Indiana high school basketball: Ranking the top 20 seniors in 2024 recruiting class

The 2024 in-state basketball class is a tough one to project. This list is mostly based on college potential, whole also taking into account high school productivity. Players who have transferred out of state are not included:

1. Flory Bidunga, Kokomo

Scouting guru Adam Finkelstein of 247sports calls the 6-9 Bidunga “the most athletically gifted big man in the national class” of 2024 and is ranked No. 5 in the country on the 247Sports composite rankings. Bidunga was named the Gatorade Player of the Year in the state last year after leading Kokomo to the Class 4A state finals. He averaged 20.2 points, 13.8 rebounds and 4.5 blocked shots as a senior. In two seasons, Bidunga has 1,059 points, 759 rebounds and 274 blocked shots and a 79.8 field-goal percentage. He committed to Kansas over Auburn, Duke, Michigan and many others.

2. Jack Benter, Brownstown Central

If there is anyone who might challenge Bidunga for Mr. Basketball, it might be the 6-5 Benter, a Purdue recruit. Benter is coming off a junior season that saw him average 28.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.5 assists and shoot 38% from the 3-point line. Benter already holds the school’s career scoring record, going into his senior season with 1,859 points. He is not necessarily a highly-rated national prospect, ranked No. 275 on the 247Sports composite. Benter committed to Purdue prior to his junior year when he had offers from Indiana State and Liberty.

3. K.J. Windham, Ben Davis

The 6-3 Windham averaged 8.4 points and 1.5 assists as a junior on a Ben Davis team that went undefeated and won the Class 4A state championship. He did most of his damage from the 3-point line, shooting 35% (50-for-143) from long range. But Windham showed during the spring and summer he will be a more balanced offensive player as a senior. His recruiting picked up, though Northwestern was his only Big Ten offer. Windham picked the Wildcats over Miami (Ohio), Akron, Florida Gulf Coast, Kent State, Murray State and Rice. He is ranked No. 190 in the class on the 247sports composite.

4. Evan Haywood, Brebeuf Jesuit

The 6-4 Haywood had a strong junior season for Brebeuf, averaging 14.3 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game and shot 37.1% (53-for-143) from the 3-point line. His recruitment really took off in the summer and he committed to Butler in August over offers from Appalachian State, Miami (Ohio), Middle Tennessee State, Vermont and others. Haywood should be in line for a big senior season with a lot of talented players returning around him.

5. Micah Davis, Franklin

The 6-2 Davis averaged 17.3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.7 steals per game as a junior for the Grizzly Cubs after averaging 14.8 points and 5.8 rebounds as a sophomore. Davis, one of the quickest guards in the state, committed to Eastern Kentucky over Northern Kentucky, Morehead State and Southern Illinois-Edwardsville.

6. Ron Rutland III, Crispus Attucks

The 6-2 Rutland, a University of Indianapolis recruit, is one of the smoothest scorers in the class. He averaged 18.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists last season for the City tournament champions. Rutland shot 39.7% from the 3-point line (75-for-189) for the Tigers. He will have a big role on a team that is picked to win the City and should be one of the top contenders in the sectional and possibly beyond.

7. Nic Book, Westfield

We have not had much of an opportunity yet to see the 6-8 New Zealand native, who transferred in from Oak Hill Academy. But what we did see at the Charlie Hughes Shootout in June was impressive. Book is a physical player who can shoot it a bit from the perimeter and gets after it on the boards. The lefty picked up an offer from Evansville with more certainly to come soon.

8. Brauntae Johnson, Fort Wayne North Side

The 6-3 guard would be playing somewhere in college basketball next season if he was not such a big-time football prospect. Johnson, who is a four-star football recruit and committed to Notre Dame, is a potential NFL safety in the future. On the basketball court, Johnson is a dynamic talent who averaged 20.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 3.6 steals as a junior.

9. Keenan Garner, Fishers

The 6-6 Garner lived on a military base in Germany from age 10 to 16 before coming back to the United States before his junior year. He averaged 7.9 points, 6.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists last season, fitting in nicely as a key interior player for the Tigers. With Jalen Haralson’s transfer to La Lumiere, Garner’s presence becomes even more important. Garner currently has Division I offers from Eastern Illinois and Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, in addition to Indiana Wesleyan, Huntington, Marian, Purdue Northwest and Trinity Christian.

10. Dylan Murans, Guerin Catholic

The 6-7 Murans could be on the verge of a breakout senior season. He flashed his potential last year at times in helping Guerin Catholic reach the Class 3A state finals. Murans averaged 8.0 points and 2.7 rebounds, shooting 17-for-51 (33%) from the 3-point line. His athleticism and size as a wing makes him an intriguing college prospect. Murans picked up Division I offers from Army and Missouri State, in addition to Huntington, Marian and Trine.

11. Josiah Gustin, Pendleton Heights

The 6-7 Gustin averaged 13.3 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.4 blocked shots and 2.1 assists as a junior for the Arabians. He shot 54% from the field overall and showed the ability to hit the long-range shot, too, though his percentage there (31%) can improve. Gustin has Division I offers from Mercer and Northern Kentucky, in addition to Indiana Wesleyan and Marian.

12. Jaxon Pardon, Carroll (Fort Wayne)

The 6-4 Pardon, who averaged 15.5 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 1.6 steals as a junior, will follow in his father Brandon’s footsteps and attend Bowling Green. Pardon averaged 12.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists as a sophomore for Carroll. Bowling Green was the first Division I offer for the left guard.

13. Kobi Bowles, Lawrence North

The 6-1 guard is an explosive, strong guard who is coming off a season that saw him average 13.2 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.7 assists, 2.5 steals for a Lawrence North team that finished 18-8. If Bowles can improve on his shooting percentages (48% from field and 30% from 3-point line), more doors will certainly open. Bowles has a Division I offer from Bethune-Cookman.

14. Jevon Lewis, Fort Wayne Wayne

The 5-10 guard led Wayne with 16.6 points, 6.4 assists and 2.1 steals as a junior and shot 44.3% (47-for-106) from the 3-point line. Lewis led Wayne to a 21-5 record and the program’s first sectional championship since 1994. He has offers from St. Francis and Macomb, the latter a Michigan junior college.

15. Jaedin Reyna, Hammond Bishop Noll

The 6-1 Reyna averaged 16.2 points, 3.6 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 2.2 steals as a junior and shot 42.9% from the 3-point line. Reyna picked up an offer from Marian in October. He transferred to Bishop Noll from St. Rita in Chicago prior to his junior year.

16. Josiah Dunham, Evansville Christian

The 6-1 Dunham is a player. He averaged 24.6 points, 5.4 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 2.5 steals as a junior for his Class A team to earn Junior All-Star honors. He shot 36.7% from the 3-point line (72-for-196). Dunham, who has a Division I offer from Southern Illinois-Edwardsville, along with Purdue Northwest, has shown he can compete with top competition in travel basketball.

17. Taray Howell, Evansville Bosse

Howell is only 5-8 but as exciting as any guard in the class. He averaged 23.2 points, 4.0 assists, 3.7 rebounds and 3.0 steals as a junior to earn a spot on the Junior All-Star team. Howell, who shot 36.1% from the 3-point line, has offers from Marian and Purdue Northwest. His older brother, Mekhi Lairy, was also an undersized guard who was Mr. Basketball runner-up in 2018 and went on to be a standout at Miami (Ohio).

18. Tyler Parrish, Chesterton

The 6-3 Parrish was a core selection to the Junior All-Star team after a season that saw him average 20.7 points, 3.3 assists and 2.7 rebounds and help lead Chesterton to 20-6 record and sectional championship (he averaged 27.7 points in three tournament games). Parrish shot 38.5% from the 3-point line. He has offers from Bethel, Grace, Marian and Purdue Northwest.

19. Justin Sims, Chesterton

The 6-7 Sims was a big part of Chesterton’s run to the Class 4A state finals as a sophomore and backed it up with a big junior season that saw him average 16.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.8 blocked shots per game. Sims shot 57% from the field for a team that went 20-6 and won a sectional championship. He has offers from Bethel, Grace, Marian and MidAmerica Nazarene.

20. Taden Metzger, Fishers

The 6-2 Metzger, a Huntington recruit, set a single-season record last year for Fishers with 68 3-pointers (he shot 44.7% from the arc). Metzger was the team’s second-leading scorer (10.2 ppg) behind Jalen Haralson, who left quite a void for the Tigers after transferring to La Lumiere. Metzger does almost all of his offensive damage from the 3-point line, but might be the best pure shooter in the state.

15 more players to watch

∎ Tucker Tornatta, Evansville Memorial: The 6-8 Tornatta averaged 12.9 points and 11.7 rebounds as a junior. He has offers from Indiana Wesleyan, Fairmount State and Marian.

∎ Isaac Andrews, Wapahani: The 6-1 Andrews averaged 17.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.1 steals per game to earn Junior All-Star honors. He shot 38.7% from the 3-point line (65-for-168).

∎ Trey Buchanan, Westfield: The 6-foot Buchanan is one of the toughest guards out there and coming off a season that saw him average 14.3 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists. He shot 37.9% (58-for-153) from the 3-point line.

∎ Aaron Fine, Noblesville: The 6-3 Fine earned Junior All-Star honors last season after helping to the Millers to a 19-7 record and sectional title. He averaged 13.8 points, 3.5 assists and 3.4 rebounds and shot 33% from the 3-point line.

∎ Jaelyn Johnson, Portage: The 6-7 forward was named to the Junior All-Star team last year after averaging 10.9 points and 6.8 rebounds.

∎ Jordan Lomax, Brownsburg: The 6-3 guard averaged 17.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.9 steals at Avon as a junior. Lomax has an offer from Manchester.

∎ Grant Porath, Brownsburg: The 6-1 guard fills a lot of roles for Brownsburg, coming off a season that saw him average 10.3 points, 2.6 assists, 2.6 rebounds and 1.1 steals.

∎ Hunter Walston, Noblesville: The 6-5 Walston averaged 8.3 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.2 steals as a junior and shot 39.3% (24-for-61) from the 3-point line. He has offers from Hanover, Hope, Trine and Wabash.

∎ Cannen Houser, Carroll (Fort Wayne): The 6-5 Houser committed to Grace College.

∎ Ajani Washington, New Haven: The 6-2 Washington averaged 15.0 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.8 steals as a junior last year at Fort Wayne Concordia.

∎ Braden Walters, Terre Haute North: The 6-5 Walters is a big-time athlete.

∎ Joey Schmitz, Center Grove: Schmitz averaged 12.0 points and 3.2 rebounds as a junior, shooting 42.7% from the 3-point line.

∎ Jaxson Bell, North Central: The 6-3 Bell averaged 12.0 points and 4.5 rebounds as a junior. He was recently offered by Army.

∎ Wyatt Zellers, Scottsburg: The 6-9 Zellers averaged 12.5 points, and 7.1 rebounds as a junior.

∎ Rob Sorensen, Guerin Catholic: The guard averaged 14.4 points and 4.6 rebounds as a junior.

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

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana high school basketball recruiting: 2024 player rankings