We’re just about a month out until some actual games gets going. This week we’re looking at teams #31- #35. There’s some really fun teams and potential in this group and a few young teams that could really start making some noise a year ahead of schedule. There’s a couple teams up in the Region this week that are both led by underclassmen. There’s also a young squad up north looking like they may be favorites in a tough 4A sectional. Our first 1A team makes an appearance after winning a title a year ahead of schedule. One of the Pocket City’s most dangerous teams in March is back with alot of depth. And finally a team from the 260 is still a legit threat even after losing a kid to prep school. Let’s take a look at this week’s rankings.
Rankings 31-35
35. Elkhart Lions- The Lions finished sub .500 at 11-12 last season but they were a super young group. Now that they’re a year older bigger things are expected from this group. You could even say that they’ll be considered Sectional 4 favorites. One of the main reasons for optimism is last year’s leading scorer was just a freshman. 6’5 sophomore Kaleb Anderson may not be known statewide just yet being from the very north of Indiana, but our #7 ranked sophomore should be after this season. Anderson scored 17.8 ppg last season which was good enough for 3rd in the state for the class of ’29. Look for a motivated Anderson to put the state on notice this year. Also returning are 6’5 senior Samarcus Gipson. Gipson is an excellent athlete that can get up and down in transition throwing down dunks or blocking shots on defense. 6’6 Quinn Chandler is another guy with good height and length that alot of other teams just don’t have. With Anderson, Gipson, and Chandler going an athletic 6’5, 6’6, and 6’6, Elkhart will have the quickness advantage when it comes sectional time. Losing 6’4 Brayden Hashberger to Jimtown via transfer hurts but there’s enough still there to make this Elkhart team must-see this season.
Key Games
November 24 @ Northridge
December 19 v. FW Snider
January 8 @ Penn
January 30 v. Warsaw
34. FW Snider Panthers- This ranking would have been about 5-10 spots higher if senior Trell Hogue stuck around Snider, but he opted for the prep school route. I liked what I saw out of the Panthers at the Charlie Hughes against Silver Creek even without him. Snider seems to still have a ‘big 3.’ Senior Ketron Paschall is back after averaging 8.8 ppg and 6.5 rbs. It seems like Tank has been around for a long time and wants to make his senior year a special one. Jr. Chance Derossett was really good in June ball and is a big time shot maker from 3. He’s becoming more athletic and his game is really developing. Do not be surprised to see Derossett as the Panthers leading scorer this year. The third guy is Sr. athletic guard Braylin Fertil. He’s a real leader of this Snider team and is also a big time football player. A real wild card for this Panther squad is the development of 6’7 soph. John Vance. He didn’t get varsity time last year but he may find himself in a starting role this year inside. And finally Jr. guard Terrell Lapsley will need to step up his game this year for Snider if they want to compete in a winnable Sectional 5.
Key Games
December 4 @ FW South
December 19 @ Elkhart
December 22 v. SB Riley
January 5 @ New Haven
33. Gary Westside Cougars- I really want to believe in this ultra talented Cougars team. This ranking in 6 months will either look too high or too low. Alot of that depends on the development of one of the best sophomore duos in the state. 6’9 Prentiss Gates and 6’3 Deshawn Clay. It’s not out of the question when it’s all said and done that Gates will be the top in-state player in the class of 2029. He’s got elite Isaiah Hill-like defensive instincts and the ability to set alot of shot blocking records @ GW. His shot is coming around and when he gets the ball in the post he doesn’t bring the ball down and just goes up and dunks everything he can. Gates is the next really good big to come out of Westside with the likes of Vincent Hart, Christopher Hunter, and Jalen Washington. Deshawn Clay is rated as the #11 sophomore in the state and he just keeps getting better. His shot is starting to come around and he’s already long and athletic enough finishing in traffic. Another reason for so much optimism on the Westside is incoming junior transfer, 6’3 Deandre Higgs from Chicago Thornton Township. Higgs averaged 15 pts and 6 assists at his old school. 6’5 senior Justin Skinner will be a be a big time contributor this year. With all the other options, Skinner and alot of others will get plenty of good looks from the outside this year. When watching them @ the Charlie Hughes that was one really big take away. If this group can hit some 3’s, this rankings is way too low.
Key Games
December 4 v. Michigan City
January 28 @ East Chicago Central
February 5 @ Gary 21st Century
February 23 @ Gary Lighthouse
32. Merrillville Pirates- There’s a youth movement starting this year in Merrillville and it’s come at a time Coach Patton and the program need it. It will be 10 years this season since the Pirates have won a sectional crown. Even with a lineup that may start 3 freshmen at some point during the season it starts with Jr. All Star candidate, Charles Hardiman. Hardiman is one of the best scorers in his class and put up 19.5 ppg last season. From what I saw over the summer he may average well into the 20s this season. He was one of the top ppg scorers @ the Charlie Hughes event in June. Losing Jr. Cameron Jones, who moved to Illinois for high school hurts, but that just means more time for arguably the best class of freshmen in the state. 6’6 Nas Faniel looks like the clear #2 rated kid in 2030 for the state from what I’ve seen. He’s long, can handle the ball, pass it, athletic, and can shoot it. You don’t see many kids come into high school at his height and be as fluid as Nas is. Another top 10 kid is 6’2 guard Peyton Thomas who can play on or off the ball. He spent a spring/ summer playing Jr. EYBL for a really good Indy Heat team. The lefty is an excellent finisher in traffic. The third freshman is 5’10 primary point guard, James Walton III. He’s a tenacious defender that looks like he also has some more room left to grow. One really important piece for the Pirates is the growth of 6’6 Jr. Idris Norey. If Norey can just be a threat down low than that opens up everyone else’s games. Hopefully the 3 freshman stay together all 4 years and build something special @ Merrillville.
Key Games
December 19 @ East Chicago Central
December 22 v. Warsaw
January 15 v. Crown Point
January 22 @ Portage
(t) 31. Barr Reeve Vikings- The 1A defending state champions make an appearance here @ #31. Many, including myself thought the Vikings were a year early winning a state title last season. They got through an always tough Sectional 62 and made it through the 1A South semi state gauntlet with Bloomfield, Hauser, and Liberty Christian. The last two 1A state champs and 3 out of the last 6 have come from Sectional 62 and BR may just go back to back. They return virtually everyone with production from last season. Senior Kierson Lengacher is the leading returning scorer for the Vikings at 14 ppg even though it seemed like they had a different leader scorer each game. Senior Jaylon Graber put up 10.8 ppg and 4 rbs, Jr. Braxton Neidigh was at 9.9 ppg, Jr. Josh Miller at 8.8 ppg (and had a really big semi state last season), and Sr. Carson Yoder at 5.5 ppg. That’s likely your starting 5 for the Vikings this year but they’ve got some more pieces coming off the bench like senior Miller Thompson, junior Wrigley Wirtz, junior Brody Stoll, and sophomore Hudson Neidigh should step up in his first full time varsity season. As you can tell the Vikings have alot of pieces and now they’re experienced. The way Barr Reeve plays is difficult and frustrating enough for teams to play against so it would be an upset if Barr Reeve and Liberty Christian didn’t have a rematch again this March @ semi state.
Key Games
December 12 v. Blackford @ Carmel
January 2 v. Westview @ Noblesville
January 5 @ Brownstown
January 23 @ North Daviess
(t) 31. Evansville Bosse Bulldogs- Is Bosse ever really ‘down’? By March this team is usually clicking on all cylinders playing an up tempo style with pressure that’s hard for other teams to deal with. Despite the loss of 2 really good seniors, Dorian Bowen (Southern Miss) and Marrius Harris (Pikeville) possibly the strength of this Bulldog team is their depth. 5’9 senior Elijah Chinn is their leading returning scorer at just 8.8 ppg but expect Chinn to have a breakout year. Junior Dontae Barnes is another player in the backcourt that is expected to up his production this season. 6’5 sophomore Ethan Hampton was one of the better freshmen in the area last year and there’s high expectations for Hampton for the next 3 years. Senior guard Elijah Eastwood is yet another guard for Bosse that will put pressure on you defensively and push the pace on offense. Senior Landon Hardy provides some size @ 6’5. Juniors Aiden Boyd and Ben Dillon will find their way onto the floor this season. And finally sophomore Amauri Wharton- Jones got some varsity minutes last year and will add to the varsity depth. Bosse has won Sectional 32 two of the last four seasons and will be in the mix along with Boonville, Mater Dei, and Memorial for another title.
Key Games
December 4 v. Boonville
December 11 @ Princeton
February 12 @ Evansville Mater Dei
February 19 v. Evansville Harrison