. Cross had games of nearly ten rebounds, impressive for a kid a shade under 6'4. He scored over 12 a game this weekend.

Paul Bayt - Eric Gordon Indy Stars 15U - The Cathedral product can flat out shoot it. Bayt averaged 11 points a game this weekend and was clearly the vocal leader for the Indy Stars. He needs to add strength and improve his defense, but the heady player will help immediately on the Irish next year as they lose several seniors.

Check back for more later this week...

Apologies from P-Hoops

2009-04-16T21:56:00.002-04:00

Dear readers,

I am so sorry I am just finally getting back to the blog. This weekend, my family's computer got a virus which not only resulted in its' being incapacitated, but an attempted identity theft as well! All is well, after jumping through a ton of hoops (pun intended), and the computer is back up and running. Unfortunately, I only have a quick minute to update this before packing for the Pitt Jam Fest, crashing out early to get up refreshed for old man open gym at six in the morning, teaching a full day of school, and then caravaning to Steel Town with my AAU boys (who are great kids and a blast to coach). So....here's a few quick notes on who really impressed me at Indyball.

D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera- Indiana Elite Team Indiana 2012 - It's tough to get a gauge on how really good he is, since he plays on a team that doesn't get to practice since their players live all over the nation. He struggled some against teams who packed it in and were physical against the Team Indiana big kids, and it's clear he needs to fine tune his outside shot. But kid is a WARRIOR. He takes over in big games, and with his speed, strength, and athleticism at the one-spot, he is near-unstoppable. I love this kid and pray he stays in state.

Hanner Perea - Indiana Elite Team Indiana 2012 - The big kid looked pretty impressive at times. He's 6'9 and has arms that go on forever, and he has some crazy dunks on the break and alley-oops. The rest of his offensive game is still coming along, but you can't teach what he already has.

Ron Patterson - Spiece Indy Stars 2012 - His all around game is catching up with his superior athleticism and potential. He hit some deep treys and even a few off the bounce in the games I saw. Needs to not gamble on D to stay out of foul trouble. He's a monster in transition. I he can tighten up his handle and keep his shot coming along, sky's the limit, youngster!

Kellon Thoms - Spiece Indy Stars 2012 - He didn't score a ton, but he handled all the pressure every team threw at him, scored enough to be a threat, pressured the ball, and set up teammates like Jeremy Hollowell and Austin Burgett for clean looks. He's as fast with the ball as most kids are in a dead sprint. I like his game.

Patrick Ingram -Eric Gordon Central Stars 2012 - The other North Central frosh was really impressive, going hard to the rack, finishing at the rim, hitting a few pull ups and threes as well. He struggled a bit against tough ball pressure, but they were playing up an age group.

Nick Osborne - Eric Gordon Central Stars 2012 - The 6'7ish post from Muncie Central has a non-stop motor, gritty toughness, a nice post game, and a pretty good J from midrange. He will team up with Jeremiah Davis to make the Bearcats tough in 2009-2010.

Marshall Plumlee - Indiana Elite 2011 - He's nearly seven feet right now and while still slight of frame and a little unsure in his movements, he's clearly gonna be a good one. He has nice back to the basket moves and a good face-up game with a sweet stroke. If he played at Warsaw still, he and Nic Moore would be a force.

Cody Zeller - Indiana Elite 2011 - I was mostly happy to see Cody's legit height. I was worried he wasn't as tall as listed, but he's definitely 6'8 and growing. He did well running the floor in transition, scoring easy buckets that way and on offensive rebounds. Needs to become a tougher defender, but that will come with added strength.

Dylan Langkabel - Eric Gordon Indy Stars 2012 - The Morristown product from the tiny 1A school was very impressive this past weekend. He made great plays off the pick and roll, scoring on and-ones and setting up teammates for easy shots. He drives hard without fear, finishes at the rim, and can hit from deep. He shoots almost a set shot from three, so that will have to change, and he is more of a combo guard than a true one, so his handle will need to tighten a bit if he wants to stay at the point.

Mo Cross - Eric Gordon Indy Stars 2012 - The IPS product from Arsenal Tech has a revelation of a weekend, playing spectacularly in stretches. He had one of the sweetest play of the whole weekend that I witnessed, getting a steal, pushing it in transition, not over-penetrating, elevating and pulling up for a sweet 15-footer from the elbow. Truly, a D1 pull up. At 6'3 and long at the 2 or 3 spot, he blocked a ton of shots and rebounded really well from the perimeter when he chose to. He had a high of 20. If his attitude stays in check, he has a bright future.

Tyler Alderman - Eric Gordon Indy Stars 2012 - The 6'8 big kid from Fishers had a nice weekend with a high game of 18 against Spiece. He blocked several shots when he didn't go for ball fakes and has a sweet face up and fade away game. Needs to improve on scoring while going to the basket and rebounding more physically.

I didn't get to see quite as much as I'd hoped this weekend as I had to man the concession stand from time to time, but I hope to watch plenty of the Indiana kids in Pittsburgh this weekend. Oh, and let's try to keep it civil on the posts, especially between Spiece fans and Indiana Elite fans. Let me just say this: BOTH groups should be proud as heck of their teams and their players. You both have squads to die for. Hoop it up this weekend, and represent the Hoosier state well!

Indyball Starts Tonight!

2009-04-10T16:29:00.003-04:00

Most of the top AAU teams in the state tip off their summer season this weekend at the Indyball.com Tournament. Notable players include Cody Zeller, Marshall Plumlee, D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera, Marquis Teague, Ron Patterson (pictured), and many, many more. The games take place at North Central High School as well as the school system's middle schools. P-Hoops will be in attendance all weekend, watching and coaching. If you're in the area, try to come out and see some great hoops action, or check back this weekend for periodic updates on the play and who is standing out.

P-Hoops 2012 Class Rankings

2009-04-07T15:22:00.008-04:00

Another great class seems to be coming together with this years' crop of freshmen. The 2012 class has plenty of national-level talent, including players who have already garnered high-major D1 scholarship offers as ninth graders. The player that holds the top spot has recently been ranked the 13th best freshman in America by ESPN.com and Scouts, Inc. P-Hoops will provide a top 25 list followed by a 2012 Watch List.

P-Hoops 2012 Class Rankings

1. D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera - 6'3 G - North Central
2. Ron Patterson - 6'3 G - Broad Ripple
3. DeJuan Marrero - 6'6 F - Bowman Academy
4. Raphael Davis - 6'4 G - Ft. Wayne South Side
5. AJ Hammons - 6'10 C - Carmel
6. Austin Burgett - 6'7 F - Avon
7. Kellon Thomas - 6'0 G - Southport
8. Nick Osborne - 6'6 F - Muncie Central
9. Kevin Ferrell - 5'10 G - Park Tudor
10. Michael Ramey - 6'4 G - Perry Meridian
11. Brad Hartman - 6'7 F - Union County
12. Logan Irwin - 6'0 G - Whitko
13. Gary Harris - 6'3 F - Hamilton Southeastern
14. Brett Calhoun - 6'8 F - Warren Central
15. Jeremy Hollowell - 6'4 G - Lawrence Central
16. Joel Smith - 6'6 G - Heritage Christian
17. DJ Ballentine - 5'10 G - Kokomo
18. Edward Seay - 6'8 C - Merrillville
19. Terrance Winfrey - 6'6 F - Ben Davis
20. Mitch Yeagy - 5'10 G - Alexandria
21. Dylan Langkabel - 6'3 G - Morristown
22. (tie) Ronnie Johnson - 5'10 G -North Central
22. (tie) Patrick Ingram - 6'1 G - North Central
23. Aaron Payne - 6'1 G - Arsenal Tech
24. RJ Hunter - 6'1 G - Pike
25. Rhett Smith - 6'7 F - Sullivan

2012 Watch List

Tyler Alderman - 6'7 F - Fishers
Paul Bayt - 6'3 G - Cathedral
Adam Botts - 5'10 G - Muncie Central
Keith Cochran - 6'10 C - Bluffton
Mo Cross - 6'3 G - Arsenal Tech
Nathan Cox - 6'8 C - Morristown
Jared Drew - 6'3 G - Lawrence Central
Kylan Dubbels - 5'8 G - Northwestern
Kellen Dunham - 6'3 G - Pendleton Heights
Jake Dye - 6'1 G - Tipton
John Eckert - 6'6 F - North Judson
Devin Futch - 6'0 G - Arsenal Tech
Jordan Hauser - 5'9 G - West Vigo
Trey Hendrix - 5'9 G - Lebanon
Nick Hutcheson - 6'5 F - Greencastle
Isiah Jackson - 6'4 F - Arsenal Tech
Adam Kranda - 6'5 F - New Castle
James Knapke - 6'3 G - Bishop Luers
Brandon Langford - 5'7 G - Decatur Central
Carlos McCormack - 6'0 G - Michigan City
Tom McKay - 6'4 F - North Central
Jimmy Miller - 6'3 F - North Central
DJ Neal - 6'0 G - Ft. Wayne Wayne
Patrick Obras - 6'2 G - Pendleton Heights
Jordan Price - 6'5 F - Lawrence Central
Daniel Purvlicus - 6'7 C - Noblesville
JB Rapp - 6'2 G - Park Tudor
Riley Rapp - 5'10 G - Guerin Catholic
Brandon Tannenbaum - 6'4 F - Park Tudor
Zach Terrell - 6'2 G - Homestead
Thomas Treadway - 6'4 G - Zionsville
Kendall Waters - 6'2 G - Pendleton Heights
Jordan Williams - 6'2 G - North Central
Harry Willis - 6'2 G Ben Davis

Again, let me know if you feel I've omitted someone who is deserving.

P-Hoops 2011 Class Rankings

2009-04-07T09:47:00.010-04:00

The current sophomore class in Indiana has the potential to bring a revival to the state in terms of depth of talent. There are many kids who are already fully on the national scene, while there are many others with the talent to end up as big time prospects. Again, we'll list the top 25 in the class followed by a position by position watch list.

P-Hoops 2011 Class Rankings

1. Marquis Teague - 6'1 G - Pike
2. Michael Chandler - 6'10 C - Lawrence North (Louisville)
3. Ryan Taylor - 6'5 F - Lawrence North (Louisville)
4. Brandon Dawson - 6'5 F - Gary Lew Wallace
5. Darwin "Dee" Davis - 5'10 G - Bloomington South
6. Cody Zeller - 6'8 F - Washington
7. Mitch McGary - 6'8 F - Chesterton
8. Jeremiah Davis - 6'3 G - Muncie Central
9. Justin Gant - 6'8 F - Terre Haute North
10. Jalen Packer - 6'2 G - Princeton
11. Nic Moore - 5'10 G - Warsaw
12. Steven Jamison - 6'5 G - Broad Ripple
13. Austin Etherington - 6'6 F - Hamilton Heights
14. Spencer Turner - 6'3 G - Bloomington South
15. Rontray Chavis - 6'4 F - Princeton
16. Kendall Griffin- 6'5 G - Avon
17. Levi Garner - 6'6 F - Edgewood
18. Johnny Marlin - 6'1 G - Center Grove
19. Greg Dickey - 5'10 G - Tipton
20. Alexander Hutson - 6'0 G - Seeger
21. Tony Springmann - 6'7 F - Ft. Wayne Bishop Dwenger
22. Alex Pritchett - 6'6 F - Bedford North Lawrence
23. Evan Maschmeyer - 6'1 G - Jeffersonville
24. Torrey Nibbs - 6'2 G - Brownsburg
25. Isaiah Hill - 6'11 C - Howe Academy

Watch List

Point Guard

Alvin "PJ" Boutte - Howe Academy
Andrew Clark - Austin
Jordan Hahn - New Castle
Eric Harris - Lawrence North
Garrett Krieg - Jay County
Max Landis - Perry Meridian
Phil Miller - Fishers
Kyle Spencer - Cascade

Shooting Guard

Evan Blackmon - Bishop Luers
Nathan Bromm - Forest Park
Griffyn Carpenter - Triton
Demetrius Lawson - Zionsville
Kenny Mullen - Bishop Luers
Zach Rush - Hanover Central
Rick Thomas - Lawrence North
Zac Van De Water - Whitko

Small Forward

Dontray Chavis - Princeton
Dwight Cliff - Ben Davis
Robbie Dickison - Avon
Kenny Enoch - Howe Academy
Chandler Guion - Lapel
Michael Nesbitt - Evansville Memorial
Kevin Rose - Howe Academy
Brian Stolarz - Munster
Chandler Thomas - Howe Academy (?)

Power Forward

Colin Bowles - Franklin Central
Tyler Greathouse - Columbus North
Matt Howard - Carmel

Players will inevitably be moved onto the list and up the rankings. Again, feel free to comment if I've missed out on someone.

P-Hoops 2010 Class Rankings

2009-04-06T20:14:00.011-04:00

As promised, P-Hoops will now turn to the class of 2010 in Indiana, a class with a lot of high end talent, but with seemingly not as much quality depth as the previous class. These hoopsters who are about to be seniors still have a lot to prove, but clearly have a lot going for them as well. These rankings are based on their junior seasons in high school and will definitely shift some after the summer AAU circuit. I have ranked the top 25 kids in the class and have also included a watch list, which is in positional order. Also, note that the class rankings are now included in the "Links" section to the right of the page for easy access anytime you want to browse. Without further ado, here is the P-Hoops 2010 Class Rankings!

P-Hoops 2010 Rankings

1. Deshaun Thomas - 6'7 F - Bishop Luers (Ohio State)
2. Dominique Ferguson - 6'9 F - Lawrence North
3. Terone Johnson - 6'3 G - North Central (Purdue)
4. Travis Carroll - 6'9 C - Danville (Purdue)
5. Justin Martin - 6'7 F - Lawrence North (Louisville)
6. Donnie Hale - 6'7 F - New Albany
7. Russell Byrd - 6'6 G - Blackhawk Christian (Michigan State)
8. Xavier Jones - 6'3 G - Gary West
9. Jake Kitchell - 6'9 F - South Central/Union Mills
10. Jesse Berry - 6'3 G - Lafayette Jeff
11. Eric Fromm - 6'8 F - Bloomington South
12. Jordan Manuel - 6'9 F - Howe Academy
13. Michael Harris - 6'3 G - East Chicago Central
14. Julian Boatner - 6'2 G - Bloomington North
15. Roddy Richardson - 6'1 G - Lafayette Jeff
16. Brandon Demmings - 6'2 G - Indianapolis Washington
17. Kennis White - 6'2 G - South Bend Washington
18. Jack Isenbarger - 6'5 G - Zionsville
19. John Michael Jarvis - 6'2 G - Terre Haute South
20. Thomas Anderson - 6'6 F - Terre Haute North
21. Khristian Smith - 6'4 F - Pike
22. Jan Maehlen - 7'0 C - Lawrence North
23. Chris Welker - 6'5 F - Zionsville
24. Jordan Didier - 6'7 F - Ft. Wayne Bishop Dwenger
25. Ethan Jacobs - 7'0 C - Tipton

Players to Watch

Point Guard

Chris Birky - Mississinewa
Aaron Bluitt - Bishop Chatard
Nate Champion - Logansport
Andy Cochrane - Bloomfield
Cortez Lee - Mishawaka
Christian Nicodemus - Franklin
James Stamper - Columbus North
La'Mondre Warren - Ft. Wayne Harding
Billy Wilson - New Albany
Zach Yeagy - Alexandria

Shooting Guard

Ryan Benner - Mishawaka
Cody Cochran - Bluffton
Bryant Conder - Lanesville
Andre Hampton - Howe Academy
Nathan Hendershot - Pendleton Heights
PJ Hubert - Mt. Vernon
Trey Hughes - Barr-Reeve
Elliot Kampen - Yorktown
Hank LaRue - Evansville Mater Dei
Randall Lowe - Tri-West
Trip McFall - North Central
Eric Mitchell - Elmhurst
Zach Starr - Hamiton Southeastern
Petar Todorovic - Wheeler
Matt Trimnell - Seymour
Taylor Wayer - Bishop Chatard
Wes Zimmerman - Peru

Forward

Steve Brooks - Fort Wayne North
Leland Brown - Noblesville
Kegan Clark - Jeffersonville
Dustin DeMuth - Laporte
Logan Ingle - Lapel
Robert Kitzinger - Carmel
Scott Laskowski - Carmel
Dylan McDaniel - New Albany
Greg Miller - North Miami
Ari Porkal - Bloomington North
Ronald Ross - Indianapolis Northwest
Andrew Rudakas - Wheeler
Roderick Smith - Ft. Wayne Harding
Darius Stevens - Merrillville
Daniel Turner - Mt. Vernon
DavRon Williams - Marion
Taylor Wischmeier - Brownstown Central

Center

Jake Browne - Heritage Christian
Enique Mason - Brownsburg
Michael Patton - South Knox

Feel free to comment or leave a post about someone I've potentially overlooked. I am not opposed to adding worthy candidates to the watch list if I've simply blanked mentally. Check back later this week for the P-Hoops 2011 and 2012 Class Rankings.

P-Hoops 2009 Class Rankings

2009-04-03T17:17:00.010-04:00

P-Hoops 2009 Class Rankings

1. Jordan Hulls - 6'2 G - Bloomington South (Indiana)
2. Derek Elston - 6'9 F - Tipton (Indiana)
3. DJ Byrd - 6'5 G - North Montgomery (Purdue)
4. Stephan Van Treese - 6'9 F - Lawrence North (Louisville)
5. Patrick Bade -6'8 F - Franklin Central (Purdue)
6. Scott Wood - 6'6 F - Marion (NC State)
7. Andrew Smith - 6'10 C - Covenant Christian (Butler)
8. Colt Ryan - 6'4 G - Batesville (Evansville)
9. Jake Odum -6'3 G - Terre Haute South (Indiana State)
10. Tyler Koch - 6'6 F - Winchester (Wright State)
11. Bruce Grimm, Jr. - 6'0 G - Rochester (East Tennessee State)
12. Justin Jordan - 6'2 G - Ft. Wayne North (undecided)
13. Matt Kenney - 6'3 G - Mooresville (Valparaiso)
14. RJ Mahurin - 6'8 F - Rockville (Indiana State)
15. Stevie Loveless - 6'6 F - Frankfort (undecided)
16. Errick Peck - 6'6 F - Cathedral (Cornell)
17. JaRob McCallum - 6'1 G - Marion (Wisconsin Milwaukee)
18. Kelsey Barlow - 6'6 F - Cathedral (Purdue)
19. Morgan Newton - 6'5 F - Carmel (Kentucky football)
20. Justin Reid - 6'8 F - North Central (undecided)
21. Jordan Myers - 6'8 F - Forest Park (Southern Illinois)
22. Jauwan Scaife - 6'2 G - Muncie Central (Ball State)
23. Kendal Brown - 5'9 G - Evansville Harrison (Southern Illinois)
24. Blake Metcalf - 6'9 C - Plainfield (Albany)
25. Jonathan Sims - 6'3 G - Ft. Wayne Snider (undecided)
26. Jeff Robinson - 6'9 F - Lawrence North (Purdue)
27. Troy Taylor - 6'1 G - Anderson (Evansville)
28. Dru Anthrop - 6'0 G - Lafayette Central Catholic
29. Patrick Hopkins - 6'7 F - Kokomo (Indiana Wesleyan)
30. Blake Beasley - 6'5 F - Decatur Central
31. Aaron Evans - 6'2 G - Roncalli
32. Matt Gehl - 6'4 G - Jac-Cen-Del
33. Aaron Martin - 6'3 G - Rossville (Indiana Wesleyan)
34. Bradley Sneary - 6'6 F - Ft. Wayne Snider (St. Francis)
35. Sandi Marcius - 6'10 C - LaPorte LaLumiere (undecided)
36. Ethan Knepp - 5'10 G - Barr-Reeve
37. Tommy Kurth - 6'0 G - Penn (Valparaiso)
38. Damon Ellison - 6'4 F - North Central (undecided)
39. Greg Rice - 5'10 G - Ben Davis (IUPUI)
40. George Jones - 6'3 G - South Bend Clay (Indiana Wesleyan)
41. Brock Woodward - 6'7 F - Bluffton (Taylor)
42. Tommy Eggleston - 6'5 G - Heritage Christian (Penn)
43. Damion McGee - 6'7 F - Gary Lew Wallace
44. Karvel Anderson - 6'0 G - Elkhart Memorial
45. Reggie Hearn - 6'5 F - Ft. Wayne Snider
46. Jarrett Hamilton - 5'9 G - Cathedral (undecided)
47. Hayden Humes - 6'7 F - Valparaiso (Toledo)
48. DeShawn Clay - 6'5 F - Gary West
49. Casey Coons - 5'10 G - Franklin Central (Taylor)
50. Trevor George - 6'3 F - Princeton
51. Colton Keel - 6'4 F - Triton (Bethel)
52. Jonathan Nwannunu - 6'8 C - Merrillville
53. TeNale Roland - 6'2 G - New Albany
54. Eric Summers - 6'8 C - Lake Central
55. Jay Mohr - 6'0 G - Anderson Highland
56. Jourdan Vann - 5'7 G - South Bend Washington
57. Ryne Robinson - 6'3 G - Warsaw
58. Trev Wilgus - 5'11 G - Evansville Memorial
59. Tyler Eifert - 6'6 F - Bishop Dwenger (Notre Dame football)
60. Charlie Duffy - 6'7 F - Hamilton Southeastern
61. Ed Hazelett - 6'9 C - Warren Central (Western Kentucky football and basketball)
62. LaTroi Wright - 6'3 G - Greensburg
63. Corey Clemens - 6'3 G - New Castle (Morehead State)
64. Phillip Freeman - 6'1 G - Arlington
65. Jordan Bowerman - 6'7 F - Leo
66. Thomas Nugent - 6'4 F - North Daviess
67. Kevin Bloom - 6'4 F - East Noble (St. Francis)
68. Tommy Peller - 6'0 G - Chesterton (Taylor)
69. Kreig Oxley - 6'2 G - Tecumseh
70. Drew Schauss - 6'4 F - Centerville (Brevard)
71. Skyler Titus - 6'3 G - NorthWood
72. Larry Smith - 6'4 G - Lawrence North
73. Tommy Strine - 6'5 F - Lakewood Park Christian
74. Lawrence Barnett - 5'11 G - Bishop Luers (Indiana football)
75. Chris Read - 6'6 F - Lawrence North
76. Kyle Bradley - 5'11 G - Indian Creek
77. Ryan Nowicki - 6'3 G - Guerin Catholic
78. Michael Barton - 6'9 C - Brebeuf Jesuit (Marian)
79. Blaze Ayers - 6'6 F - Brownstown Central
80. Mikel Brigham - 6'5 F - Marion
81. Austin Whitted - 6'4 F - Columbus East
82. Skyler Case - 6'1 G - Delta
83. Brian Mucho - 6'3 G - Plainfield
84. Marcus Jackson - 6'5 F - Lawrence Central (Kankakee Valley CC)
85. Connor Blasi - 6'8 F - Carroll
86. Krste Ruiz - 6'1 G - Munster
87. Shane Wyant - 6'3 F - Lafayette Jeff
88. Jon Gardner - 6'6 F - Frankton
89. John Arak - 6'4 G - Park Tudor
90. Chaz Cooper - 6'5 F - Bloomington South
90. David Blackwell - 6'3 F - Bloomington South

Obviously, many of these kids have college destinations that I am not aware of. Feel free to post a message or email me with any information on their futures, or and disagreements or names you think I've wrongfully left out.

P-Hoops 2009 Rankings: Top 25

2009-04-03T16:32:00.004-04:00

Here is what you've been waiting for; the final 25 players who comprise the best of the best in the state of Indiana. These seniors played so well this season and over the course of their career and have earned the right to be viewed as the kings of the hill. Not only are these the best the Hoosier state has to offer, they are also some of the best players in the entire nation. All of these youngsters will be playing college ball somewhere. Their college destinations will be listed with their rankings. So here you have it, the P-Hoops 2009 Top 25!

P-Hoops 2009 Rankings (1-25)

25. Jonathan Sims - 6'2 G - Ft. Wayne Snider (undecided)
24. Kendal Brown - 5'9 G - Evansville Harrison (Southern Illinois)
23. Blake Metcalf - 6'9 C - Plainfield (Albany)
22. Jauwan Scaife - 6'3 G - Muncie Central (Ball State)
21. Jordan Myers - 6'8 F - Forest Park (Southern Illinois)
20. Justin Reid - 6'8 F - North Central (JUCO?)
19. Morgan Newton - 6'5 F - Carmel (Kentucky football)
18. Kelsey Barlow -6'6 F - Cathedral (Purdue)
17. JaRob McCallum - 6'1 G - Marion (Wisconsin Milwaukee)
16. Errick Peck - 6'6 F - Cathedral (Colgate)
15. Stevie Loveless - 6'6 F - Frankfort (undecided)
14. RJ Mahurin - 6'8 F - Rockville (Indiana State)
13. Matt Kenney - 6'3 G - Mooresville (Valparaiso)
12. Justin Jordan - 6'2 G - Ft. Wayne North (undecided)
11. Bruce Grimm, Jr. - 6'0 G - Rochester (East Tennessee State)
10. Tyler Koch - 6'6 F - Winchester (Wright State)
9. Jake Odum - 6'3 G - Terre Haute South (Indiana State)
8. Colt Ryan -6'4 G - Batesville (Evansville)
7. Andrew Smith - 6'10 C - Covenant Christian (Butler)
6. Scott Wood - 6'6 F - Marion (North Carolina State)
5. Patrick Bade - 6'8 F - Franklin Central (Purdue)
4. Stephan Van Treese - 6'9 F - Lawrence North (Louisville)
3. DJ Byrd - 6'5 G - North Montgomery (Purdue)
2. Derek Elston - 6'9 F - Tipton (Indiana)
1. Jordan Hulls - 6'2 G - Bloomington South (Indiana)

After hours of watching games live and on film and evaluating players and comments from coaches, reporters, and fans, this is the P-Hoops 2009 Top 75. I will release it again in numerical order, and I may add a few more to the end of the list to get closer to a top 100. This weekend I will also begin ranking the current junior class, which features such high caliber players as Travis Carroll, Terone Johnson, Dominique Ferguson, and Deshaun Thomas. Check back later on to see the release of that list.

P-Hoops 2009 Rankings Continued

2009-04-03T14:04:00.004-04:00

Yesterday, we delved into the post-season rankings for the senior class in the state of Indiana. P-Hoops unveiled the first twenty-five student-athletes who comprise the 2009 Top 75. Today we will look at the next best group, numbers fifty through twenty-six. Let's take a look.

P-Hoops 2009 Rankings (26-50)

50. TeNale Roland - 6'3 G - New Albany
49. Jonathan Nwannunu - 6'8 F - Merrillville
48. Colton Keel - 6'5 F - Triton
47. Casey Coons - 5'9 G - Franklin Central
46. DeShawn Clay - 6'5 F - Gary West
45. Hayden Humes - 6'7 F - Valparaiso
44. Reggie Hearn - 6'5 F - Ft. Wayne Snider
43. (tie) Karvel Anderson - 6'0 G - Elkhart Memorial -- Jarrett Hamiton - 5'9 G - Cathedral
42. Damion McGee - 6'7 F - Gary Lew Wallace
41. Tommy Eggleston - 6'5 G - Heritage Christian
40. Brock Woodward - 6'7 F - Bluffton
39. George Jones - 6'3 G - South Bend Clay
38. Greg Rice - 5'10 G - Ben Davis
37. Damon Ellison - 6'4 F - North Central
36. Tommy Kurth - 6'0 G - Penn
35. Ethan Knepp - 5'10 G - Barr-Reeve
34. (tie) Bradley Sneary - 6'6 F - Ft. Wayne Snider -- Sandi Marcius - 6'10 C - Laporte LaLumiere
33. Aaron Martin - 6'4 G - Rossville
32. Matt Gehl - 6'4 G - Jac-Cen-Del
31. Aaron Evans - 6'0 G - Roncalli
30. Blake Beasley - 6'5 F - Decatur Central
29. Patrick Hopkins - 6'7 F - Kokomo
28. Troy Taylor - 6'1 G - Anderson
27. Jeff Robinson - 6'9 F - Lawrence North
26. Dru Anthrop - 6'0 G - Lafayette Central Catholic

Later on, I'll unveil the top 25 of the 2009 class. There is still time to vote on who you think should hold the top spot for this fine crop of seniors!

Troy Taylor Commits!

2009-04-02T20:59:00.002-04:00

One of the best unsigned seniors in the state is Troy Taylor of Anderson High School. The Indians standout averaged over 21 points and nearly ten rebounds a game. The 6'1 guard made his choice known today, as he committed to the University of Evansville, staying in his home state. Congrats to Troy, who will find himself somewhere in the top fifty of the new 2009 P-Hoops Rankings. Click the link below to read more on Taylor's commit.

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2009/apr/02/aces-add-recruit/

2009 Player Rankings: 51-75

2009-04-02T20:13:00.002-04:00

As promised, P-Hoops has reevaluated the 2009 class now that the high school basketball season has ended. These seniors have seen their high school careers come to an end, and most of them will take their talents to the college level. Tonight we'll begin by ranking the third grouping of players, rated numbers 51 through 75.

P-Hoops 2009 Rankings (51-75)

75. Blaze Ayers - 6'6 F - Brownstown Central
74. Michael Barton - 6'9 C - Brebeuf Jesuit
73. Kyle Bradley - 5'10 G - Indian Creek
72. Chris Read - 6'7 F - Lawrence North
71. Lawrence Barnett - 5'11 G - Bishop Luers
70. Tommy Strine - 6'5 - Lakewood Park Christian
69. Larry Smith - 6'4 G - Lawrence North
68. Skyler Titus - 6'3 G - NorthWood
67. Drew Schauss - 6'4 F - Centerville
66. Kreig Oxley - 6'2 G -Tecumseh
65. Tommy Peller - 6'0 G - Chesterton
64. Kevin Bloom - 6'4 F - East Noble
63. Thomas Nugent - 6'4 F - North Daviess
62. Trevor George - 6'3 F - Princeton
61. Jordan Bowerman - 6'7 F - Leo
60. Phillip Freeman - 6'1 G - Arlington
59. Corey Clemens - 6'3 G - New Castle
58. Ed Hazelett - 6'9 C - Warren Central
57. Tyler Eifert - 6'6 F - Bishop Dwenger
56. Ryne Robinson - 6'3 G - Warsaw
55. Trev Wilgus - 5'11 G - Evansville Memorial
54. Charlie Duffy - 6'7 F - Hamilton Southeastern
53. Jourdan Vann - 5'7 G - South Bend Washington
52. Jay Mohr - 6'0 G - Anderson Highland
51. Eric Summers -6'8 C - Lake Central

The first twenty-five have been revealed. Who will find their way into the top ten? Be sure to check back in the coming days for the final fifty.

P-Hoops Class Rankings

2009-04-02T16:02:00.002-04:00

With the high school season over and AAU season about to kick off, I just wanted to say a quick "thanks" to those of you who have become loyal readers. It has been fun so far and I hope to continue to provide noteworthy updates, evaluations, and information that concerns everything about the greatest high school sport in the world, Indiana high school hoops. Also, I apologize for the lack of content over the past few weeks. I will try to get more stuff up in the coming days and weeks as time allows. I will be coaching an AAU squad this summer and will therefore get a firsthand look at all kinds of kids, many of whom I will no doubt write about.

Also, in the interim before AAU, I will be working to update my player rankings from each class. Many of you have requested that, so look for the first batch of updates this weekend, as I will be free to work on Spring Break.

Austin Etherington Update

2009-04-02T15:52:00.004-04:00

Due to an unfortunate microfracture injury, one of the Indianapolis-areas best sophomores got very little attention during the high school season. Six-six wing Austin Etherington of Hamilton Heights missed almost all of the season, but returned for the end of the regular season and sectional play and averaged almost 16 points and seven boards a game. With his size and skill set at such a young age, it's no wonder he is turning heads of coaches like Brad Stevens of Butler and Sean Miller of Xavier. Add IU's Tom Crean to that list too, as the Hoosier head man was recently on hand at a Heights open gym to see the junior-to-be go to work. Check out the attached link for more details!

http://blogs.indystar.com/preps/archives/2009/04/crean_visits_ha.html

AP Picks for All-State Teams

2009-04-01T19:53:00.003-04:00

The votes are in! The media has tallied their picks and has selected the first, second, and third teams, plus high honorable and honorable mention for the 2009 Indiana All-State Team. The first team is listed below, and then a link is provided for all the other selections.

AP Indiana All-Star First Team

Jordan Hulls - G - Bloomington South - Senior
DJ Byrd - G - North Montgomery -Senior
Scott Wood - F - Marion - Senior
Deshaun Thomas - F - Bishop Luers - Junior
Derek Elston - F - Tipton - Senior

Check out the link to see the rest of the picks!

http://www.examiner.com/a-1937284~2009_AP_Ind__All_State_Boys_Basketball_Teams.html

A Lawrence North Movie?

2009-04-01T18:48:00.002-04:00

Indiana hoops legend and writer of the book "Uncaged" Dave Krieder has big plans. BIG plans. The book, which details the three-year run of Lawrence North headed by former Wildcats and current NBA players Greg Oden and Mike Conley, has been made into a screenplay and according to Krieder, will be made into a movie. During the telecast of the IHSAA State Finals, Krieder claimed that, when made into a movie, "Uncaged" will be bigger than all-time great classic "Hoosiers." His plans include acquiring the help and talent of Jim Caviezel, and it will take a Christ-like effort to make his premonition come true. I could see it rivaling "Blue Chips," but "Hoosiers"? Come on now. That's almost blasphemy! And who would play the starring roles? I can't imagine who would play Oden. I don't know any 7'1 actors who could pull it off, but maybe some trick photography could do it. Conley? Maybe Nick Cannon. Or a hilarious one would be Corbin Bleu from "High School Musical," since he is so awful at basketball, despite portraying a hoops loving jock in those God-awful movies. And how about playing Jack Keefer? Here is a link that discusses the movie plans, as well as some other information, including some tidbits on the North/South game.

http://www.indystar.com/article/20090331/SPORTS0203/903310342/1160/SPORTS0203