It’s finally November which means all the rankings and hype going into the season will finally get played out on the court. This week we’re getting into the Top 25 and some really strong teams. There’s a city school in Indy that looks to have one of their better teams in recent memory. Speaking of Indy city schools there’s another squad looking to capture their first sectional title since 1969. Sectional 8 is always strong but a team from Hamilton County makes an appearance this week with still some more later on in the rankings. And finally, two runner ups from last season want to get one step further this year and cut the nets down in March. Let’s take a look at teams #21- #25.
25. Indianapolis Shortridge Blue Devils- You may not know much about this Shortridge group that went 13-12 last season buried in a loaded Indy area but if summer ball is any indication, the Blue Devils are in for a special year. They went 15-2 in the month of June with notable Ws over Guerin Catholic, Parke Heritage, and Terre Haute North. The Devils are led by a really good senior class. 6’7 Sr. TJ Davis is one of the better unknown players in the state. Davis averaged 17.5 ppg and 9 boards last year for Shortridge. 5’10 Sr. Jeremy Crowley is a strong lead guard that put up 9.8 ppg and 5.8 assists last season. 6’1 Sr. Asher Davis another returning starter that had numbers of 6.6 ppg. 6’0 Sr. Kaden Moore should see his PT and production go up this year. Sr. LaRon Suggs. Sr. Rico Neely, and soph. Lawuan Smiliton will add depth in the backcourt. Other than Davis you notice there’s not alot of height on this Blue Devils team. Which means this team will push the pace early and often. The Indy City Tournament will be up for grabs and have some really good teams this season. If you haven’t seen this Shortridge group play yet make sure you put them on your Must- See list this season.
Key Games
December 1 v. Attucks
December 15 @ Noblesville
January 19- 25 Indy City Tournament
February 15 @ Guerin Catholic
24. Indianapolis Scecina Crusaders- If the way they looked this summer is any indication this could be a very special year for this Scecina group. It’s hard to take too much away from a summer game @ 10:00 on a Friday morning but what they did to a good Blackford team was eye opening. It starts with our #5 rated junior, 6’5 wing Jaylin Foster. Foster is one of the more versatile players and better defenders in the state. He averaged 12.8 ppg and 6.2 rebounds per game last season and expect those numbers to jump. It’s far from just a one- man team. The pace and tempo of this team is relentless and that starts with junior guard, Ian Collins. Collins is an underrated guard in the city and gets downhill any chance he gets. Jr. Mason Johnson is another athletic guard they added going into the school year from Purdue Poly that averaged 8.8 ppg there. 6’2 junior combo guard Boomer Minch is a knockdown 3 pt. shooter. When teams want to load it up down low to stop the drive, Minch is a sniper that can’t be left alone. Sophomore Conner Weaver is another very capable shooter that spent alot of time on jv last year but will find himself playing a very important role for this Crusaders team. 2A is really strong this year but winning City as well as a state title is certainly possible for this squad.
Key Games
November 24 @ Westfield
December 4 @ Yorktown
January 18-25 Indianapolis City Tournament
23. Westview Warriors- The lasting image of the state finals last season was Westview’s Austin Schlabach’s drive and layup went around the basket and out that would have won them the 2A crown. Westview enters 2026-27 as one of the to Class 2A teams in the state and should be plenty motivated. The Warriors finished 27-2 and could be a serious candidate to run the table this season. That season included NECC regular-season and tournament titles. It also included Westview’s first regional championship since 2018. At semi state, Westview beat Lapel 65-62 and Bishop Luers 69-48. The team’s only loss before the final came at 4A Northridge in the second game of the year. The engine for this Warrior squad is Sr. guard Austin Schlabach, who routinely was the best player on the floor during AAU ball regardless who he played against. Schlabach averaged 19.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.6 steals and 1 block per game last year and is a Huntington commit. He also scored a career-high 32 points in the regional final v. Gary 21st. The biggest question is replacing Kaden Grau, who graduates. Grau averaged 18.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists. He also shot 51% on the year. By midseason, Daniel Yoder was averaging about 10.1 points, Pierce Yoder 5.5 and Bryce Yoder 4.3. Those three will have to take on more of the scoring. The 3 Yoders are knockdown 3 point shooters, especially Daniel. The team averaged 62.3 points per game against conference opponents, and its only sub-60 game in conference play was its lone loss. Rebounding and size would be the main concerns if there are any but this group of players play extremely hard and compete with anyone. In a loaded 2A North, Westview and Oak Hill seem to be on a collision course @ semi state in March.
Key Games
November 28 v. Northridge
January 2 v. Barr Reeve @ Riverview Health Areana
January 12 NECC Tournament
22. Hamilton Southeastern Royals- This ranking got a big boost recently with the transfer of Davis Baker from LN. The Royals lost a alot of good seniors from last year’s 15-10 team, but they return some really good pieces. There’s no question who’s team it is this year. Jr. Varschon Clark averaged 13.3 ppg and 4.6 rebounds. Clark is a strong candidate for being selected as a junior All Stars in June. Sophomore guard KJ Buckley got some good PT as a freshman last year and now should find himself in a starting role. Buckley put up 3.3 ppg on a loaded roster and had a good summer AAU season with Indy Heat. Like I said earlier, the Royals received a big news when junior guard Davis Baker transferred in from Lawrence North. Baker could have potential been a starter on a really good LN team but should find himself getting plenty of minutes for HSE. Three juniors that should also find themselves in the rotation are forward Luke Powers, guard Jack Modesitt, and 6’6 forward Bradley Bode. It would be a game changer if HSE could find a couple of knockdown shooters from this group. In most sectionals they’re the clear favorites but in Sectional 8 they’re playing spoiler as a 4th or 5th best team.
Key Games
December 11 v. Brebeuf
December 12 v. Penn @ Carmel
January 15 v. Westfield
January 22 @ Zionsville
21. New Haven Bulldogs- We all knew the Bulldogs were good last year but getting to the state finals and basically coming within a quarter of a state title was somewhat unexpected, at least by me. Losing a big time player like Jadrien Ezell hurts but returning pretty much everyone else puts them in prime position to get back to Indy from the North. Their leading scorer last season was combo guard Tarvar Baskerville who averaged 13 ppg. Deuce has a shot at becoming an Indiana All Star in June with another state title run. 6’3 Lavell Ledbetter is a mismatch for most opponents because of how wide and strong he is down low. He averaged 9.8 and 5.5 rebounds per game last year. A breakout candidate is 6’1 Sr. Shane Rogers- Smith who looks to increase his 7 ppg last time out. 6’5 senior Marquaylon Johnson may find his way into a starting spot. 6’4 sophomore Jayon Thomas got really good PT by the end of last season. Ledbetter and Thomas are two big bodies that most teams just can’t match up with. Two of the area’s better freshmen enrolled @ New Haven in August. 6’3 Cam Ruch has the potential to be a top 10 talent in the state and if he’s not in the starting lineup, expect him to be one of the first guys off the bench. 5’10 guard Braylon McKinney is another kid that should get mostly varsity time this season. On paper New Haven looks to be favored in 3A North.
Key Games
December 22 @ Westfield
January 5 v. FW Snider
January 26 @ Homestead
February 25 v. FW South