There were 139 high school basketball teams playing 311 games over three days at the Charlie Hughes Shootout this weekend. I saw a lot of basketball, though I definitely did not see every team or certainly every player. But I was able to see quite a bit. Here are the players who made an impression I watched over the weekend (year in school listed is upcoming year):
Keaton Aldridge Jr., Cathedral
The 6-4 junior can heat up in a hurry, as he did in a 71-65 win over New Palestine to propel an Irish comeback. Aldridge is a physical guard who can score in a lot of ways. He averaged 15.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.1 steals as a sophomore. Aldridge has an offer from Kent State.
Mason Bales, Northridge
Sheesh. A 20-point quarter? The 6-2 senior guard did that in the second quarter on Sunday against Fort Wayne Snider. Northridge held on for a nine-point win to end the weekend at 3-1 with victories over North Central and Avon and an eight-point loss to Pike. Impressive. Bales, who has offers from Bethel and Goshen, is talented lefty who really knows how to score.
Charlie Hughes impressions:Braylon Mullins is the real deal, top teams, other standouts
Keriawn Berry, Avon
The 6-5 Berry enrolled at Avon last week after transferring from Louisville Trinity and will be an immediate impact player. Berry was ranked as a top-20 prospect in the 2026 class in Kentucky and showed why in a 60-46 win over Pike on Sunday with 20 points. He can shoot it from the 3-point line and has a frame that allows him to be an impact player inside, too.
Michael Cooper, Jeffersonville
The 6-3 senior guard had another big-time weekend, including a 23-point game in a win over Lawrence North to wrap up a 4-0 weekend. Cooper, who averaged 16.4 points and shot 41% from the 3-point line as a junior, picked up offers from Le Moyne and Eastern Illinois after his performance over the weekend. He went for 35 points against Greenfield-Central. I’m surprised he does not have more offers.
Preseason No. 1?Loaded Jeffersonville sends a message at Charlie Hughes.
Alex Couto, Carmel
The senior guard has been a great shooter for a while. Now he looks more like an all-around guard who can handle the ball and shoot it. Couto was a little quiet offensively in a win over New Palestine (eight points on pair of 3s) but did more than just score, which we know he can do. Huntington, Marian and Taylor have offered him so far. He averaged 13.3 points and shot 39.4% from the 3-point line as a junior.
Melakih Cunningham, Crispus Attucks
The 6-6 Cunningham averaged 26 points during a 3-1 weekend for the Tigers and is starting to really see his college interest increase going into his senior season. He picked up offers from Toledo, Miami (Ohio), IU Indy, Southern Illinois-Edwardsville and Le Moyne recently and is visiting Kent State and Ball State this week. I’m not sure Cunningham isn’t a high-major player if he can consistently knock down 3-pointers. There is still uncertainly about his eligibility through the IHSAA after his transfer from Decatur Central.
Justin Curry, Noblesville
The 6-4 Curry, a rising junior, had a good weekend for the 4-0 Millers, averaging 16 points in wins over North Central, Ben Davis, Evansville Harrison and Warsaw. Such a smooth player and shooter. Curry should improve getting to the basket as he continues to fill out physically. He picked up offers last week from Kent State and Toledo. His frame and style of play lead me to believe he could be a high-major player.
Kasen Daeger, Silver Creek
Dude can score. The 6-3 junior guard was impressive in the Futures Game earlier this month and continued to impress this weekend, including a 38-point game against Danville with eight 3-pointers. He averaged 16.7 points as a sophomore, shooting 47% from the 3-point line. Efficient but can do more than just shoot 3s.
P.J. Douglas, Jeffersonville
The 6-4 Douglas went for 17 points in a five-point win over Carmel and had 16 points in a win over Lawrence North. Douglas is a strong, physical guard on both ends of the court. He can get you a rebound and is not afraid to go to the rim. Douglas does not shoot a ton of 3s but knocks them down with efficiency.
Luke Ertel, Mt. Vernon
The 6-2 left-handed junior point guard had Matt Painter watching him a couple times over the weekend. It will be interesting if Purdue offers. Ertel does already have some good offers from Butler, Kent State, Toledo and UAB. He had 22 points in a close loss to Crispus Attucks, then went for 15 in a win over Zionsville I watched. Ertel is one of the best point guards in the state regardless of class.
Julius Gizzi, New Palestine
What level can the 6-3 Gizzi play? It will be interesting to see where he ultimately lands. Give me a guy who knows how to score any day. He put up 39 points in a 69-62 win over Zionsville. Earlier on Sunday, Gizzi had 27 points in a 54-51 loss to Carmel. His current offer list includes Indiana Wesleyan, Taylor, St. Francis and Huntington.
DeZhon Hall, Pike
The lefty 6-3 junior guard is explosive in the open floor and really gets it going when he’s knocking down the 3, too. Hall got off to a fast start against Attucks with 12 first-half points in an eventual four-point loss to Attucks on Saturday. He didn’t shoot it quite as well in the last game of the day on Sunday in a loss to Avon but he’s looking healthy and should have his best basketball ahead. He was offered last year by Illinois, Texas A&M and Wisconsin.
Moses Haynes, New Palestine
The senior point guard is a perfect complementary player to Gizzi and can score himself, too. Haynes averaged 11.4 points and 6.7 assists as a junior (46% 3-pointers) and should be in line to bump those numbers as a senior.
E.J. Hazelett, Franklin Central
The 6-7 left-hander is a tantalizing talent. I watched him score 30 points in a loss to Evansville Reitz and make it look relatively easy (Matt Painter watched, too). Now it is just a matter of doing it consistently as he goes into his junior season. Hazelett has offers from Indiana State and Kent State, but high majors are interested and recruiting him.
Hudson Horvath, Park Tudor
The 6-1 guard went for 35 points in a 73-67 battle against Gary 21st Century, including 17 in the first quarter. Horvath started hot from the 3-point line (hitting three 3-pointers in the first quarter) but can create space and score off the drive, too.
Damon Howard, Pike
The 6-foot senior guard should be in line for a good senior season for Pike with a lot of good pieces around him. Howard played well in the second half of a four-point loss to Crispus Attucks. Pike went 2-2 for the weekend but looked more like a team that should take a step forward in 2024-25 with Howard as a big reason.
Duke Karnes, Lawrence North
The 6-1 guard has played for the home school Indianapolis Northside Lions through his junior year. He’s an athletic guard who can shoot it (hit a big 3-pointer late in a win over Greenfield-Central). Karnes should be a good fit in the Lawrence North backcourt with experienced players like Azavier Robinson, Kai McGrew and Brennan Miller.
Brady Koehler, Cathedral
The 6-9 Koehler was one of the players that attracted the biggest crowd of coaches at the event with Notre Dame and Northwestern among the schools most interested. Koehler had 16 points in a comeback win over New Palestine. Koehler should be in the Mr. Basketball discussion going into next season.
Liam Mann, Carmel
The 6-6 Mann has not played basketball since his freshman season at Carmel but is going to be a major part of Carmel’s team as a senior. Mann, who is a Division I football prospect as a receiver, is a surprisingly skilled player for someone who has not played in a while. He’ll be a presence inside.
Millen McCartney, Fishers
The 6-3 McCartney went off from the 3-point line in the Tigers’ win over Plainfield, finishing with 22 points (six 3s). McCartney averaged 5.3 points as a junior and shot 44% from the arc and has an offer from DePauw.
Jedidiah Minnett, Avon
Avon’s strength as a team is its balance, but the 6-1 junior can really fill it up. Minnett had 20 points in a double-digit win over Pike on Sunday. He averaged 12.6 points as a sophomore and seems like a lock to improve on his 33.1% shooting from the 3-point line.
Jaylan Mitchell, Evansville Reitz
The 6-7 Mitchell, still 15 years old and going into his sophomore year, is a bona fide high-major prospect. Playing in front of several college coaches, including Butler, Cincinnati, Michigan State, Notre Dame and Purdue, among others, Mitchell had 14 points in a win over Franklin Central and did a lot more. I like his all-round game. He’s not afraid to be vocal, either.
Maguire Mitchell, Zionsville
I must be missing something because I’m surprised the 6-6 Mitchell does not have more offers, though I’m sure UIndy coach Scott Heady is hoping it might stay that way. Mitchell had 21 points in a loss to Mt. Vernon and 29 against New Palestine on Sunday in two games I watched (at least most of both). Mitchell averaged 20.9 points and 5.1 rebounds last year yet didn’t make the Junior All-Stars team.
Evan Mozingo, Pendleton Heights
The 6-3 senior is Pendleton Heights’ top returning scorer and helped the Arabians to a 4-0 record over the weekend. Mozingo scored 19 points in a 2-point win over Brownsburg, scoring on 3-pointers and cuts to the basket. He knows how to play.
Braylon Mullins, Greenfield-Central
What else to say about the 6-6 Mullins? He put on a show over the weekend, scoring 22, 23, 34 and 19 points against Jeffersonville, Lawrence North, Ben Davis (the 34-point game) and Cathedral. Mullins is now ranked among the top-25 players in the country, and he played like it all weekend. He visited Kentucky on Monday and will visit Ohio State and Purdue this week.
Papi Rivera, North Central
The senior guard went for 20 points in an 82-64 win over New Albany. You can’t leave him open. Rivera also is serving as a playmaker for other scorers for the Panthers. Rivera has a Division II offer from Lenior Rhyne in North Carolina.
Brady Scholl, Northridge
The 6-6 Scholl, a junior, is built like he could play on the defensive line but is agile around the basket. Scholl went for 30 points in a win over Fort Wayne Snider, scoring a few times on quick moves around the basket. He’s going to be a good one.
Tre Singleton, Jeffersonville
The 6-8 senior did not waste his opportunity this weekend, helping the Red Devils to a 4-0 record. He added an offer from Appalachian State to a list that already includes Furman, Indiana State, Kent State, Miami (Ohio), Richmond, Valparaiso and others. Singleton is a physical presence inside for Jeffersonville. He had 23 points against Greenfield-Central. Singleton, who averaged 14.2 points and 7.1 rebounds as a junior, could potentially work himself into some Mr. Basketball discussion.
Jesiah Sloss, Brownsburg
The 6-6 Sloss, a senior, is going to be a major piece for a Brownsburg team that lost a lot to graduation. Sloss, who averaged 3.4 points and 2.0 rebounds as a junior, is a versatile inside-outside player who should have a good senior season. Saw him knock down a couple 3s.
Noah Smith, Plainfield
The 6-8 Smith, a junior with offers from Indiana State and Toledo, is a player I think could be a high-major prospect by this time next year (maybe sooner). Purdue has been watching Smith, who had 24 points in a win over East Chicago Central and 18 in a loss to Fishers on Friday.
Drew Snively, Zionsville
The 6-5 Snively went for 19 points and 22 points against Mt. Vernon and New Palestine, respectively. He handles the ball well and is tough to stop at his size when he gets inside on other guards. Snively (17.8 ppg as a junior) and Mitchell are a tough 1-2 combo.
Braeden Totton, Hamilton Southeastern
The 6-2 senior had 23 points in an overtime loss to New Albany. Totton, also a football player, will be the Royals’ top returning scorer (10.3 ppg as a junior). Does a lot of things well.
Baron Walker, Noblesville
It is hard not to like the 6-2 Walker, who plays with a fearlessness that is unique. He averaged 6.6 points and 2.1 rebounds as a sophomore and shot a stunning 30-for-53 from the 3-point line (57%). Walker had 10 points in a 15-point win over Ben Davis, but his point total is almost secondary to everything else he does.
Noah Washington, New Albany
The 6-5 Washington is no doubt one of the best freshmen in the Midwest and will certainly be an impact player right away for New Albany. He scored 21 points in the second half against North Central and though it came on a losing effort, the North Central coaching staff was certainly impressed. Washington is more of a perimeter player than a post but showed he can score inside and out. Impressive. He also scored 15 points in an overtime win over Hamilton Southeastern.
Luke Weemer, Hamilton Southeastern
The 6-4 Weemer, a junior, will be a much bigger part of HSE’s team this season with so many players gone to graduation. Weemer went for 13 points in an overtime loss to New Albany, including knocking down a 3-pointer.
Tavion Williams, Ben Davis
The 6-7 senior is going to be a big part of Ben Davis’ team this season after a junior season that saw him average 7.0 points and 4.6 rebounds. Williams had 20 points in a close loss to Greenfield-Central.
Chrishon Woodward, North Central
The 6-5 junior had 19 points in North Central’s win over New Albany. Woodward is an athletic forward who can also step out and knock down the 3-pointer on occasion. Had a nice game. Nijah Jewell and Gavin Petty also played well for the Panthers.
Caleb Wright, Sheridan
The 6-2 guard, a senior, made a big-time move to beat the buzzer in comeback win over Christel House and added 23 points and four assists in a win over Lowell. Sheridan is going to be a good team in Class 2A.
Mark Zackery IV, Ben Davis
Whoosh. So quick. The Notre Dame football recruit is going to have to help this Ben Davis team grow up around him but there are some good pieces. The Giants went 2-2 for the weekend.
Those are 39 players I saw in person. Here are more that I didn’t see personally …
Steven Reynolds III, South Bend Washington: I'm kicking myself that I didn't get over to see the rising 6-5 junior standout at Westfield on Saturday but got caught up at another game at Carmel. Reynolds went for 26 points and 28 points on Gary 21st Century and Hamilton Southeastern, then had 21 points, 12 rebounds and six blocked shots against Warren Central and 29 points against Westfield. Heard he played great from multiple people.
Vince Moutardier, Bloomington South: The 6-4 senior shot 59.2% from the 3-point line as the Panthers went 4-0 for the weekend. Moutardier averaged 23.3 points and 8.3 rebounds. He recently picked up an offer from Kentucky Christian.
Leonard Petty and Landon Petty, Metropolitan: The Petty twins helped the Pumas to a 4-0 record over the weekend. Leonard averaged 16 points and five assists and Landon averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore Jayden Litzlbauer was also key to the weekend.
Anthony Sowell, Landon Lampley, Kenneth Lampley and Travon Davis, Lawrence Central: I did see a little bit of the Bears, who have a couple of intriguing young players in the 6-6 Lampley, a sophomore, and younger brother Landon, an incoming freshman. Davis is a 6-4 senior and Sowell a 5-9 senior guard. The Bears went 2-2 for the weekend.
Blaine Ward and Cole Henry, South Ripley: The 6-1 senior guard went off for 42 points in an 81-72 win over Southport. Ward also had 20 points in a win over Chesterton and 19 in a two-point loss to Centerville. The 6-6 Henry, a senior, averaged 26.8 points and 11.3 rebounds in South Ripley’s four games.
Terrence Hayes Jr., Gary 21st Century: I did see a little of Hayes Jr. against Park Tudor. The 6-2 lefty guard is a Division I guard in my opinion. He averaged 19.2 points and 4.0 assists as a sophomore.
Ethan Roseman, Bishop Chatard: The junior guard missed a game due to a sprained ankle but returned to go for 27 points, seven assists and five rebounds in a 60-39 win over Triton Central.
Grady Gardner, Martinsville: Martinsville only played two games, but the 6-2 junior made them count by averaging 33.5 points and shooting 17-for-23 from the 3-point line.
Ryker Quake, East Noble: In a loss to Terre Haute North, the 6-3 senior had 35 points and knocked down six 3-pointers.
Call Star reporter Kyle Neddenriep at (317) 444-6649.
Most Popular
Comments / 0