It’s back to school month which means 2 things; it’s a pretty down time in high school basketball and the only real news we should have is who will end up enrolling in which school. I’m sure there will be another surprise or 2 going into the school year in terms of transfers but the big name we’ve been waiting for, Jahari Miller recently announced he is going to a school down in Dallas, TX. from Pike so we’ll hit on that for Question 1. We’ll touch on Success Factor and how most people seem to be against it. There’s been some good “dynasty’s” in the last 40 years or so. How does current Fishers run measure up? New Albany and Jeffersonville have been rivals for a long time. Who really has the edge now and historically? And finally we’ll answer who’s more likely to end their sectional drought this season? We’ve got 3 programs that have been waiting a long time and this may be their season to end their drought. Let’s check out our 6 Pack for August.
How much does Pike drop after the announcement of Jahari Miller leaving for prep school?
Pike’s Jahari Miller recently announced he is going to a school down in Dallas, TX. So it sounds like Pike will look exactly like who they were in June ball without Miller, which is still a top 5 team with alot of talent and a good amount of size. If Miller would have returned they more than likely come into the season ranked #1 team by most and certainly with the most talent. Without him they’re still a very talented team capable of winning it all next March. They weren’t all that far away last year losing to the eventual state champion, Mt. Vernon in OT @ the regional. The Lampley’s are a year older and Landon is looking like one of the better prospects in the state. Isaiah Hill is a 7 ft. center that most other teams just won’t have or be able to deal with. They bring in one of the state’s better sophomore guards in Ryan Gold and a 6’9 wing/ 4 man from OTE, Van Garner. There are no Vegas odds in high school sports (yet) so I can’t hardly put a number on it, but I’d say it won’t effect them much at all. There’s a Top 5 I believe that are sort of separated from the rest at the 4A level and Pike still remains firmly in that mix for a state championship.
How do you feel about the Success Factor?
A quick Google search describes the IHSAA implemented the success factor rule to “level the playing field, improve competitive balance, and address the long standing debate over private vs. public school dominance.” I’m not quite sure the latter has or would happen with no success factor rule. It goes on to talk about “fair play and fresh matchups.” Basically, the IHSAA success factor was put in to eliminate certain teams/programs from winning too much. Most everyone I’ve talked to seems to dislike the Success Factor because it could punish the kids that aren’t on the team or at the school anymore. For example, the Scottsburg Warriors went to a semi state in 2023, then went on to a state title in 2024 which meant they would be playing the next 2 seasons in 4A, after graduating probably 95%+ of their offense. I get that aspect of it, but I also understand most every kid, coach, alumni, and members of the community would gladly trade for a state title if it meant they had to play-up for 2 years. I guess it’s sort of a Hot Take but I do like the success factor rule. I’m not a big fan of teams loading up in sports (for example the LA Dodgers). I like the fact that there’s been 8 different NBA champions in 8 years. I enjoy NFL for the parity of the League. It’s almost like a built- in salary cap that keeps the same teams from winning year after year. If there was no Success Factor rule would there be more coaches that pushed the envelop over the years in terms of recruitment to just keep winning in 1A or 2A, whichever? Maybe, maybe not. FW Blackhawk Christian did win 3 state titles in 4 years of postseason play, but one was in 1A and two were in 2A. Silver Creek won the equivalent of back to back titles in 2019 and 2021 (no postseason in 2020 which they may have won also) but just recently won their first sectional in 2026 since their 2021 championship. Who knows who all would have won state titles without the rules but it seems to be working out the way it was intended to; very few repeat champions.
In the modern era what program had the best dynasty ?
Marion Giants won 101 games between 1983- 1987. Their 2 top players from that era were Lyndon Jones and Jay Edwards, who did not start during their freshmen season or play much varsity at all. They did however win 3 consecutive championships. The Lawrence North Wildcats from 2002- 2006 won a total of 103. Their big two of Mike Conley and Greg Oden both of whom started as freshmen. Oden and Conley also capped off their careers winning 3 state titles. If you remember the 1990s one the teams of the decade was the Ben Davis Giants, who won 108 games and two state titles in 1995 and 1996. Don Carlisle and Jeff Poisel were seniors on that 1996 team but did not play varsity ball their freshman year. The other 90s power was the Jeffersonville Red Devils who from 1991- 1995 won 10o games winning the state title in 1993 and making it to the Final Four 3 times. From 1999- 2004 the Pike Red Devils won 97 games in that stretch with Courtney Lee as their main 2004 graduate that eventually went to the NBA but did not play varsity as a freshman. In that timeframe the Red Devils won the 2001 and 2003 state title while being runner ups in 2002. The Fishers Tigers currently sit at 83 wins with an average of playing 28 games per year. Cooper Zachary and Jason Gardner have played since their freshman seasons on the varsity with Cooper starting. They’ve got 1 state title and a chance to add another this year. It is conceivable that Fishers surpasses the 90s Ben Davis Giants as the winningest 4 year stretch in the modern era. They would need 25 wins to tie and 26 to break the record. I know Gardner missed some games last year due to injury but I’m not sure Zachary has. It would be extremely special if a 4- year varsity starter was a part of more than 108 wins in their career. He would have to go down as one of the winningest players in IHSAA basketball history.
Who is the premier program southern Indiana? Jeffersonville or New Albany?
In the last 30 years you could certainly throw Bloomington South in this conversation and in the last 15 or so Silver Creek could have an argument at the 3A level. Barr Reeve has been the standard in 1A in recent history. But for the sake of this question and in terms of overall history that started way back in 1909 we’re just sticking with Jeff and New Albany. These have always been two of the bigger schools in southern Indiana and being located within 10-15 minutes of each other have always been rivals. New Albany is listed as having won more than 1,700 wins in their long basketball history. Jeffersonville is not far behind with 1,640 wins according to Google. Last season they just met up for the 177th time in school history with the Bulldogs holding a slight 85-82 edge in head to head matchups. New Albany has won a total of 54 sectional crowns and Jeffersonville with 41. Both schools have the same amount of state championships with New Albany in 1973 and 2016 and Jeffersonville in 1993 and 2025. When talking about individual talent, Jeffersonville boasts two Mr. Basketball’s in Mike Flynn in 1972 and Sherron Wilkerson in 1993. New Albany has one with Romeo Langford in 2018 who scored just over 3,000 pts. Arguably a starting 5 and 6th man from Jeffersonville would feature, Tre Singleton (2025), Wayne Walls (1974) Sherron Wilkerson (1993), Mike Flynn (1972), Tommy Baker (1977), and Brien Hanley (1994). At New Albany you had Richie Johnson (1980), Romeo Langford (2018), Lamont Roland (1996) Julius Norman (1973), Ladrell Whitehead (1994), and Chad Hunter (1997). In terms of answering the question it goes back and forth between these 2. Jeffersonville will have a run of talent, then New Albany has their run. It seems from my experience when Jeffersonville is good they’re really good and make a strong post season run. New Albany seems to be the more consistent in the last 25 years of the two. Since Coach Mike Broughton left after the 2000 season Jeffersonville has had 9 different coaches while New Albany has just had 2 since 1998. You can win big at both schools, proven by the fact they’ve both won a state title in the last 10 years.
Which teams are most likely to move up due to success factor after this season?
There are a few schools that moved up or down in classes this upcoming season due to enrollment such as Evansville Mater Dei is moving up from 2A to 3A, New Pal. is moving up from 3A to 4A, and FW Luers is moving up from 2A to 3A. Brownstown (3A to 2A) and Scottsburg (4A to 3A) are both moving back down to their original classes after their 2 year success-factor. The one school that is moving up due to success factor this season is Parke Heritage after making it to the semi state a couple years ago and winning a 2A state title last year. The Wolves are moving up to 3A where they’ll still be very competitive. This season there looks like they’ll be alot more candidates and possible repeats. Let’s start with the 1A state champ, Barr Reeve who even if they just make it to semi state this year will move up to 2A for the next two seasons. Liberty Christian is also a prime candidate to move up to 2A but they’ll have to win it all this year in 1A and as the probable preseason #1, could be a likely possibility. In 2A the Warriors of Westview were one lay in away from a state title so if they’re able to just get back to Indy they’ll be moving up to 3A. Austin comes into the season as a likely top 5 preseason team and if they’re cutting the nets down in Indy, they’ll be moving up to 3A next year. 3A has three really strong candidates, New Haven who made it to the finals last year would need to return and win 3A North again to move up. Silver Creek could finish what they started last year and win a state title moving them up for the next season. Cathedral will have to get through a gauntlet of a sectional but a return semi state would earn them a spot in 4A next season. I would expect to see at least 1 or 2 teams move up for next season with all the possibilities. Barr Reeve and Cathedral seem to be the most likely.
Who is the most likely to end their sectional title drought?
Teams like New Albany, Carmel, and Fishers are expected to win their sectionals every year, otherwise it would go down as a disappointment, regardless of how strong their opponents are, so there’s no way they can be included in any sort of “drought” or “we’re back” conversations. I’m looking at teams that have been “down” for a while and without a sectional title in a LONG time. FW South hasn’t cut down the sectional nets since 2007 and return most everyone from a 18-5 squad. The good news is they only play in a 4-team sectional. The bad news is in no way will they be favored with Homestead being one of the four. In order to end the drought South will have to pull a pretty significant upset of a preseason Top 5 team. South Dearborn will be a trendy pick to come out of Sectional 29 with Batesville, Greensburg, and Jennings County being roadblocks. It’s really one of the more competitive and balanced sectionals in southern Indiana with maybe a very slight edge to the Knights who’ve not won a sectional since 1995. Possibly the biggest drought that has a shot at being broken is @ Indy Shortridge. The Blue Devils have a rough path to get through Sectional 26 with Brebeuf, Attucks, and defending 3A champ, Cathedral in their way. But if they manage to get through that sectional, they’ll be crowned champs for the first time since 1969. They’ll come into the season a Top 10 team in 3A and have one of their better teams in recent memory.
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