AAU: Indiana Big Men to Watch

With AAU season almost underway, I wanted to briefly overview some of the state's top big men, and what they can do to improve this summer. Scout.Com Recruiting Analyst Evan Daniels shared some of his thoughts with me on the Indiana big men.

A.J. Hammons (2012) Center- This Carmel High School big man has a high reputation to live up to this summer. The sophomore center has earned scholarship offers from IU, Xavier, and Illinois while averaging over 5 blocks per game this season. Hammons has slimmed down some since last summer, and with a big AAU season, could receive more offers. The sky is the limit for Hammons who could really help himself with an assertive effort on both ends of the floor. "I think the biggest thing holding Hammons back is Agression," said Daniels. "He's got the size, hands and touch around the basket, I'm just waiting for him to turn it up a notch and be more aggressive."

Michael Chandler (2011) Center- The next great Lawrence North big man made a name for himself on the AAU circuit last summer. The rising senior looks to maintain and legitimize his lofty top 15 national ranking. Chandler has shown that he can play solid defense and pull down rebounds, but can he add a more potent offense game to his weaponry? "Michael Chandler has made tremendous strides since he first hit the scene," Daniels said of the highly touted big man. "As far as improvements, I think he needs to continue to develop his moves on the block, make them more crisp and add a few more to his arsenal."

Cody Zeller (2011) Power Forward/Center- Zeller really impressed onlookers in the state tournament, leading his team to the 3A IHSAA Championship. He had a barrage of coaches watching him throughout the tournament, gearing up for what should be an interesting recruitment. Zeller ended last summer with a top 50 national ranking, establishing himself as one of the better big men in the 2011 class. During the season Zeller showed great versatility on the offensive end, knocking down long range jump shots, taking opponents off the dribble, and scoring in the post. If Zeller could improve his overall strength, who knows how good he could be? "With Zeller I think it's clear that strength is certainly something that he can work on," Daniels said. "But he's got the size, hands, post moves and ability to move that can often times make up for his lack of strength."

Evan Daniels is a national scout/recruiting analyst for Scout.com. You can check out his work at http://scouthoops.scout.com/.

Washington defeats Gary Lew Wallace 65-62 in OT to win 3A title

Led by Cody Zeller's 20 points and 26 rebounds Washington High School won the Class 3A State Championship in overtime. Zeller tied a state championship record by pulling down 26. Cody Zeller is now the 3rd Zeller family member to lead Washington to a 3A State Championship. This is Washington's 3rd title in six years.

Senior Guard Latroy Taylor hit a 3 pointer near the end of the 4th quarter to tie the game at 56. Washington failed to connect on a jump shot to win the game in regulation, and the game went to overtime. Washington led throughout overtime, and two 3 pointers by Branden Dawson did not connect in the final 10 seconds of overtime. Branden Dawson led Gary Wallace with 22 points and 11 rebounds.

Scouting:

(2011) Cody Zeller, Forward/Center- Zeller absolutely dominated the glass throughout this game. He had 15 rebounds at halftime and used his size, positioning, and athleticism to pull down a state record 26 rebounds in the game. Zeller scored 20 points in this game, able to get many opportunities off second chance points. He also showed nice shooting touch knocking down a 3 pointer to close out the second quarter. Zeller did a nice job getting to the foul line, but had an off shooting day from the charity stripe. Zeller struggled to finish plays after contact, missing shots on potential "And 1's". Adding strength to his frame could definitely help Zeller finish more plays down low. Defensively he was solid, not allowing buckets and challenging many shots in the paint. All in all Zeller played a great game and showed his skills that make him a sought after prospect. This performance surely impressed the handful of college coaches at the game. As he moves forward, Zeller must add strength to his frame to help his game in the paint both offensively and defensively.

(2011) Branden Dawson, Wing Forward- Dawson showed off his high level athleticism and motor today, fighting for loose balls and finishing in the paint. Dawson is streaky shooting the ball but was able to score in the paint off offensive rebounds and fast breaks. Dawson had two rim rocking dunks in the open court, displaying good handles with the ball. Branden also used his leaping ability to pull down high arching rebounds and contest shots. Defensively Dawson's length bothered opponents, as he was able to disrupt plays and challenge shots with his wing span. Overall Dawson played well, putting on a show for the many college coaches in attendance. The key for Dawson is too improve the consistency of his jump shot so he can become a total offensive threat.

Wheeler Wins 2A State Championship over Park Tudor

In a back and forth game, Wheeler High School edged Park Tudor 41-38. Wheeler Senior Andrew Rudakas sank two free throws late to take a three point lead. Two last second three point attempts by Park Tudor guard Kevin Ferrell were unable to go as Wheeler hung on to win the game. Petar Todrovic led Wheeler with 13 points.

Park Tudor trailed 19-15 at half, but regained a 1 point lead at the end of the 3rd quarter. Sophomore point guard Kevin Ferrell led runner-up Park Tudor with 20 points and 5 rebounds.

The 3A State Championship game will be played this evening at 6 P.M. The matchup is Gary Lew Wallace High School vs. Washington High School. Highly regarded juniors Cody Zeller (Washington) and Branden Dawson (Wallace) will be playing in the game.

Scouting:

(2012) Kevin "Yogi" Ferrell: Guard, Park Tudor- Ferrell's quickness and ball-handling make him a dangerous floor general even though he stands just 5'9. He is able to penetrate defenses and get to the rim and score or kick it out to open teammates. He is a skilled passer who knows when to give it up and not force the action in traffic. As a shooter Ferrell can be streaky, but is able to knock down shots from beyond the 3 point lane. His size and strength do sometimes prevent him from scoring the against contact. As a free throw shooter Ferrell averaged 77% from the foul stripe this year, but was down a little today shooting 5-8. Defensively, Ferrell pressures the ball well and could be a real weapon in a full court press. He'll struggle to guard bigger and stronger guards but his speed and quickness allow him to stay in front of his man. Overall, Yogi is a good lead guard who can run the show and score, but will need to improve his strength to help him finish plays.

Bowman Academy defeats Barr-Reeve to win Class 1A State Title

Bowman Academy defeated Barr-Reeve 74-52 to clinch the Class 1A Indiana State Championship. The Champion Eagles were led by star Sophomore Dejuan Marrero who scored 17 points, grabbed 12 rebounds, dished 5 assists, stole 4 balls, and recorded 3 blocks. The Championship is the 1st for Bowman Academy, who has only been an IHSAA member for 2 years.

Barr-Reeve only trailed by one at the first quarter break, but Bowman Academy used a 9-0 run to close the 2nd quarter and they led 36-26. Bowman Academy pushed the lead to 14 at the 3rd quarter break and opened it up leading to a 22 point win. Trey Hughes scored 10 points for the runner-up Barr-Reeve. Barr-Reeve's Christian Duncheon was awarded the Trester Award for mental attitude after the game.

Scouting:

(2012) Dejuan Marrero: Forward, Bowman Academy- Marrero dominated the paint today, scoring with ease off put-backs and offensive rebounds. Its his effort and intensity that allow Marrero to fight for loose balls and score on second chance opportunities. An undersized power forward, Marrero makes up for size with his aforementioned grit and effort. Marrero has a developing jump shot but is able to knock down the open jumper if given the opportunity. He has adequate ball handling that allows him to get to the rim and take opponents off the dribble. Athletically he runs the floor well and has great leaping ability. This allows him to get many fast-break opportunities and easy buckets. Defensively, Marrero's quick jumping ability makes him a great shot blocker and contester. His nose for the ball also helps him disrupt passing lanes, where he grabs steals and creates fast-breaks. He may struggle guarding bigger opponents in the post, so improving his strength and overall defense will be key for his development.

2010 IHSAA State Finals Set

The 2010 Indiana High School Athletic Association's Boy's Basketball State Finals will take place this Saturday, featuring 4 championship games for each respective class. Each game will feature top players in the state of Indiana and at least one high major prospect. The star-studded championship features players such as Washington's Cody Zeller and North Central's Terone Johnson.

1A Finals- Barr-Reeve vs. Bowman Academy

The state's smallest class features a matchup between Bowman Academy from Gary, Indiana and Barr-Reeve from Montgomery, Indiana. Barr-Reeve is led by senior guard Trey Hughes who averages just over 17 points per contest. Bowman Academy is led by star sophomore Dejuan Marrero (14 ppg 12 rpg) who is being courted by a host of schools including Indiana, Illinois, Ohio State, and Purdue. This game is set to tip at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday.

2A Finals- Park Tudor vs. Wheeler

This title game features a hot but unranked 15-10 (Indianapolis) Park Tudor team against #2 26-1 (Valparaiso) Wheeler. Upset minded Park Tudor is led by sophomore point guard Kevin "Yogi" Ferrell (23 ppg) who like Marrero is being courted by a number of midwest schools. Wheeler is led by senior Andrew Rudakas who averages just over 16 points per game. This game will start following the conclusion of the 1A title game, with a tentative start time of 12:45 P.M.

3A Finals- Gary Lew Wallace vs. Washington

In a true matchup of star power, which junior star will lead their team to a title? #5 Lew Wallace High School from Gary, Indiana is led by nationally ranked 2011 recruit Branden Dawson. Dawson is being recruited by nearly every school in the country and is averaging 24 points and 14 rebounds per game. #6 Washington High School of Washington, Indiana is led by junior big man Cody Zeller. Another nationally ranked player, Zeller is averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds per outing. This game will start at 6 P.M. following an intermission after the 2A title game.

4A Finals- North Central vs. Warsaw

The class 4A title game puts local power #3 North Central High School of Indianapolis against #6 Warsaw Community High School of Warsaw, Indiana. North Central is led by its duo of star guards, senior Terone Johnson and sophomore D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera who combine to average 38 points per game. Warsaw is led by star junior guard Nic Moore who averages 21 points per contest. Each team hopes to win its second state title, with North Central's coming in 1999 and Warsaw's in 1984. This game will tip after the conclusion of the 3A title game and has a tentative start time of 8:15 P.M.

Washington defeats Danville to clinch Semi-State Title

Led by sophomore guard Dylan Ervin's 23 points, Washington defeated Danville 57-38 Saturday afternoon. The victory advances Washington to the state finals where they will play a yet to be determined opponent. Highly regarded junior big man Cody Zeller added 14 points and 12 rebounds in the victory for the Washington Hatchets.

Washington only led by 3 points after the first quarter (15-12) but was able to hold Danville to just 4 points in the second quarter, leading 28-16 at halftime. Danville was led by senior guard Jordan Weidner who scored 19 points for Danville. Purdue-bound big man Travis Carroll added a double double, 14 points and 11 rebounds, for the Warriors.

Scouting:

(2011) Cody Zeller- Zeller had an up and down game today. He looked great in the first half, scoring 10 points, but struggled in the second scoring just 4 points. Zeller finished plays after contact, but struggled to convert from the free throw line, shooting just 3-8. He showed nice shooting range, knocking down his lone 3 point field goal attempt. Defensively, Zeller did a nice job and recorded 3 blocked shots. Zeller needs to add strength to his frame as he struggled at times guarding Carroll in the paint. Zeller rebounded the ball well, but struggled to control rebounds as many smaller opponents were able to tie him up for jump balls. He also passed the ball well and did not take any bad shots. All in all, Zeller had an alright game but could have done better. The main reason for his second half struggle was that Carroll switched and guarded him in the second half, as he was guarded by other smaller players in the first.

(2010) Travis Carroll- Carroll played a great game today, looking impressive on the glass and showing great effort on the defensive end. Offensively Carroll did most of his work on the offensive glass, pulling down 5 offensive rebounds and scoring several second chance buckets. He did display a good post presence, but was triple teamed at times, giving him almost no chances to score in the low post. Carroll was 4-4 from the free throw line, and also knocked down 2 deep 2 point shots. On the defensive end, Carroll held star junior Cody Zeller to just 4 points in the second half. Carroll had not matched up with Zeller in the first, so this was an impressive outing. Not an explosive leaper, Carroll used his strength and technique to rebound the ball very well and did not allow many second chance opportunities for his opponent.

(2010) Jordan Weidner- Weidner showcased his great shooting ability today, knocking down 4 3 pointers and 5-6 free throws. Defensively he played well, not allowing easy buckets and causing multiple deflections. Weidner showed good slashing ability as he was able to get to the rim and earn free throw attempts. All in all Weidner played a great game, showcasing great shooting touch and intensity on both ends of the court.