Record-setting guard headlines Courier & Press All-Metro boys basketball team

EVANSVILLE — Josiah Dunham took two dribbles to his left and let the shot fly.

The ball swished through the net to give Evansville Christian a victory over Brownstown Central in the Bobcat of Daviess County Classic championship. Dunham sprinted to half court but stopping to look at the crowd with his arms raised.

“Are you not entertained?"

Did the senior guard purposely reference the famous line from ‘Gladiator’ with the motion? Doubtful. Making such a statement wouldn’t fly. Did it feel that way to others watching him on the basketball court? Likely a different answer.

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Dunham was arguably one of the top players in Southern Indiana during his time at ECS and elevated a new program to heights it could only dream. The senior is the Courier & Press All-Metro boys basketball Player of the Year, as chosen by the sports staff.

“He’s the standard now,” said ECS coach David Kruse. “He’s what every kid that goes to ECS will try to live up to.”

Such a statement is built on truth. The program was restarted in 2016 with the construction of the high school on Epworth Road. The Eagles won a single game their first year of varsity basketball. That wasn’t the program Dunham left.

ECS had a winning record each of the past four seasons, its crescendo a 24-3 record this past winter. The Eagles won their first sectional and regional championships in school history, too. At the center of the success was the 6-1 point guard.

Dunham averaged 24.2 points, 5.1 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 2.5 steals as a senior to earn a Small School All-State selection by the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association. His scoring ability and leadership made others around him better. Don’t let the small school distinction fool you. Dunham was the best player on the floor most nights.

“I had a special career at ECS,” he said. “I would say I was blessed to go there and to have a family able to put me there. ECS provided me with a platform to play the game that I do and share my faith with others. That’s what I’ll remember the most.”

His scoring stands out when looking at his career from afar. Dunham finished 18th all-time in Indiana with 2,373 points. He showed the ability to create his own shots but importantly make them. He shot a career-best 53 percent (a 40 percent clip from deep) as a senior.

The moments run deep. Dunham scored 23 against Castle, the only Southern Indiana Athletic Conference opponent who played the Eagles, on Thanksgiving weekend. There was the impressive week at BODC against eventual state champions Scottsburg and Brownstown. He also stole the show in the Warrior Showcase in January .

What usually separates players is how they perform when the moment matters most. Dunham averaged 30.5 points, 6.8 assists and 5.0 rebounds in the postseason including a 33-point effort in the semistate loss to Barr-Reeve, nearly willing the Eagles another step further.

“He was in the gym (the morning of semistate) putting in work,” said Kruse. “It wouldn’t surprise me if he is Monday even though our season is over. That’s the kind of competitor he is. He will be very successful in whatever college he goes to.”

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The success enjoyed by ECS this year also went in step with how Dunham grew as an overall player. His passing improved as the Eagles’ primary ball-handler. His defense was noticeably better. He still needs to get quicker and stronger for the next level but areas that are obtainable.

Where did he think the biggest leap came? His trust in others. Dunham could take over a game. He knew it wasn’t required this year.

“I had teammates that really stepped up and took a major role on both sides of the ball,” said Dunham. “Being able to rely on those guys to step up and hit a big shot whenever it matters most. It was a special group of guys. You create bonds that are unbreakable.”

The point guard recently committed to Southern Indiana, noting its location and the opportunity it provides . Dunham will be on 3/4 scholarship, meaning he will be required to pay for school only as a freshman. The chance to play Division I basketball was also a selling point.

Could he also hear his name called for a certain All-Star team this summer?

“There’s not an entire team better than him in the state,” said Kruse. “With our schedule to put up those numbers and the overall competitor he is, the state would be foolish if they didn’t put him on that team.”

There may not be a player like Dunham walk through ECS in the near future. He hopes that isn’t true. It means the program continued to flourish and excel. That’s where his biggest impact may come.

ECS never won a state tournament game until 2022. It came within two victories of a trip to Gainbridge Fieldhouse this year. Dunham wants the next group to keep pushing forward. The standard is now set.

“We were a stepping stone to building a program,” he said. “It’s just special being a part of that. We wanted to win state. We did some things that were special. They shouldn’t get overlooked.”

Bosse coach Shane Burkhart is also the Courier & Press All-Metro Coach of the Year for boys basketball. The Bulldogs overcame a rough start with injuries to become its best version by March. Bosse went 15-11 and won its first regional title in six years.

Follow Courier & Press sports reporter Kyle Sokeland on X (formerly Twitter) @kylesokeland.

2024 Courier & Press All-Metro boys basketball team

Name, School, Ht., Year

First Team

Josiah Dunham, Evansville Christian, 6-1, Sr.

Luke Ellspermann, Memorial, 6-0, Jr.

Taray Howell, Bosse, 5-7, Sr.

Malachi McNair, Harrison, 6-7, Sr.

Jaylan Mitchell, Reitz, 6-6, Fr.

Shane Sims, Harrison, 6-3, Jr.

Tucker Tornatta, Memorial, 6-7, Sr.

Second Team

Cayden Gehlhausen, North, 6-6, Sr.

Brayden Huebner, North, 6-1, Sr.

AP Mitchell, Bosse, 6-7, Sr.

Xander Niehaus, Castle, 6-3, Jr.

Zane Norman, Mater Dei, 6-2, Sr.

Landyn Richason, Central, 6-2, Jr.

Jay Summitt, Harrison, 6-4, Jr.

Player of the Year: Josiah Dunham, Evansville Christian

Coach of the Year: Shane Burkhart, Bosse

Follow Courier & Press sports reporter Kyle Sokeland on X (formerly Twitter) @kylesokeland.

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Record-setting guard headlines Courier & Press All-Metro boys basketball team