By Chris May
Boys Basketball Coordinator
Below are my first rankings for the 2007-08 Indiana high school boys basketball season. They are being released following the first week of games, which did have a small influence on the positioning of a couple teams I had ranked during the preseason.
The primary point in my initial round of “Tickling the Twine” rankings is that they are not based on last year’s results – reality and common sense are used to develop these rankings for how good a team could and should be this season (unlike the Associated Press preseason polls that, in some instances, make no sense to me).
Each week I’ll update my rankings to reflect how well (or poorly) a team has played of late. Prior to postseason play – which gets under way exactly three months from today – you’ll see my final rankings.
Last year’s state champions were ranked seventh (East Chicago Central in Class 4A), fourth (3A Plymouth), third (2A Northwestern), and fourth (1A Oregon-Davis), respectively, in my final regular-season rankings. All of the state finalists wound up among my first 11 – all but one were Top 10 – of their classes, so I have a pretty good track record here.
Without further avoidance, here’s how I see each of the four classes this season …
Class 4A
It’s a tough pick at the top but, based on returnees, influential newcomers, and height, Lawrence North starts the season as my large-school No. 1. A number of quality teams position themselves from spots 7-15 in 4A, where it looks to be another year with a lot of very good, but not perfect, teams.
The 4A Top 10:
1. Lawrence North – The Wildcats endured a 16-8 season with a heap of injuries while trying to fill the Oden and Conley craters … and they still won the state’s toughest sectional. This year they’re loaded, with undoubtedly the state’s tallest – and now, healthy – team. Stephan Van Treese is the headline name early, but watch out for 6’9” sophomore Dominique Ferguson, 6’9” Jeff Robinson, and transfer guard Kyree Jones to potentially steal some of the headlines.
2. Marion – Last year, I touted the Giants’ Julius Mays as the best junior in the state. If not the best, he’s top two in the senior class and is a huge reason Marion fans are thinking they’ll add another state championship banner this year. Junior Scott Wood is another future Division I college player (Mays is committed to North Carolina State), and Jay Edwards Jr. has a basketball pedigree. Joe Luce is the Giants coach and also helps their cause.
3. Evansville Reitz – The Panthers have the fortune of bringing back nearly their entire nucleus from last season’s 20-4 team. Damion Garrett is the best of the returners, but Kevin King shouldn’t be overlooked – nor should anyone on this team. Last year, Reitz beat Warren Central and lost to Indianapolis Cathedral during the regular season, and those games – along with a clash at New Albany – should be big ones again for the Panthers to prove they’re more than just a good team from Evansville. They are among the state’s elite.
4. East Chicago Central – They’re the defending state champs and, although E’Twaun Moore is now wearing a Purdue uniform, two names emerge as reasons the Cardinals should be contenders again this season. Six-foot-11 Angel Garcia has endured a number of challenges, including one from the IHSAA, but appears clear for a final season. Garcia, who has a good outside touch, has committed to Memphis. With Moore gone, it seems Garcia will be outside more with Kawaan Short – a future Purdue football player – on the inside. A coaching switch as Pete Trgovich walked away does factor in.
5. Warren Central – After back-to-back 17-win seasons, Walter Offutt has reached his senior year for the Warriors, who will also look to Josh Jones and Jarrin Forte as team leaders. Playing in the state’s toughest conference (the always-tough Metropolitan Interscholastic) and the state’s toughest sectional (the Warriors host a seven-team field that includes Cathedral, Lawrence North, and post-Eric Gordon North Central) will be the biggest hurdles for the Warriors in trying to get to the regional round and beyond.
6. New Albany – The Bulldogs went 21-4, were undefeated in Hoosier Hills play, and lost their four games by a combined 15 points in 2006-07. This time around, coach Jim Shannon has a group of seniors who’ve seen significant roles over their careers. Braydon Hobbs is one such player and should be a big-time performer for New Albany this year.
7. Carmel – The parade of Division I players continues through the Greyhound program as sharp-shooting senior Stuart Douglass has committed to Michigan. Jordan Brewer and Daniel Moore are also key players returning for coach Mark Galloway. Carmel was 14-7 and lost to eventual state runner-up North Central last season.
8. Bloomington South – The Panthers have won at least 21 games each of the past three seasons and haven’t had a losing campaign since 1994-95. In case you hadn’t noticed, 37-year veteran coach J.R. Holmes knows what he’s doing. With guard Jordan Hulls, the Panthers will be very good again in 2007-08.
9. North Central (Indianapolis) – Yes, Eric Gordon is gone. But there are plenty of other players who will make the Panthers a tough team this winter. Junior guard Evan Gordon – Eric’s younger brother – will get a more prominent role, but the front line of James Hollowell and Chris Toler are also key players for coach Doug Mitchell’s team.
10. Muncie Central – All-Star guard Ben Botts is gone to IP-Fort Wayne, and future IPFW teammate John Peckinpaugh is the lone returning starter. The Bearcats have just three seniors this season, but they’ll get plenty of scoring from junior Jauwan Scaife and have a four-year starter in the making with freshman guard Jeremiah Davis. Matt Fine is one of the best coaches in the state and will prepare this team well for the postseason.
The next five:
11. Lafayette Jefferson – In a scrimmage at Southport, Jeff’s Broderick Lewis looked really good. In fact, the entire Bronchos team looked good and should be one of the frontrunners in the Hoosier Crossroads Conference.
12. Pike – Jeff Teague is a tough talent to replace, but the Red Devils have some players ready to fill the holes. The Devils do have a pair of talented freshmen – 6’0” Marquis Teague and 6’4” Chandler Thomas – and 6’5” Brebeuf transfer Nick Kitcoff is under the radar.
13. Indianapolis Cathedral – After an enormously successful season last winter, coach Scott Hicks still has talent to work with. Stephen Thomas, Ryan Sterling, and Keenan Barlow were the top three scorers (and were all seniors), but now players like Errick Peck, Kelsey Barlow (committed to Purdue), and Patrick Poligraf – all juniors – will be the leaders of this team.
14. Brownsburg – The Bulldogs have two Division I signees in Gordon Hayward (Butler) and Julian Mavunga (Miami, Ohio), but they will need more than those two to get by. Austin Fish is a returning starter at guard that will be a key.
15. Richmond – The Red Devils have six seniors, including Chris Kolger (20 points per game), coming back from an 11-10 season.
Class 3A
A number of teams appear to have a legit shot at the 3A state title and, factoring in a few schools moving up from 2A in realignment, this class looks even more competitive. My preseason pick as No. 1 is Batesville, which returns a Junior All-Star (Alex Grimsley), should have another Junior All-Star this season (Colt Ryan), and has a fantastic coach (Mel Siefert).
The 3A Top 10:
1. Batesville – Grimsley and Ryan give the Bulldogs – one of my favorites from last year – plenty of talent to play around. The duo averaged over 35 points and 14 rebounds per game for Batesville last year. Grimsley is, in this writer’s opinion, one of the most – if not the most – underrated players in the state. Although five seniors were lost from last season, if you factor in that Siefert has announced this will be his final year at the helm then the players should have extra motivation and emotion.
2. Edgewood – 6’7” Butler signee Garrett Butcher should get Mr. Basketball consideration this year, but watch point guard Tommy Weakley, who will be very important for the Mustangs. With their inside-outside combination and Butcher’s ability to step out and stretch defenses, Edgewood should be one of the best.
3. Washington – The Hatchets won the 3A state title in 2005 with a tall front line, and the height hasn’t disappeared in the southwestern Indiana town. Seven-foot Tyler Zeller is a Mr. Basketball frontrunner headed for the University of North Carolina, and 6’10” Seth Coy is another frontline tower. But the story is much the same this winter – the Hatchets need good guard play to complement their inside players.
4. Indianapolis Howe Academy – With experienced and prolific outside scorers Larry Stone (25 ppg, 8 assists per game) and Greg Foster (12 ppg) returning, the Hornets have one of the state’s best backcourts. An incredibly tough regular-season schedule should help ready coach Aaron Sembly’s team for one of the toughest 3A sectionals come tournament time.
5. Northwestern – Last season’s 2A state champions are stepping up to 3A this year but should still be contenders with their two main scorers back for their senior seasons. Six-foot-six Zavier Sanders is the post presence for coach Jim Gish’s Tigers, while Josh Maggard was second in the state in assists last season.
6. North Montgomery – Junior D.J. Byrd has already shot his way into the school record books, but the Purdue recruit will rely on help from seniors A.J. Sutherlin and Kyle Calder to make the Chargers a 3A threat. North Montgomery is another school transitioning from 2A to 3A after realignment.
7. Evansville Memorial – Kyle Kuric may be the best shooter in the state. The 6’4” Louisville signee scored almost 25 ppg last season and will have a nice group of fellow seniors with him. The Tigers were 15-7 last year and, after the two-year run that Bosse went through, Memorial wants to take over this Evansville-area sectional held at Boonville.
8. Rochester – Don’t overlook the Zebras this season. Senior Kory Barnett and junior point guard Bruce Grimm Jr. are two of four returning starters this year and will give coach Rob Malchow’s team scoring as they also move from 2A to 3A. Their sectional – one includes three of my top 15, including host Plymouth and South Bend St. Joseph’s – will be a difficult one.
9. Plymouth – The defending 3A state champs lost legendary coach Jack Edison to retirement and had another coaching shuffle as Edison’s son, Michael, was named head coach and then replaced this fall before practices started. Underrated 5’10” guard Randy Davis, who will be a four-year starter, is the leader of this team but the only returner with vast varsity experience.
10. Madison – Much like Plymouth, Madison has one major returner with numerous roles to fill around him. Six-foot-two Logan Jones is the Cubs’ lone returning starter, and the senior will be relied upon for scoring (the Valparaiso recruit averaged almost 21 ppg last season). After six players graduated from last year’s regional finalist team, coach Jim Matthews looks to numerous newcomers, including Jones’ 6’4” sophomore brother, Luke.
The next five:
11. South Bend St. Joseph’s – The Indians are poised for a big year with a huge senior class. Coach Keith Kurowski’s team was 16-6 last year and has about 10 seniors, including a pair of Marcuses – Marcus Johnson and Marcus Macellari – that were scoring leaders last season.
12. Fort Wayne Dwenger – Coming off a 17-win season with six seniors in the fold this winter makes Dwenger a team to watch. Guard Jermarkis Willis and 6’4” John Goodman are football players/hoopsters to watch for the Knights.
13. Beech Grove – The Hornets have skill and athleticism with seniors John Hart, David Sanders, and Curtis Clem, but they’ll need to focus and come together to make some noise this season. Coach Randy Males’ team is in a loaded sectional that will feature Howe, Indianapolis Chatard, Brebeuf, Indianapolis Northwest, and Roncalli – all teams that could win the trophy.
14. Western – Call this a “program pick.” Coach Andy Weaver has built the Panthers into perennial sectional winners and, despite the graduation of guard Wes Dickinson, Weaver will piece something together.
15. Yorktown – The Kampens – 6’11” senior Emerson and 6’3” sophomore Elliott – give coach Judd Moulton’s team some size.
Class 2A
Last year Northwestern and Winchester went to double overtime in a state championship game featuring a lot of underclass talent. Northwestern got bumped up to 3A, but Winchester returns its most valuable player in Tyler Koch, now just a junior. The pick for the top spot, however, goes to Fort Wayne Luers (hot off its 2A football state title) because of nationally ranked sophomore DeShaun Thomas and his athletic teammates.
The 2A Top 10:
1. Fort Wayne Luers – Thomas delivered last season at Luers as a highly touted freshman, finishing as the second-leading scorer in the state (29 ppg) behind Mr. Basketball Eric Gordon and leading the Knights to their first-ever sectional championship. This season, Thomas – along with juniors Lawrence Barnett and Troy Amos and freshman Evan Blackmon – give coach James Blackmon plenty of athletes to work with.
2. Winchester – Coach Chip Mehaffey’s Golden Falcons were 2A state runners-up last spring after the double-OT loss to Northwestern. As Northwestern moves up to 3A, Winchester figures to be in prime position, especially considering Winchester brings most players back this winter. The focal point for opponents will be the 6’4” Koch, who averaged over 21 points and nearly seven rebounds per game in his sophomore season.
3. Tipton – A drop down from 3A for the Blue Devils plus a major Division I recruit in junior Derek Elston make Tipton a contender for an extended postseason run. Coach Travis Daugherty’s team was 12-10 last season, but with the 6’8” Elston (committed to Indiana University) – he averaged a double-double last year inside and is also able to shoot outside – the Blue Devils have an advantage on most of their competition.
4. Jimtown – Coach Randy DeShone’s Jimmies were 18-4 last season and bring back numerous seniors, including 6’9” Derek “Duke” Johnson. Their sectional is now a five-teamer, but host Westview is also a Top 10 team that should present challenges. Coaching plus returning talent make the Jimmies dangerous.
5. Hauser – Now a full season removed from a 1A state championship, the pride of the town of Hope is moving up to 2A territory. The Jets racked up 19 wins last year but lose Gabe Miller, although junior J.D. Stephens is next in the line of scorers in coach Bob Nobbe’s program.
6. South Knox – The Spartans won 21 games last year, making it to the regional final. With guard Levi Holscher still in the fold, coach Joe Patton’s boys should be good.
7. Westview – With a 16-7 record last season and almost everyone back this season, the Warriors are an attractive pick.
8. Cass – Legendary coach Basil Mawbey moves on without Taylor Bowser and Garrett Seagraves, but the Kings won 19 games last year and should have a lot of players back.
9. Eastern Hancock – Six-foot-six senior Caleb Kennedy is a player to watch after a junior season where he averaged well over a double-double. The Royals will try to jump to the right side of the .500 mark as they were 10-12 last season.
10. Centerville – Coach Ryan Chiddister’s Bulldogs will rely more on junior Drew Schauss this season. Schauss scored about 17 points last year as his team won 14 games the year following a No. 1 ranking early in the season. Chiddister’s coaching ability also factors into Centerville’s selection here.
The next five:
11. Forest Park – The Rangers won 20 games last year but lost a lot of talent, including big man Clint Hopf. However, coach Tom Beach has built this into a program that should be able to fill in new players and still remain respectable.
12. Oak Hill – Next year is the anticipated peak for the Golden Eagles. But with a core group of juniors this year, they still should be pretty good.
13. Bluffton – Though the Tigers won 15 games last year, coach Wayne Barker has no seniors on this team. It might be a year too early for their best efforts, but by tournament time they should be good – and they’ll have to be better than good with Luers now in their sectional.
14. Park Tudor – The Panthers won 13 games and their sectional last winter, and coach Michael Hasch returns numerous seniors.
15. Union County – Michael Sustaric. The senior guard has been a scorer for the Patriots (17 ppg last season) and should continue to be this year. Their sectional with Eastern Hancock and Centerville (at Hagerstown), however, will not be not easy.
Class A
It was a remarkable state championship season for Oregon-Davis as both their boys and girls won the 1A state titles. But the loss of nearly the entire Bobcat starting lineup as well as their coach will be a significant setback to this year’s boys team. Ironically, one of their sectional opponents – the Triton Trojans – gets the nod as my 1A No. 1 as they bring everyone back from a team that probably wasn’t totally appreciated by basketball fans.
The 1A Top 10:
1. Triton – This should be the year that the Trojans emerge from the shadows of Oregon-Davis and Westville in what has been a difficult 1A sectional. Coach Jason Groves’ team was 14-8 last year, with three of those losses to eventual state champions (twice to Oregon-Davis, once to Plymouth) and the other five to NorthWood, Glenn, Jimtown, Tippecanoe Valley, and Rochester – all teams who were ranked in their classes and a couple of whom made lengthy postseason runs. The best news of all is that Triton brings back all its players from last season, including the Trojans’ best player, 6’7” Jake Everett.
2. Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian – The following elements combine to make Blackhawk one of the best 1As: The Braves’ coach is Gary Merrell. Six-foot-four senior Dayton Merrell and 6’6” sophomore Russell Byrd are among the best small-school players in the state. They will play a challenging schedule loaded with bigger Fort Wayne schools. They’ve won five straight sectionals. They won 15 games last year. Finally, the Braves lost few players.
3. Rockville – The Rox should be fairly young and very tall. With their best players being juniors – including 6’7” R.J. Mahurin (committed to Indiana State) and 6’3” Matt King – the Rox have been building with younger players over the past few seasons. It seems nearly all of Rockville’s players will be 6’3” and over this season. Coach Dave Mahurin will have to get his team past Turkey Run, a team that has bounced the Rox from their sectional three of the last four years and who should also be good this season.
4. Jac-Cen-Del – After winning 20 games last year, three starters and plenty of capable players are back this season for the Eagles. Juniors Matt Gehl and Blake Sutton and senior Brandon Gehl all scored above or nearly 10 points each last season, and junior Tim Arnett looks strong on the front line.
5. Wes-Del – The Warriors won 17 games and their sectional and return senior guard Nick Millspaugh. Coach Greg Dean should have a good group around Millspaugh as well.
6. Orleans – The latest Smith – Jacob – is now a senior for coach Tom Bradley and will provide scoring punch for the Bulldogs. Smith averaged 20 points per game last season as Orleans won 20 games and its fifth straight sectional championship.
7. North Daviess – The Cougars have won 15 games each of the past two seasons and with 6’8” Dwain Joliff and 6’1” Aaron Harbstreit as their key players. Those two are now in their senior season for coach Brent Dalrymple, but they will have to fight off Barr-Reeve at the Loogootee Sectional.
8. Lafayette Central Catholic – The Knights, winners of six straight 1A sectionals, should have another good group this winter. When it fell to eventual state champ Oregon-Davis in the postseason, Central Catholic also lost Will Hubertz among its graduates. However, hard-nosed Daniel Mills is among the returners for coach Dave Barrett.
9. Tecumseh – The Braves have won nine straight sectionals – more than any other school in the state – and it doesn’t look like this year will end the streak. Senior Zach Adams is the returning statistical leader for coach Kevin Oxley.
10. Barr-Reeve – The Vikings made it to Conseco Fieldhouse last year and wound up the 1A state runners-up, but they’ll have to replace 6’7” Nick Duncheon this season. Easing the troubles is junior point guard Ethan Knepp, who has been a varsity fixture since his freshman season. Bryan Hughes’ coaching experience also should help the Vikings.
The next five:
11. South Central (Union Mills) – Height isn’t a worry as the Kitchells – 6’8” sophomore Jake and 6’4” senior Ethan – give the Satellites that. Getting better guard play, however, could be the difference between last season’s 10-11 record and a much better one this season.
12. Tri-County – The Cavaliers made it to 17-0 last fall before their first loss. However, they lost more than half their starting lineup and coach Tom Bajzatt after a three-point regional loss to Oregon-Davis. Tri-County should still have some ammunition for this season, though.
13. Shakamak – The Lakers started two freshmen last year, which makes them even more dangerous in 2007-08. Six-foot-three Billy Newton was a force, scoring over 16 points and grabbing over seven rebounds per game as a ninth-grader.
14. Turkey Run – The Warriors were 16-8 and bring back a couple of double-digit scorers for this season.
15. Indianapolis Lutheran – With a 14-7 record last season and eight seniors this year, things look good for the Saints.
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