The summer basketball season (AAU and Club) is quickly coming to a close. And since it’s that time of year for some peace and quiet before football kicks-off in August, why not some high school basketball. So who is the early favorite for 2026 Indiana Mr. Basketball? Here is a quick look at many of the possibilities:
Perhaps the best place to start is where Mr. Basketball left off, Hancock County. Greenfield Central’s Braylon Mullins won the award this season. Now, it may be Purdue recruit Luke Ertel. After getting injured in football, Ertel has recovered and flourished on the hardwood. Luke averaged over 22 points per game as a junior, and he has had a terrific summer.
Mt. Vernon fans have Luke Ertel. Now they have Lawrence North transfer Jamar Thomas. Playing with Ertel will make Thomas a much better player. Last season Thomas averaged just under 8ppg and shot 61% overall.
Crown Point forward Dikembe Shaw can play in the paint and can shoot the three. He is 6’7” and is a nightmare to guard because of his versatility. Shaw is gaining a lot of traction from college coaches around the country.
6’9” senior-to-be Kai McGrew played for the junior all-stars after leading Lawrence North at 14.5ppg and just over 8 rebounds. He can play in the paint and shoot the three. Now McGrew will show his talents at Fishers.
Guard Justin Curry of Noblesville is another player to watch after a successful junior season for the Millers. Curry is another player who has had a great summer. His scoring numbers (15.6ppg) will go up this season and so will the college offers.
Ben Davis guard Jashawn Ladd is getting looks because of his ability to make big plays and his athleticism. Ladd is a pure shooter and plays great defense. Ladd averaged 13.2ppg as a junior.
Everyone loves a pure, left-handed shooting guard. Look no further than Gary 21st Century’s Terrence Hayes. He plays an all-around game by averaging nearly 21ppg, over seven boards, six assists and over three steals per game. Oh and he can soot the rock (40% from 3).
Fans from Plainfield are excited for next season because they have Noah Smith. Smith is 6’8” and his numbers this season will only get better after a great junior season and summer. As a junior, Smith averaged nearly 17ppg and grabbed 7.8 rebounds. More college offers are coming.
Avon senior-to-be Keriawn Berry came to Indiana from Kentucky last season and helped the Orioles become a scary team to play. Berry averaged 13.9ppg, 5.6 rebounds per game.
Lawrence North forward Brennan Miller has played well this summer after averaging 13ppg and nearly eight rebounds per game as a junior. He will have a bigger role for the Wildcats after huge looses in personnel at LN.
Baron Walker is one of the best all-around guards in the state. The Noblesville senior-to-be averaged nearly 16ppg last season, and those numbers will get better this season. He is a pure shooter (40%-3, and 50% overall).
Bloomfield forward Blake Neill had a monster junior season averaging 27.5ppg and shot over 35% from 3.
Cathedral guard Julien Smith is another player we watched last season with interest after he transferred from Mt. Vernon. Smith played with a very talented Cathedral team averaging 13.5ppg and shot 42% from three. Smith is gearing up for a monster senior season.
6’0” guard Jedidiah Minnett of Avon is a great shooter (36%-3) and averaged over 14ppg last season.
Another Cathedral standout to watch will be 6’4” guard/forward Keaton Aldridge. The 6’4” shooter (50% overall) is hard to guard because of his strength. His numbers last season weren’t flashy, but that will change this year.
We saw Carmel forward Evan Harrell last season at Crispus Attucks. The 6’8” forward didn’t put together huge numbers as a junior, but you can see he has plenty of potential. If the Greyhounds can start winning Harrell will get more looks.
Washington guard Roosevelt Franklin is a scorer (23.3). He also rebounds (7.4). If he can develop as a better outside shooter his stock will rise.
Let’s talk about a very underrated player by the name of Dane Caldwell from Silver Creek. He is 6’9” and his stock is going up fast. His numbers last season weren’t spectacular, but that will change this season. He is an excellent shooter inside and is developing a three-point shot as well.
Another reason Silver Creek fans can’t wait for the basketball season is guard Kasen Daeger. Daeger is a 6’3” shooting guard and is getting more offers every day. He averaged just over 16ppg as a junior.
6’0” guard Treigh Schelsky of Parke Heritage was solid as a junior averaging over 13ppg, and 4 assists per game.
South Bend St. Joseph guard Ethan Roseman made a nice adjustment after transferring from Bishop Chatard. The Huskies won the 3A state title while Roseman averaged nearly 11ppg to along with seven assists per game.
SB Riley guard Tyrese Jones made headlines at the regional last season by scoring 45. As a junior he averaged 15ppg, grabbed 6.0 rebounds.
6’6” forward Brady Klopfenstein of Terre Haute North has a great upside, He is a stretch forward who can shoot the three (43%).
6’7” forward James Kalala of Southport plays at both ends of the court. His scoring isn’t where he wants it, but he can rebound (8.1).
Let’s head to South Bend and showcase another Shrewsberry, this time Nick Shrewsberry. Yes, he is the son of Micah, and the brother of Braeden. Nick played extremely well at the Charlie Hughes Shootout and his stock is rising. He is a shooter (36%-3).
Gary West 5’11” guard Reggie Hinton made and name for himself at the Charlie Hughes Shootout. He may not be big, but he isn’t afraid to attack the rim.
6’7” forward Brady Scholl of Northridge is known as an all-around player after averaging 16.3ppg and 9.6 rebounds last season. His defense is a key after averaging three blocks per game.
Anthony Fresh of Charlestown doesn’t get enough credit for just how good he can be. A strong senior season will make more D1 programs take notice. Last season, Fresh averaged over 20ppg and shot 39% from three.
Westfield senior-to-be Drew Haffner gets overlooked simply because there are so many excellent players in the Indy area. Haffner is a pure shooter (48%-3) and will make plenty of headlines this season.
Korbyn Hammel of Kokomo had a solid junior season averaging 13.3ppg. He played well at the Charlie Hughes Shootout and that gained him valuable exposure.
6’2” guard Mason Darrell of Crown Point is a complete guard. He averaged over 14ppg for the Bulldogs last season, and shot 41% from 3.
Point guard Sherman Moss-Wright of Ben Davis has excellent size as a point guard (6’4”) and is looking to improve his stock this season by becoming a better shooter.
6’6” forward R’mani Wells plays alongside some excellent players at Cathedral so he gets overlooked. His numbers aren’t at the level of an all-star player but he has all the tools. His playing time will increase this season for sure.
Memphis transfer Dorion Bowen will be an impact player for Evansville Bosse. Harris averaged nearly 19ppg last season.
