Fans,
Shown below are my annual pre-season rankings for the 2017-18 season for Class 3A. Also included are a few brief comments about many of the higher-ranked squads.
These rankings are based on a formula I've developed over the years that places emphasis on each team's record for the past year combined with the number of key players they have returning along with the actual number of points returning. Strength of schedule is also a strong consideration. One aspect that is NOT considered is attempting to evaluate players who rarely played at the varsity level during this past season.
This formula usually works in a majority of cases but occasionally “misses the boat” on some others. I developed it so that my own personal biases do not enter into the final rankings. These rankings are usually more indicative of a team’s strength at the start of the season as opposed to how they might finish.
Most of the info used for this analysis was derived from the following sources:
* Coaches from 117 schools
* www.maxpreps.com, the IHSAA-endorsed statistical service, provided usable data for 250 schools.
* E.T.Pearl’s excellent website which provides complete statistical info for 62 schools in North Central Indiana. See etpearl.homestead.com./
* subscribing to five different newspapers
* researching the websites of several other papers and basketball websites.
A big Thank You to everyone who provided information.
For each school, the info below shows this past year's record along with the number of key players and points returning. Where a + is shown, that means that a key player is returning for whom I do not have statistical information.
The “Power Rating” is shown for each school so that readers can see how each of the ranked schools compared with each other. If two or more teams have the same power rating, the number of points returning is used as a “tie breaker.”
One additional note. Unless otherwise known, these evaluations assume all players stay at the school they were at last year. In this day and age, that’s not a very safe assumption anymore, but I don’t’ know of any other way to deal with it, especially at this early date.
If you know of a team that you feel should be ranked, don’t hesitate to let me know (Dan.Wantz@yahoo.com). It’s possible that I did not have enough information to properly consider them.
And lastly, a big Thank You as always to John Harrell’s great website for all of the easily accessible historical info that I often reference in these write-ups.
Enjoy,
Daniel Wantz
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CLASS 3A’s TOP 20 TEAMS
(For each ranked team, their 2017 record is shown along with the number of key players returning and the cumulative ppg represented by those players.)
_______________________2017___#Key_Players &____Power
Rank__Team____________W-L____PPG Returning____Rating
01_Evansville Bosse_________20-8______7_________59______160
02_Mishawaka Marian_______14-10_____6_________57______146
03_Danville________________19-9______6________ 46______146
04_Indianapolis Ritter_______ 15-9______8_________56______142
05_Brebeuf Jesuit___________13-9______4_________36______141
06_New Castle_____________ 17-7______3________ 37______140
07_Evansville Memorial______13-10_____6_________57______134
08_Guerin Catholic__________14-10_____4_________38______134
09_Silver Creek_____________15-9______7________ 42______131
10_Tri-West_______________ 23-4______3_________31______127
11_Indianapolis Manual______18-7______2_________14______126
12_Greensburg_____________ 17-7_____ 5_________53______123
13_Gibson Southern_________15-9______6_________49______121
14_West Lafayette__________ 16-10_____7_________42______121
15_Culver Academy_________ 21-3_____ 4_________42______120
16_Beech Grove____________ 18-7_____ 3_________25______120
17_Indpls.Broad Ripple______ 17-6______3_________31______117
18_Marion_________________10-13_____3________ 26______115
19_Northview______________18-9______2_________25______108
20_Indianapolis Attucks______24-4______5_________23______106
Projecting ahead, let’s take a look at the tournament trail for the teams shown above—starting in the far North part of the state.
02_Mishawaka Marian__ Sect. 19/Northwest Reg./North Semi-State
15_Culver Academy____ Sect. 19/Northwest Reg./North Semi-State
14_West Lafayette______Sect. 20/Northwest Reg./North Semi-State
18_Marion____________ Sect. 23/Northeast Reg./North Semi-State
06_New Czstle_________Sect. 24/Northeast Reg./North Semi-State
19_Northview_________Sect. 26/Southeast Reg./South Semi-State
04_Indpls.Ritter_______ Sect. 27/Southeast Reg./South Semi-State
05_Brebeuf____________Sect. 27/Southeast Reg./South Semi-State
08_Guerin Catholic_____Sect. 27/Southeast Reg./South Semi-State
17_Indpls.Broad Ripple__Sect. 27/Southeast Reg./South Semi-State
20_Indpls.Attucks______Sect. 27/Southeast Reg./South Semi-State
03_Danville___________Sect. 28/Southeast Reg./South Semi-State
10_Tri-West___________Sect. 28/Southeast Reg./South Semi-State
11_Indpls.Manual______Sect. 28/Southeast Reg./South Semi-State
16_Beech Grove________Sect. 28/Southeast Reg./South Semi-State
12_Greensburg_________Sect. 29/Southwest Reg./South Semi-State
09_Silver Creek________Sect. 30/Southwest Reg./South Semi-State
01_Evans.Bossse_______Sect. 32/Southwest Reg./South Semi-State
07_Evans.Memorial___ _Sect. 32/Southwest Reg./South Semi-State
13_Gibson Southern____Sect. 32/Southwest Reg./South Semi-State
Now, here’s a closer look at the Top 10 teams in 3A. Unless stated otherwise, all players are seniors. Those 6’ 3 or taller have their height mentioned, if known. Scoring average is shown in parentheses. Rebound and/or assist average is also shown where known and relevant.
01._Evansville Bosse
Will the third time be the charm for the Bosse Bulldogs? Two years ago they lost a tight 3A title game to Marion. Last year, they had an outstanding team, but were edged by Crispus Attucks in semi-state action. The main catalyst to all this success has been "mighty mite"--Mekhi Lairy (23.0 ppg, 6-rpg, 8-apg). Lairy was an All-State selection last year. Joining him again in the backcourt will be Jaylin Chinn (12.8). Plenty of additional experience returns with Kynique Presley (8.6), 6'3 Jaylen Minor (5.5), Clyde Tsianguebeni (3.5), Junior Javon Layne (2.8), and 6'9 Soph Kiyron Powell (2.6). Bosse will likely face two strong challengers at the sectional level, with both city rival Memorial as well as Gibson Southern expected to field strong teams.
02_Mishawaka Marian
Marian had a decent season last year and returns most of their top players. They should definitely be a legitimate contender for the 3A state title. Michael Hemingway (18.1, 5 apg) and Zach Lattimer (14.4) are a great 1-2 punch for the Knights. Also returning should be R.J.Decker (9.3, 8 rpg), junior Coley Quinn (6.9), 6'3 junior Jacob Bishop (4.6), and soph Jaden Ivey (3.4). A battle with #15 Culver Academy in sectional play is a strong likelihood. Whoever wins that contest will be a strong contender to represent the north semi-state in the 3A title game.
