Advertisement

IHSAA boys basketball way-too-early Fab 15 rankings: Can Fishers repeat?

Kyle Neddenriep, Indianapolis Star
·10 min read

With the 2023-24 IHSAA basketball season in the books, let’s take a quick look ahead to next season with some projections on the top teams in Central Indiana. I reserve the right to make some adjustments to the Fab 15 between now and November based on the high school transfer portal and new information, but let’s give it a shot as it stands now:

1. Fishers (29-1, state champion)

Fishers should initially go into the season as the Class 4A favorite after winning the program’s first sectional, regional, semistate and state championship. There are significant losses with the graduation of Indiana All-Star Keenan Garner (15.9 ppg, 8.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists) and third-leading scorer Taden Metzger (8.8 ppg, 45% 3-point shooter). But there is still a ton of talent that figures to return, led by juniors JonAnthony Hall (11.5 ppg, 4.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists), Justin Kirby (5.8 ppg, 2.1 rebounds), Millen McCartney (5.3 ppg, 2.1 rebounds) and Nathan Baker (2.9 ppg, 2.1 rebounds) and the freshman backcourt of Cooper Zachary (7.4 points, 3.6 assists) and Jason Gardner Jr. (6.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists). End of regular season: 1.

Top freshmen: These Central Indiana players made an early impact. Remember the names.

Top sophomores: These second-year standouts out big years in Central Indiana hoops

2. Cathedral (18-6, lost in sectional championship)

Based on what it figures to return, Cathedral would have been one of the leading contenders for a state championship in Class 4A going into the season. But with the new classification model from the IHSAA going into effect, the Fighting Irish will move down a class to 3A, which will be an absolutely loaded field. Cathedral graduates a couple of key players in Sheldon Gatlin (7.3 ppg) and Anthony Fields (6.7 ppg) but the top five scorers were non-seniors, including junior Brady Koehler (15.5 ppg, 6.5 rebounds), sophomore Keaton Aldridge (15.3 ppg, 6.3 rebounds) and juniors Deric Cannady (9.0 ppg, 2.3 assists), Aidan Hughes (8.3 ppg, 5.1 rebounds) and LeBron Gough (8.2 ppg, 4.4 assists). End of regular season: 7.

3. Lawrence North (25-4, regional champion)

Lawrence North High School junior Azavier Robinson (23) shoots during the second half of an IHSAA Class 4A Boys’ Sectional basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, at Lawrence North High School.
Lawrence North High School junior Azavier Robinson (23) shoots during the second half of an IHSAA Class 4A Boys’ Sectional basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, at Lawrence North High School.

Despite all of Lawrence North's success — a Marion County tournament championship, a 17-0 start and a regional championship — the end of the season felt like a disappointment when the Wildcats lost a fourth-quarter lead against Jeffersonville in the semistate semifinal in a 62-60 defeat. Gone to graduation are point guard Kobi Bowles (11.4 ppg, 2.8 assists) and outside shooters Myles Baker (8.2 ppg) and Miles Good (6.8 ppg). But there is plenty of talent that figures to be back, including Marion County player of the year, junior Azavier Robinson (19.6 ppg, 4.7 rebounds, 3.3 assists), sophomore frontcourt Kai McGrew (10.4 ppg, 6.8 rebounds) and Brennan Miller (9.4 ppg, 9.2 rebounds) and several others with varsity experience. End of regular season: 6.

4. Noblesville (22-3, lost in sectional championship)

I might be overrating the Millers, who will lose its top two scores in Indiana All-Star Aaron Fine (17.9 ppg, 3.4 assists) and Hunter Walston (12.4 ppg, 5.7 rebounds) to graduation. But I really like the core group coach Scott McClelland returns, including sophomores Justin Curry (10.0 ppg, 4.2 rebounds) and Baron Walker (6.6 ppg, 57% 3-pointers) and juniors T.J. Davidson (4.7 ppg) and Aiden Brewer (3.5 ppp, 3.0 rebounds). Noblesville should benefit from winning 41 games over the past two seasons. End of regular season: 3.

5. Greenfield-Central (24-1, lost in sectional championship)

Greenfield-Central Cougars Braylon Mullins (24) dribbles the ball down the court amid defenders on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024, during the game at Pendleton Heights High School in Pendleton. The Greenfield-Central Cougars defeated the Pendleton Heights Arabians 74-72 in double overtime.
Greenfield-Central Cougars Braylon Mullins (24) dribbles the ball down the court amid defenders on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024, during the game at Pendleton Heights High School in Pendleton. The Greenfield-Central Cougars defeated the Pendleton Heights Arabians 74-72 in double overtime.

The Cougars will look to build off a historic season that came up a little bit short in the sectional championship against New Palestine. There are a couple of key players gone to graduation in Braden Robertson (7.9 ppg, 2.9 rebounds) and Jake Hinton (4.0 ppg, 4.3 rebounds), though any team that brings back a player like 6-5 junior Braylon Mullins (25.0 ppg, 6.2 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 3.2 steals) has to feel good about its chances. The team’s other top scorers, juniors Boston Willard (10.8 ppg, 4.8 assists) and Dallas Freeman (8.4 ppg, 4.6 rebounds), also return. The Cougars will need some other unproven players to fill bigger roles. End of regular season: 4.

6. Carmel (12-11, lost in first round of sectional)

Too high? Carmel knocked off Ben Davis, Fishers, Lawrence North, Warren Central and Crispus Attucks in the final month of the regular season before falling to eventual state champion Fishers in the first round of the sectional. Carmel graduates one of its top players in point guard Ryan Clevenger (9.4 ppg, 4.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists) but will bring back its top two scorers in junior guard Alex Couto (13.3 ppg, 39% 3-pointers) and 6-8 sophomore Evan Harrell (10.6 ppg, 5.5 rebounds). Sophomore Ben Bremer (4.8 ppg in 16 games) and freshman Aiden Dickerson (2.3 ppg, 2.7 rebounds) showed promise. The sectional won’t be any easier even with the realignment but Carmel should content. End of regular season: 10.

7. Crispus Attucks (19-7, lost in sectional semifinal)

Like Cathedral, Attucks is dropping down to 3A next season (it will be interesting to see if Attucks and Cathedral are in the same sectional). The Tigers lose two of their top three scorers to graduation in guards Ron Rutland III (12.7 ppg, 3.5 rebounds) and Mason Lewis (11.9 ppg, 3.8 assists) but will bring back the important combination of a big man in junior Dezmon Briscoe (14.3 ppg, 10.8 rebounds) and a point guard in junior Chris Hurt (9.9 ppg, 3.9 assists). Eric Jackson II (6.1 ppg, 3.7 rebounds) is another junior who played a big role last year for Attucks. End of regular season: 9.

8. Ben Davis (23-6, semistate champion)

Ben Davis Giants guard Mark Zackery (2) lays the ball up against the Fishers Tigers on Saturday, March 30, 2024, during the IHSAA boys basketball Class 4A state championship game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Fishers Tigers defeated the Ben Davis Giants 65-56.
Ben Davis Giants guard Mark Zackery (2) lays the ball up against the Fishers Tigers on Saturday, March 30, 2024, during the IHSAA boys basketball Class 4A state championship game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Fishers Tigers defeated the Ben Davis Giants 65-56.

I hesitate to put Ben Davis this low after winning a state championship two years ago and reaching the state finals again this season. But three of the top four scorers are gone to graduation, led by Indiana All-Star and Northwestern recruit K.J. Windham (15.4 ppg), along with seniors Mark White (8.9 ppg, 3.1 rebounds) and Ramone Enis (7.6 ppg, 4.3 rebounds). Junior point guard Mark Zackery (11.0 ppg, 4.3 assists) is one of the best players in the state but he will also be coming off his senior football season. Juniors Tavion Williams (7.0 ppg, 4.6 rebounds) and Justin Parks (3.6 ppg, 2.5 rebounds) are among the other key players coming back. Don Carlisle will return as the coach. End of regular season: 5.

9. Warren Central (14-11, lost in sectional semifinal)

The Warriors showed signs in Criss Beyers’ first season since returning as coach as they won six of seven during a stretch in late December and into January before seesawing back and forth from there and losing a close game to Cathedral in the sectional. I would expect Warren Central to be a team to watch next season with junior Jevon Guess (13.8 ppg, 8.1 rebounds) returning, along with junior Keshaun Harlan (6.7 ppg, 2.5 assists), freshman J.J. Craig (4.6 ppg) and junior Madden Beriault (3.9 ppg), among others. End of regular season: NR.

10. New Palestine (22-6, sectional champion)

Too low? Check back in November because I feel like I’m shortchanging the Dragons a bit. New Palestine, another program that will move down to 3A, will bring back juniors Julius Gizzi (28.9 ppg, 8.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists), Moses Haynes (11.4 ppg, 6.7 assists) and Ben Slagley (9.3 ppg, 6.6 rebounds) from a team that returns all six of its leading scorers. New Palestine played Ben Davis tough in the regional before falling by 11 points. Coach Trent Whitaker has led New Palestine to back-to-back sectional championships and 45 wins over the past two seasons. End of regular season: 11.

11. Mt. Vernon (15-9, lost in first round of sectional)

Again, check back in November. The Marauders look pretty strong on paper with only one regular gone to graduation. The non-seniors on the roster this season included three sophomores who led the team in scoring in guards Julien Smith (14.4 ppg, 5.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists), Luke Ertel (12.2 ppg, 4.7 rebounds in six games) and Elijah Parra (8.7 ppg). Other key players on last year’s team were junior Tanner Teschendorf (8.6 ppg, 5.3 rebounds), sophomore R’mani Wells (7.3 ppg, 3.3 rebounds), junior Tyler Davis (4.6 ppg, 2.9 rebounds) and juniors Charlie Cross (2.9 ppg) and Aiden Daugherty (2.3 ppg, 2.3 rebounds). End of regular season: NR.

12. North Central (15-9, lost in first round of sectional)

North Central High School junior Papi Rivera (13) shoots over Lawrence North High School sophomore Kai McGrew (25) during the first half of an IHSAA Class 4A Boys’ Sectional basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, at Lawrence North High School.
North Central High School junior Papi Rivera (13) shoots over Lawrence North High School sophomore Kai McGrew (25) during the first half of an IHSAA Class 4A Boys’ Sectional basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, at Lawrence North High School.

The Panthers lose a couple of major pieces to graduation in Army recruit Jaxson Bell (12.2 ppg, 4.9 rebounds) and Tim Williams (9.8 ppg) but there is a lot to like about what coach Kevin Gant has coming back with leading scorer and junior Papi Rivera (13.1 ppg, 4.1 rebounds, 3.2 assists) and junior Nijah Jewell (9.3 ppg, 3.1 assists) leading the way. Other key pieces from last year’s team were sophomore Gavin Petty (5.7 ppg), junior Denhm Holt (5.7 ppg), sophomore Chrishon Woodward (4.0 ppg, 3.0 rebounds) and freshman Jeremiah Bellamy (3.5 ppg, 2.3 rebounds). End of regular season: NR.

13. Zionsville (11-13, lost in first round of sectional)

Granted it is a deep class but I am still surprised Maguire Mitchell (20.9 ppg, 5.1 rebounds, 2.5 assists) and/or Drew Snively (17.8 ppg, 4.0 rebounds) were not named to the Junior All-Stars team. That is a tough duo. The key for the Eagles will be to build depth around those two. Luke Reasoner (4.3 ppg, 3.8 rebounds) is a key player gone to graduation but players like Jackson Tielker (6.3 ppg) and Eugene Hilton (3.0 ppg, 3.4 rebounds) were just juniors. It will be interesting see where Zionsville lands on the new sectional realignment. It could benefit the Eagles, who could potentially get out of the logjam with Fishers, Carmel, Noblesville, Hamilton Southeastern and Westfield. End of regular season: NR.

14. Avon (15-11, sectional champion)

The Orioles will look to build off a sectional championship and Hendricks County tournament championship with nearly their entire team slated to return. Sophomore Jedidiah Minnett (12.6 ppg, 2.5 rebounds) and junior DeAndre Lott-Hancock (10.5 ppg, 7.2 rebounds) were the team’s top scorers last season. Other non-seniors in the rotation were juniors Kendrick Dunmore (8.7 ppg, 7.1 rebounds), Rashod Bethley (8.1 ppg), Rohan Pearson (7.4 ppg, 3.7 rebounds) and Isaac Kramer (4.0 ppg). End of regular season: NR.

15. Plainfield (15-8, lost in first round of sectional)

The Quakers lose their top two scorers to graduation in Collin Schmidt (14.9 ppg, 5.7 rebounds) and Eli Ellis (13.9 ppg, 3.3 assists) but do bring back a strong core group with sophomore Noah Smith (12.8 ppg, 7.3 rebounds) and freshman Harper Baker-Lands (8.6 ppg, 3.7 assists) leading that group. Sophomores Landon Gilliat (3.9 ppg, 4.0 assists) and Trey Barton (2.8 ppg) and juniors Colton East (3.4 ppg, 3.2 rebounds) and Chris Arvantis (3.2 ppg, 2.0 rebounds) also return. End of regular season: NR.

Next five in line: Lawrence Central (12-10), Westfield (19-3), Brownsburg (14-12), Center Grove (21-5), Park Tudor (20-6)

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IHSAA basketball way-too-early Fab 15 rankings: Can Fishers repeat?