It is not all about the big schools in Central Indiana. There is plenty of small school high school basketball talent as well. Here are 40-plus players from Class 2A and A programs enjoying outstanding seasons:
Asher Arkenau, Park Tudor: The 6-2 senior guard is averaging 12.0 points and 5.0 rebounds for the Panthers, who are 10-5 going into the week.
Isaac Arterburn, Heritage Christian: The 6-1 senior plays hard and makes things happen. He is averaging 14.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.3 steals. Arterburn is averaging 38% from the 3-point line.
Seth Bacon, Purdue Poly Broad Ripple: The 6-2 junior is averaging 17.6 points per game for the 11-4 Lynx, who will play in Class A Sectional 57 where Liberty Christian is the favorite.
Tae Bell, Metropolitan: The 6-7 senior has made a big impression for the Pumas, averaging 13.2 points, 10.7 rebounds and 1.6 steals in 10 games, including 17 points and 16 rebounds in a recent win over Greenwood Christian.
Jase Bennett, Riverside: The 6-6 Bennett is averaging 14.6 points, 7.4 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 1.9 blocked shots per game for the 16-1 Argonauts, whose only loss came to Scecina. Class 2A Riverside knocked off 4A Perry Meridian earlier this week.
Devin Bolden, Cardinal Ritter: The 6-8 Bolden is averaging 21.4 points, 12.9 rebounds, 1.4 steals and 1.1 blocked shots for the Raiders, who are 8-9 but certainly a challenger in Class 2A after reaching the City Tournament semifinals and playing toe-to-toe with Cathedral for 3 ½ quarters. Bolden has more than 1,000 points for his career.
David Brigham Jr., Christel House: The 6-1 senior is averaging 20.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.1 steals per game for Christel House, which is 7-8 but coming off a big win over 3A Lebanon. Brigham is just 18 points from 1,000 for his career. He is shooting a career-best 41% from the 3-point line.
Xzavion Collins, Indiana Math & Science: The 6-4 senior is having an outstanding season, averaging 18.0 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.9 steals per game for the 8-7 Knights, a Class A program.
Devin Craig, Lapel: He’s not just a quarterback. The 6-1 senior guard, a Georgetown College football commit, is averaging 13.9 points, 3.3 assists and 3.1 rebounds per game for the 10-5 Bulldogs, a 10-5 team. Craig is shooting 41% from the 3-point line.
Isaac Crane, Covenant Christian: The 6-2 Crane is averaging a team-high 20.1 points and 10.2 rebounds, along with 2.8 assists and 2.4 steals. He went for 38 points last month in a two-point loss to Bishop Chatard. Covenant Christian is 8-6.
Kellen Crim, Morristown: The 5-10 junior guard is averaging 12.7 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists and 2.7 steals per game for Morristown, which has improved to 11-4 after winning five and 10 games, respectively, the past two seasons.
Eli Crowe, Greenwood Christian: The 6-1 sophomore is averaging 11.5 points, 3.5 assists and 3.3 rebounds on 53% shooting for the 5-12 Cougars. Greenwood Christian is 2-1 against potential sectional opponents.
Jackson Faust, Triton Central: The 6-2 Faust is the second-leading scorer for the Tigers behind Eli Sego (listed below), averaging 8.5 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists. Faust is shooting 37% from the 3-point line.
Caleb Flint, Heritage Christian: The 6-foot junior is averaging 14.2 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.3 steals per game for the 9-5 Eagles. Flint is shooting 46% (30-for-65) from the 3-point line.
Jaylin Foster, Scecina: The 6-5 sophomore is going to be a good one. Foster is averaging 12.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.4 steals per game for the 12-5 Crusaders, who played for the City Tournament championship last month.
Owen Garber, Lapel: The 6-1 junior scored 29 points last month in a win over Anderson. Garber is averaging 13.2 points, 3.4 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.5 steals per game for the 10-5 Bulldogs.
Kevin Gierke, Greenwood Christian: The 6-4 senior is averaging 11.5 points and 4.5 rebounds for the Cougars on 49% shooting.
Blake Gray, University: The 6-2 Gray was one of the big reasons why University was able to make a run to the Class 2A state finals last season. He has improved on those numbers as a senior, averaging 13.2 points, 3.8 assists and 2.6 steals.
Devon Hamilton, Sheridan: The 6-3 senior is averaging 16.1 points and a team-high 6.9 rebounds, along with 3.6 assists and 1.4 steals, to play a big role in Sheridan’s 12-2 start. Hamilton is shooting 58% from the field.
Jarrett Harris, Lutheran: The 6-6 sophomore is averaging 10.4 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game for the 3-12 Saints, who will be a tough out in Class A Sectional 58 in a few weeks.
Josh Henderson, University: The 6-5 Henderson has made a big jump as a junior, averaging 15.7 points, 4.9 rebounds and 1.2 blocked shots for the 11-4 Trailblazers. He is shooting 56% from the field and 83% from the free-throw line.
Ty Hopper, Riverside: The senior guard is averaging 13.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.3 steals per game for the 16-1 Argonauts, a Class 2A program. Hopper is shooting 57% from the field, including 36% from 3.
Michael Kreutz, International: The senior is averaging 13.6 points and 8.2 rebounds as a major bright spot for the 2-9 Gryphons.
Luke Manship, Eastern Hancock: The 6-2 Manship, a sophomore, is a big-time athlete on the football field and is averaging 11.8 points, 12.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists for the Royals, who are off to a 7-8 start.
Jason Marshall Jr., Tindley: It has been a tough year for Tindley, which is 2-9, but the 6-4 freshman is averaging 10.1 points and 6.1 rebounds.
Bryce Mathis, Scecina: The 6-1 senior is averaging 18.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists and shooting 41.4% from the 3-point line for Scecina, which opened some eyes with a run to the City Tournament championship game. The Crusaders are 12-5.
Hudson McCloud, Monrovia: The 6-2 McCloud is averaging 12.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 2.2 steals per game for the 10-6 Bulldogs.
Faisal Mohamud, University: The 6-2 senior is averaging 12.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game for the 11-4 Trailblazers, a Class 2A contender. Mohamud has improved as a 3-point shooter, hitting at a 35% clip.
Hayden Najera, Monrovia: The 6-3 senior has made a big jump in his senior season, averaging 15.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.8 assists for the 10-6 Bulldogs.
Trey Page, Sheridan: The 6-2 junior exploded for 30 points in Sheridan’s 90-78 win over Covenant Christian on Saturday. He is averaging 17.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists and 2.1 steals per game for the 12-2 Blackhawks. Page could get to 1,000 career points before the end of his junior season. He is shooting 37% from the 3-point line.
Xavier Page, Irvington: The 5-11 senior has been a major bright spot for the 3-7 Ravens, averaging 12.1 points and 7.2 rebounds.
Jax Peerman, Sheridan: The 5-9 senior is the floor leader for the 12-2 Blackhawks, averaging a team-high 6.4 assists. He also averages 10.6 points and 1.4 steals. Peerman is shooting 47% from the 3-point line.
Jevon Perry, Lutheran: The 6-5 senior is averaging 11.1 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 1.0 steals per game for the Saints, who are 3-12 but have four losses by five points or less against a challenging schedule.
Caden Powers, Eastern Hancock: The 6-foot senior is averaging 16.7 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.3 steals per game for the 7-8 Royals. Powers put up 33 points last month in a won over Monroe Central.
Shalon Robinson, KIPP Indy Legacy: The 5-9 senior point guard is averaging 20.0 points, 5.0 assists, 3.2 steals and 2.7 rebounds for the 7-10 Pride, who own wins over Alexandria and Indianapolis Washington.
Eli Sego, Triton Central: The 6-1 senior guard should be in line for some prestigious postseason honors. Sego is averaging 21.6 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.9 steals per game for the 13-2 and Class 2A sixth-ranked Tigers. Sego, who posted two 30-point games last week, is shooting 48% (43-for-89) from the 3-point line.
Keylan Smith, Park Tudor: The 6-4 senior is averaging 13.0 points and 7.0 rebounds this season for the Panthers, who are 10-5 on the season and played in the Marion County Tournament semifinals.
Eli Stewart, Waldron: The 6-2 sophomore is building off a solid freshman year, averaging 13.1 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.3 steals for the 9-6 Mohawks, who will be a contender in a balanced Class A Sectional 59 field in a few weeks.
Cheick Wade, Cardinal Ritter: The 6-2 senior is averaging 15.7 points, 2.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.4 steals per game for the 8-9 Raiders. Ritter could be a contender in Class 2A. There are some tough games remaining in the regular season.
Quinn Westerfeld, Western Boone: The 6-3 Westerfeld is averaging 14.0 points and 5.2 rebounds for the 7-8 Stars, who won the sectional last year with eight regular season wins.
Parker Williams, Covenant Christian: The 5-9 senior guard is averaging 11.7 points and a team-high 6.3 assists, along with 2.9 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game. Williams went for 18 points and eight assists in a win over Monrovia in January.
Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649. Get IndyStar’s high school coverage sent directly to your inbox with the High School Sports newsletter. And be sure to subscribe to our new IndyStarTV: Preps YouTube channel.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Central Indiana’s small school basketball talent shines: 40+ players to watch
Reporting by Kyle Neddenriep, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
