Wantz Previews 2017 2A Squads!
INDIANA -- Easily the earliest legitimate look at next year's movers and shakers belongs annually to hardwood sage Daniel Wantz. The Varsity Club is proud to present his first look at the best in 2A for the 2016-17 season!
CharterSchoolsUSA.com
Fans,
Shown below are my annual pre-season rankings for the 2016-17 season for Class 2A. Also included are a few brief comments about many of the higher-ranked squads.
These rankings are based on a formula I've developed over the years that places emphasis on each team's record for the past year combined with the number of key players they have returning along with the actual number of points returning. Strength of schedule is also a strong consideration. One aspect that is NOT considered is attempting to evaluate players who rarely played at the varsity level during this past season.
This formula usually works in a majority of cases but occasionally “misses the boat” on some others. I developed it so that my own personal biases do not enter into the final rankings. These rankings are usually more indicative of a team’s strength at the start of the season as opposed to how they might finish.
Most of the info used for this analysis was derived from the following sources:
* Coaches from 136 schools
* www.maxpreps.com, the IHSAA-endorsed statistical service, provided usable data for 229 schools.
* E.T.Pearl’s excellent website which provides complete statistical info for 61 schools in North Central Indiana. See etpearl.homestead.com./
* subscribing to five different newspapers
* researching the websites of several other papers and basketball websites.
A big Thank You to everyone who provided information.
For each school, the info below shows this past year's record along with the number of key players and points returning. Where a + is shown, that means that a key player is returning for whom I do not have statistical information.
The “Power Rating” is shown for each school so that readers can see how each of the ranked schools compared with each other. If two or more teams have the same power rating, the number of points returning is used as a “tie breaker.”
One additional note. Unless otherwise known, these evaluations assume all players stay at the school they were at last year. In this day and age, that’s not a very safe
assumption anymore, but I don’t’ know of any other way to deal with it, especially
at this early date.
If you know of a team that you feel should be ranked, don’t hesitate to let me know (Dan.Wantz@yahoo.com). It’s possible that I did not have enough information to properly consider them.
And lastly, a big Thank You as always to John Harrell’s great website for all of the easily accessible historical info that I often reference in these write-ups.
Enjoy,
Daniel Wantz
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CLASS 2A’s TOP 20 TEAMS
(For each ranked team, their 2016 record is shown along with the number of key players returning and the cumulative ppg represented by those players.)
#Key Players &_Power RankTeam _W-L___PPG Returning___Rating
01_Indianapolis Howe_________23-8_____6_____46_______145
02_Frankton ________________14-10____7_____61_______131
03_Covenant Christian__(Indy)_ 16-8_____ 3____ 34_______ 117
04_Barr-Reeve______________19-5_____ 2_____25_______115
05_Lapel __________________ 26-4____ 3_____ 28_______113
06_Bowman Academy________ 15-9_____3_____17_______112
07_Northeastern_____________ 23-5____ 2_____33_______110
08_Indianapolis Broad Ripple___18-8_____2_____23_______108
09_Cloverdale_______________19-8_____5_____61_______102
10_Northfield________________13-11____5_____40_______102
11_Eastern Greene___________16-9_____4_____32_______101
12_Providence_______________19-8_____3____ 13++_____101
13_Southwood_______________20-5____ 4_____41_______100
14_Lewis Cass______________ 15-8_____3_____35________96
15_Fort Wayne Canterbury___ _16-11____ 2____ 22________ 96
16_Speedway________________5-17____ 5____ 38________95
17_Hagerstown______________16-9_____4_____34+_______94
18_Forest Park______________ 18-6_____5____ 29________ 94
19_Shenandoah_____________ 21-3_____5____ 44________ 92
20_Union County____________ 15-9_____4_____30________89
Projecting ahead, let’s take a look at the tournament trail for the teams shown above—starting in the far North part of the state.
06_Bowman Academy__ Sect. 33/Northwest Reg./North Semi-State
15_Ft.Wayne Canterbury_Sect. 36/Northwest Reg./North Semi-State
10_Northfield_________ Sect. 37/Northeast Reg./North Semi-State
13_Southwood________ Sect. 37/Northeast Reg./North Semi-State
14_Cass______________ Sect. 37/Northeast Reg./North Semi-State
02_Frankton__________ Sect. 40/Northeast Reg./North Semi-State
05_Lapel_____________ Sect. 40/Northeast Reg./North Semi-State
07_Northeastern________Sect. 41/Southeast Reg./South Semi-State
17_Hagerstown_________Sect. 41/Southeast Reg./South Semi-State
20_Union County______ Sect. 41/Southeast Reg./South Semi-State
01_Indpls.Howe________Sect. 42/Southeast Reg./South Semi-State
19_Shenandoah________Sect. 42/Southeast Reg./South Semi-State
03_Covenant Christian__Sect. 43/Southeast Reg./South Semi-State
08_Indpls.Broad Ripple__Sect. 43/Southeast Reg./South Semi-State
16_Speedway__________Sect. 43/Southeast Reg./South Semi-State
09_Cloverdale_________ Sect. 44/Southeast Reg./South Semi-State
12_Providence_________Sect. 46/Southwest Reg./South Semi-State
04_Barr-Reeve_________Sect. 47/Southwest Reg./South Semi-State
11_Eastern Greene_____ Sect. 47/Southwest Reg./South Semi-State
18_Forest Park_________Sect. 48/Southwest Reg./South Semi-State
Now, here’s a closer look at the Top 10 teams in 2A. Unless stated otherwise, all players are seniors. Those 6’ 3 or taller have their height mentioned, if known. Scoring average is shown in parentheses. Rebound and/or assist average is also shown where known and relevant.
1_Indianapolis Howe
The Howe Hornets did not fare too well in last year's 2A title game. But, they at least made it there. They lose standout Brian Warren, but most all of their other main players should return. They will be led by 6'4 junior Tony Hopkins (12.2, 10-r) --a Soph/Frosh All-State selection last year. His main helpers are Jermaine Couch (8.2), Rashawn Rush (7.5), and soph Kycia Washington ((9.8, 4-a).
Also back to add more depth should be Tyler Pannell (3.0) and junior Joe Rush (5.8). Shenendoah should by Howe's main competition at the sectional level. Should they survive there, the Southeast regional is home to no fewer than nine ranked squads ! 2_Frankton
The Eagles were in a rebuilding mode last year after a 2A runnerup finish in 2015. It was likely a bitter pill for them to watch old county rival Lapel win the 2A title for themselves. But, Frankton did indeed rebuild and they have a stockpile of proven talent to make a serious title run themselves.
Leading the ways should by 6'5 Maurice Knight (20.3, 8-r). Back with him is 6'7 soph Ryan Detling (8.9, 5-r), junior Landon Weins (7.5), junior Travis McGuire (4.8), Keegan Freestone (4.4), and Patrick Spillman (3.8). Frankton and Lapel should have some classic battles next year. They'll likely meet to determine the Sectional 40 championship. Whoever survives there will be a serious contender to go all the way.
3_Covenant Christian (Indpls.)
After three straight losing seasons (2012-14), the Warriors have returned to form with a 31-17 record over the last two seasons. They should be a strong contender for Sectional 43 honors along with Broad Ripple and Speedway. The main man for CC is junior Jordan Webb (18.0)-- a Soph/Frosh All-State selection last season. Back with him should be 6'5 Kierson Watts (12.7, 6-r) and junior Austin Wagner (2.9).
4_Barr-Reeve
Barr-Reeve's first encounter last year with 2A competition didn't go as well as they had hoped. They had an excellent 19-5 record, but in tourney play were upset by South Knox in their very first game.
They'll try to rebound with proven veterans Trevor Lengacher (14.9, 6-r) and Jonathan Walker (9.8). Both are 6'3. A 17-3 JV squad should help fill-in whatever other gaps they may have.
5_Lapel
The Bulldogs are the defending 2A champ. They lost a lot via graduation, but have at least three skilled returnees who should keep them near the top. Leading the way is 6'6 standout Jon Ross Richardson (15.7, 5-r). Also returning should be junior Austin Lyons (5.3) and junior Preston Scott (7.5). Lapel will have a major hurdle in Sectional 40--old rival Frankton. If they prevail over the Eagles, they'll definitely be in the hunt to repeat as 2A state champions.
6_Bowman Academy
Will Bowman Academy even exist next year? Only time will tell. If they do, they'll be strong again, led by junior Langston Stalling (10.5). Stalling was a Soph/Frosh All-State selection last year. Also returning should be Darreal Payne (4.2) and Jaylen Williams (2.6). Bowman is not likely to be the power they've been in many other years. But, with the northwest part of the state looking real weak at the moment, they may still end up as one of the prime contenders from that part of the state.
7_Northeastern
Northeastern has been a strong contender for the 2A tite for several years now. And next year shouldn't be any different. Specifically, they have went 67-12 over the last three years and have racked up three straight sectional titles. But, all three years have seen them fall to a powerful Marion County team at the regional level. Last year it was Howe, who edged the Knights by a mere two points in the regional final.
All of these outstanding NE squads have had one constant--the presence of Tyler Smith (20.8, 5-r,4-a). Smith was a-Junior All-State selection last year. He'll receive lots of help from 6'7 Nate Reynolds(11.8). The Knights will have to deal with strong squads from Hagerstown and Union County at the sectional level. If they survive, they'll most likely have to again deal with someone from Marion County in the subsequent regional.
8_Indianapolis Broad Ripple
The Rockets are the defending champs of Sectional 43. They should be strong contenders next year as well, along with Speedway and Covenant Christian. Leading BR once more should be Sam Colbert (14.3, 4-a) and 6'3 Patrick Wilburn (8.5, 7-r). If BR makes it to the regional again, they may well be joined by the same cast of teams from last year: Howe, Cloverdale, and Northeastern.
9 Cloverdale
The Clovers have been knocking on the door the last few years during the Cooper Neese era. Specifically, they've went 60-16 the last three years to go along with two straight sectional titles. Question remains whether this team plays a tough enough schedule to prepare them for the tough competition that awaits them at the regional level. They'll again be led by the 6'4 Neese (29.4, 9-r) --a Junior All-State selection last year. Right with him should be junior Jalen Moore (18.7, 5-a)--a Soph/Frosh All-State selection. Also returning should be junior Nick Winders (5.5), Seth Pfaff (3.4), and soph Jake Wilkes (4.4).
10 Northfield
The Norsemen won back-to-back sectionals in 2012 and 2013. Then they had a couple of real bad years. Last year, they righted the ship so to speak, finishing with a 13-11 record. They now should be able to strongly compete for a Sectional 37 championship. It won't be easy, with old sectional rivals Southwood and Cass also having strong designs on post-season success.
Leading the way for Northfield is 6'8 Cody Holmes (13.5, 11-r). Helping him again should be junior Kyle Reed (9.8, 6-r), Austin Trump (9.3), Ryan Driscoll (4.2), and junior Joe Halderman (3.2).
**For those teams ranked in positions 11 through 20, some of their top players are:
11_ Eastern Greene___junior Caleb Hamilton (10.8, 5-r) and Jeff Graham (10.5)
12_ Providence__________Juston Betz (13.4)
13_ Southwood__________juniors Carson Blair (15.1) and Peyton Trexler (12.4)
14_ Cass______6'4 Evan Ohman (14.7) and 6'7 junior Kace Kitchel (11.4, 6-r)
15_ Ft.Wayne Canterbury__Jalen Paul (18.4, 5-a)
16_ Speedway___________6'4 Desean Hampton (13.8, 10-r)
17_ Hagerstown_________Jared Andis (13.0) and Isaiah Neal (11.7, 8-r)
18_ Forest Park__________junior Sam Englert (14.1)
19_ Shenandoah_________6'3 Gavin Griggs (19.8, 7-r) and 6'3 junior Brayden Myers (8.9, 4-a)
20_ Union County_______Logan Sanford (16.8)
