Boys basketball preview: Questions Abound

Here are just a few of probably many questions surrounding boys basketball teams in the VYPE High School Sports Magazine coverage area as next week’s season openers approach:

 

1. How long will it take North Central to round into the team most expect it to be after sophomore D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera, who averaged 15.4 points for the 23-2 Panthers in the 2008-09 season, returns to the lineup after surgery?

As most know, Smith-Rivera will be sidelined 4-6 weeks after having a torn meniscus repaired in his right knee in late October. Fortunately, the 6-foot-3 standout will return at full strength, according to his coach, Doug Mitchell.

With a healthy Smith-Rivera and skillful senior Terone Johnson (6-3), a 19.9 scorer and deadly 3-point shooter and arguably the state’s top senior leading the charge, the Panthers are expected to challenge for the Class 4A state championship.

Another key for North Central will be speed and quickness and a tenacious half-court defense that caused teams headaches last season. And the Panthers are deep again. With the Panthers’ up-tempo style both offensively and defensively, Mitchell thinks his team’s overall depth will be a big positive. That could be a scary thought for the opposition.

 

2. Just how good is Pike’s Marquis Teague? The 6-1 junior is rated No. 2 nationally by one rating service, but can he carry what should be a very athletic team to a 4A championship? Yes, he’s electrifying when allowed to set the tempo. He averaged 18.3 points and 5.0 assists for the 14-9 Red Devils a year ago. So, yes, he’s obviously good; we’ll just have to wait and find out just how good.

 

3. Will Lawrence North be a better team without two top players who chose to further their careers at private boarding schools? The Wildcats, who were responsible for North Central’s two losses en route to a 25-3 season, also failed to advance through the Hinkle Regional last year. Still, might the overall team chemistry be better? The Wildcats open Nov. 25 at township rival Lawrence Central, which should serve as a good measuring stick. The Bears are expected to field a very competitive team, and it’s doubtful they need to be reminded that they’ve lost seven straight games to the Wildcats.

 

4. Is Hamilton Southeastern, which won the school’s first basketball sectional last season, ready to kick it up a notch and become a powerhouse? Coach Brian Satterfield thinks a lot of good things could be in store for his Royals, who return seven players and have a terrific sophomore in 6-4 Gary Harris, who could have a breakout year. “We have a lot of athleticism and many offensive weapons,’’ said Satterfield, whose team was ranked as high as No. 3 in the state in Hickory Husker’s preseason poll. “If we get it done on the defensive end, we could have a very good year.’’

 

5. Are the Zionsville Eagles as good as they are being billed? They have size and experience and plenty of beef up front. Coach Shaun Busick, in his fourth season, seems to have put together a solid program after back-to-back losing seasons, but can they improve on last year’s 18-3 record and make an even bigger statement this season, like winning the school’s first sectional since the 1994-95 season? Now that the Eagles have a taste of winning, can they win the Hoosier Crossroads Conference, one of the stronger conferences around, for a second straight year, too?

 

6. Can the Anderson Indians improve on a 20-5 record? Coach Ron Hecklinski’s club will run and apply constant pressure all over the floor. All 84 feet. Another scary thought. But can the Indians overcome a lack of size, the necessary size they’ll likely need to go far in the tournament? “I like this team,’’ said Hecklinski, whose team starts the season riding a 15-game winning streak in the Wigwam. He returns two solid players in two-year starters Roshawn Nunn (6-2) and Tre Jackson (6-1), both 11-point scorers, from a team that lost to Fort Wayne Snider in the regional. Hecklinski teams have posted a 114-29 win-loss record the past six seasons. “I’m not saying we should be a statewide-ranked team this early or anything like that but I do think we have a lot of potential and will get better as we progress. We’re pretty much flying under the radar . . . and I like that.’’

 

7. Could this be the year the Indianapolis area produces the first Class 3A state champion since Bishop Chatard in the 2002-03 season? There are certainly some very talented teams in that class.

Mt. Vernon, which returns a plethora of talent, led by deadly 6-4 shooting guard PJ Hubert, will be a force, and the Marauders of fourth-year coach Steve Lynch might even be somewhat underrated.

Hamilton Heights, which has a lot of offensive weapons, led by 6-6 junior Austin Etherington who has committed to Indiana University, has reason to be optimistic.

Indianapolis Howe Academy, expected to field its best team, is led by senior Jordan Manuel (6-9) and junior guard P.J. Boutte, both Division I talents.

Danville, which boasts one of the state’s best big men in senior Travis Carroll, a 6-9 Purdue recruit who averaged 22.0 points more than 13 rebounds a year ago, just might be a legitimate contender.

 

8. Will someone else spring into the spotlight and become a dominant factor before the start of the state tournament, like possibly Broad Ripple or Noblesville? How about relatively young Fishers, which has size and much potential?

Most people know about Broad Ripple’s talent, especially 6-3 sophomore Ron Patterson and 6-5 junior Steven Jamison, and about Noblesville, which returns its entire team. The Millers, who have a terrific athlete in 6-4 Leland Brown, are always competitive. They were 13-9 a year ago and made it to the sectional champion ship game, yet they have not won a sectional since the 1996-97 season.

No one really knows about Fishers, you say? Well, here’s a hint: The Tigers could be scary.

Fishers is a fourth-year program certainly on the rise, and coach Joe Leonard’s Tigers could be looking down on a lot of folks this season as they seek to improve on a 12-9 record.

Thanks to the addition of 6-foot-8 Tony Lliev, a foreign exchange student from Bulgaria, Fishers, which returns two explosive guards, eventually could have one of the taller and better front lines. Leonard plans to utilize four players who stand 6-7 or taller.

“Tony is quite the talent and he has a great heart for the game. “I live close to a park where he likes to shoot around, and I’ve seen him wearing his leg weights . . . I guess in case a game broke out,’’ Fishers coach Joe Leonard said with a chuckle.

Oh, by the way, Lliev played for the Bulgarian national 16-and-under team, where he averaged more than 14 points.

Only time will tell just how good the teams are and what we might expect from them in the 2009-10 season.

But one thing for sure is that North Central, which played the state’s third-toughest schedule in the 2008-09 season, won’t face an easier schedule this season, beginning with Pike’s season-opening visit on Nov. 25. The Panthers go to Carmel on Dec. 11 for what could be a tougher-than-nails Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference opener. It’s off to Frankfort, an extremely difficult place to play, on Dec. 18, and Hamilton Southeastern visits the Panthers on Dec. 19.

The Panthers should have Smith-Rivera back in the fold by early December, and I’m guessing his return could not come too soon for Mitchell and Co.

 

Thumbnail look at some top teams:

1. North Central-Terone Johnson and D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera are two of the state’s top players. Senior Trip McFall (6-3) and sophomore Ronnie Johnson also started at times last season. While the continuity should be a team strength, size looks like a problem. Senior Aaron Zelikovich (6-4) and junior Dedric Griffin (6-4) are the tallest players returning from last year’s team. Anthony Massengale (6-4) also should see some playing time, while 6-1 sophomore Patrick Ingram, who has the makings of becoming a big-time player for the Panthers, should play a major role, as could speedy junior guard Tim Bass. Outlook: After going 23-2 last year, both losses coming against Lawrence North, don’t be surprised if the Panthers play as if they have a chip on their shoulders. Their aggressive style and their ability to play together so well as a team should help make up for their lack of size; they’ll leave it all on the court.

 

2. Pike-Start with highly regarded junior guard Marquis Teague, and add a good sophomore 3-point shooter in Ronald Hunter. Then add top rebounder Julian Strickland (6-3) and Khristian Smith (6-5), and juniors Dion’dre Stars and DyJuan Lewis, and you’ve got the formula for success. Outlook: This group should be explosive and give a lot of folks problems, possibly right out of the gate against North Central.

 

3. Lawrence North-With juniors Ryan Taylor (6-5) and Eric Harris (6-2) being counted on heavily, Wildcat big man Michael Chandler (6-10) could play the biggest role of them all. There’s more talent, though. Seniors Farooq Muhammad (6-0) and Perrin Ashley (6-3) and junior Rick Thomas (6-2) will see a lot of playing time. Outlook: This is somewhat of a mystery team, though coach Jack Keefer is looking forward, not backward, and this group should get better with experience and be a factor by tournament time.

 

4. Zionsville-Chris Welker (6-5) is a good place to start. He was named to the Indiana All-Stars Junior team in 2008. He’ll be joined by 6-6, 235-pound Blake Lueders on a team that went 18-3 last season. Also back are Reed McLaughlin (6-5), senior guard Jack Isenbarger (6-3) and junior Demetrius Lawson (6-1). Outlook: This team has size and good scoring ability, and certainly won’t be a team anyone is likely to overlook.

 

5. Hamilton Southeastern-The Royals look to be loaded. No, actually . . . they are loaded! They are led by seniors Zach Starr, Will Kleinrichert (6-3) and Tyler Wheeler (6-3), and sophomore Gary Harris (6-4), who should be stronger this year after playing football. More size comes in 6-7 forward Dzenan Mrkaljevic and Randy Gregory, a 6-4 junior, who like Harris plays football and should be a physical addition on the court. Outlook: Royals got a taste of winning by beating Carmel in the Noblesville Sectional, and this group should be even better. Much better.

 

6. Mount Vernon (Fortville) -The Marauders, who posted a 17-4 record last season, return a great deal of firepower and must be reckoned with. In addition to 6-4 guard PJ Hubert, they return 6-6 guard Daniel Turner, 6-6 forward DeArmond Davis and 6-4 forward Tyler Stafford. Outlook: This could be a very good basketball team, one that should have what it takes to make a strong, very strong tournament run.

 

7. Anderson-Roshawn Nunn (6-2) and Tre Jackson (6-1) return from a 20-5 team (the Indians’ best record in six seasons) that went unbeaten in the Wigwam for the first time in coach Ron Hecklinski’s 16 seasons as head coach. Junior Brandon McGhee (6-5) will be a key component, while Hecklinski plans to give a lot of minutes to freshmen Jalin Beard (6-3), Chris Lemon and Trey Boyd. Outlook: Indians will be versatile, deep and very quick, and can be expected to really get after people. They’ll certainly be a team that should make the opposition maintain its focus.

 

8. Noblesville-With no seniors on the roster last season, the Millers won’t take a back seat to anyone when it comes to experience. Leland Brown will be a key cog for them, but they also have strong kids with mid-range size. This team played hard last year and there’s no reason anything will be different. Outlook: This might be the year that Dave McCollough, a top-notch coach who gets the most out of his players, gets over the hump in the sectional and makes a lot of noise in the tournament. Noblesville has made it to the sectional championship game only to come up short each of the past three years.

 

9. Fishers-Senior Noah Stewart, a lightning-quick 6-foot guard, and junior Phil Miller (5-7), both of whom were consistent 10-point scorers, and junior forward Dakota Slaughter (6-7) return from a competitive team that won 12 games. There’s more size in 6-9 sophomore Tyler Alderman, 6-7 Ryan Rebholz and 6-8 Tony Lliev. Sophomore J.P. Pena (6-1), an excellent athlete, adds depth scoring in the backcourt, and freshman Derius Duncan (6-3) could work his way into some playing time. Outlook: Coach Joe Leonard, who said it was nice walking into a Gym with so much size, might have a team that could stand the tallest in the area in the end. The Tigers could be a team’s worst nightmare once they gain experience and all the pieces fall into place.

 

10. Carmel-Despite losing top scorer Morgan Newton, the Greyhounds’ talent pool is hardly bare. Scott Laskowski (6-5), who can shoot, score and rebound, should have a good year and needs to have a good year for the Greyhounds. And then there’s 6-10 sophomore A.J. Hammons, who has great hands and will cause many match-up problems. Senior guard Alex Payne (6-1) should also be in the mix, and there will be help from a junior varsity squad that won 17 games last season. Outlook: The Greyhounds have much to prove. They play a tough schedule and it’s too early to tell if they’ll be contenders or pretenders.

 

11. Danville -Purdue recruit Travis Carroll (6-9) is strong underneath at both ends of the floor. He’s joined by 6-2 junior Tyler Hall, who averaged 11 points and 5.3 rebounds; senior guard Michael Humphrey and 6-1 Kevin Mackey; and Jordan Weidner transferred in from Franklin Central. Outlook: Danville has the makings of being a power in Class 3A.

 

12. Howe -Jordan Manuel (6-9), who’s being recruited by several Division I programs, has healed from a hairline fracture in his left ankle and should be the mainstay among a talented group of Hornets that include senior Andre Hampton and junior P.J. Boutte, both of whom provide an upbeat attack, and they can score. Outlook: Those top three returnees have played together since seventh grade. They have good chemistry, and that should help the Hornets inflict a lot of sting.

 

13. Broad Ripple-Veteran coach Basil Mawbey builds around two outstanding players in 6-3 sophomore Ron Patterson and 6-5 junior Steven Jamison, as well as a few transfers who could also prove vital to the attack. Outlook: Mawbey can coach. He knows how to win. And, well, he will put together competitive teams, starting this season.

 

14. Franklin Central-Regional-champion Flashes return seven players, including junior guard Kyle James (5-10), coach Mark James’ son, and seniors Jordan Weidner (6-2) and Alec Stevenson (6-4). Outlook: These Flashes have a lot of potential, and it’ll be interesting to see how things unfold for them.

 

15. Lawrence Central-The Bears return three sophomores with size, led by 6-6 Jeremy Hollowell and 6-4 Jared Drew. More talent comes in junior Tre Roberson (6-3), who quarterbacked the football team; 6-5 senior forward Matt Glick, and 6-5 forwards Marcus Jackson and Geoff Davis. Outlook: This team has a lot of potential. But is it ready to cut into township rival Lawrence North’s supremacy?

 

16. Brebeuf Jesuit -The Braves return five seniors, three of whom were starters. Brad Altum (6-3), Austin Bruen (5-9) and Evan Kroot (5-11), who had an outstanding season as a running back for the football team, should be the mainstays, along with Trent Hoffman (6-4), the sixth man last season. Alex Kugar (6-4), junior Bob Dillon (6-4) and sophomore transfer Mike Lenz (6-1) will be in the mix for minutes. Outlook: Coach Andy Fagan says they have high expectations after last season’s 14-9 record and the fact they were very competitive in Marion County Tournament and sectional finishes.

 

17. Hamilton Heights -The Huskies will count heavily on junior Austin Etherington (6-6), but 5-8 junior Seth Small, a talented shooter and playmaker, and 6-2 junior Tyler Sauerteig, who’s being recruited by several Division I schools, also are returning starters for coach Chad Ballenger. Juniors Ben Bowen (6-1) and Andrew Knapp (6-2), both lettermen, are being counted on big time. Junior Brock Bolden (6-5), a good athlete, gives the Huskies good bulk, as does sophomore Tyler Anderson (6-4). Outlook: The Huskies, who went 14-8 last year, appear to have what it takes to cause a great deal of havoc, offensively and defensively.

 

18. Lapel -Three starters return form an 18-5 team, though some early-season injuries and sickness are concerns. Junior Jeremy Reed (11.9 points per game) will miss the first 3-5 games with a broken ankle. Logan Engle (6-5), who averaged 15.2 points and 7.7 rebounds, is an excellent player. The other returning starter is Chandler Guion (6-1), who averaged 19.9 points. Outlook: Coach Jimmie Howell thinks his Bulldogs could be a solid team in Class 2A once everyone is healthy and back in the fold.

 

19. Perry Meridian-Experience comes in the form of 5-11 senior Jazz Drane and 6-2 junior Max Landis, while senior Amir Blackshear (6-0) and junior Kyle Rupe (6-0) also enjoyed some quality starts last season. Big help could come from 6-6 junior Sam Cooper, up from the junior varsity. Outlook: Coach Bill Zych will rely on experience and skilled perimeter players, and should be competitive, especially if the Falcons can overcome their lack size.

 

20. Guerin Catholic-Sophomore Riley Rapp has improved, and he was pretty good a year ago. He shoots it well and knows how to hit the open man. Point guard Denari Wilson (5-7) brings speed and quickness to the backcourt. Junior Danny Town (6-1) saw a lot of action last year and should have a big year, and senior Jordan Rapp (6-4) is a returning starter who will be counted on heavily underneath and is expected to have a big year. More help comes from the 16-4 JV team in leading scorer Luke Hacherl (6-3). Outlook: Replacing five seniors won’t be easy, and size is a concern, but coach Pete Smith likes the way his kids scrap and is looking for continual improvement.

 

Some other players to watch (in alphabetical order):

Zach Baird (6-5), Jr., Shelbyville

Brandon Demmings (6-3), Sr., Indpls. Washington

Andy Denecke (6-3), Sr., Lutheran

Kellen Dunham (6-4), So., Pendleton Heights

Kevin "Yogi" Ferrell (5-4), So. Park Tudor

Kendall Griffin (6-5), Jr., Avon

Collin Hartman (6-6), Fr., Cathedral

Nathan Hendershot (6-0), Sr., Pendleton Heights

Trey Hendrix (5-8), So., Lebanon

Chrishawn Hopkins (6-1), Manual

Earlie Ivey (5-11), Sr., Anderson Highland

Jordan Jackson (6-4), Jr., Indian Creek

Randall Lowe (6-0), Sr., Tri-West

Enique Mason (6-9), Sr., Brownsburg

Ronald Ross (6-5), Sr., Northwest

Juan Sarver (5-11), Jr., Avon

Joel Smith (6-6), So., Heritage Christian

Paul Stites (6-3) Sr., Triton Central

Terrance Winfrey (6-6), So., Ben Davis

Gabe Woodruff (6-3), Sr., Covenant Christian

Kofi Hughes (6-2), Sr., Cathedral

Willie Rhodes (6-3), Sr., Warren Central

 

Mark Morrow is an online columnist for VYPE High School Sports Magazine, Central Indiana. He can be reached at mediamarko@sbcglobal.net or by leaving a comment.