Week 2 of June News and Notes

I got to catch a few events this second week of June ball. The first was out @ Hanover College on Wednesday, the 2nd was the Top 100 camp up @ Ben Davis High School on Friday, and then the KABC Bluegrass Shootout over the weekend. Hanover featured some more local southern Indiana teams and a couple that will be in reloading- mode after graduation claimed some strong classes. There were also some updates from some games @ Henryville, IWU, and Lawrenceburg during the weekend. On Friday @ the Top 100 I tried to catch everyone I could in the scrimmages. There’s rumors of it possibly being the last year of the Top 100 and doing another Charlie Hughes- type team event instead. It was a chance to see the state’s best players go at each other in a showcase- type setting, but there was certainly a limited amount of team ball being played. And finally over the weekend I streamed the Kentucky Bluegrass Summer Shootout that featured 3 Indiana teams (Silver Creek, Ben Davis, and Austin). Let’s take a look at what went down around the state in Week 2.

• Jeffersonville went 2-0 @ Hanover when I watched them. Soph. Marquel Garner is one of the least talked about kids in southern Indiana. Has a real chance to be a breakout player for the Red Devils this season.
• Scottsburg got a good W v. Edgewood where soph. Jaxon Owens put up 20 pts. Sr. Jarin Luttrell was unable to attend but with a full roster Scottsburg will be a fun team in the MSC to keep an eye on.
• Despite graduating arguably the best class of kids in school history, Charlestown still looked competitive going 2-1 @ Hanover and 3-0 @ Henryville. Freshman Caleb Odle is going to be a major player for the Pirates. Odle put up games of 16, 17, and 15 pts in 3 of their games. New Albany transfer- Kiyron Johnson will be a very important piece for Charlestown and is one of the quickest/ toughest junior point guards in southern Indiana.
• Speaking of incoming freshman, Mishawaka’s Brian Dancler is one to watch for up in the South Bend area. Although going just 2-5, I got messages about Dancler being a kid to keep an eye on in the 2030 class.
• Oak Hill had arguably the best win of the weekend defeating Penn 51-31 up @ IWU on Saturday during bracket play. Penn got them back on Sunday defeating OH in tournament play. The Golden Eagles will open up the season as one of the favorites in 2A.
• Trinity Lutheran also got a good W v. 4A Columbus East on Saturday while going 7-0 in group play @ IWU on their way to a Varsity C Bracket championship beating New Prairie, Danville, and Columbus East. The senior duo of Hudson Lang and Reed Mellencamp were good for the Cougars as usual. TL has been building for this season for the last few years.
• The hometown Marion Giants won the Varsity B bracket title with help from the recent move-back in addition of Manu Jackson. The bracket included teams such as Delta, Columbia City, Valpo, Mishawaka, Culver, Northridge, and Greenwood.
• The Muncie Central transfer Jaxon Johnson is just what Delta needed. For a team that struggled to score at times last year Johnson is a bucket- getter. 2029 big Walker Johnson also had a good weekend @ IWU for the Eagles.
• Mater Dei’s Cole Breeden is listed at 6’6 but he looked every bit of 6’8 at the Top 100. He looks like he’s still getting used to his size at times but he’ll be a really good player down in Evansville for a sneaky good Wildcat team who moves up to 3A.
• If Silver Creek’s Lucas Linderman can find a fairly consistent 3 pt. shot like Dane Caldwell did last year, the 6’8 senior will be a mid major D1 player (like a Bellarmine-type). He dunks everything around the rim and is a good enough athlete.
• From what I saw Carmel’s Joshua Henderson may have had the most impressive day @ the Top 100. The senior stepped out and hit the 3 pt. shot, was active getting rebounds, and had his share of dunks. I could see a Ball State/ Miami (OH)- level school offering him at some point this season. In my opinion he played his way into some offers on Saturday.
• If there was another kid that could make an argument for most impressive performance at the camp was Fisher’s Cooper Zachary. He played with his usual toughness and shot making. As always he was pesky on defense. Some college coach will get a really tough winner in Zachary.
• Another kid with good size that I could see @ the NAIA level is Valpo’s Sr. Maddux Wagner. He can stretch the floor and shoot it well from the outside. He played good on Saturday in front of alot of coaches.
• New Albany’s Karson Stoudemire is still in the running for top player in the class of ’29. The 6’2 soph. competes so hard and goes to the basket strong. Stoudamire can get you points, rebounds, and lock down the other teams best player. He had a good showing on Saturday @ the Top 100.
• Crown Point junior MJ Wilson solidified himself as an obvious top 10 player in the class on Saturday. There seems to be a strong Top 5 in the ’28 class with Wilson knocking on the door.
• In terms of top overall prospects there was a buzz in the gym about Pike’s Jr. Landon Lampley being the best overall prospect in the state and a possible future NBA player. He’s got size, elite athleticism, and shot making that stands out in a gym full of 99 other top kids. As long as he stays in- state he’s in the running for top player in the ’28 class.
• New Haven Sr. Shane Rogers- Smith is a breakout kid to watch out for this year with the 3A runner up Bulldogs. The Dogs return alot while bringing in 2 talented incoming freshmen but Rogers- Smith will be hard to leave off the floor. He had himself a good showing @ IWU on Saturday while New Haven ended up winning the Varsity A Bracket beating Columbus North, SB Riley, and Penn.
• At Lawrenceburg one of the big winners was Shortridge having a strong weekend going 5-1 winning their Silver Bracket. The Blue Devils earned Ws v. South Ripley, Parke Heritage, and Terre Haute North.
• On Saturday down in Lexington, KY. the Eagles of Austin went 1-1 on the day with Micah Mohler justifying his recent #1 spot in the c/o 2029. The sophomore put up games of 28 pts and 30 pts while getting hot from beyond the arc.
• Silver Creek’s Brandon Hunter showed he could shoot the 3 ball on Saturday. He continued being a calming, steady point guard for the Dragons on their way to a 2-0 day. The first game Brandon put in 13 pts and 10 assists and in the 2nd game 14 pts. Hunter also picked up a Belmont offer afterwards.