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Post by jtjrmoney8 on Jul 6, 2012 11:25:02 GMT -6
I posted a thread about the best girls teams and players so now time to do the same for the boys..as of right now, who are the top 5 boys basketball teams and players heading into the pre-season in the region? Just trying to start some conversation and rev up the engines a little bit  |
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Post by apollo on Jul 6, 2012 18:46:52 GMT -6
Boys Teams
1. Andrean - D1 Talent not sure what happened vs Marian?
2. Lake Central - Wideman and Wilburn, Clark MS one of the top teams coming up
3. Munster- Munster is going to be good for the next several years great AAU feeder and a couple of Hacketts
4. Chesterton - yes this is an up and coming power, Matt Holba is D1 as a Soph
5. Crown Point/Valpo tie -CP has Killer B's Barclay, Braxton Rice, and Bardeson, Guards- Nickla and Plesac, Interchangeable Centers all back Burkholder, Kelly, and Jeffirs, Berquist and PJ Phelps will contribute - Valpo's Moser may be the most imroved in area, Ben Franklin group 22-1 in JH strong Center and wings coming up
7. Merrillville - Wilkins the real deal as a Frosh
8. Noll - Larry Chrysler will lead Drew's team this year
9. EC Central - Hyron yes, but not much else, Frosh team one of the better Big's group a year away
10. Michigan City/LaPorte tie - City needs to settle on a 7-8 man rotation, LaPorte has some good scoring back
Honorable Mention : Marquette - Fazekas one of the state's best soph, 21st Century- they could be a factor in lower levels, West Side- Arnold Wilson is a real talent, Highland, Wallace, Bowman - strong backcourt players losing some size, Donny Harvey - CP Transfer up and coming athletic soph., Griffith and Hobart are teams with young talent, that may be better in 2013-14 too.
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Post by jtjrmoney8 on Jul 6, 2012 20:52:05 GMT -6
Marian has Demetrius Jackson, who is probably the top point guard in the state committed to Notre Dame..that might be one reason why Andrean lost..But this year Andrean needs to make a deep run..they have state championship talent and have underachieved in my opinion
But I really want to see Chesterton play this year..I watched them on film against Valpo from last year and I'm curious to see Holba and Polomizio
And I think Valpo is going to be really strong this year too
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Post by indianbacker on Jul 6, 2012 22:50:04 GMT -6
Chesterton & Valpo? Maybe.
I know we are a very bad basketball team for the boys too. I wish we would be a better team like when I was in class at PHS, but it isn't.
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Post by jtjrmoney8 on Jul 7, 2012 0:54:15 GMT -6
It's unfortunate, but the program has actually gone downhill since Snodgrass took over..I really think he should move onto another job somewhere else..just doesn't seem like he's the right fit at Portage..I know he's had success at other places but it's just not working here for some reason..maybe get a younger alum who has alot of energy and is passionate about turning the program around..that might bring a little more excitement to Portage basketball..right now, the only reason to attend a game is to watch Snodgrass rip off his suit jacket and to see his head turn beat red
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Post by apollo on Jul 7, 2012 21:21:04 GMT -6
Loss of Skylar Moss to Andrean didn't help, Tim Kunstek on staff will help, he played at Portage in 84 and 85. Some thought Bryan Clouse was headed to Portage but Hanover opened first. Willowcreek and Fegely are really middle of the road teams coming up behind Valpo, CP- Taft, Chesterton, and Merrillville. In other words Portage hasn't really been a major player in the Region since Jake Parker left. Tony Greenway, Kevin Mackey, David Wayne, and Andy Berger where have you gone?
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Post by richsapper on Jul 8, 2012 12:56:46 GMT -6
I don't know what is going on at Portage. I am not sure that coaching is the problem. The team was not much better under Bartos and Wells. I think you may have hit the nail on the head about bringing excitement to the program. Like you say, maybe someone on staff (like Kunstek as apollo said) on staff will bring some excitement. It takes a small group of dedicated athletes that will get Portage into the win column a bit more that will really bring the excitement though. It is hard to get athletes out if they don't feel like they can be successful.
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Post by richsapper on Jul 8, 2012 12:57:28 GMT -6
Oh, and I agree with apollo's top teams.  |
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Post by crowntownmike on Jul 8, 2012 16:19:27 GMT -6
The top 5 teams in no special order are Thea Bowman, Andrean, Crown Point, Lake Central, and Munster
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Post by apollo on Jul 8, 2012 16:49:48 GMT -6
Bowman lost all of its D1 Front court but who knows what the offseason may bring to a charter with no borders. The rest is pretty much in line with what I think, except Chesterton is an upcoming team loaded with Underclass Talent and Valpo is going to be better as Moser continues to improve. Merrillville is going to be hovering around the top 5 as well.
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Post by indianbacker on Jul 8, 2012 21:35:41 GMT -6
What can make Portage good? I am scared that it is nothing. The boys in Portage act like they don't care about basketball. They will not be on a list like this in the future either I am sad to say.
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Post by jtjrmoney8 on Jul 10, 2012 2:01:52 GMT -6
I think the baseball program turning around can help..maybe if the football team can have a strong season that can carry over to basketball..always helps to have successful programs in other sports..they can do what Crown Point does so well, getting some of their athletes to play multiple sports..so with success, some of those athletes might be compelled to play basketball too..you never know
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Post by apollo on Jul 10, 2012 6:53:22 GMT -6
Sorry to say it because it has a long legacy in the community, but Portage Biddy Ball All Stars and Portage YMCA Ball needs to be replaced with AAU emphasis from the Varsity Coach for the Boys at the 3rd Grade level for better talented kids. If you look at Valpo, CP, Munster, LC, etc they take higher level coaches and they work with the kids to build the basics at that level and on up, Portage waits and when they do get there kids in AAU, it's not with experienced coaches. In other words most 3rd- 6th graders who focus on basketball, not that I agree with that, don't even play biddy ball in most of these communities they play AAU. However, I do see Former Indian Star/Played in Europe Jim Havrilla coaching the kids at the 5th- 6th grade level, they need more of this if they want to keep up with the Jones". One school for example has all of the AAU 3rd- 6th graders in the HS Gym with the Head coach every Sunday Night working on skills and this is pretty common throughout the state now. That is the type of commitment it will take and I know there is a negative side to AAU, but it is what it is. When you have some kids who already know how to run sets, press breaks, and zone offenses comimg into 7th grade they are many times way ahead of other kids there age, not to stay schools can't catch up, the GSSC has a 6th grade Conference and Portage might want to think about that option for there kids, Hanover Central has there kids at the lower levels playing together in 5th grade in CYO. In other words, Portage is starting make the younger player connections you need to make but it takes parent and financial support and willingness to have your child play in league after league and tournaments around the state. And to be honest a winning HS Team, Portage 's last star player really was Jake Parker and he played at Bethel.
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