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Indiana All-Stars: 10 IHSAA boys basketball players who had a strong case but missed out

Kyle Neddenriep, Indianapolis Star
·5 min read

The are players every year with a strong case to make the Indiana All-Stars team who were not selected for one reason or another. Keep in mind, Indiana All-Stars director Mike Broughton — and the All-Stars directors before him — is attempting to put together a roster to defeat Kentucky (the roster was announced on Thursday), not necessarily a list of the 13 best players in the class.

Here are the boys’ players I thought had the best chance to make the team who were not selected:

Jevon Lewis, Fort Wayne Wayne

Lawrence North High School sophomore Cameron Webster (2) brings the ball up court into the defense of Fort Wayne Wayne High School senior Jevon Lewis (1) during the first half of a game in the Forum Tipoff Classic, Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023, at Southport High School.
Lawrence North High School sophomore Cameron Webster (2) brings the ball up court into the defense of Fort Wayne Wayne High School senior Jevon Lewis (1) during the first half of a game in the Forum Tipoff Classic, Saturday, Dec. 9, 2023, at Southport High School.

This one was surprising to me. The 5-9 Lewis had outstanding numbers as a senior, averaging 19.4 points, 7.6 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 2.3 steals, and his team went 23-4 and reached the Class 4A semistate championship, falling to Fishers by eight points. As a junior, Lewis helped the Generals to their first sectional title since 1994 and first regional championship since 1981. He set a school scoring record with 1,492 career points. It is always tough with guards but Lewis had a strong case.

Josiah Dunham, Evansville Christian

Evansville Christian High School senior Josiah Dunham (22) drives the ball around the defense of Heritage Hills High School sophomore Peyton Gray (14) during the first half of a varsity game in the SNKRS4SANTA Shootout, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023, at Brownsburg High School.
Evansville Christian High School senior Josiah Dunham (22) drives the ball around the defense of Heritage Hills High School sophomore Peyton Gray (14) during the first half of a varsity game in the SNKRS4SANTA Shootout, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2023, at Brownsburg High School.

The 6-foot Dunham averaged 24.2 points, 5.1 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game for an Evansville Christian team that went 24-3 and won a Class A regional title. The Eagles competed against a good schedule, knocking off teams like Terre Haute North, Princeton, Scottsburg and Brownstown Central (without Jack Benter), among others. Dunham finished No. 18 on the state’s all-time scoring list with 2,373 career points. Another guard with a strong argument.

Ron Rutland III, Crispus Attucks

Crispus Attucks guard Ron Rutland III (5) shoots the ball during the 2023 Indiana Hall of Fame Classic. Crispus Attucks defeats Brownstown 76-51.
Crispus Attucks guard Ron Rutland III (5) shoots the ball during the 2023 Indiana Hall of Fame Classic. Crispus Attucks defeats Brownstown 76-51.

The 6-2 guard and IU Indy commit averaged 12.7 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists for a team that finished 19-7 and won the Hall of Fame Classic in New Castle and a second consecutive City tournament championship. Rutland, who was committed to UIndy before coach Paul Corsaro moved over to IU Indy, shot 36.2% from the 3-point line. His overall numbers were not quite as strong as his junior year.

Nic Book, Westfield

Westfield Shamrocks forward Nic Book (24) shoots the ball Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, during the game at Noblesville High School in Noblesville. The Westfield Shamrocks defeated the Noblesville Millers, 58-54.
Westfield Shamrocks forward Nic Book (24) shoots the ball Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, during the game at Noblesville High School in Noblesville. The Westfield Shamrocks defeated the Noblesville Millers, 58-54.

The 6-8 Book, a New Zealand native, played just one season at Westfield after transferring from Oak Hill Academy (Va.). Book averaged 13.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 2.1 assists and shot 54% from the field for the 19-3 Shamrocks. Westfield was bounced by Noblesville in a 28-point loss in the sectional, which probably did not help his chances.

Kobi Bowles, Lawrence North

Lawrence North's Kobi Bowles (13) looks for a way around Avon's Miguel Correa (5) as Avon takes on Lawrence North in the IHSAA Class 4A Boys Basketball Regional 5 Championship, Mar 9, 2024; Greenfield, IN, USA; at Greenfield-Central High School.
Lawrence North's Kobi Bowles (13) looks for a way around Avon's Miguel Correa (5) as Avon takes on Lawrence North in the IHSAA Class 4A Boys Basketball Regional 5 Championship, Mar 9, 2024; Greenfield, IN, USA; at Greenfield-Central High School.

The 6-2 Bowles is an explosive athlete who I think is going to go on and have a really good college career (he has not yet committed). He averaged 11.4 points, 2.8 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game for a Lawrence North team that finished 25-4 and was ranked at or near the top in Class 4A all season. The Wildcats let a late slip away in 62-60 loss to Jeffersonville in the semistate semifinal or they would have been playing Ben Davis for a spot in the state finals.

Justin Sims, Chesterton

South Future All-Star Dezmon Briscoe (11), a sophomore from Crispus Attuchs High School, attempts to block a shot by North Future All-Star Justin Sims (4), a junior from Chesterton High School, during the first half of an boys’ Indiana High School Future All-Stars basketball game, Saturday, June 10, 2023, at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, in Indianapolis.

The 6-7 Sims, a Marian recruit, averaged 14.5 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.7 blocked shots as a senior and was one of the players going into the season I thought had a good chance to make the team. He was a key player on Chesterton’s 4A state finals team as a sophomore and finished his career with more than 1,000 points. It might have been difficult to get a second Chesterton player on the team without a deep tournament run.

Malachi McNair, Evansville Harrison

Harrison’s Malachi McNair (44) dribbles as the Harrison Warriors play the Jeffersonville Red Devils during the 2024 IHSAA Class 3A Boys Basketball Regional at Memorial Gym in Huntingburg, Ind., Saturday, March 9, 2024.
Harrison’s Malachi McNair (44) dribbles as the Harrison Warriors play the Jeffersonville Red Devils during the 2024 IHSAA Class 3A Boys Basketball Regional at Memorial Gym in Huntingburg, Ind., Saturday, March 9, 2024.

If there was a player I thought was a potential sleeper from Evansville to make the team it was the 6-6 McNair, who averaged 17.9 points, 10.5 rebounds and shot 66% from the field for a Harrison team that went 20-5 and won a Class 4A sectional championship.

Jake Smith, Lake Central

Lake Central senior Jake Smith
Lake Central senior Jake Smith

The 6-6 Smith seemed to be trending in the right direction as Lake Central started the season 13-0. But the Indians finished 5-4, including a sectional semifinal loss to Munster that probably did not help his chances. Smith averaged 16.1 points, 8.5 rebounds and 4.2 assists and was selected to the IBCA Supreme 15 senior all-state team.

Jaxson Bell, North Central

North Central High School senior Jaxson Bell (3) drives the ball into the defense of Lawrence North High School junior Davion Hampton (12) 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 senior Jaxson Bell (3) drives the ball into the defense of Lawrence North High School junior Davion Hampton (12) during the first half of an IHSAA Class 4A Boys’ Sectional basketball game, Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, at Lawrence North High School.

The 6-3 Bell, an Army commit, was definitely in the discussion for one of the final spots. His versatility is one of his biggest strengths as he averaged 12.2 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals for a North Central team that finished 15-9 and fell to Lawrence North in the first round of the sectional.

Doyel: North Central's Jaxson Bell going to US Military Academy at West Point

Kody Clancy, Scottsburg

Scottsburg Warriors guard Kody Clancy (32) drives the lane against the South Bend St. Joseph Huskies on Saturday, March 30, 2024, during the IHSAA boys basketball Class 3A state championship game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Scottsburg Warriors defeated the South Bend St. Joseph Huskies 67-57.
Scottsburg Warriors guard Kody Clancy (32) drives the lane against the South Bend St. Joseph Huskies on Saturday, March 30, 2024, during the IHSAA boys basketball Class 3A state championship game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Scottsburg Warriors defeated the South Bend St. Joseph Huskies 67-57.

I thought going into the state finals that if Scottsburg was going to get a player on the team it might be the 6-4 Clancy, who finished second in school history with 1,556 points and scored 20 points in Scottsburg’s Class 3A state championship win (its first championship) over South Bend St. Joseph. Clancy averaged 20.6 points per game as a senior and shot 46% from the 3-point line.

Five others: Payton Baird, South Bend Riley; Josiah Gustin, Pendleton Heights; Jaxon Pardon, Carroll (Fort Wayne); Joey Schmitz, Center Grove; Taray Howell, Evansville Bosse

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

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana All-Stars roster snubs include these 10 players who missed out