Bob Wettig Memorial Tournament Championship

Rivals Tipton and Hamilton Heights met in the finals, and the two great teams did not disappoint the fans. Hamilton Heights brought home the 4th annual Wettig championship, with a 66-61 victory. IU recruit Austin Etherington was named tournament MVP. Senior guard Seth Small stepped up in a big way hitting multiple three's. Austin added 12 points and 8 rebounds, while younger brother Alex contributed 11 points. Senior guard Connor Rich led the Blue Devils with 24 points on 6/9 shooting from deep. Sophomore forward Mike Crawford played a very solid game contributing 11 points and 8 rebounds against the long Etherington brother's in the post. Greg Dickey added 12. Hamilton Heights is now 9-2 on the year, while Tipton is 8-1. These two teams will have a rematch January 28th at Hamilton Heights. That should be a very interesting game!

Great tournament all around, 32 games over 3 days. Got to love Indiana High School Basketball!

Hall of Fame Classic Semi-Finals Recap

Center Grove erased a nine point deficit after the opening quarter to take a 68-64 victory over Washington. After falling behind early, Center Grove cut the lead to only 2 going into halftime even with Butler signee Andy Smeathers on the bench with 3 fouls. IPFW recruit Jonny Marlin played great finishing with 20 points. He did a great job of penetrating and either kicking out to a shooter or finishing with a floater. With Smeathers back in the second half, 9 of his 14 points, and finding ways to shut down Cody Zeller they never looked back. Zeller, and IU signee did not attempt a shot in the 3rd period, after scoring 18 points in the opening half. I thought he did too much standing around letting himself be shut down. A player like him needs to demand the ball and find a way to score. He finished with a game high 24 points and 10 rebounds.

The Bloomington South vs. Warsaw game was a showdown between two of the top guards in the state. It certainly did not disappoint. "Dee" Davis, a Xavier recruit, and Nic Moore, who will attend Illinois State, traded buckets for most of the game. In the end, it was Davis and Bloomington South who escaped with a 65-62 victory. Nic Moore lead all scorers with 34 points to go along with 7 rebounds and 5 assists. He is the total package, he will be one of the best mid-major players in the country. Dee Davis had 27 to lead Bloomington South, while Belmont signee Spencer Turner added 15 points.

The final between Center Grove and Bloomington South this evening should be a great one!

Bob Wettig Day 2 Recap

Connersville advanced to the semi finals with a 43-34 win over Huntington North in the first game of the day. Bethel College commit Zach Miller led the way with 18 points.

In the second game, Class 2A #2 Tipton moved into the semis with a 49-27 victory of East Central. This was a very physical and intense game, fun to watch. University of St. Francis recruit Greg Dickey had 14 points. 2013 prospect Mike Crawford added 11. Tipton and Connersville will play at 5:00 for a spot in the finals.

Hamilton Heights cruised to a 67-43 win over Floyd Central. Indiana University signee Austin Etherington had 27 points, while his brother 2013 forward Alex Etherington added 16 points and 5 rebounds.

The final quarter-final game between the host Richmond Red Devils and Guerin Catholic turned out to be the most entertaining. It was tight all the way, however Junior Guard Riley Rapp connected on two 3's in the closing seconds, including the game winner with 1.6 seconds to go. He had 17 points, while Richmond's 2011 forward Jon Trawick had a game high 28.

The semis began at 5:00 with Tipton taking on Connersville. This game was much closer than expected. However, the Blue Devils escaped with a 49-48 victory to earn a spot in the championship. Greg Dickey had a game high 26 points, while Zach Miller led the Spartans with 19.

The final game of the evening pitted Guerin Catholic against Hamilton Heights. I was not at this game, but it sounds like Guerin must have been emotional and physically drained from their game against Richmond. Heights cruised to a 66-40 victory.

The championship will be at 7:30 Thursday night at the Tiernan Center between rivals Tipton and Hamilton Heights. Should be a great game!

East Central vs. Hagerstown/Tipton vs. Tabernacle Christian

The 4th annual Bob Wettig Memorial Tournament got underway at 9 a.m. this morning. East Central took control in the second half, overcoming a 2 point halftime deficit to win 50-39. 6'6'' Junior Center Logan Jaehnen sat for most of the first half with 2 fouls, but played a huge roll in the second half comeback. He finished with a game high 17 points, 5 rebounds and 3 blocks. I really like his post moves and how he got position down on the block. He is a big, strong frame. Needs to develop a mid-range game, but besides that he is solid. Could develop into a D2 prospect if he gets more range, but right now would be a good D3 post player.

In the second game, Class 2A #2 Tipton dominated from the opening tip. Senior Guard Connor Rich connect on 8 of 9 3-point attempts and finished with 30 points. He has a very quick release and deep range. I like his length, but didn't get a chance to see how he is at attacking the basket. I guess when you shoot like that maybe you don't need to! He definitely would be a good pick up for a small school. University of St. Francis recruit Greg Dickey really impressed me with how he handles the game. He is a true floor general point guard who seems to always make the right decision. He added 19 points for Tipton. Sophomore forward Mike Crawford had 10 points. He played well inside for his size, 6'3''. He also had two big dunks, including a rim-rocking two hander.

I am off to Lexington with my Dad now to watch UK so I won't see any more games today, but I plan to watch the first 5 games at the Tiernan Center tomorrow!!!

Bob Wettig Memorial Tournament Preview

The 4th Annual Wettig Tourney is bigger and better than ever. There are 16 teams who will play four games over a period of three days. This year's tournament features three undefeated teams in Tipton (5-0), Jennings County (7-0) and host Richmond (5-0). Also, there are teams from Illinois and Michigan. The tournament will begin at 9:00 a.m. on the 28th and there will be games one right after another all day at the Tiernan Center. Should be a great three days of basketball!

Top Players: 2013 Mike Crawford, Tipton.

2011 Greg Dickey, Tipton. (University of St. Francis)

2011 Zach Miller, Connersville. (Bethel College)

2013 Torrio Jackson, Connersville.

2011 Austin Etherington, Hamilton Heights. (Indiana University)

2013 Alex Etherington, Hamilton Heights.

2011 Jon Trawick, Richmond.

2011 Dustin Lawson, Jennings County

Round 1

East Central (5-2) vs. Hagerstown (3-2) 9:00 a.m.

Winner: East Central. The inside attack of 2012 6'6'' Logan Jaehmen and 2011 6'6'' Brady Collins will prove too much for the undersized Tigers to handle.

Tipton (5-0) vs. Tabernacle Christian Academy (9-2) 10:30 a.m.

Winner: Tipton. The balanced offensive attack of 2013 prospect Mike Crawford, along with 2011 Conner Rich and NAIA powerhouse University of St. Francis signee Greg Dickey should take care of Tabernacle easily.

Huntington North (2-4) vs. Shenandoah (4-3) 12:00

Winner: Huntington North. HN is coming off of a lost to host Richmond, but they should bounce back and defeat Shenandoah. I watch the Raiders play Winchester last week and was not too impressed, they have a tough time putting points on the board.

Connersville (1-6) vs. Westminster Academy (IL) (8-1) 1:30 p.m.

Winner: Connersville. This is my upset pick for the tourney. This may be one of the worst starts in recent memory for the Spartans, but Bethel commit Zach Miller is playing some great basketball and I expect him to lead his team to victory over a tough Westmister squad. I also like 2013 6'6'' forward Torrio Jackson.

Floyd Central (3-2) vs. Indianapolis Tindley (6-1) 4:30 p.m.

Winner: Floyd Central. FC finished 3rd in last years eight team Wettig Tournament. Tindley is coming in hot, winners of four straight games including a win over Gary Roosevelt. However, I think that run will come to an end.

Hamilton Heights (5-2) vs. Northeastern (6-2) 6:00 p.m.

Winner: Hamilton Heights. This could be an ugly game. Northeastern does not have any impressive wins despite their six wins, and HH has an IU signee in Austin Etherington, and another D1 prospect in his little brother Sophomore Alex Etherington.

Richmond (5-0) vs. Benton Harbor Academy (MI) (2-3) 7:30 p.m.

Winner: Richmond. Host Richmond has won the first three Bob Wettig tournaments, and coming in with an undefeated record certainly gives them the confidence that they can win it again. 2011 unsigned prospect Jon Trawick is having another good season for the Red Devils.

Jennings County (7-0) vs. Guerin Catholic (4-2) 9:00 p.m.

Winner: Jennings County. This is definitely the most intriguing first round match up. JC is riding an undefeated season, and Guerin is always a tough team, plus they hold a victory over 2A powerhouse Park Tudor.

Round 2

East Central vs. Tipton. Winner: Tipton

Huntington North vs. Connersville. Winner: Huntington North

Floyd Central vs. Hamilton Heights. Winner: Hamilton Heights

Richmond vs. Jennings County. Winner: Jennings County

Semi-Finals

Tipton vs. Huntington North. Winner: Tipton

Hamilton Heights vs. Jennings County. Winner: Hamilton Heights

3rd Place Game

Huntington North vs. Jennings County. Winner: Jennings County

Championship

Tipton vs. Hamilton Heights. Winner: Hamilton Heights

The duo of Austin and Alex Etherington is just too much talent for any of the teams in this year's field to handle. This championship match-up should be a great game, and I expect Tipton to hang right with Hamilton Heights. Its too bad that 4 of the 5 best teams are all on the same side of the bracket (my top 5 are Tipton, Hamilton Heights, Richmond, Jennings, and Guerin.) Realistically, any of those 5 teams could win this in my opinion, but Hamilton Heights is my pick. Enjoy a great three days of basketball in memory of Bob Wettig!

New Castle vs. Centerville

This game is usually a hard fought battle between two of the best teams in East Central Indiana. However, after the 1st quarter it was not looking like it was going to be much of a game at all. New Castle jumped out to a 19-2 lead after the first period. The Bulldogs responded well in the 2nd quarter, climbing back into the game and pulling within 7, 26-19 at half. Centerville cut the lead to just 3 about half way through the 3rd quarter, but then New Castle pulled away, riding sharp-shooting Sophomore Steven Bennett. The final score was 62-37. Bennett led all scorers with 20, shooting 3-6 from deep. Junior Jordan Richardson added 13 points, while Senior Jordan Hahn had 12. Matthew Schauss led the Bulldogs with 13 points and 7 rebounds.

Jordan Hahn, New Castle: 2011, Guard- Displayed great ball-handling skills and good decision making. His shot doesn't look the prettiest, but he is a good shooter. He does a very good job of running the offense and facilitating the ball. I see him being a solid D3 point guard.

Jordan Richardson, New Castle: 2012, Guard- I was impressed with his ball-handling and quickness. Richardson tore Centerville's zone apart by penetrating and kicking to his many perimeter options. He can also shoot pretty well himself. He could be a solid point guard at the next level, probably D3 or NAIA.

Steven Bennett, New Castle: 2013, Guard- Bennett was very, very impressive. He is a long lefty who can stroke it from deep. However, he does a great job of pump faking and pulling up for mid-range jumpers. The combination of being a deep threat and having a great mid-range game makes him tough to stop. As he continues to fill out and works on his strength and quickness he could become one of the top players in his class.

Matthew Schauss, Centerville: 2011, Guard- His shooting just wasn't there for him last night. They were close, but Schauss had countless shots go in and out of the cylinder. New Castle did a good job of pressuring him and made him take tough shots. Schauss has to carry the majority of the scoring load for Centerville, and New Castle's defense was really keying on him.

Class of 2011 Overall Rankings (1-25)

After a great 4 years of high school, culminating with the 2011 season, this list of players has stood above the rest. Here is the final Indiana Recruiting Guide Class of 2011 Rankings. If you see any glaring absences or a player we have listed as "Undeclared" is, in fact, committed please email me at ramseyb14@hanover.edu!

1. Marquis Teague: 6'2'' Point Guard, Pike H.S.

University of Kentucky

Not only is he the top player in Indiana, Teague is arguably the #1 player in the nation. He is very explosive going to the basket, and finishes well around the rim. He has good strength which allows him to draw contact and get to the free throw line. His first step is amazing. Teague is a perfect fit for the Dribble-Drive Offense at UK.

2. Cody Zeller: 6'11" Power Forward, Washington H.S.

Indiana University

This is finally the last Zeller that will show up in Indiana recruiting news for quite some time. The youngest of the star brothers plays much like Tyler, he runs the floor very well for a big man, is a great rebounder, and has a good mid-range game. Cody is a great pick up for IU, and I expect him to help take the Hoosiers back to the top of the NCAA rankings.

3. Braden Dawson: 6'6'' Small Forward, Lew Wallace H.S.

Michigan State

Very athletic, top level rebounder for a wing player. He crashes the offensive boards very well. He is becoming a better outside shooter, but still has some work to do. His size and length causes serious match-up problems for defenders. Dawson will be a great player for Coach Izzo and the Spartans.

4. Nic Moore: 5'10'' Point Guard, Warsaw Community H.S.

Illinois State

Moore is one of the best pure scorers in the state. He can shoot the ball from deep as well as take it to the basket. He is a great penetrator and uses his strength to finish around the rim. Has the potential to become one of the better mid-major players in the country

5. Michael Chandler: 6'10'' Center, Lawrence North H.S.

Central Florida

Chandler is a great rebounder and shot blocker. He is a true defensive stopper in the lane. His offensive game needs some fine tuning, but he is strong and athletic which allows him to get some easy buckets down low. Has de-committed from both Louisville and Xavier.

6. Darwin "Dee" Davis: 5'10'' Point Guard, Bloomington South H.S.

Xavier

Davis is as quick as they come. He is a very pesky defender. Nobody is better at running the fast-break, he is great at changing speeds and directions, and can find the open man or finish on his own. If he can become a better outside shooter his game would really take off to the next level.

7. Andy Smeathers: 6'6'' Small Forward, Center Grove H.S.

Butler

An overall good athlete. He can light it up from outside, is a good passer, and attacks the rim well. If he can add some muscle he could become just as dominate as Gordon Hayward was at Butler.

8. Justin Gant: 6'8'' Power Forward, Terre Haute North Vigo H.S.

Indiana State

Gant's offensive skills are great all-around. He can shoot very well, he handles the ball well for a power forward, and he is a great passer. He runs the floor very well. In order to become even more dominate, he will need to get stronger and develop some more back to the basket moves.

9. Antonio Wilson: 6'8'' Power Forward, Elmhurst H.S.

Undeclared

Super athlete. He is very long, and runs the floor well for his size. He uses his athletic ability well on the defensive side and is a good rebounder. Wilson needs to work hard to become more of an offensive presence. Would be a very good Mid-Major player, but is probably going the Junior College route first.

10. Austin Etherington: 6'6'' Small Forward, Hamilton Heights H.S.

Indiana University

He is a great scorer, can really shoot from the outside. His length makes him very tough to guard on the perimeter. He will need to become a better defender in order to be able to guard the athletes in the Big 10. Should be a solid 4 year contributor at IU.

11. Alex Pritchett: 6'7'' Power Forward, Beford North Lawrence H.S.

Wright State

Great shooter for his size, also a very solid rebounder. Will need to work on his post game to become more of a true power forward in college. He is a hard worker so I am sure he will make the needed improvements. I expect big things from Pritchett.

12. Kendall Griffen: 6'5'' Small Forward, Avon H.S.

Wright State

He is a very good inside scorer, uses his body well, good at drawing contact. He works very hard at all times. Griffen needs to add more perimeter skills to be more effective at the next level.

13. Adonis Filer: 6'3'' Point Guard, Hammond Bishop Noll H.S.

Brewster Academy

The Indiana All-Star averaged 15.9 points per game this season for State Runner-Up Bishop Noll. I think that after a year of Prep School he will become a solid Division I player.

14. Austin Richie: 6'2'' Shooting Guard, Lowell H.S.

Western Michigan

Richie exemplifies everything I think an old-school Indiana High School Basketball player should be. First off, he will literally shoot from anywhere on the court, and make it. He is maybe the best shooter in the state, and can simply fill it up. Needs to get stronger, but he will be a big time scorer for the next 4 years in college.

15. Jeremiah Jones: 6'3'' Shooting Guard, Merrillville H.S.

Undeclared

He is a very good leaper, attacks the basket with lots of explosiveness. However, he tends to settle for way too many outside shots. If he accepts his role and becomes more of a slasher, he could be a good player for a small D1 school. However, he most likely will be attending prep school next season.

16. Jonny Marlin: 5'11'' Point Guard, Center Grove H.S.

IPFW

Marlin is a true "floor general." He is a good shooter, and a great ball handler and passer. I expect him to be a great point guard for Coach Fife and IPFW.

17. P.J. Boutte: 5'8'' Point Guard, T.C. Howe H.S.

Detroit

He is one of the quickest players in the state. His ball-handling is simply amazing, and his passing is about the same. Obviously he is small, but there is nobody better at getting up and down the floor than P.J. I think he will be a great fit at Detroit.

18. Chris Page: 6'4'' Shooting Guard, Plainfield H.S.

Albany

He is long and has good leaping ability. He does a very good job of getting to the rim. He shoots the ball well from the outside, but will need to improve his ball handling so he can go around defenders at the next level.

19. Max Landis: 6'1'' Point Guard, Perry Meridian H.S.

Gardner-Webb

Landis is a very solid basketball player. He does everything pretty well, shooting, ball-handling and passing. He will need to get in the weight room and add some pounds to be able to handle the ball pressure at the D1 level.

20. Joe Crisman: 6'4'' Shooting Guard, Munster H.S.

Loyola

His main draw back is that he is not overly athletic. Crisman is a good all-around player with no blaring weaknesses. He defends well and is a strong kid. Should be a nice player at Loyola.

21. Zac VanDeWater: 6'4'' Shooting Guard, Whitko H.S.

Indiana Wesleyan

VanDeWater turned down lots of serious D1 interest to attend IWU. He is a very good scorer, shoots well from outside and uses lots of good fakes to get to the basket and finish around the rim. He and future teammate Tyler Greathouse could be the foundation to lead IWU to a NAIA national title.

22. Josh Gentry: 6'4'' Small Forward, Pike H.S.

North Dakota

Gentry is very athletic. He attacks the rim well for his size. Plays very good defense. He will need to work on his shooting range.

23. Tyler Greathouse: 6'8'' Power Forward, Columbus North H.S.

Indiana Wesleyan

Greathouse is part of a stellar recruiting class for IWU. Between him and Zac VanDeWater, they picked up two prospects with D1 offers. He is a great shooter for his size which allows him to really expand the defense. He is a very good rebounder as well. Will be dominate at IWU.

24. Dustin Smith: 6'2'' Shooting Guard, Eastern Hancock H.S.

Maine Central Institute

Smith has really been shooting up the rankings since this summer. He is a lights out shooter, especially when he is able to catch and shoot. He likes to run around screens and moves very well without the ball. He as become a much better ball handler, but will need more work so he can create more shots for himself. Smith is a solid small D1 or D2/D3 prospect after he attends Prep School.

25. Michael Albrecht: 5'11'' Point Guard, Crown Point H.S.

Northfield Mount Hermon Prep

"Spike" is a good shooter, good passer, an overall solid point guard. Could run an offense for a small D1 or D2 school after spending a year at Prep School.

Class of 2011 Overall Rankings (26-50)

26. Eric Stutz: 6'8'' Power Forward, Castle H.S.

Eastern Kentucky University

He has a great motor and is a great rebounder. Overall, Stutz has a very solid game. He doesn't have any one skill which stands out, but is just a good player. Needs to improve his strength to be more of a contributor at EKU.

27. Spencer Turner: 6'3'' Shooting Guard, Bloomington South H.S.

Belmont College

Turner is an elite shooter, in my opinion probably one of the best pure shooters in the state. He is not the quickest player which will be a drawback at the next level, however he is very smart and strong. His shooting ability will fit in very well at Belmont.

28. Jalen Packer: 6'2'' Point Guard, Princeton Community H.S.

Undeclared

Packer is a long, lefty, pass-first ball handler. He does everything you want your point guard to do. He finishes well around the basket, and penetrates a defense with ease. If he adds more of a outside game to go along with his excellent ball handling and passing he could be a D1 prospect.

29. Greg Dickey: 5'11'' Point Guard, Tipton H.S.

University of St. Francis

He is a true "floor general" point guard. Good ball handling skills. He is strong for his size, and can really shoot it from deep. Dickey has a great skill set, should be a good player for powerhouse St. Francis.

30. Matthew Schauss: 6'4'' Shooting Guard, Centerville H.S.

Bethel College

For a guard, Schauss has good size which makes him a match up problem for many defenders. In high school he runs the point so he has good experience handling the ball which will help at the college level. He is great at getting to the rim and finishing, and also has a very good mid-range game. He needs to improve his outside shooting.

31. Jared Smoot: 6'9'' Center, Crown Point H.S.

Navy

Smoot is very long and strong. He is a very good rebounder, but needs to attack the boards with more aggression if he wants to keep getting those rebounds at the D1 level. Also needs to develop more of an offensive post game.

32. Chier Ajou: 7'1'' Center, Culver Military Academy H.S.

New Mexico

Ajou is certainly the most intriguing prospect in the state of Indiana. At 7'1'' he was sure to get his shot to play college basketball. Right now, he is very, very raw, but he can block shots and disrupt many others. He is a work in progress that could turn into a solid player.

33. Evan Maschmeyer: 6'3'' Shooting Guard, Jeffersonville H.S.

Undeclared

Maschmeyer is a very good shooter from the outside. However, he can also take the ball to the basket and does a good job of finishing there as well. Could be a solid pick up for a Divison II team.

34. Chris Whitehead: 5'9'' Point Guard, New Albany H.S.

Undeclared

He is a very good ball handler and attacks the rim well for his size. Whitehead's main problem is that he is only 5'9''. Good pick up for a small college that likes to get up and down the court.

35. Alex Peterson: 6'11'' Center, Carmel H.S.

Huntington College

Anytime you have a 6'11'' frame you are going to be given plenty of opportunities as a basketball player. Peterson is a good shot blocker and rebounder, very disruptive on the defensive side of the floor. Right now he is very thin and needs to add lots of weight to become dominate down low. Would be worth a look for any small Division I program.

36. Spencer Comer: 6'3'' Shooting Guard, Rushville H.S.

University of St. Francis

Comer is very athletic. He uses his strength and quickness very well on the defensive end. He is a very good outside shooter, but needs to improve his ball handling so he can attack the basket and create more shots for himself.

37. Silas Sims: 6'5" Point Guard, Hauser H.S.

Manchester College

The tall, long point guard lead Hauser to the Regional Championship game this season. Sims is a good scorer, and uses his size well to create mis-matches with smaller defenders. He should be a nice addition to Manchester's squad.

38. Connor Rich: 6'4'' Shooting Guard, Tipton H.S.

Depauw University

Rich is the one of the best pure shooters in the state. He works very hard off the ball, running off screens and changing directions. He isn't very athletic and doesn't create off the dribble very well, but his deep range and shooting ability make him a solid pick up for Depauw.

39. Jon Trawick: 6'3'' Small Forward, Richmond H.S.

Undeclared

Jon is one of the strongest players his size that I have seen. This makes him a big time match up problem for other guards. He needs to really work on his shooting, but it is improving. He is a beast down low, finishes very well. He is a "tweener", if his shot continues to improve he would take his game to the next level. Most likely will be heading to Prep School.

40. Ricky Carbajal: 6'6'' Power Forward, Munster H.S.

Quincy University

He does not have the best offensive skill set, but is still able to be a big force in games because of his work ethic and above average athletic ability. He scorers a lot of points off of offensive rebounds. To take his game to the next level he needs to become more of an offensive threat.

41. Brandon Clark: 6'0'' Point Guard, Merrillville H.S.

Undeclared

Clark is an above-average shooter and is a good defender. Much like Robinson though, he tends to try to create when there is no play to be made. If he can harness his abilities and learn to play along with the flow of the game he could be a nice PG at a D3 school.

42. Zach Miller: 6'2'' Shooting Guard, Connersville H.S.

Bethel College

Miller is a a great shooter and moves very well off the ball. I like the way he works to get open and uses screens to create spacing. He is a pretty good ball handler which makes him more versatile, but is most comfortable playing off the ball.

43. Nyree Robinson: 6'3'' Shooting Guard, Carmel H.S.

Undeclared

Robinson is a great athlete which allows him to get to the rim where he is a very good finisher. On the down side, he has a tendency to force the action. If he could accept a role, he could be a solid D2 or D3 players.

44. Brandon Grubl: 6'3" Point Guard, Morgan Township H.S.

Elmhurst College

The do-it-all guard averaged 22.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 3.7 assists per game. Grubl is a true floor general and I expect him to have a very good career at Elmhurst.

45. Evan Blackmon: 5'11'' Point Guard, Bishop Luers H.S.

Danville Area Community College

Good athlete, very strong. Blackmon does a very good job of penetrating the defense and finding an open man on the perimeter, or finishing himself. He needs to work on his shooting ability to make his game more well-rounded.

46. Alex Hutson: 6'1'' Point Guard, Seeger H.S.

Undeclared

Hutson is a top level shooter with serious range. All-around he can really fill it up. Needs to improve ball-handling if he wants to play the point in college, he may be better off playing off the ball. Solid D3 prospect.

47. Chandler Thomas: 6'5'' Small Forward, Cathedral H.S.

Undeclared

He has been working hard to become a true small forward, but is really still more comfortable in the post. Thomas has become a decent shooter, but still needs work on his ball handling to become a better prospect. Probably a NAIA player at this time.

48. Brandon Smith: 5'11'' Point Guard, Cathedral H.S.

Lynn College

Smith is a scoring point guard. He is strong for his size which allows him to finish well inside despite being undersized.

49. Rontray Chavis: 6'5'' Small Forward, Princeton Community H.S.

Cincinnati State

His main problem is that he is a power forward stuck in a small forwards body. He has a better perimeter skill set than his brother, but is still a tweener. He is a good athlete and very strong, but needs to improve his ball handling and shooting ability to become a true small forward.

50. Jordan Hahn: 5'11'' Point Guard, New Castle H.S.

Huntington College

Hahn is a very good outside shooter. Great leader, a "floor general" point guard. He is not overly athletic which makes it tough for him to get around better defenders, but he is very smart and crafty.

Centerville vs. Hagerstown

Centerville picked up their 4th straight win with a 56-39 victory over conference rival Hagerstown. Senior guard Matthew Schauss, a Bethel College commit, lead all scorers with 22 points. For Hagerstown, Senior guard Alex Houck scored 17 points to pace the Tigers.

The Bulldogs jumped out to 15-4 lead after the 1st quarter, however Hagerstown cut the lead to 9, 28-19 at halftime. Houck hit a deep three as time expired for the Tigers. Increased pressure in the 2nd half from the Centerville defense helped them pull away for their second conference victory of the year. Hagerstown just did not have the ball handling to be able to handle the Bulldog's half court trapping defense. Centerville climbed to 4-1 overall, 2-0 in the T.E.C. Hagerstown is now 2-2, 0-2 in the conference.

Matthew Schauss, 6'4'' 2011 Guard- The senior was averaging 26 points a game coming into last night. Schauss was coming off 2 straight 30 point performances, however last night he had lots of shots go in and out. He continued to show the ability to get to the rim at almost any time, and also did a great job of getting to the foul line and making his free throws. He will be a great pick-up for Bethel.

DeAndre Hudson, 6'6'' 2012 Forward- On pure athleticism Hudson is almost always the best on the court. However, his basketball skills are still in need of work. He gets most of his points off of put backs. He finished 12 points and 9 rebounds. He has yet to show any true post moves this season, and does not have a jump shot. However, the raw make-up is there. If he works hard he could become a solid D3 or NAIA prospect.

Alex Houck, 6'2'' 2011 Guard- He is by far the best player that Hagerstown has. He is about the only one who can handle any ball pressure and actually create shots on his own. Houck has been an impact player on varsity for 4 years now, and I have always been a fan of his. However, even though he had 17 last night, I just don't think he does enough. He is a very good outside shooter, but he usually tries to take the ball to the basket. He is a pure scorer, and shows off many different ways to put the ball in the basket, but I think he would be a better prospect if he shot more from the outside. I think he could fit into some NAIA teams system, but he needs some work.

Centerville vs. Franklin County

Senior guard Matthew Schauss led Centerville (2-1) to a 61-48 victory over Franklin County (1-2). He netted a career high 31 points, to go along with 11 rebounds and 7 assists. The Bulldogs picked there second victory of the weekend, they defeated conference foe Northeastern Friday night by 23 points.

Not sure if I will make it to any games next weekend because I have finals the following week. Looking forward to watching lots of good basketball over Christmas break though!

Centerville vs. Northeastern

This was an overall ugly game. 23 turnovers by Centerville (1-1, 1-0), 20 by Northeastern (2-1, 1-1). Centerville came out on top with a 55-32 victory. The Bulldogs have much more talent and were able to just out perform NHS in a helter-skelter type game. Centerville picked up the defense pressure in the second half, allowing only 12 points after the break. Senior guard Matt Schauss, a Bethel College recruit, led the 'Dogs with 18 points and 9 rebounds. Junior forward DeAndre Hudson did not have the offensive impact that he had in the first game of the season, yet made his defensive presence felt with 3 blocks. I am anxious to see how he progresses throughout the season.

Tonight Centerville travels to Franklin County.

Winchester vs. Randolph Southern

The post Chip Mehaffey era began Friday night for Winchester with a 69-46 win over the Rebels of Randolph Southern. The first half was competitive, as the Falcons took a 6 point lead into the locker room. However, the picked up the pressure on the defensive end, and increased the tempo of their offense to pull away in the 2nd half. Senior Cole Lawerence led the Falcons with 16 points, connecting on 4 3's. Junior guard Cody Woodbury contributed 14. Woodbury is a good outside shooter, and also displayed the ability to get to the basket and finish through contact. He is a solid D3 prospect. 6'8'' senior Brandt Miller managed only 9 points while fighting foul trouble.

For the Rebels, senior Nick Pruitt led all scorers with 18 points, 16 coming in the first half. This is Pruitt's first game since his sophomore year, he missed last season due to an injury. I was impressed with his scoring ability in the first half, as he connected on 4 3's, however, he disappeared in the 2nd, managing to only get 1 field goal late in the game.

I will be at a game tonight, but have not yet decided where I want to go yet.

Centerville vs. Eastern Hancock

The Royals of Eastern Hancock (1-0) overcame getting out-shot, out-rebounded, and a -5 turnover margin to capture a 55-51 victory over the Bulldogs (0-1). Centerville's Matthew Schauss, a Bethel College commit, led all scores with 22 points. He also added 5 rebounds and 5 assists. Schauss displayed his ability to get to the rim and finish, along with knocking down to 3-pointers. Deondre Hudson, a 6'6'' 2012 prospect added 18 points and 10 rebounds for Centerville. The transfer from Illinois displayed great athleticism and he finished very well around the basket. Hudson will need to add more post moves and a mid-range jump shot to his game in order to reach his full potential, last night most of his scoring came off of offensive rebounds. With the proper development he could become a solid D2/NAIA prospect.

For Hancock, Dustin Smith, a 2011 sharp-shooter, was a little disappointing. He fought foul trouble, fouling out with 3 minutes to go in the game. He scored 13 points and made 2 3-pointers. Smith still needs to develop a better game off of the dribble to become a more well-rounded player. He would be a great pick up for a D3 school.

Richmond vs. Greenfield-Central

In a very ugly and poorly played game, the Red Devils of Richmond came out on top with a 51-47 victory. Richmond 2011 prospect Jon Trawick led all scorers with 19 points despite missing many close shots around the basket. In order to become a higher level talent, Trawick will need to develop a jump shot and learn to finish better. He got all of his points from either layups or free throws. For Greenfield, 6'6" 2012 prospect Tyler Stone displayed soft hands and great touch around the basket to finish with 13 points. He also showed some range knocking down an early 3. If he can develop some foot speed and better jumping ability, Stone could be a solid D3 or NAIA prospect.

I have heard that Trawick is leaning towards attending Prep School. I think this is what he probably needs. The strength and athleticism are there, but he is lacking the shooting ability to play at the college level right now.

I will be at the Centerville vs. Eastern Hancock game tomorrow night to watch Bethel College commit Matthew Schauss, and the sharp shooting Dustin Smith.

2010-2011 Season!

This new year of Indiana High School Basketball is upon us. There are lots of big stories that will be played out around the state this year. The number of major prospects in the state is as high as ever, so this should be a exciting year no matter what part of the state you are in. As for East Central Indiana, I will be heading to the Richmond vs. Greenfield-Central game tonight in order to check out how Joe Luce's team has progressed from his first year on the job. I am anxious to see how 2011 prospect Jon Trawick and 2012 standout Chandler Miller look this year. As always, the basketball season has a lot to offer, with many talented prospects, some of which are still uncommitted, namely Park Tudor superstar Yogi Ferrill who will make his decision known tomorrow night at 7.

Good luck to all teams and players this season and make sure you keep up on the blog to get all of your latest Indiana High School Basketball news! Follow me on twitter at INrecruitguide.

Sectional Champs

Centerville set up a rematch with Winchester in the Regional Semis, with a convincing 67-48 win over Cambridge City Lincoln. 6'6" senior forward Bradley Siegel led the Bulldogs with 19 points and 16 rebounds. Senior guard Cory Noelker lead all scorers with 21 points. Centerville upset the Falcons of Winchester earlier in the year 56-48. I look forward to seeing how these two great ball clubs play on the Regional stage at the Spartan Bowl. Look for Neal Beshears to step up and try to not let the Bulldogs get revenge after being knocked out of the tournament by the Falcons last year. However, I am putting my faith in Centerville and their balanced offensive attack to move on to the Regional finals and face the winner of South Ripley and Park Tudor.

On a selfish note, this is my 5th sectional championship in my ten years as statistican at Centerville...I guess I am good at what I do!

Centerville vs. Winchester Recap

These two rivals really put the Hysteria in Hoosier Hysteria on Wednesday night. Centerville pulled off the upset, beating #7 Winchester 56-48. While shooting over 60% from the field did not hurt the Bulldogs, quite simply, they just outplayed Winchester. 6'4" Junior Guard Matt Schauss lead Centerville with 18 points, 14 coming in the second half. Matt showed good ball handling skills, as well as great body control inside while finishing many tough shots. Centerville's defense held 6'7" Neil Beshears to only 13 points. The Bulldogs 2-3 zone kept the Winchester offense in check, and forced Neil to take some tough shots. He did play a decent mid-range game and showed his ability to elevate over a defense, but overall I would have liked to see him take over down the stretch. This could be a turning point for Centerville, we will see how they come off this big win tommorow night at Connersville.

Centerville vs. Winchester

Powerhouse, and #7 ranked Winchester come to Centerville to face the Bulldogs tonight, in what shapes up to be the biggest game of the year for CHS. Hoosier Hysteria will be here to celebrate the 100th year of Indiana High School Basketball. Neil Beshears, 6'7'' senior small forward for Winchester looks to prove that he is the best player in the area. I look forward to seeing these talent packed teams battle it out tonight.

Wayne County Tournament Recap

Centerville (6-2) overcame a slow start and outscored Norhteastern by 20 points in the second and third quaters to win by the final of 54-32. Once again, junior guard Matt Schuass led the Bulldogs wtih 14 points and 10 rebounds. Centerville has now won 6 straight county titles. The Bulldogs face two tough opponents this weekend as they travel to Knightstown and Blue River.

Tournament MVP-Matt Schauss (Centerville)
First Team-Alex Houck (Hagerstown) Derek Blunk (Northeastern) Jacob Stewart (Centerville) Brad Siegel (Centerville) Chris Rea (Cambridge City).
Second Team- Will Claywell (Northeastern) Brett Singer (Cambridge City) David Roeder (Northeastern) Austin Robinson (Hagerstown) Cory Noelker (Centerville).

Wayne County Tournament

Northeastern vs. Centerville. These two teams always put it all on the line against each other, and tonight's stage, the Wayne County Tournament Championship will only make the game that much more intense. Northeastern (4-7), winners of two straight have improved each time I have seen them, and after an impressive performance agianst Hagerstown, Centerville certainly cannot overlook them. Centerville (5-2) is looking for a record 6th straight Wayne County Tourny title. Matt Schauss led the Bulldogs to a win over Cambridge City with 17 of his 20 points in the second half to bring Centerville back from a 12 point deficit. Northeastern lost by 21 points in their first meeting this year against Centerville, however their ability to hit from the outside always gives them a fighting chance. Centerville will also need to improve their rebounding in order to ensure that they will be lifting the trophy. They gave up 23 offensive rebounds against Cambridge Saturday night, that is the most I have seen in my 10 years as statistician. Centerville should be able to win comfortably, but as everyone knows, anything can happen in tournament basketball. I will have the game recap as well as the All-Tournament team after the game.