Indiana
Indiana high school basketball player rankings: Top 30 in-state prospects in Class of 2026
The high school basketball season is here. Practices started Monday and the games will begin (for some) in two weeks. The 2026 senior class is a solid group with established talent and others looking for a breakthrough season. Here are the top 30 prospects – ranked primarily on college potential, along with production as a high school player – by IndyStar Preps Insider Kyle Neddenriep (this does not include players who have left state for prep school):
1. Luke Ertel, Mt. Vernon
You probably will not find much debate about the top spot after the Purdue recruit put on a show during his junior season, leading the Marauders to a 21-6 season and a Class 4A semistate championship appearance. The 6-2 lefty point guard averaged 22.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.4 steals per game as a junior, shooting 44.8% (73-for-163) from the 3-point line. Ertel committed to Purdue almost a year-and-a-half ago over offers from Butler, UAB and Wake Forest. The four-star prospect is ranked No. 41 in the national rankings by 247sports.
2. Noah Smith, Plainfield
The 6-8 Smith, a DePaul commit, averaged 16.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 1.5 blocked shots per game for a 16-8 team as a junior. He should improve on his 3-point shooting as a senior (20-for-62 last season). Smith, who is ranked No. 89 in the class nationally by 247sports, picked the Blue Demons over offers from Ball State, Belmont, Indiana State, New Mexico, Oklahoma State, Xavier and several others. He and his team should be poised for a big season.
3. Kai McGrew, Fishers
There was some question if the 6-9 McGrew would be eligible after he was initially ruled to have limited eligibility by the IHSAA after his transfer from Lawrence North. But he was cleared by the case review panel and will be an impact player for Fishers after averaging 14.5 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.3 assists last season to help the Wildcats to a 22-7 record and Class 4A semistate championship game appearance. He shot 17-for-42 from the 3-point line. McGrew, who is uncommitted, has offers from Kent State, Louisiana Tech, Mississippi State, San Francisco, Southeast Missouri State, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville and UT-Arlington.
4. Justin Curry, Noblesville
The 6-4 Curry, a Valparaiso commit, averaged 15.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.7 assists as a junior on a 19-6 team that lost to state finalist Fishers in the sectional championship. He shot 32.6% from the 3-point line last season but is certainly capable of hitting at a higher rate this season. After his junior season, Curry picked up offers from Iona, Murray State, Nevada, Purdue Fort Wayne, UT-Martin and UT-Rio Grande Valley. He can get hot and light it up in a hurry.
5. Dikembe Shaw, Crown Point
The 6-6 Shaw, an Illinois-Chicago commit, is one of the best all-round players on this list. He averaged 16.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.4 assists as a junior to earn core Junior All-Star honors. Shaw shot 50% from the field overall, including 37.9% from the 3-point line and 78.8% from the free-throw line as a junior. Crown Point should be one of the best teams in Class 4A last year after going 23-3 and playing in the semistate championship last year.
6. Baron Walker, Noblesville
The 6-3 Walker did not have a Division I offer until May but it quickly ramped up from there and he committed to Butler in late July. He averaged 15.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game as a junior, helping the Millers to a 19-6 record. Walker shot 50% from the field, including 40.2% from the 3-point line (37-for-92) and 82% from the free-throw line. He also typically guards the best player on the other team.
7. Terrence Hayes Jr., Gary 21st Century
The 6-1 lefty guard, a Missouri State commit, is an athletic point guard who runs the show for Gary 21st Century, which is coming off a 21-7 season and Class 2A semistate championship game appearance. Hayes averaged 20.8 points, 7.4 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 3.4 steals per game to earn Junior All-Star honors last season and shot 40% (46-for-115) from the 3-point line. He picked Missouri State over Murray State, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma State, Saint Louis and others.
8. Jashawn Ladd, Ben Davis
The 6-4 Ladd picked Akron over offers from Ball State, Indiana State, IU Indy, Kent State, Miami (Ohio) and Robert Morris in August after an official visit. He averaged a team-high 13.2 points, 3.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.6 steals as a junior for a 17-9 team. Ladd is one of the best outside shooters in the class, connecting at 41.4% from the 3-point line last season, and also one of the best athletes.
9. Brennan Miller, Lawrence North
The 6-7 Miller, a Southern Illinois-Edwardsville commit, averaged 13.0 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.7 steals per game as a junior. He shot 58% from the field, including 12-for-34 (35.3%) from the 3-point line, and 69% from the free-throw line. Miller will have a bigger role for the Wildcats this year after Azavier Robinson graduated and transfers Kai McGrew and Jamar Thomas.
10. Dane Caldwell, Silver Creek
The 6-9 Caldwell, a Richmond commit, saw his stock rise in the spring after a junior year averaging 9.0 points, 7.0 rebounds, 1.5 blocked shots and 1.0 steals per game for a team that finished 22-5 and played for a 3A sectional title. Caldwell shot 59% from the field, including 12-for-30 from the 3-point line. The Dragons will be among the best teams in 3A this season. Caldwell picked Richmond over Akron, Ball State, Bellarmine, Bradley, Buffalo, Coastal Carolina, East Tennessee State and Miami (Ohio).
11. Drew Haffner, Westfield
The 6-4 Haffner, an Abilene Christian commit, led Westfield in scoring last year as he averaged 12.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists and shot an outstanding 48% (48-for-100) from the 3-point line. Haffner will lead a Westfield team that was 18-4 last year and played Fishers to a seven-point game in the first round of the sectional. Haffner’s older brother, Cam, is playing at Western Kentucky.
12. Evan Harrell, Carmel
The 6-8 Harrell, a Bellarmine recruit, averaged 10.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.2 assists as a junior, though he was limited to 16 games due to injury. He shot 47% from the field, including 12-for-34 (35.3%) from the 3-point line, and 75% from the free-throw line. Everything looks to be in place for Harrell to have a big senior season.
13. Nick Shrewsberry, South Bend St. Joseph
The 6-4 Shrewsberry, who committed to Notre Dame to play for his father, Micah, averaged 13.9 points, 4.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.6 steals per game as a junior, shooting 36.3% (78-for-215) from the 3-point line for the Class 3A state champions. His brother Braeden averaged 14.0 points and shot 37% from the 3-point line last season for Notre Dame.
14. Anthony Fresh, Charlestown
The 6-4 Fresh, a Miami (Ohio) recruit, averaged 20.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 2.2 steals per game as a junior for Charlestown, a Class 3A program that finished 18-6. He shot 54% from the field, including 39.1% from the 3-point line (45-for-115). Fresh also had a Division I offer from Bellarmine.
15. Kasen Daeger, Silver Creek
The 6-3 Daeger, a Stony Brook commit, averaged 16.3 points, 3.4 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game as a junior, shooting 39.6% (57-for-144) from the 3-point line for the 22-5 Dragons last season. Daeger will be a big part of a Silver Creek team that should be among the best in Class 3A this season.
16. Julien Smith, Cathedral
The 6-foot Smith, a Mount St. Mary’s recruit, was highly productive in his junior season at Cathedral, averaging 13.5 points, 2.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists and shooting 42.2% (62-for-147) from the 3-point line. Smith played his first two seasons at Mt. Vernon, averaging 14.4 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.7 assists as a sophomore.
17. Sherman Moss-Wright, Ben Davis
The 6-4 Moss-Wright, a University of Indianapolis recruit, averaged 7.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.7 assists last season as a junior for the 17-9 Giants. Moss-Wright is a big, physical point guard. He should be able to improve on his outside shooting from last year (18-for-62) for a team that should be among the best in 4A.
18. Keaton Aldridge Jr., Cathedral
The 6-4 Aldridge, a Detroit Mercy recruit, is a physical player on both ends of the floor. He averaged 11.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.9 steals to fill the stat sheet for the 20-5 Fighting Irish as a junior. He shot 50% from the field and improved as an outside shooter, going 15-for-42 from the 3-point line.
19. Mason Darrell, Crown Point
The 6-2 guard, a Bellarmine commit, is a fiery competitor who averaged 14.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 2.1 steals as a junior for the Bulldogs, who went 23-3 and played in the Class 4A semistate championship. Darrell is also one of the better 3-point shooters on this list, hitting 41% from the 3-point line as a junior (55-for-134).
20. Dorion Bowen, Evansville Bosse
The 6-5 guard, a transfer from Memphis Whitehaven, is an exciting addition for Bosse. After playing on a 32-4 team that reached the Class 4A semifinals in Tennessee, Bowen will join a Bosse team that was 9-15 last season. Bowen has picked up offers from Georgia Southern, Southern Indiana and Southern Miss.
21. Korbyn Hammel, Kokomo
The 6-3 Hammel averaged 13.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.1 steals per game for a Kokomo team that finished 17-8. He was offered by Eastern Michigan last June. Hammel will look to improve his 3-point shooting (28.4%) as a senior. He averaged 6.9 points, 2.6 assists and 2.2 rebounds as a sophomore.
22. Reggie Hinton III, Gary West Side
The 5-11 Hinton is a quick, explosive point guard who can dictate the pace with his offense and defense. He helped Gary West to a 17-7 season and Class 3A sectional championship appearance last season. Hinton has offers from Northern Illinois and Johnson C. Smith University.
23: Brady Klopfenstein, Terre Haute North
The 6-7 Klopfenstein, a Bellarmine commit, averaged 11.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 1.5 assists as a junior for a 21-6 team that won a Class 4A regional championship last season. He can stretch the floor as a 3-point shooter, hitting 42.9% (54-for-126) as a junior.
The 6-7 Kalala averaged 10.4 points and 8.1 rebounds as a junior last season, shooting 56% from the field and 71% from the free-throw line for a Southport team that finished 12-12. Kalala, who has 699 career points, has offers from Indiana Tech, Marian, Saint Francis and Spring Arbor.
25: Edwin Holmes, Princeton
The 6-7 Holmes averaged 16.7 points, 7.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.7 blocked shots and 1.9 steals per game for the 24-3 Class 3A regional champs. Holmes, who has already reached 1,000 career points, is uncommitted for college.
26: Brady Scholl, Northridge
The 6-7 Scholl averaged 16.3 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 3.0 blocked shots per game as a junior, shooting 40% from the 3-point line. The Indiana Wesleyan commit leads a team coming off a 21-4 season.
27: Tyrese Jones, South Bend Riley
The 5-11 Jones, a transfer from closed South Bend Clay last season, opened eyes with a 45-point game in the Class 4A regional. Averaged 15.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.7 assists as a junior.
28: Treigh Schelsky, Parke Heritage
The 6-foot guard, a Huntington commit, averaged 13.4 points, 4.0 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.6 steals as a junior for a 25-5 team that played in the Class 2A semistate championship. He has 1,398 career points.
29: Jedidiah Minnett, Avon
The 6-foot Minnett is one of the best outside shooters in the class. He averaged 14.4 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.4 steals per game as a junior, shooting 36.4% from the 3-point line. Has an offer from Saint Francis.
30: Ethan Roseman, South Bend St. Joseph
The 6-1 point guard made a nice adjustment from his previous school of Bishop Chatard in his first year at St. Joseph, helping the Huskies to a 27-3 season and Class 3A state title. Roseman averaged 10.6 points, 7.0 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.8 steals. Has offers from DePauw, Holy Cross College and Marian.
Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649. Get IndyStar’s high school coverage sent directly to your inbox with the High School Sports newsletter. And be sure to subscribe to our new IndyStarTV: Preps YouTube channel.
Indiana
Severe storm risk into tonight through early Wednesday morning
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — We are monitoring the potential for severe weather into early Wednesday morning.
Tornado Watch in effect until EDT midnight March 10, 2026, for Benton, Newton, and Jasper counties.
Tuesday night: Please make sure you have your safety plan on standby into tonight through pre-dawn Wednesday morning. There is now a level 4/5 severe risk in northwest Indiana. Much of central Indiana remains in a level 2/5 risk.
The risk for significant tornadoes (EF2+) and very large hail (2″+) is greatest north of I-70 with any discrete cell(s) that maintain their-selves into mainly northern Indiana. There is also potential for a max expected intensity of an EF-3+ tornado within much (if not all) of the level 3 & 4 risk zone.
This does not mean that every storm will produce a tornado of that magnitude. It is simply highlighting area of highest concern for the possibility of such occurrence.
Now, given a modestly unstable environment into the pre-dawn hours Wednesday with stronger wind flow aloft, all hazards will remain possible into central Indiana. The significant severe threat here is much lower.
Overall, you need to have multiple ways of being able to get alerts tonight. Do not be scared, be prepared and you will be ok.
Wednesday: Beyond sunrise Wednesday, we will continue to track more in the way of showers and storms. The main area of the strong-severe storm risk looks to shift mainly southeast of Indy with damaging winds the primary concern through the morning into afternoon hours.
Rainfall amounts through Wednesday may amount to 1-2″ with locally higher amounts.
Highs to occur earlier in the day with numbers in the mid to upper 60s. Non-thunderstorm winds will also be quite breezy with gusts up to 30-35 MPH.
Thursday: Be prepared for quite a temperature shift into Thursday. We will start the day off with temperatures in the low 30 with 20s wind chills. Yeah, that will not feel great considering our recent stretch of more mild days. Highs will only get into the upper 40s.
7-Day Forecast: We look to warm back up into this weekend, but it will come with more active weather and breezy winds. Friday will feature highs in the mid to upper 50s with wind gusts up to 25-30 MPH. Highs look to tick back into the low 60s Sunday with more chances for rain. Then, temperatures really take a tumble into next Monday with highs only in the 30s and a chance for a rain/snow mix.
Indiana
Future of Chicago’s Soldier Field Uncertain as Bears Eye Move to Indiana
Change could be coming to Chicago’s Soldier Field, a historic landmark initially designed as a memorial for American soldiers who died in combat. Opened in 1924, and home to the NFL’s Chicago Bears since 1971, the 102 year old venue’s future is uncertain as the team is exploring a new stadium, possibility across the Illinois state line in Hammond, Indiana.
“The fact that they’re even considering coming to Hammond versus keeping it in their own state says a lot about what we’re going to try to do to tell everyone Indiana is a place move your business,” said Governor Mike Braun (R-Indiana), in a televised news conference Monday, monitored by Military.com. The governor’s remarks addressed a range of issues related to the end of the state’s legislative session.
“We’re proud that we’ve put together a package to attract $2 Billion worth of investment from the Chicago Bears,” said the governor of Senate Bill 27, which he signed last week. “They’re now looking at Indiana as a place to actually bring that franchise.”
With a seating capacity of more than 100,000 spectators. Soldier Field is used not only for Bears games, but as a site for many other sporting events and exhibitions, including numerous Army-Navy games. But without an anchor sports team like the Bears, the stadium will likely be used less and Chicago could see less tax revenue.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson telling reporters Monday, the Bears were offered an opportunity to build a new stadium inside the city limits, as a way to stay in Illinois.
“We had an entire press conference, with a proposal on the lakefront two years ago,” Mayor Johnson said in a news conference. “How do you have an entire proposal with the Bears, with the city of Chicago, with labor, with the notion that somehow the greatest, the most fruitful, economic viable prime real estate anywhere in the state, anywhere in the region is somehow not suited?”
There’s another proposed site on the table. Illinois lawmakers in the House have advanced House Bill 910, which would lock in property tax rates at the former Arlington Racetrack, in Arlington Heights about 30 miles from Soldier Field. The Bears already own the land, but the bill is still in its early stages and already has some critics.
“It would shift [tax] liability directly onto homeowners and small businesses,” said Brian Costin, deputy state director of the Illinois chapter of Americans for Prosperity, in a statement to Military.com. “It could double or triple the effective property tax rates over the next few decades.”
For now, the Bears have not made a commitment to move to Indiana or stay in Illinois.
The Bears said in a statement, “Indiana has taken important steps over the last few months, and we are grateful for the leadership reflected by Governor Braun signing SB 27 establishing the framework for a stadium development in Northwest Indiana. We continue to work on the necessary due diligence and appreciate the .”ongoing engagement with Indiana state and local leaders.”
The team also addressed Illinois efforts to keep the team from leaving Soldier Field or Illinois altogether.
“We recognize and appreciate the advancement of mega project legislation by the Illinois House Revenue and Finance Committee,” said the statement from the Bears. “We look forward to continued engagement as the lawmakers determine the legislative path forward.”
In Indiana, Governor Braun hopes the better deal will be for the Bears to abandon Soldier Field for new digs across the Illinois border, in Hammond.
“We’ve identified a promising site near Wolf Lake in Hammond and established a broad framework for negotiating a final deal,” Braun said in a statement obtained by Military.com. “We have built a strong relationship with the Bears organization that will serve as the foundation for a public-private partnership, leading to the construction of a world-class stadium and a win for taxpayers.”
Indiana
Indiana Pacers Slide as 2026 NBA Draft Lottery Odds Rise
The Indiana Pacers are making a real argument to be the worst team in the NBA this season.
The Pacers could become the first team in the Eastern Conference to reach 50 losses this season if they don’t beat the Sacramento Kings tomorrow night. Power rankings across the internet have the Pacers and Kings as the bottom two teams in the league.
NBA.com, John Schuhmann (30, no change)
“With the Jazz beating the Wizards on Thursday and the Nets’ incredible comeback in Detroit over the weekend, the Pacers are the only team without a win (they’re 0-9) since the All-Star break. Seven of those nine losses have come against other teams with losing records,” Schuhmann wrote.
“The Pacers and Kings are now tied for the fewest wins (15), and they’ll meet for the second (and final) time on Tuesday, with the Pacers having won the first meeting (Dec. 8) behind 28 points and 12 assists from Nembhard. That’s the end of the Pacers’ four-game trip, and they’ll then return home and begin their only stretch of five games in seven days.”
The Athletic, Law Murray (30, no change)
“The Pacers are the only team in the league without a win since the All-Star break, so they’re comfortably nestled at the bottom of these rankings. Indiana was only regular bad for the third quarter of the season overall, though the interior defense has been slammed like brakes,” Murray wrote.
“If they don’t win Tuesday in Sacramento in the Tyrese Haliburton trade bowl, then they’ll have to go and upset a team that is trying to secure wins for the rest of the March schedule.”
Clutch Points, Brett Siegel (29, down 1)
“As soon as Tyrese Haliburton went down with his Achilles injury, everyone knew that the Indiana Pacers would be taking a step back. The decision for this to be a gap year and completely tank was made after several impactful players, like Obi Toppin, Aaron Nesmith, and Andrew Nembhard, all went down with injuries,” Siegel wrote.
“After all, a team that found success through its depth is nothing when all of its key talents are injured.
“The Pacers own the second-worst record in the NBA right now, giving them a real shot at getting the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Remember, Indiana will keep their selection this season if it falls inside the top four, which have a 52.1 percent chance of happening.”
Overview
It’s hard to argue the Pacers not being in this position because they’ve only won 15 games so far this season. On top of that, their last victory came on February 11, which was the final game before the All-Star break.
This isn’t exactly a bad thing for the Pacers, however, because they need that first-round pick to return to them in the draft. If they get the wrong shake in the lottery, the Pacers could be forced to give up their first-round pick in this year’s draft to the Los Angeles Clippers as part of the Ivica Zubac trade.
The Pacers should use the rest of the season to figure out who fits in their system and develop their young players in hopes of some of them cracking the rotation for next season and beyond.
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