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IndyStar boys basketball All-West team for the 2023-24 season

kyle neddenriep, indianapolis star
·5 min read

This year, we are bringing back something IndyStar used to do: separate all-East, West, North, South and Indy postseason teams. These are in addition to our Super Team, which honors Central Indiana’s best of the best. But we cover more than 80 high schools, and there are a lot of boys basketball players worthy of recognition — well beyond the 15 Super Team members.

The all-West team:

First team

Plainfield Quakers senior Eli Ellis dribbles the ball Jan 5, 2024, at Plainfield High School in Plainfield, Indiana.
Plainfield Quakers senior Eli Ellis dribbles the ball Jan 5, 2024, at Plainfield High School in Plainfield, Indiana.

Eli Ellis, Plainfield, Sr.: The 5-11 Ellis averaged 13.9 points, 3.3 assists, 2.1 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game as a senior to help the Quakers to a 15-8 season. Ellis, a DePauw commit, shot 40.4% (55-for-136) from the 3-point line as a senior. For his career, he scored 872 points in three seasons and was a 39.7% 3-point shooter.

Danville's center Evan Lawrence (50) reaches to block the ball against Avon Orioles guard Rashod Bethley (4) on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, during the game at Danville Community High School in Danville.
Danville's center Evan Lawrence (50) reaches to block the ball against Avon Orioles guard Rashod Bethley (4) on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2024, during the game at Danville Community High School in Danville.

Evan Lawrence, Danville, Sr.: The 6-6 Lawrence, an Indiana football recruit, averaged 13.2 points and 10.9 rebounds as a senior to lead Danville to a 22-4 record and Class 3A regional championship. He averaged 13.0 points and 9.5 rebounds as a junior and finished his three-year varsity career with 785 points and 620 rebounds.

Avon Orioles sophomore Jedidiah Minnett claps his hands after scoring Jan 5, 2024, at Plainfield High School in Plainfield, Indiana.
Avon Orioles sophomore Jedidiah Minnett claps his hands after scoring Jan 5, 2024, at Plainfield High School in Plainfield, Indiana.

Jedidiah Minnett, Avon, Soph.: The 6-1 Minnett averaged 12.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, 1.2 steals and 1.1 assists per game as a sophomore for the Orioles, who went 15-11 and won Hendricks County and sectional championships. Minnett shot 33.1% (47-for-142) from the 3-point line.

Brownsburg Bulldogs Grant Porath (11) rushes up the court during the game against the Ben Davis Giants on Saturday, March 18, 2023 at New Castle Fieldhouse in New Castle. The Ben Davis Giants defeated the Brownsburg Bulldogs, 66-38, for the IHSAA Class 4A Semistate championship game.
Brownsburg Bulldogs Grant Porath (11) rushes up the court during the game against the Ben Davis Giants on Saturday, March 18, 2023 at New Castle Fieldhouse in New Castle. The Ben Davis Giants defeated the Brownsburg Bulldogs, 66-38, for the IHSAA Class 4A Semistate championship game.

Grant Porath, Brownsburg, Sr.: The 6-1 Porath, a first-team all-state academic selection, averaged 14.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.9 assists per game as a senior to lead the Bulldogs to a 14-12 season. Porath shot 44% from the field and 81% from the free-throw line. Porath, also a standout soccer player, finished his high school career with 849 points, 218 rebounds and 170 assists.

Plainfield Quakers senior Collin Schmidt looks at his teammate after passing the ball Jan 5, 2024, at Plainfield High School in Plainfield, Indiana.
Plainfield Quakers senior Collin Schmidt looks at his teammate after passing the ball Jan 5, 2024, at Plainfield High School in Plainfield, Indiana.

Collin Schmidt, Plainfield, Sr.: The 6-7 IU-South Bend commit averaged 14.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists as a senior for the 15-win Quakers. Schmidt shot 57% from the field, including 48.1% (26-for-54) from the 3-point line. During his three-year varsity career, Schmidt totaled 783 points and 361 rebounds.

Second team

Jordan Lomax, Brownsburg, Sr.: The 6-4 Lomax averaged 13.3 points, 4.7 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 1.3 assists per game as a senior and helped the Bulldogs to a 14-win season. Lomax shot 43% from the field and 70% from the free-throw line. Combined with two seasons at Avon, the Purdue Fort Wayne preferred walk-on commit finished with 1,002 career points.

DeAndre Lott-Hancock, Avon, Jr.: The 6-4 guard averaged 10.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists to help Avon to its first sectional championship in five years and a 15-11 record. Lott-Hancock, who transferred from Crispus Attucks after his sophomore year, shot 48% from the field.

Sam Mlagan, Bethesda Christian, Sr.: The 6-2 Mlagan averaged 15.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.8 steals per game as a senior and led Bethesda to a 23-8 record and Class A state championship game appearance. Mlagan scored 1,585 points for his high school career to set a school record during its IHSAA era.

Max Robertson, Tri-West, Sr.: The 6-2 Robertson, who will play at Manchester, averaged 15.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists as a senior to help Tri-West to a 19-7 record and sectional championship game appearance. Robertson finished his career with 992 points, 343 rebounds and 221 assists.

Noah Smith, Plainfield, Soph.: The 6-8 Smith averaged 12.8 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game as a sophomore for the Quakers. He shot 58% from the field and 78% from the free-throw line. Smith is one of the top prospects in the 2026 class in the state and has an offer from Indiana State.

Third team

Harper Baker-Lands, Plainfield, Fr.: The 6-3 Baker-Lands averaged 8.6 points, 3.7 assists and 3.0 rebounds per game for Plainfield as a freshman. Baker-Lands shot 44% from the field, including 34.8% (23-for-66) from the 3-point line.

Kendrick Dunmore, Avon, Jr.: The 6-5 Dunmore averaged 8.7 points and a team-leading 7.1 rebounds and 1.7 blocked shots per game to help the Orioles to Hendricks County and sectional championships. Dunmore averaged 6.1 points and 4.4 rebounds as a sophomore.

Drew Miller, Tri-West, Sr.: The 5-11 Miller averaged 11.9 points, 5.1 assists, 4.8 rebounds and 1.7 steals to help the Bruins to a 19-win season. Miller averaged 10.1 points and 5.0 assists as a junior and finished his high school career with 718 points and 332 assists.

Jace Scrafton, Danville, Jr.: The 6-6 Scrafton averaged 10.9 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game to help his Danville team to a Class 3A regional title. He shot 39.1% (25-for-64) from the 3-point line. In his three years so far, Scrafton has 652 points, 336 rebounds and 145 assists.

Eli Tricker, Danville, Soph.: The 5-9 point guard averaged 11.2 points, 5.1 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 1.4 steals per game to help Danville to a 22-win season and Class 3A semistate appearance. Tricker improved his shooting to 50% from the field and 70% from the free-throw line.

Honorable mention

Avon: Rashod Bethley (Jr.); Rohan Pearson (Jr.)

Bethesda Christian: Luke Douglas (Sr.)

Brownsburg: Spencer Porath (Sr.); Drew Thompson (Sr.)

Cascade: Connor Sanders (Jr.); Toby Savini (Soph.)

Danville: Lukas McMahon (Sr.); Zachary Waits (Sr.)

Plainfield: Landon Gilliatt (Soph.)

Tri-West: Jimmy Sorgi (Sr.)

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

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: IHSAA boys basketball IndyStar 2023-24 All-West team