2014 Indiana High School Basketball Tournament

Once again, I'll be providing a stream and updates as the Indiana HS basketball tournament gets underway with sectional play this coming Tuesday. There are no 2014 commitments playing in Indiana, but there are some definite prospects playing around the state. If you're looking for a printable bracket for all four classes right here:

2014 brackets

Here is your basic rundown:

• In Class 4A Carmel is rated No.1 and is looking at a third straight state title. The Greyhounds don't have a ton of standout individual talent, but they are simply a great, well-coached team. They play great defense, hit free throws, don't turn the ball over, and if they have a 4^th quarter lead they squeeze you to death. I would not mind Purdue looking at coach Scott Heady as an assistant, because this is a team that plays better than the sum of their parts. They open Wednesday night against 2015 target Derrik Smits and Zionsvile, whom they already beat 43-26 on February 8. Zionsville is 13-6, but has lost four of its last six, including to Carmel and Indianapolis Tech, who are rated 1-2.
• 2015 target Hyron Edwards is 11-9 with East Chicago Central in class 4A. If he won his sectional it would be a big surprise.
• Class 4A is also the home of 2015 target K.J. Walton (Brownsburg, 18-2 with their only losses to No.1 Carmel and No. 3 Hamilton Southeastern).
• Eron Gordon, a top 2016 prospect, plays for North Central in the same sectional as Carmel and Zionsville.
• In Class 3A Greensburg is the favorite to repeat, as they are ranked No. 1 at 21-1 and have only three losses in the last three years. They are led by Bryant McIntosh (Northwestern) and Sean Sellers (Ball State). 2015 prospect Ryan Welage is drawing interest from Indiana, Nebraska, and Michigan for them.
• Davon Dllard, one of Purdue's top targets for 2015, is playing for Bowman Academy. Bowman was originally a 1A school and won the title in that class in 2010. Their enrollment bumped them up to 2A, where they won the title last season. Because of the new success factor, the fact they were state runner-up to Park Tudor in 2012, and won the 2013 title, they were moved up to Class 3A this season where they are No. 2 ranked at 16-4. They can be the first team to win state titles in three different classes, and a title match against Greensburg would be the first tournament game between defending state champions since Northwestern and Plymouth met in a 3A regional in 2008 (Northwestern won the 2007 2A title, then moved up due to enrollment).
• P.J. Thompson, a possible late addition to the 2014 class, plays for Class 3A No. 7 ranked Brebeuf. Brebeuf is 14-5, but the losses have been to some 4A powers in Carmel, Cathedral, and a good Zionsville team.
• Class 2A has Trevon Bluiett and Park Tudor as the favorite. Park Tudor won in 2011 and 2012. They are favored to win a third title in four seasons. It could be a fourth in four seasons, but they were upset in their sectional last season by Broad Ripple. That upset prevented them from being forced up into 3A.
• Class A is pretty open, as Barr-Reeve is No. 1 and reached the title game2002, 2007, and 2010 without winning. The defending champion is Borden, who is still a top 10 team. One of the more interesting games to start the tournament is No. 2 Covington (18-1) against No. 7 Lafayette Central Catholic (12-8 against a very tough schedule of 3A and 4 teams). Central Catholic has not lost a sectional since 2001, and has the longest active sectional championship streak at 12 years in a row.

As usual, I will be attending several games, starting with Wednesday's Carmel-Zionsville game. I also have a press pass for the state finals, so I'll have a stream going that day as well.