Crown Point adds to its strong junior class, which already included Division I prospect Dikembe Shaw, and starts the season at No. 1.
TOP 10 TEAMS
1. Crown Point (20-6): Junior guard/forward Dikembe Shaw, a Division I prospect, headlines the Bulldogs, who are coming off their first regional title since 1998, first sectional title since 2016 and a Duneland Athletic Conference title. Junior guard Kingston Rhodes also returns, as does junior guard Mason Darrell. They added junior guard Bryce Peters, a transfer from Merrillville. Senior forward Quinn Begley, senior forward Kolby Henderlong and junior guard Kaiden Rhodes are among their other returnees.
2. East Chicago Central (22-5): Coach Alaa Mroueh said this could be a “special” season for the Cardinals, who move down to Class 3A. They return four starters after winning their first sectional title since 2017. Senior guard/forward Dominique Murphy, an Indiana Junior All-Star and a Division I prospect, should be among the state’s top players. Senior guard/forward Yamauree Wallace should continue to develop. Senior guard Keontaye Bell and senior forward Gregory Williams also are back. They should be bolstered by junior guard Jamarie Pollard, who transferred from Bowman to return to his home school.
3. Portage (15-9): This group has been together for a while, and this could be the season when the Indians put it all together under coach Bryon Clouse. Senior guard Garrett Clark is an Air Force recruit. Senior guard/forward Michael Wellman is back, as are senior guard O’Mari Evans and senior guard Sam Wellman. They added 6-foot-11 junior forward/center Me’Trell Harbin, who played at Bishop Noll as a freshman and Don Bosco last season. Sophomore guard Karter Kobe and freshman guard Bryce Kobe also should be contributors.
4. West Side (15-9): Coach Chris Buggs and the Cougars, who move down to Class 3A, could be poised for a big season. Junior guard Reginald “Trey” Hinton, a Division I prospect, and senior guard Derek Collins Jr. highlight the group. Junior guard Bryce Cooper also is back, as are senior forward Anthony Holmes and senior forward Keyton Barnes. Tyler Crews, a 6-10 junior forward/center, could make further strides.
5. 21st Century (20-7): The Cougars have won eight sectional titles in nine seasons, including three straight, and they should be contenders again. Guard/forward Terrence Hayes Jr., a Division I prospect, had an outstanding season as a sophomore. Forward Lemetrius Williams as a junior and guard Ron Mosley as a sophomore also were key contributors last season.
6. Munster (18-9): There’s a reason Mike Hackett and the Mustangs have won seven straight Northwest Crossroads Conference titles, a span that includes 36 straight victories. Junior guard Joshua Malloy has been a productive player and should take on an even bigger role this season. Senior guard Blake Trilli is back, as is senior forward Tyler Fuller. Junior guard Victor Guaramato returns to his home school after transferring from Mount Carmel in Chicago.
7. Chesterton (16-10): The Trojans certainly will have a different look after the graduations of Indiana All-Star Tyler Parrish and Justin Sims. But junior guard Logan Pokorney and sophomore guard TJ Ray return. Also back are junior guard Jaylon Watts, senior guard Anthony Gonzalez and junior forward Rob Czarniecki. Coach Marc Urban said they have a lot of underclassmen who can make an impact.
8. Valparaiso (19-7): The DAC quad-champion Vikings took a major hit when Jack Smiley, a Belmont recruit, transferred to La Lumiere. But coach Ben Lieske said junior guard KJ Avery should help pick up the slack, including as the team’s primary ballhandler. Senior guard/forward Caden Crowell, a Notre Dame baseball recruit, is back, along with senior guard/forward Julian Stokes, senior guard Trenten Kimes and senior forward/center Isaiah Keene.
9. Merrillville (16-8): The DAC quad-champion Pirates lost four starters, but coach Bo Patton said they “have a lot of hungry players” who “understand the expectations and culture.” Among that group are senior guard Bre’Jeur Robinson, senior guard Aidan Dilosa and senior guard/forward Kelvion Brown, all of whom “had to wait their turn last season,” Patton said.
10. Lake Central (18-4): Senior guard Zachary Greene leads the way for the Indians, who were DAC quad-champions in Ryan Sexson’s first season as coach. Senior guard Noah Sabodor and senior guard Spencer Gail should be among their top players, and junior forward Noah Enyeart should add size.
25 PLAYERS TO WATCH
- Eric Allen, Calumet, senior, guard
- KJ Avery, Valparaiso, junior, guard
- Isaac Browder, Lighthouse, sophomore, guard
- Marcus Browder, Hammond Central, senior, guard
- Garrett Clark, Portage, senior, guard
- Derek Collins Jr., West Side, senior, guard
- Cole Dobre, Marquette, junior, forward/center
- Paul Gilvydis, Andrean, senior, guard/forward
- Zachary Greene, Lake Central, senior, guard
- Terrence Hayes Jr., 21st Century, junior, guard/forward
- Reginald “Trey” Hinton, West Side, junior, guard
- Khalel Johnson, Bishop Noll, senior, guard/forward
- Felix Lopez, Hobart, senior, guard/forward
- Joshua Malloy, Munster, junior, guard
- Josiah Mays, Marquette, sophomore, guard
- Anthony Murphy, Michigan City, senior, guard
- Dominique Murphy, East Chicago Central, senior, guard/forward
- Logan Pokorney, Chesterton, junior, guard
- Kingston Rhodes, Crown Point, junior, guard
- Brad Rohde, Hanover Central, senior, forward/center
- Dikembe Shaw, Crown Point, junior, guard/forward
- Nic Spence, LaPorte, senior, forward
- Jack Stevens, Boone Grove, senior, guard
- Yamauree Wallace, East Chicago Central, senior, guard/forward
- Michael Wellman, Portage, senior, guard/forward
