IHSAA basketball state finals: 30 players to watch in 2024 championship games

Hope you enjoyed that break in the action from high school basketball. With the NCAA tournament moving out of Gainbridge Fieldhouse and Purdue on to Detroit for the Sweet 16, it is time to turn our attention again to high school basketball coming this weekend. Here are 30 players to watch in the four state finals games on Saturday.

Isaac Andrews, Wapahani: The 6-1 senior guard is a big reason the Raiders are making their first state finals appearance after a 29-point game in a 60-49 overtime win over Fort Wayne Blackhawk Christian in the semistate final, including three 3-pointers in OT. Andrews is averaging 24.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists. He is shooting 44.9% from the 3-point line. Andrews has 2,130 career points to rank No. 45 on the state’s all-time list.

'We wanted to represent hope.' After tornado, Wapahani makes first state final.

Camden Bell, Wapahani: The 6-foot sophomore guard is second on the team in scoring to Andrews (13.0 ppg) and also averages 3.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game. Bell does a lot to help Wapahani win, including shooting 3-pointers at a high rate (46-for-108 for 42.6%). Bell had 22 points in a 65-41 win over Tipton in the Class 2A regional, hitting 4-for-4 from the 3-point line.

Jack Benter, Brownstown Central: The 6-6 Purdue recruit will go into his final game with 2,524 points to rank No. 12 in state history. Benter will almost certainly pass former Central Noble star Connor Essegian (2,526 points) but No. 10 Trevon Bluiett (2,568 points) might be just out of reach. Benter, who missed five games due to injuries, is averaging 25.6 points, 7.4 rebounds and 5.2 assists (leading team in all three categories). He is shooting 55% from the field, 44% from the 3-point line and 83% from the free-throw line.

Dare Bowles, Scottsburg: The 5-7 junior played a huge role in Scottsburg’s 70-54 win over Guerin Catholic in the Class 3A semistate championship, hitting five 3-pointers in the first half and finishing with 18 points. Bowles is averaging 7.6 points and 2.4 assists per game and shooting 42.8% from the 3-point line.

Warriors turning up the heat. 'It’s an exciting time again for Scottsburg basketball.'

Kody Clancy, Scottsburg: The 6-4 senior is going to finish second in school history on the scoring list behind Bill James (graduated in 1969 with 1,890 points). Clancy has 1,536 points for the Warriors, who will be making their first state finals appearance in the Class 3A game. He is averaging a team-high 20.6 points and shooting a sizzling 46.2% from the 3-point line. Clancy’s mother, Patty (Hutchinson) Clancy, is second all-time on the Scottsburg girls’ scoring list with 1,533 points (1994 graduate).

Chace Coomer, Brownstown Central: The 6-5 junior is averaging 8.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.8 assists for the Class 2A state finalist Braves, who are looking for their first state championship. Coomer is an outstanding outside shooter, connecting on 40% of his 3-point attempts this season.

Tucker Day, Fort Wayne Canterbury: The 6-8 senior transferred from Homestead before the season and has been a key player for the Class A Cavaliers, averaging 11.3 points and a team-high 5.7 rebounds. Day is shooting 65% from the field to give Canterbury a strong interior presence.

Luke Douglas, Bethesda Christian: The 6-3 senior guard missed some time due to injury but returned to give the Class A Patriots a scoring punch to go alongside Sam Mlagan in the Bethesda backcourt. Douglas is averaging 14.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists and shooting 45% from the 3-point line.

Ramone Enis, Ben Davis: The 6-5 senior is playing his best basketball late in the season. Enis averaged 12.3 points in wins over New Palestine in the regional and Center Grove and Jeffersonville in the semistate. For the season, he is averaging 7.1 points and 4.5 rebounds. Enis is shooting 50% from the field and 74% from the free-throw line.

Jason Gardner Jr., Fishers: The 6-foot freshman guard, son of 1999 Mr. Basketball and Arizona star Jason Gardner, is averaging 6.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game for the Class 4A state finalists. He is shooting 44% from the field for the season.

Keenan Garner, Fishers: The 6-6 Garner had a breakout senior season, averaging a team-high 15.6 points and 8.2 rebounds. He is second on the team with 3.5 assists per game. Garner is shooting 58.6% from the field. He went for 15 points and 11 rebounds in top-ranked Fishers’ 49-47 win over No. 2 Noblesville in the sectional championship. Garner has a handful of Division I offers.

Colby Hall, Brownstown Central: The 6-6 junior was named first team All-Mid-Southern Conference and underclass small school all-state by the IBCA. Hall is averaging 10.6 points (third on the team) and is second in rebounding at 6.8 per game. He also dishes 2.3 assists per game and shoots 58% from the field.

JonAnthony Hall, Fishers: The 6-2 Hall was named to the Junior All-Stars team this week. He is averaging 11.3 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.9 assists this season going into the Class 4A state finals. Hall is shooting 64.5% from the field and 69.1% from the free-throw line. The four-star football prospect has offers from Indiana, Purdue, Illinois, Louisville, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern and Vanderbilt, among others.

Parker Hehman, Brownstown Central: The 6-1 senior is one of the state’s more underrated players. Hehman, a point guard, is averaging 11.6 points and is tied with Benter for the team high in assists with 5.2 per game. He shoots 41% from the 3-point line and 87% from the free-throw line for the Class 2A state finalists.

Elijah King, South Bend St. Joseph: The 6-2 freshman has been playing some of his best basketball late in the season. King is averaging 8.6 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game for the Huskies. He is shooting 44.8% from the field, including 35.4% from the 3-point line.

Chase Konieczny, South Bend St. Joseph: The 6-3 junior, named a Junior All-Star on Monday, is averaging a team-high 20.7 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists for the Class 3A state finalists. Konieczny, the brother of Notre Dame’s J.R. Konieczny, a 2021 Indiana All-Star, is shooting 39.5% from the 3-point line and 85.2% from the free-throw line.

Jayce Lee, South Bend St. Joseph: The 6-4 Lee is a Notre Dame baseball commit brings energy and athleticism to the lineup for the Class 3A state-bound Huskies. Lee is second on the team in scoring at 15.5 points per game and pulls down 5.0 rebounds.

Devon Lewis, Fort Wayne Canterbury: The 5-10 senior guard has been a four-year standout for the Cavaliers, who will make their first state finals appearance in boys basketball. Lewis averages a team-high 15.3 points and 2.9 assists per game, along with 3.6 rebounds. He shoots 36% from the 3-point line and 80% on free throws. Lewis has scored 1,341 career points going into the Class A title game.

Nate Luce, Wapahani: The 5-8 junior, the son of coach Matt Luce, is one of Wapahani’s best shooters on a team of excellent shooters. Luce is averaging 8.3 points, 3.2 assists and 2.1 rebounds per game for the 26-2 Raiders. He is shooting 39% (58-for-149) from the 3-point line. Luce has made at least one 3-pointer in every game but one this season.

Taden Metzger, Fishers: The 6-2 senior, a Huntington commit, is one of the top shooters in the state. Metzger is averaging 8.8 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.1 assists and is shooting 43.4% from the 3-point line and 90.9% from the free-throw line. He was 6-for-11 from the 3-point line in a win over Kokomo in the regional at New Castle.

Jack Miller, Scottsburg: The 6-6 senior and Hanover commit is averaging 14.9 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists for the Class 3A state finals-bound Warriors. Miller is shooting 38.2% from the 3-point line for Scottsburg. He has scored 1,148 points for his career, putting up 30 in a win earlier this season vs. North Harrison.

Sam Mlagan, Bethesda Christian: The 6-2 senior guard broke the Bethesda Christian scoring record of its IHSAA era (previously held by his brother, Jake). Mlagan is averaging a team-high 15.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and a team-high 2.8 assists for the Patriots. He is shooting 35% from the 3-point line and 82% from the free-throw line for a program making its first state finals appearance in any sport in the Class A title game.

John Parent, Fort Wayne Canterbury: The 6-5 senior, a transfer from Homestead, is third on the team in scoring (10.3 ppg) and third in rebounds at 4.4 per game. Parent shoots 48% from the field and 71% from the free-throw line. He does not shoot a lot of 3-pointers but can make them with efficiency (20-for-44 for 45%).

Nick Shrewsberry, South Bend St. Joseph: The 6-4 sophomore, the son of Notre Dame coach Micah Shrewsberry and brother of Notre Dame guard Braeden Shrewsberry, is averaging 7.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists for the Class 3A state finalists. He is shooting 34.5% from the 3-point line.

Mark White, Ben Davis: The 6-4 senior was a key player for Ben Davis on last year’s undefeated Class 4A state championship team, averaging 4.7 points and 2.4 rebounds. This year, White has upped his production to 8.9 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.4 steals per game. He is averaging 12.2 points in his past five games.

Tavion Williams, Ben Davis: The 6-7 junior has emerged as an important player for the Class 4A state finalists after the graduation of Zane Doughty, averaging 7.5 points and a team-high 5.0 rebounds. Williams is shooting 66% from the field and 57% from the free-throw line.

K.J. Windham, Ben Davis: The 6-4 senior and Northwestern recruit is averaging a team-high 15.4 points per game and dishing 2.3 assists. He is shooting 42.9% (60-for-140) from the 3-point line. Windham went over 1,000 points earlier this season. He played a key role last year for Ben Davis on its undefeated state championship team, earning Junior All-Star honors.

Cooper Zackary, Fishers: The 5-9 freshman guard is one of the big reasons Fishers is making its first state finals appearance. Zackary is averaging 7.5 points and a team-high 3.6 assists for the Class 4A finalists. He is shooting 40.9% from the 3-point line.

Mark Zackery IV, Ben Davis: The 6-1 junior, named a core Junior All-Star this week, is averaging 10.3 points, 4.3 assists, 2.1 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game for the Class 4A state finalists. Zackery is shooting 37.8% (34-for-90) from the 3-point line. Zackery, a four-star cornerback prospect, has a top four schools of Cincinnati, Florida, Michigan and Notre Dame. Zackery already has a state title in football and basketball.

Wyatt Zellers, Scottsburg: The 6-9 senior is the son of former Scottsburg girls’ basketball star Carla (Westmoreland) Zellers, a two-time all-state player who went on to play at Ball State. His aunt is Renee Westmoreland, who was Miss Basketball in 1989 on a state title team. Zellers is averaging 13.1 points and 6.0 rebounds for the Warriors, shooting 60.4% from the field and 77% from the free-throw line.

2024 IHSAA boys basketball state finals schedule

Saturday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse

Class A: Bethesda Christian (23-7) vs. FW Canterbury (18-9), 10:30 a.m.

Class 2A: Brownstown Central (27-4) vs. Wapahani (26-2), 12:45 p.m.

Class 3A: Scottsburg (24-5) vs. South Bend St. Joseph (20-9), 6 p.m.

Class 4A: Ben Davis (23-5) vs. Fishers (28-1), 8:15 p.m.

Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Players to watch in 2024 Indiana high school basketball state finals