We’re at the beginning of October now and the countdown is on until the first games of the season in about 7 weeks. There were some teams in last week’s rankings that could make some noise in the tourney and have strong records going into the postseason. This week we’re looking into teams ranked 41- 45. There’s a team up in the region making an appearance looking to make it 3 straight semi state’s. A group that will be playing in the Hall of Fame Classic as well as wanting their own 3rd straight trip to a semi state. There’s a 4A team that some may be sleeping on but got a really good transfer recently that put them into the Top 50. There’s a team in 3A that could play spoiler in a very tough Sectional 24. There’s a giant in the Indy area that is looking to reload rather than rebuild this season. They’ll be a super quick team in the Ft. Wayne area with alot of guards that make into the Top 50. I realize I named six teams but that’s because there’s another tie because why not? There’s alot of good teams and not much separating a few of them. Let’s take a look at teams #41- 45
Rankings 41- 45
45. Terre Haute North Patriots- The Pats are coming off back to back semi state appearance and are hoping to make it three in a row. If they can avoid the likes of New Albany and the Indy schools they’ll have a real shot. Graduation and transfers really hurt THN. Last year’s leading scorer Cam Fennell, third leading scorer Brady Klopfenstien, and Gavin Woelfle are all off playing ball at college this year and a name everyone was high on, 6’8 Jr. Tyler Renn left for prep school over the summer and reclassed into ’28. That leaves alot on the shoulders of 6’6 senior Blake Hammond who averaged 11.6 ppg last year. That average will have to go up if the Patriots want to replicate the success of the last few seasons. Senior guard Mason Lloyd will also need to step up this year after putting up just over 4 ppg last season. 6’2 Jr. Chase Millington got some varsity PT last year and may find his way into a starting spot this year. In fact, THN has a few juniors that will be getting their chances early and often. Gavin Belleu, Jonathan Purdy, and Trenton Woelfle are names THN fans will get used to this year. The Pats got the call for the Hall of Fame Classic in December along with New Albany, Homestead, and Oak Hill. It’s a challenging field and their first scrimmage game of the season is against Fishers. The schedule should prepare them for another deep run come March.
Key Games
December 11 v. North Central (Indy)
December 22 @ Hall of Fame Classic
February 6 v. Decatur Central
February 20 @ Evansville Harrison
44. Yorktown Tigers- The Tigers @ #43 may surprise some people but they’ve got some talented players going through their program right now. There’s two names in particular that should give Yorktown a chance to pull an upset or two in a tough Sectional 24. There’s been alot of buzz this AAU spring/ summer about Sr. Mason Trammell. Trammell averaged a team high 17.5 ppg last year and is my #4 rated combo guard in the ’27 class. He’s a pure scorer that can shoot it and get down hill fast. Jr. guard Zahden Zowd makes up the other half of one of the 3A’s best backcourts. Zowd received a D1 offer over the spring/ summer while playing with Progeny. 6’3 Sr. Sam Tokar returns and averaged 4.7 ppg and 5.4 rbs. last season. Sr. Zach Davis should step into the lineup after putting up 4.1 ppg last year and Sr. Quentyn Richman. The rest of the roster outside of Zowd and Trammell may be unproven but with those two they’ve got a real chance to have a special year in Yorktown. If they can get one more guy to make some open shots and become a threat when Trammell or Zowd drive the ball, they’ll compete with Delta and Guerin Catholic is a gauntlet of a sectional.
Key Games
December 4 v. Scecina
December 11 v. Delta
December 18 v. Greenfield Central
February 26 @ Mt. Vernon (Fortville)
43. Ben Davis Giants- Wow did Ben Davis graduate alot. Most programs would fall off for years losing the likes of Jashawn Ladd, Sherman Moss Wright, Taj Long, Lewis Harvey, TJ Minor, and Prince Anga. And the Giants will take a step back from their usual top 15 caliber team, but they’re not completely without talent. Junior guard Eron McDuffey will be counted on as the Giants new leader as a point guard and in getting points. McDuffey averaged just 4 and a half ppg last year but with all the graduating losses expect it to at least get well into double figures. Sr. guard Jeremiah Murphy is another kid returning that put up roughly the same ppg as McDuffey. 6’5 sophomore Melvin Burroughs is a name to remember that should step into the starting lineup and make some noise. Jr. guard Jasir Rogers should also make his way into the starting lineup this year and did some good things over the spring/ summer AAU period. 6’7 Sr. Niko Reed gives the Giants some needed height down low. He’ll get plenty of chances to be in the lineup as well. There’s still talent @ BD it’s just inexperienced right now. That will change fast with their challenging schedule. The win/ loss record may not be what we’re used to seeing but they’re still talented enough to pull some upsets.
Key Games
January 8 @ North Central
January 29 @ Carmel
February 12 v. Lawrence North
February 19 @ Cathedral
42. Fort Wayne Southside Archers- If you like fast paced up-tempo style of play with alot of guards, the Archers are your team this season. Southside finished 18-5 last year winning their most games since 2006-07. That season was also their last sectional title as well. If they want to break that 20 year drought they’ll have the talent to make it happen. Sr. Terrence Jordan is their leading returning scorer at 13 ppg. He can shoot it and handle it as well as crafty finisher in the lane. Sr. guard Jayvon Irby is described as a ‘dawg’ that gets downhill and can finish well. Sr. Corte Wallace has a huge motor that does just about everything, especially defensively. On a given night he can also put 20+ on you. Sr. KJ Alexander is a super shifty guard that’s hard to keep out of the paint. He’s another capable scorer that can knock down shots. One underclassmen that will get good time on this team is sophomore Josh Sandoval who’s one of the team’s better 3 point shooters. Sr. Vinson Winn is another guard that will get more PT this season. It will be a tall task to get out of Sectional 6 with Wayne, Homestead, and Huntington North but it’s all systems go for this senior- laden Archers team. They play with a toughness and pace that’s hard for other teams to duplicate. The Archers will be alot of fun and win a good amount of games this season.
Key Games
December 4 v. FW Snider
January 8 @ Homestead
January 26 @ Huntington North
February 25 @ New Haven
(t) 41. East Chicago Central Cardinals- Coach Alaa Mroueh is going into his 5th year and is 3/4 winning the sectional and his Cards have won back to back regionals. Last season was supposed to be sort of a rebuilding year after graduating all time leading scorer Dominique Murphy and Yamauree Wallace. They’ll have to replace Jamarie Pollard and Joseph Watkins off of last year’s squad but their talented 2029 class returns for their sophomore seasons. Soph. Naji Meaux is the leading returning scorer at 10.7 ppg and alot of people around the region have said he’s due for an even bigger season. Soph. Mekhi Gillis returns after putting up a huge sectional final game v. Gary West scoring 22 pts and 5 steals. Gillis put up 7.5 ppg last season. Zayden Johnson is another sophomore guard that will be in the lineup for the Cards. Johnson averaged 5.2 ppg last year. Coach Mroueh says that sophomore guard, Juell Bryant is due for a breakout year after spending most of last season on jv. Jamal Backstrom and Rashad Wash are two more sophomores that should get to see more PT this year. The Cards are full of guards and without alot of height, but that didn’t phase them last season. EC is going for a 4 peat in the sectional and 3 peat to get to the semi state.
Key Games
December 1 v. Gary Lighthouse
December 19 v. Merrillville
January 28 v. Gary Westside
February 26 @ Michigan City
(t) 41. Columbus North Bulldogs- The Dogs went 14-11 last season but still managed to win a balanced Sectional 14. Leading scorer Sr. Austin Perry returns after having a really strong summer with Legacy Ice AAU. Perry averaged 18.5 ppg and 5 rebounds per game last year. Perry is someone that can get going and fill it up in a hurry. Also returning for CN is Jr. guard Jack Whaley who put in 7 ppg last season. It may be a potential breakout season for sophomore Owen Coomes. Coomes played mostly JV ball last year and may find himself in a starting role this season. A real difference maker for this team is the addition of 6’4 Sr. Kyle Edwards who moved- in from Whiteland. Edwards would have been one of the Warriors best players but instead he’s suiting up in Bulldog blue. Edwards scored 11.4 ppg and 7.5 boards last year. 6’3 sophomore Max Johnson is another player that will find his way into the rotation. Columbus North has a long and storied history but haven’t advanced to a semi state since 1993. If CN can avoid a potential New Albany regional matchup they’ve got a legit shot.
Key Games
December 4 @ Silver Creek
January 1 v. Westfield @ Frankton Central Indiana Tournament
January 30 @ Whiteland
February 12 @ Bloomington South