The all-underrated list: 25 IHSAA basketball players who are better than people realize

I often hear during the high school basketball season, “You are sleeping on (fill in blank).” Well, this is the list for you (maybe).

There are not really any standards as to who can or can’t make this list, but I wanted to highlight players I have seen this year in person who I think are underrated. They might not be the stars or headline players (though some are), but players I think are better than people realize. Here are 25:

Josiah Ball, Maconaquah

The 6-5 junior is a player. Ball is averaging 30.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.5 steals for the 15-5 Braves, who have a chance to win the program’s first sectional title since 2000. Ball has already scored 1,300 career points and will have a chance to get to 2,000 if he stays healthy. He is shooting 52% from the field, including 28-for-81 (35%) from the 3-point line.

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Reis Butcher, Brebeuf Jesuit

The 6-4 senior, a Marian commit, has bumped up his production significantly from a year ago as he is averaging 12.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game for the 14-5 Braves, one of the top teams in Class 3A. In his last four games, Butcher is 8-for-13 from the 3-point line.

Ryan Clevenger, Carmel

The 5-10 senior point guard might not get the attention or accolades of junior guard Alex Couto or 6-8 sophomore Evan Harrell, but Clevenger’s play has been just as important to the Greyhounds’ surge in winning seven of their past eight games. Clevenger is averaging 9.2 points, a team-leading 3.0 assists and 2.9 rebounds per game.

Melakih Cunningham, Decatur Central

The 6-5 junior has made a nice jump from his sophomore season as he is averaging 13.7 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.1 steals, leading the team in the latter two categories. Cunningham is averaging 16.5 points (on 49% shooting) and 9.2 rebounds in his past six games. The Hawks are 12-7 with a good chance to get to 14 wins for the first time in four years.

HJ Dillard III, Fort Wayne Wayne

The 6-5 junior is a double-double machine. Dillard is averaging 13.1 points and 10.6 rebounds for Wayne, which is 18-3 and coming off a Class 4A semistate appearance. The Generals have some nice pieces in the backcourt with senior Jevon Lewis and junior Chase Barnes, but Dillard is an important interior presence.

Ethan Edwards, Whiteland

The 6-5 Edwards has made a major jump from his sophomore to junior season. He is averaging 12.9 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game for the 12-10 Warriors. Edwards had a stretch of eight games in late December and January when he averaged 16.6 points per game.

Ramone Enis, Ben Davis

The 6-5 senior did not see much time at all on last year’s Class 4A undefeated state championship team but has stepped into a big role as a senior and performed well. Enis is averaging 9.5 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals and shooting 58% from the field, including 11-for-19 from the 3-point line.

Anthony Fields, Cathedral

The 6-3 Fields played a great game recently in a 56-51 loss to No. 1 Fishers, leading Cathedral with 16 points. Though he is not always a big scorer (he is averaging 6.8 points per game), Fields does fill out the stat sheet in other areas consistently. He is second on the team in assists (3.2) and averages 3.4 rebounds and 1.1 steals.

Jevon Guess, Warren Central

The 6-6 junior has become a consistent post presence for Warren Central as he is averaging 13.6 points and 8.3 rebounds per game for the 12-10 Warriors. If Guess can keep improving, he has a chance to put himself into consideration for Indiana All-Star consideration next year.

Parker Hehman, Brownstown Central

It’s not just Jack Benter. The senior point guard is a major reason for Class 2A second-ranked Brownstown Central’s 19-4 start to the season. Through 20 games, Hehman was averaging 12.0 points and a team-leading 5.4 assists per game and shooting 42% from the 3-point line. Hehman is a tough defender, too.

Chris Hurt, Crispus Attucks

I went back and looked and it turns out I had Hurt on this list last year, too. The junior guard is averaging 10.2 points and is tied with senior guard Mason Lewis as the team leader in assists at 4.1 per game. Hurt also leads the Tigers in steals (2.3 per game) and is the team’s top 3-point shooter (23-for-55 for 42%).

Malachi McNair, Evansville Harrison

I doubt any opponents underestimate the 6-6 McNair. He is averaging 18.8 points, 11.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game for Harrison, which is 17-4. McNair is shooting 68% from the field, including 11-for-22 from the 3-point line. In my opinion, McNair should get a long look for the Indiana All-Stars team.

Maguire Mitchell, Zionsville

The 6-6 junior is another player on this list who is vastly improved from his sophomore season. Mitchell is averaging 21.5 points, 5.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists and is shooting 52% from the field, including 35% (37-for-107) from the 3-point line. Mitchell is also averaging more than five attempted free throws per game.

Josh Moriarty, Franklin Central

The 6-foot senior was one of the Flashes’ few bright spots last year on a four-win team and has essentially matched his numbers this year for an improved 10-13 team. Moriarty is averaging 8.2 points, 2.9 assists, 2.0 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game. He is shooting 37.3% from the 3-point line.

Kolt Nelson, Franklin

The 6-6 junior is productive and efficient. Nelson is averaging 8.3 points and a team-leading 5.9 rebounds and 1.3 blocked shots per game. He is shooting 70% from the field and 69% from the free-throw line. Nelson has only attempted a few (3-for-7) but has shown he has some 3-point range.

Max Robertson, Tri-West

The 6-2 Robertson is averaging 14.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game for the 16-5 Bruins. He has been a three-year standout for Tri-West, which will likely have to get through top-ranked and rival Danville in Class 3A Sectional 25 at Lebanon.

Collin Schmidt, Plainfield

The 6-7 Schmidt, who is headed to Grace College, is averaging a team-leading 15.3 points,  5.6 rebounds and 1.2 assists per game for the 13-7 Quakers. Schmidt shoots 58% from the field, including an impressive 49% (23-for-47) from the 3-point line. His versatility makes him tough to guard.

Jace Scrafton, Danville

Indiana football recruit Evan Lawrence is the leading scorer for the Class 3A top-ranked Warriors, but the 6-6 Scrafton is a close second. The versatile wing is averaging 11.8 points, 4.8 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.4 steals per game. Scrafton is shooting 41% (21-for-51) from the 3-point line.

Will Spellman, Center Grove

The 6-6 Spellman is a veteran presence for the 15-4 Trojans, who have a roster full of seniors looking to make a deep tournament run. He is averaging 10.3 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.5 blocked shots per game. Spellman is shooting 66% from the field.

Malique Starks, Indianapolis Washington

The 6-2 senior guard does a lot for the 11-11 Continentals, who are capable of making a run in Class 3A Sectional 28 at Beech Grove. Starks is averaging 10.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 2.2 steals per game. He is shooting 51% from the field, including 41% (21-for-51) from the 3-point line.

Drew Thompson, Brownsburg

The senior guard does not have big stats as he averages 4.3 points and a team-leading 2.2 assists. But the future Indiana soccer player is a steady presence as a ballhandler and defender to go with leading scorers Grant Porath and Jordan Lomax and can make open shots when needed.

Braeden Totton, Hamilton Southeastern

The 6-2 junior is averaging 10.0 points and 2.8 rebounds per game for the 15-7 Royals, giving HSE another scoring threat with seniors Donovan Hamilton and Nate Orr. In a recent four-game stretch, Totton averaged 16.8 points and shot 10-for-18 from the 3-point line.

Hunter Walston, Noblesville

The 6-6 senior was a key player on last year’s sectional championship team and has taken a step forward this year, averaging 12.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.4 steals per game for the Class 4A second-ranked Millers. Walston is shooting 50% from the field. He leads the team in rebounds and steals.

Michael Wellman, Portage

The 6-5 junior (a lot of juniors on this list) is averaging 13.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game for a 13-8 Portage team. Wellman is shooting 51% from the field, including 38% (23-for-61) from the 3-point line.

Boston Willard, Greenfield-Central

Braylon Mullins correctly gets a lot of credit for the Cougars’ 21-0 start to the season but the 5-9 Willard has also been an important piece. He is averaging 11.6 points, 4.8 assists and 2.1 steals per game and shooting 56% from the 3-point line (53-for-95).

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

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana high school basketball: 25 underrated players to know