I need to come with a catchy title for this column. How about “First and 5” or “Starting 5”? (I’m coming out of vacation, give me a break). Here are five topics:
Southport Fieldhouse out of mix for IHSAA/Marion County
No Southport Fieldhouse for high school basketball sounds like a terrible nightmare.
While one of the state’s best gyms (my favorite) is not going anywhere, Southport took itself out of the mix for Indiana High School Athletic Association tournament games and the Marion County tournament due to facility improvements that will limit parking due to the construction process and “temporarily impact the functionality of the campus.”
Southport athletic director Tony Harris said Southport will be out for IHSAA and Marion County tournament games for two years maximum. The facility improvements include a new indoor activity center featuring four basketball courts, state-of-the-art wrestling room, weight room, new classrooms, office space, renovated locker rooms, among other upgrades.
It is undetermined how the IHSAA will replace Southport, though the Marion County tournament has a solution, as of Thursday. The 2027 Marion County semifinals and championship will be played at Speedway on Jan. 15 and 16, and the 2028 semifinals and championship will be at Lawrence North.
“We sincerely appreciate the continued partnership, understanding, and support of the IHSAA and our Marion County colleagues throughout this exciting period of growth,” Southport released in a statement from the school. “We look forward to the completion of these projects and to renewing our role as a premier host site for postseason tournaments and county events. We are excited about the future of Southport High School, Southport High School athletics, Perry Township Schools, and our continued relationships with the IHSAA, our neighboring Marion County school districts, and the Southport community for many years to come.”
Hurry back, Southport Fieldhouse.
Cooper Zachary visits
Fishers senior guard Cooper Zachary is into the official visit portion of his recruitment.
Zachary, a core Indiana Junior All-Star last season, took official visits to Evansville (July 22-23) and Cal Baptist (July 24-26) and has upcoming official visits scheduled for Florida Gulf Coast (Aug. 21-23) and Ball State (Aug. 28-30) next month.
The 5-10 Zachary, who averaged 14.8 points, 5.6 assists and 2.8 steals as a junior, is also considering official visits in September or October for Kent State, Air Force, Holy Cross and Purdue Fort Wayne.
“The (transfer) portal and then the five-year rule kind of hurts us 2027s,” Zachary said last month, referring to the 5-in-5 eligibility rule passed by the NCAA. “But you have to adapt. It’s college basketball and it’s not going to change. I’m trying to figure out a spot where I’m going to play early, have a good role and a coach that is going to be on me but also love me at the end of the day. I’m trying to figure all that out because you can’t really go off the roster, they have now because it may be a whole new team.”
Prep school factor
So far, the “damage” has been mitigated when it comes to Indiana high school basketball talent leaving for prep schools.
Pike guard Jahari Miller leaving for Faith Family Academy in Dallas, Texas, is the biggest departure. Miller, a 6-3 point guard, averaged 14.1 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.2 assists last year for a 23-4 win sectional title winning Pike team. He is a four-star prospect, rated No. 61 in the 2027 class by 247sports with offers from many Power Four programs.
But Miller’s departure was also not unexpected. He left the Junior All-Star team in Charlestown and did not play with Pike throughout June.
The other Junior All-Star to depart was also not unexpected. Devin Bolden, who averaged 20.9 points and 12.6 rebounds last year at Cardinal Ritter, followed his former coach, Derrick Williams, to RockTop Academy (N.J.).
Tyler Renn, a standout at Terre Haute North, is headed to Andrews Osborne Academy in Ohio. The 6-6 Renn has reclassed to the 2028 graduating class.
If that is all, not bad, especially considering the prep school rumors that were going around. Always a chance there could be more.
Greenwood Christian football
Greenwood Christian will be fielding an 8-man football team this season due to a roster of just 15 players, according to coach Andre Dobson.
Greenwood Christian started its football program in 2022 and has been a sectional-eligible team in Class 1A the past two seasons. The Cougars went 7-3 in 2024, losing 28-27 to Eastern Greene in the first round of the sectional. Last year’s team was 2-8 with a 56-12 loss to North Decatur in the first round.
Dobson said the plan is to get back to 11-man football next season. Greenwood Christian was part of the seven-team Class 1A Sectional 46 and had a full schedule with nine regular-season games.
Several schools have fielded 8-man football teams the last few years, including Waldron, Traders Point Christian, Indiana Deaf and Dugger Union. Waldron won the state championship last year in 8-man, defeating Tri-State 34-6.
Markell Bailey granted eligibility
North Central junior wide receiver Markell Bailey has been granted full eligibility by the IHSAA after his transfer from Franklin Central.
Bailey, one of the state’s top receivers, caught 36 passes for 629 yards and 15 touchdowns as a sophomore at Franklin Central. He has offers from Purdue, Austin Peay, Ball State, Bowling Green, Kent State, Miami (Ohio) and Western Michigan.
North Central opens the season on Aug. 21 at Brebeuf Jesuit.
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: Five topics: Southport Fieldhouse out tourney mix, Cooper Zachary visits and more
Reporting by Kyle Neddenriep, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Kyle Neddenriep, Indianapolis Star | USA TODAY Network
