We’re rolling into November now with that basketball feeling in the air. Teams are getting into official practices here within the next week as we get into the Top 15. There’s a private school out of Indy that doesn’t rebuild, just reload. Speaking of Indy teams that reload rather than rebuild this next team hasn’t had a losing record since the 2011- 2012 season. Yet another Sectional 8 team makes an appearance that you could say is even under the radar. There’s a team just across the Ohio River way down south that wants to return to their spot atop Sectional 15. And finally, a champion moving up to play with big boys in 4A for the next 2 years. Let’s get to our # 11- 15 rankings.
15. Indianapolis Cathedral Fighting Irish- The c/o ’25 group that Cathedral lost to graduation would cripple most teams. Lebron Gough, Deric Cannady, Aiden Hughes, and Indiana All Star Brady Kohler (also throw in Cash Daniels who transferred to Carmel). That’s a top 20 lineup lost to graduation/ transfer. But the Irish keep on fighting with leading returning scorer, Keaton Aldridge (11.2 ppg) who’s a Detroit commit. Also returning is D1 point guard and Mt. St. Mary’s commit, Julien Smith who is a sneaky Indiana All Star candidate. 6’6 senior R’mani Wells is back this year as well and had a good spring/ summer of AAU ball. Those 3 seniors there will give Cathedral a chance against anyone they go up against this season, especially in 3A. 6’4 Jr. Owen Peterson and 6’5 sophomore Jaxson Delaney. What really has Irish fans fired up is bringing in one of their best freshmen classes in recent memory, and that’s saying something. Jayden Kennedy, Ryan Gold, and Eli Wilson will have a chance to get varsity minutes (if not start) on Day 1.
Key Games;
December 6 v. SB St. Joe’s @ Brownsburg
January 3 v. Carmel
February 20 @ Ben Davis
February 24 @ New Albany
14. New Albany Bulldogs- There’s nobody happier to see Jeffersonville’s 2025 class graduate more than the Bulldogs. New Albany has had some really good teams the last couple of years but just couldn’t break through what would become the 2025 state champion Red Devils. This year, and for the next 3 or 4 this sectional looks to belong to the Dogs. 6’5 nationally rated (and still underrated nationally imo) sophomore Noah Washington will lead this group of Bulldogs as it becomes his team after putting up around 15 or 16 ppg last season. Noah is my #1 ranked kid in the class of ’28 for Indiana and already holds multiple D1 offers. Senior guard TJ Washington is alot of times overlooked on this team. TJ can easily be the Dogs leading scorer on a given night while finishing tough around the basket or from deep. Juniors Ashton and Reece McKee are two super quick guards that could really breakout this year. Three more juniors with size look to make an impact as well, Greyson Grubbs (transfer in from Louisville Trinity), Seth Winslow, and Xavier Harvey. Throw in possibly the state’s top incoming freshman, 6’1 Karson Stoudemire and the Dogs have as good of underclassmen as any team in the state. They may start thinking state championship in New Albany for the 2026-2027 season but Bulldog fans want to start that process a year ahead of schedule.
Key Games;
November 26 @ Bloomington South
December 6 v. Plainfield @ Brownsburg
January 23 @ Silver Creek
February 24 v. Indianapolis Cathedral
13. Hamilton Southeastern Royals- HSE is a team people seem to forget in Sectional 8. We all know about the Fishers juggernaut, Noblesville should have a big year, Westfield had 2022’s Mr. Basketball, and Carmel has had recent statewide success. HSE with new head coach Bob Allen, who comes in from Guerin Catholic inherits a statewide top 15 team. The big name on this team for the next few years is Varschon Clark. After a big spring/ summer with IE, Clark is due for a big jump in production. Outside of Varschon this is an experienced team with a really solid senior class. The teams leading returning scorer is 6’1 senior guard Maverick Young at 11.8 ppg. 6’6 senior Luke Weemer nearly matched that ppg total with 10.9 ppg. of his own. 6’5 Landon Osswald is another player that could lead the Royals in scoring on a given night. 6’3 Jack Jacobs is final piece of the c/o ’26 puzzle after putting in 5.8 ppg last year. A breakout name to remember is 6’3 sophomore Maxsim Radovich.
Key Games;
November 29 v. Pike
December 19 v. Fishers
January 30 @ Noblesville
February 13 v. Carmel
12. South Bend St. Joe’s Huskies– Last year’s 3A state champs make the move up to 4A this year and are ready to compete for another run @ a title. Losing al time leading scorer, Chase Konieczny hurts but the bulk of this team, plus some incoming transfers, return. Pick your poison on who to start with; junior guard Elijah King is a big time player who’s the teams leading returning scorer 14 ppg but he’s followed closely by 6’5 senior sniper, Nick Shrewsberry (Notre Dame commit) @ 13.9 ppg. Both players could be hovering around that 20 ppg mark this season. 6’3 senior guard Ethan Roseman is another player that will be playing college ball somewhere put up 10.6 ppg last year. 6’2 senior Braylen White is a returnee who’s looking to break into the starting lineup. 6’4 senior Valpo transfer, KJ Avery will certainly help the Huskies and add just another good offensive piece. A junior that is a big part of St. Joe’s contending for another championship is 6’6 Peyton Miamba, who came over from Penn. 6’7 junior Donovyn Williams transfers across state lines from Niles, MI. There’s plenty of talent here for St. Joe’s and the experience of winning a championship last year helps big time, but giving time to get the incoming transfers to gel with an established group will be key.
Key Games;
December 5 @ Chesterton
December 6 v. Cathedral @ Brownsburg
December 13 v. Silver Creek @ Southport
January 9 v. South Bend Riley
11. Lawrence North Wildcats- The Wildcats will be hoping that their third straight semi state appearance is a charm. The catalyst for those teams is across town playing for Butler (Azavier Robinson) but plenty return as well as some new additions. Indiana junior all star, Brennan Miller is back for his senior year and is one of the top players in all of Indiana. Miller put in 13.8 ppg and 8.6 rebounds per game last year and could see an increase in those numbers as ‘the man’ for LN this season. Senior guard Cam Webster is super underrated and due for a breakout year after averaging 7.4 ppg and 4.8 assists per game. 6’5 Chandon Gilbert, one of the state’s top sophomores made the move over to LN from Warren Central and will make an immediate impact. Gilbert played really well @ the Charlie Hughes games I saw him in and looks to just be scratching the surface of his potential. Another sophomore move-in from Decatur Central, Lavell Love will also be wearing the green and red this winter giving the Cats a really good sophomore duo. Senior Duke Karnes is LN’s best 3 pt. threat and averaged 5.5 ppg last year but looks to add to that in a starting role this season. The loss of Robinson (graduation), Kai McGrew (Fishers), Jamar Thomas (prep school), and KJ Jones (Warren Central) does obviously hurt but if there’s anyone that can overcome that amount of losses it’s LN.
Key Games;
December 10 @ Lawrence Central
December 20 v. New Albany
January 20 @ Plainfield
February 13 v. Ben Davis
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